Security & Roof Racks

[VeloVT]

I recently bit the bullet and invested in a Yakima roof rack for my bikes. (I think the model is called "socket rocket" or something like that). I'm totally loving it -- sooooo much easier and quicker than my old trunk rack, and I feel better about driving with the bikes (I used to always be worried I'd get rear-ended). I've also been impressed with how solid it is -- try to move the bikes and the car rocks.

I bought let's see, I think six lock cores (one for each of the four rack-to-car attachment points, and one for each of the two bike-to-rack attachment points). The salesguy told me that this would make it virtually impossible to steal bikes from the rack.

But I still don't feel comfortable leaving bikes on the rack if the car is going to be out of my field of vision, even for a short time. Anyone else with a roof rack have an opinion on this? Am I being a little crazy? How safe do you think it is to leave bikes locked on a roof rack that is locked to the car? Would you, say, feel comfortable leaving the bikes on the car to go have lunch? (I don't).

Thanks!

[bike4ever]

I will leave mine on regularly during the day if I need to run in a store or something. If I am traveling, I will remove the bikes for the night.

If I am in a bad section of town, I have put the bike inside my CRV temporarily. The Sprocket Rocket that you purchased is extremely safe and secure. You really shouldn't worry if your car is parked in a safe location.

[DrBadger]

I have the Thule equivalent of the rack that you got... also locks to the car, and the bike to the rack.

I will leave my bike on the roof rack during the day when I go into a store etc. However, when I drove my bike from CA to TX and back I took the bike off the rack at night and took it into my hotel room. I think that during the day where there are people around it should be totally fine, but I wouldn't leave bikes on it over night when someone might have longer to try to deal with the locks etc.

[SJCzar]

I have a Saris roof rack. I regularly leave my bike on it during the day. I've left it unattended for hours at a time, but I would also agree that if it was parked overnight I would take my bike inside.

[Aggie_Ama]

Sorry to threadjack... Does this Yakima rack work on a small car with a sunroof? I really want a roof rack but I think I can't have one with a sunroof.

[bike4ever]

Aggie_Ama - What is the make, model, and year of your vehicle?

[DrBadger]

Don't know about the Yakima rack, but the Thule one does. I have one on my 2001 Mazda Protoge with a sun roof. It fits great and doesn't interfear with the sun roof at all, I can open it both sliding and the tilting way.

[Aggie_Ama]

I have a 2007 Dodge Caliber.

PA- I think a Protege would have about the same width roof, so that is good to know!

[bike4ever]

Yakima does not have a fit yet for the '07 Dodge Caliber. The best option is to email Yakima and let them know you are interested in their product. They respond better to a customer inquiry than a dealer one. They also do not recommend a trunk rack at this point.

Thule does not have a fit yet either for this vehicle. Saris is showing a fit - both a roof rack and a trunk rack. They don't offer the Bones as an option though - my first recommended choice for a trunk rack.

Hope this helps.

[SJCzar]

With my Saris roof rack I can open and tilt the sunroof on my Civic without any problems.

[Aggie_Ama]

They don't offer the Bones as an option though - my first recommended choice for a trunk rack.

Hope this helps.

Of course, that is what we were planning to replace our Thule Speedway with! I will call Yakima if DH decides he likes the roof rack idea.