I've been searching threads on this forum and haven't found anything that specifically addresses my situation.

I have a 2005 TSX with Acura-brand moonroof visor, rear spoiler, and front/rear/side bottom spoilers. I've been searching for a suitable bike rack for my car. It only needs to hold one bike, but I understand that Thule, Yakima, etc. usually offer racks that handle 2 bikes and up. My preference would be for a hitch-mounted rack, with a "hidden hitch" sort of design so it's not seen when not in use. However, Hidden Hitch does not make a hitch for my make/year of car.

So, I'm looking at the Thule site's "Fit Configurator" feature. It says a 961XT is the premium rack for my car. However, that rack is trunk-mounted, and I've always been wary of trunk-mounted racks and whatever wear-tear they can do to a car's paint job or worse after a while. The even bigger issue might be the rear spoiler or bottom spoiler, which the 961XT doesn't really account for in its design.

Roof racks from either Thule or Yakima don't work because my moon roof visor is in the way.

So basically I have found no feasible choices for my car. Has anyone here with the same or similar car make/model/configuration figured out a solution?

Thanks.

 

Ah well...guess the lack of replies gives me my answer. I'm outta luck. :-(
Maybe I should just buy one of those foldable bikes like a Dahon Jack that I can just throw in the back or in the trunk...

 

Fold the seats down, take off the front tire and put it in your trunk. Thats how i get my bike around. I had a trunk rack and it scratches the paint. Plus its not stable. I had a hitch and hitch rack, but i took it off because i didnt want the extra 30lbs and visible hitch.

 

Thanks for the validation on the trunk rack and the hitch. It was exactly what I was concerned about -- messing up my paint, or worse, with a trunk rack, or being heavy and just plain ugly with a hitch.

I'm a little embarrassed to say that I didn't even think to try taking the front wheel of the bike off! I'll give that a shot. Thanks again.

 

Roof rack - If you get 3m clearbra tape, no need to worry about paint scratching. You do have to remember not to drive inside a garage with the bike, which can be avoided. (It happens when you are careless)

Hitch rack - Great. Negative is that hitch is ugly, if you really care about that. You do have to remove the air diffuser on the back. Will not scratch the paint. But you can still get rear ended, which is not really controlled by you.

Trunk rack - stay away.

You can't go wrong with roof or hitch really.

 

Let me know when you find a roof rack that works with my moon visor / Acura model.
I think roof racks are ugly also, actually.
Let me know when you find a hitch rack that works with my bottom spoiler / Acura model.
Hitches are ugly also, unless it's a Hidden Hitch.
Hidden Hitch does not make a model that works with a 2005 TSX, let alone one with a bottom spoiler.
Trunk racks are ugly, unstable and scratch the paint.
Yep. Guess I'm taking the front wheel off and shoving it in the trunk. IF it'll fit.
Are we having fun yet?
Oh well.

 

I mweight hitch or roof. Friend has a hitch on a TL and with the rack off, its barely noticeable.

Thule and Yak roof racks are solid and perform well, but noisy and ugly. Enter "Whispbar"...I may go this route.

http://www.whispbar.com/

Use their fit calculator and they even give pics of a TSX with this rack.

 

Whispbar looks nice but won't work on a TSX with a moon roof visor.