911 997.1 C2S roof bar options

[Joe5y]

Evening all,

What options are there (specifically product codes that fit) that fit the 911 997.1C2S?

Obviously Porsche have them at c£500 but are there any others? Thule? Looking to get a roof box or bikes up there when I can travel back to France when safe to do so.

Thanks

[moonigan]

I had these Thule bar on my 997. Super easy to fit.

https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.ph...

[Gixer968CS]

I use the Porsche Roof Transport System (stupid name!), but just waited for ebay to produce the goods. Still quite expensive for a used item, but they're obviously built to the correct specs and very easy to fit. Literally 3 or 4 minutes to fit or remove. Then I have Thule bike carriers

[RiccardoG]

I also have the RTS and highly recommend it. Otherwise you need to build a rack using different Thule parts, but beware you get the feet right as otherwise it might end up pointing up or down...

Gixer968CS said:

I use the Porsche Roof Transport System (stupid name!), but just waited for ebay to produce the goods. Still quite expensive for a used item, but they're obviously built to the correct specs and very easy to fit. Literally 3 or 4 minutes to fit or remove. Then I have Thule bike carriers

Gixer, I've been asking this to fellow 911 cyclists. Do you adjust your driving to account for the bikes at all? Thinking fast bends or hard acceleration-braking. Top speed (autobahn)?

I have used my RTS with 2x bikes on top (Thule 591) but so far this has been in relatively short/sedate trips along M25. Thinking about using it on an Euro trip but wonder whether it actually defeats the point of taking the 911 if I can't enjoy chucking it along twisty bits. Not that I'm such a quick driver!

[Gixer968CS]

RiccardoG said:

I also have the RTS and highly recommend it. Otherwise you need to build a rack using different Thule parts, but beware you get the feet right as otherwise it might end up pointing up or down...

Gixer968CS said:

I use the Porsche Roof Transport System (stupid name!), but just waited for ebay to produce the goods. Still quite expensive for a used item, but they're obviously built to the correct specs and very easy to fit. Literally 3 or 4 minutes to fit or remove. Then I have Thule bike carriers

Gixer, I've been asking this to fellow 911 cyclists. Do you adjust your driving to account for the bikes at all? Thinking fast bends or hard acceleration-braking. Top speed (autobahn)?

I have used my RTS with 2x bikes on top (Thule 591) but so far this has been in relatively short/sedate trips along M25. Thinking about using it on an Euro trip but wonder whether it actually defeats the point of taking the 911 if I can't enjoy chucking it along twisty bits. Not that I'm such a quick driver!

Yes I do watch what I'm doing. I'm certainly more careful on the twisties and I wouldn't do more than 75-80 mph with the bikes on-board. I too have Thule 591s and they're a sturdy piece of kit, but still I've watched other cars with them and seen the bikes' front wheels etc waggling about. Also, having the bars (and especially bikes) on-board completely ruins the driving experience as they're so noisy and the faster you go the noisier it gets!!

Also OP, watch out for height restrictions/trees etc. I drove my SAAB through a carpark height restriction with the bikes up top and it didn't end well!!! Surprisingly easy to forget they're up there!

[Emeye]

Gixer968CS said:

I use the Porsche Roof Transport System (stupid name!), but just waited for ebay to produce the goods. Still quite expensive for a used item, but they're obviously built to the correct specs and very easy to fit. Literally 3 or 4 minutes to fit or remove. Then I have Thule bike carriers

If you ditched cycling and took up skiing it would look so much cooler.

[Gixer968CS]

Emeye said:

Gixer968CS said:

I use the Porsche Roof Transport System (stupid name!), but just waited for ebay to produce the goods. Still quite expensive for a used item, but they're obviously built to the correct specs and very easy to fit. Literally 3 or 4 minutes to fit or remove. Then I have Thule bike carriers

If you ditched cycling and took up skiing it would look so much cooler.

I sometimes do some mowing, is that cooler? And, I definitely drove slower with the mower on top! It did draw some comments from the neighbours.

