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MG MGF Technical - How many Bikes can you fit on a boot rack?

How many Bikes can you fit on a boot rack? I have a bike rack which is primarily designed for use with roof bars, however it could be modified to fit on a boot rack. I'm just concerned it would damage the boot if I put two bikes on it. The bikes would clamp upside down onto the rack via the handle bars and seat so I can take the wheels off reduce the height.

Has anyone tried anything like this.

Darren
Darren

why not get a propper bike rack for the rear, at least then you can put the pads such the the force goes into the bumper/crossmember
Will Munns

From memory the only bike rack I had seen fitted onto the boot rack. I assume there are others out there that will fit then.

I'll have a look round.
Darren

I sucessfully used the generic halfords 'high level' bike rack, it lifts the bikes above the level of the lights so doesn't need a seperate lighting bar.
Only issue I have with it is the taught straps tend to hum at higher speeds (I guess if it bothered you you could cover them with $somthing to make them less wing shaped)
Will Munns

This looks like it, but I brought mine 8 years ago:

http://www.halfords.com/opd_product_details.asp?id=18751&type=0&cat=130

On the F this leans the bikes at 45deg, so I added some pipe lagging at approriate points to stop the frame fowling the carrier and each other.
Will Munns

I bought a used boot rack at the weekend. There is a weight limit for that which I guess is a combination limit for the boot lid and the rack. Info is at home but I believe the limit is 20Kg. What does a bike weigh these days? 10Kg? Max 2 bikes? Does it add up?
JohnP

I think mine says 25Kg, but I guess that 'three bikes' is one more than you need on an F.

The F I think has a 25Kg shared load limit between in boot and on boot, but I filled up the underbonnet area with lilo and shoes, which may have evened out the weight somewhat ;-)
Will Munns

The generic boot rack for the F (the big black one) has a bike attachment, but MG do not sell it. This is because the wind resistance on the bike coupled withthe way the rack is mounted can result in cambered boot lids (indeed simply doing the clamp up to tight on an unladen rack can do the same).

I would recommend Will's approach as he seems to have had a lot of success avoiding the official MG luggage racks and going aftermarket with something designed specifically for the job.

SF
Scarlet Fever

Be careful as this has been known to dent the boot.

I once took two mountain bikes to Cannes on the back of my F.

I did it by installing my standard luggage rack, and then the Halfords rack on top.., then tied straps to everything (roll hoops included).
The idea was to distribute the weight.
Neil H

Thanks for the advice. I wasn't so worried about the weight so much as the force on the bike rack going round corners. I hadn't thought about using a cycle rack like you suggested Will.

I'll have a look round, ideally it would be good to find one that will fit an MGF and Mini.
Darren

You can try here:
http://www.roofrackshop.co.uk/bike/bike.htm

They also make boot racks for the F/TF:
http://www.roofrackshop.co.uk/boot/rover-mgf-boot-rack.htm

Don't see any mention of the Mini, though...
Ian Matheson

If it is a 'new mini' then it should be fine, Old mini is in the list of 'no', but I doubt that any rear mounted rack will fit on the old mini.
Will Munns

I use a bike rack i brought form the Maxda MX5 section of Moss international. It was expensive £70 and probably similar to the halfords one, but i knew it would fit. I have used this for over 2 years now regularly and have suffered no problems. I found the boot rack was a pain. The bike move when doing a ton down the M25 and scratch the paint on the bike. You also have to be careful of the pedals touching the boot.
Steve

Hi All
As an MG TF Newby ( 2 weeks ), I ordered the boot rack on my new mg tf, and was going to get the back atachment bit from Moss- europe to carry my and my wifes mountain bikes.. Today they say its no longer available. Can anybody suggest which is the best ( only ?? ) bike rack i can attach to my L100 type book rack?
cheers
col
Colin FRowen

This thread was discussed between 15/03/2005 and 17/03/2005

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