Anyone purchase the Acura roof rack mount bike rack? From web it looks like a Thule big mouth, but I can’t really see it and I if is Thule I am guessing it has a special mount to fit the wide RDX cross bars. Will it also fit standard Thule cross bars? I have Thule equipment for bikes and Kayaks both roof mount and trailer hitch for other cars. My hitch mount rack is 2 inch but RDX hitch (which I don’t have) is only 1.25 inches. Can’t find an adapter to converter down to the smaller size. Yesterday bought the Thule Crossroads multi purpose rack to fit the RDX roof rails for $201, and plan to use the big mouth(s) that I already have. It may make better sense to return the crossroads and buy two of the overpriced Acura upright bike racks for $165 each and not deal with the extra cross bars??? Let me know what you know about the Acura racks.

 

I can't comment too much because I am still deciding how to handle the rack situation (I have Yakima gear from previous cars), but I will say that I think the Thule/Yakima crossbars are much better than the Acura crossbars. If you ever have to carry wood or other long/flat/wide loads, the Yakima/Thule crossbar will be a lot more useful (because they are flatter, wider, and stiffer). In addition, the Acura crossbars seem to have a limited span of adjustment (see other threads on the topic), but the aftermarket crossbars can be positioned anywhere along the entire side rail.

So I would vote for sticking with the Thule crossbars. In the future these could accommodate more attachments than Acura will probably offer, and of course you can probably transfer the racks/attachments to your next vehicle.

 

Also, my idea of using Yakima/Thule crossbars means taking the factory crossbars off -- no need to have all that crap up on the roof. On all my cars, the factory crossbars have been kind of useless.

 

FWIW:
My Hidden Hitch was about $100, and pretty unobtrusive. With that - I'm going with a Yakima hitch mount rack that way I dont have all that stuff on the roof.

 

I always have preferred hitch-mount racks. They're easier to access, probably better on mileage, and most importantly - if you have a garage door opener, and drive right into your garage, you will likely not make the mistake my buddy made with $5000 worth of titanium litespeed triathlon bicycles smacked off the roof.

Another friend of mine wrecked his bikes and the awning of a drive-thru window with his roof-mounted rack. Out of sight, out of mind.

 

I have a Thule hitch rack but it is for a 2 inch receiver, not 1 1/4 inch required by the Acura hitch. Does the Hidden Hitch that fits the RDX come in 2 inch and where can I find one? Don’t want to buy a second hitch mount rack so still looking for an adapter to take the 2 inch down to 1 ¼ inches. Any suggestions?

I also have several Thule Roof Rack bike mounts (old and new) as I transport up to 5 bikes at a time on our larger SUV as well as a roof box and Kayaks. Although I cycle quite a bit, I don’t like to leave the racks on my roof due to aesthetics, and wind notice so I take them off after each use. Using the Acura roof rack and bike mount would make this much easier – just have to take off the bike kit.

Therefore, I am still looking for a better description of the Acura bike mount and how it fits on the Acura rack as I would also like to use it on the Thule bars that I have - to replace some of my older bike mounts.

I find it funny that the dealer who sells it has no idea how it looks, nor is there an install guide on the web.

 

I don't think you'll find a converter to go in that direction. maybe the other direction, but with the way you are trying to go, you'd have some stupid people out there that would try to trailer a 5000lbs trailer using a converter like that!

 

Must be a lot of stupid people as I found a hitch converter that will convert my 2 inch bike rack with the 1 1/4 inch receiver hitch. It is availbable from etrailer.com for $39. Disclamier is clearly noted on hitch about towing limits!

 

Well if it has disclaimer, then I feel safe on the road....lol

 

Just purchased my RDX three days ago and am having only the factory rails of the roof rack (no crossbars) installed in a couple days. I'm new to roof racks so please bear with me. Do I need to have the entire factory roof rack installed and then buy a bike racking system or are just the rails all I need to mount the OEM bike racking? Anyone know what Thule or Yakima models work here? Thanks!

 

The Acura RDX press release says you can fit two 19" mountain bikes inside the RDX. Has anyone tried that? You will probably have to remove the front wheel and lower the saddle.

 

FYI:

I asked this same question, and I'm gonna buy these puppies but I need two universal 's to make it work. Kind of pricey, but I thank Brad for this link...



https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=815

 

My G/F had a 1.25" hitch mount on her old Accord EX, and we just switched it over to the new Drawtite hitch I installed on her RDX in about 10 minutes. Fits perfect.