[Dammit]

I'd drive cautiously to your destination, the advantage of taking the 911 is if it absolutely pisses down (which it did last year when I was in Morzine), as you can then drive the Alps with a roof over your head, and then get back on the bike when it's dried out a little.

I've got the full RTS for my 996 and tbh it spends the vast majority of it's time hung up in the garage, whilst the C55 is never without the Thule 561 on it's roof.

I keep looking at vans, but the prospect of spending 9 hours in something so basic isn't really doing it for me, so for now I'm swallowing the 23 mpg that the C55 does with a bike up top.

[Emeye]

Gixer968CS said:

I sometimes do some mowing, is that cooler? And, I definitely drove slower with the mower on top! It did draw some comments from the neighbours.

I have always said a 911 should be used and not a garage queen!

I was thinking more this though.

[Filibuster]

I use SeaSucker suction cups for mounting skis on my 997.







Besides the benefits of looking cool (think Roger Moore's Lotus in FYEO) it can be fitten and most other cars!

[RiccardoG]

Thanks for the views on driving with rack + bikes. Was hoping to buy e-mtbike and take it along various locations in EU on the 997 with family on board. In the end I think I'll just rent, as I did last year. Assuming we can actually visit EU this year!

In general I prefer to own stuff than rent it, as I like to have things to hand when I want/need them. Grates a bit to spend 10% of value of bike on one week's rental. Then again, would take 10 years to spend cost of new bike and e-bikes become obsolete much quicker.

Filibuster said:

I use SeaSucker suction cups for mounting skis on my 997.

Cool, but aren't the ski tips pointing the wrong way?

Btw, I can confirm that RTS + factory ski carrier holds well to 130mph+.

[Filibuster]

RiccardoG said:

Cool, but aren't the ski tips pointing the wrong way?

Btw, I can confirm that RTS + factory ski carrier holds well to 130mph+.

I thought the same, but it looks better this way. Also when it is good enough for James Bond, it is good enough for me too :haha:



Most 60's and 70's ski racks like this display the ski tips pointing upwards.
And on the manufacturers homepage photographs indicate the same thing:



BTW, they also do Bike racks:



They are rated @ 70 mph iirc, but I tried them at 90 mph with no problems. Also no excessive wind noise at that speed.

[Rich_AR]

I used the Thule Aerobar system on my old 911 (same fitting on the 997.1 and 997.2, i even think the 996 is the same). Solid as a rock, on the autobahns etc. I was very dubious about the sea sucker to be honest. One for it coming off at speed, the wind noise/drag of the skis , its single use, and also obstructing the rear window. Thule system is versatile.



The Thule system I had on my 911 above, I then used later on my Macan as well, I simply swapped out the foot mounting kit (I even shipped it with me to Canada).

Edited by Rich_AR on Thursday 4th June 15:50

Edited by Rich_AR on Thursday 4th June 15:51

[Filibuster]

Rich_AR said:

I used the Thule Aerobar system on my old 911 (same fitting on the 997.1 and 997.2, i even think the 996 is the same). Solid as a rock, on the autobahns etc. I was very dubious about the sea sucker to be honest. One for it coming off at speed, the wind noise/drag of the skis , its single use, and also obstructing the rear window. Thule system is versatile.

What an epic photo!!

The SeaSucker can be used entirely on the roof to create a flat layout, like the Thule Bar.
Although it blacks your rear view partially, I just prefer it for those retro looks. Silly, I know....

I have used the SeaSucker on the FF Range Rover as well, so this is convenient. Unfortunately I can't use it on the Mini with its large glass sunroof that always has seam where one of the suction cups need to go
Also a family member borrowed it to use on their Evoque (with the fix pano roof) and again, no problem or any wind noise to speak off.

I see the point regarding the fear of them falling off. I still have that each time I use them. You even get an additional suction cup as spares. So far in around 10 usings, none has ever lost the vacuum. Even after a full day of intentionally letting it on the roof.

[Rich_AR]

Gixer968CS said:

Brilliant