Bike rack options for MPS6

[70DDD]

Hey i just got back into mountain bike riding and want to know the options for a bike rack?
Towbar, not sure how they fit without cutting the rear bar
Roofrack, i may have to lower the car 5'' so i can reach
At the moment i have a rack that just uses straps but when you tighten it down the rear bar pops in
So any cyclist out there found yhe bast solution?
Cheers Todd

[blackbetty]

I have a tow bar fitted (as do a few other MPS6'ers now) My rear bar is not touched at all and its very inconspicuous when the ball part is not on, I was too short to consider on the roof and the strap on ones I didnt trust. I got mine fitted as part of my dealer delivery when I brought the car new as I knew of another MPS6 guy who had got one done in ACT



Im reading the stuff off what the Engineers certificate says, its actually an Engineers certificate for a modified production vehicle saying that it meets RTA requirements ADR62/01

1. Towing Capacity rated 1000kg down force 80kg

2. I organised through Mazda to get it fitted as part of my dealer delivery when I brought the car. It was fitted by Roof Rack City Woden and is a Modified Haymen Reece tow bar manufactured for the mazda 6. The modification says it has been altered and adapted to suite the MPS6, incl fitting of larger bolts to the chassis (4x10mm instead of 8mm) manufactured and fitted an adapter for the attachment to the spare wheel well which takes up the gap between the tow bar and the spare wheel well.

3. *dont laugh* I havent used it to tow anything at all. Im actually quite short (so no bike roof rack) and we take our bikes many places so I wanted to be able to do it with this car too. So Ive always just used it for the bike rack

Its very inobtrusive, most ppl dont even notice I have a tow bar until I mention it and the get down on the ground and have a look underneath, I wanted it that way. I have seen another MPS6 guy here in ACT with a towbar and it has the Haymen Reece emblem on it, so maybe they make a specific one now.

It did cost me $1700 but Im sure thats because Mazda got an Engineers Certificate for it as they were delivery a new vehicle to me and had to be certified roadworthy. Im sure now that Roof Rack City have done some (mine and 1 other I definately know about), u could have them do it and be assured it is all good and roadworthy if u didnt care for the certificate.

[70DDD]

Looks good blackbetty... yeah i'm not too worried about the certificate as i just want to transport my bike around

[mazda6mps]

use your quick release on the front wheel and shove the bike in the boot.. I ride a road bike and cart my bike around this way.

The alternative is to put the bike on the back seat - but doing this you need to take the back wheel off too (not to mention laying down a cloth to save your leather interior) - I do this when I am carting my flat bar and race bike around at the same time.

The alternative would be roof racks (rhino, thule, rola), but these would need to remain on the car (depending on which model you get). I couldn't justify spending approx $500 to get these when I knew the boot was big enough.

[70DDD]

you know i never even tried the boot, just never thought it was big enought.
I usually use my fiancee protege cause the rear seats fold down
Cheers for that when it stops raining i'll give it a go

[kmh001]

I find that my bike wont fit in the boot unless I take both wheels off, so it depends on the size of your frame. I also use Rola racks. It takes about 2 minutes to fit the racks to the car and another 30 seconds to fit the bike to the rack, so it's not all that inconvenient. I used both methods about 50/50, but now I use the station wagon method.