 

I use the factory roof rails with Yakima lowrider attachments, which are a clamp x 4 that attaches to the rails and 2 58" Yakima round crossbars. I can haul 1 touring kayak and 1 bicycle, or I can haul 3 bicycles. It takes me less than 10 minutes to install on my RDX. I do not leave the rack on the car because it is so simple to put on and take off. Since I have taken the factory crossbars off, believe it or not my gas mile has gone up about 1 mile per gallon. I am really happy with my setup. I have a composite touring kayak and use 2 sets of Yakima landshark saddles. For my bikes, (mountain and hybrid) I use the Yakima viper fork mounts. I am 59 years old and have absolutely no problem getting any thing on top of the RDX. (You will need a short step stool). Thule has the same setup available if you prefer.

http://www.yakima.com
http://www.thuleracks.com

 

I got the DrawTite 1.25" hitch and this Performance XPORT flatbed bike rack: http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.?SKU=22745
They work great together and were pretty easy to assemble/install. The flatbed style of hitch rack is nice if you have lightweight bikes that can be damaged by racks that squeeze the top tube. The bike rack appears to be well built and is stable on the road and is reasonably priced. My only complaint is that the rack is kind of ugly when there are no bikes in it. Also, you can't easily access the trunk when bikes are on the rack.

 

Hey Johnny99, that hyperlink comes up "Sorry page not found"....

 

Sorry, this link should be better:
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...5&item=40-3559

I bought it from a local shop. Shipping on these things may be expensive.

 

Sorry, one more try at the link:
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...slisearch=true

 

what's the best bicycle roof rack for a short guy and his short wife who doesn't like to help lift heavy things over her head? we have a couple of mountain bikes (w/skinny tires), and we will also want to buy ski/snowboard attachments, but height is not much of a factor for those...

i already have the dealer-installed roof rack with no attachments, just the two side rails and the crossbars.



for those of you that suggest i buy a sedan: too late.

I'd prefer not to use the tailgate-style rack but I'm considering it...

 

If you're short and have smaller bikes, the easiest thing to do is just fold down the rear seats, remove the bikes' front wheels, and wheel the bikes into the cargo area. They should fit standing up. Lash them to the tie down points on the sides of the RDX or use a rack like this:

Several brands makes racks like this. Check with your local bike shop.

 

Thanks, I'd prefer not to put them in the car since it will get pretty dirty in there, but maybe I'll try it. Any other ideas for a roof rack that is easier to put bikes into than maybe some other models?

 

The cargo liner should help keep the interior clean if you put the bikes inside.

Any kind of roof rack is going to be hard for someone less than 6' tall to access, unless you're comfortable carrying the bike up a ladder or stool. Roof racks with fork mounts will probably be easiest for shorter people to use, since all the attachment points are near the lower parts of the rack.

 

Notice that rgolder said he was using Yakima low rider attachments. Are these the low rider mounts? If so, which ones are you using and do they work well with the RDX rails? When I went to the Yakima site they did not have any roof rack low rider mounts listed for the RDX. Any input appreciated.

 

I spoke to a Yakima factory rep. at a kayak symposium in April. He said Yakima tests all of its racks on all vehicles before it will suggest them for use. He said that they probably have not tested the RDX yet. I showed him my rails, and he couldn't see why the low riders wouldn't work. I decided to give them a shot and I am glad I did.
I used Yakima Product # 8000118 MSRP: $144.00 USD and also bought the locks that go into the inserts. Like I said in a previous post, the crossbars are so easy to put on and take off I don't leave them on my RDX.

http://www.yakima.com/Product.aspx?id=144

 

My Thule T2 hitch mount install

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1175

 

After seeing rgolder's success I put my LowRiders on the RDX and they fit great. There was a guy on here back in December that said they didn't fit and scared some of us off, but I don't think he knew how to put them on (may have been doing it without crossbars). Anyhow, the LowRiders fit perfectly and I wish I put them on months ago.

I ended up using a 48" crossbar in the back (had it from a previous car) and bought a new set of 58" bars to use one up front. 48" was too short for the front. I cut about 5" off that 58" bar so it wouldn't stick out too far.

 

Has anyone successfully used a Trunk Mount Bike Rack on their RD-X? I'd prefer trunk mount, but the spoiler above the back glass seems to be in the way. I'm wondering if anyone has had any success with these.