Roof Mounted Bike Rack - Carbon road bike

[jimmy7]

Just wanted to gauge opinions on a couple of roof rack options for use with a carbon road frame.

Option 1. Thule 598 rack - The Thule 598 rack has a carbon frame protector option and the changes from the 591 design appear to lend themselves towards use with a carbon frame.

Option 2. Thule 561 rack - This attaches to the fork at the front rather than the frame.

What are others using out there, or is it a real no no?

[Magic919]

I use Thule 591.

[louiebaby]

I've used my Thule 561 racks for Al road and MTBs, and carbon roadies. They've been brilliant, even on long trips (John O'Groats to London) and on spirited progress making. (John O'Groats to Inverness to drop people off for a flight.)

Highly recommended.

[JPJ]

The Thule racks are fine with carbon frames, they have a certain amount of padding on the gripper arm.

[RLE]

I have the Inno which attaches to the front and rear wheels. Secure using a ratchet system and key and literally seconds to load and unload. There is a guide for different size tyres so easy to adjust for road, mtb, 26, 29 inch wheels. I bought two from roofbox in the sale along with Thule roof bars and fitting kit. Not the cheapest but certainly the best I've had.

http://www.mtbr.com/cat/accessories/bike-rack/inno...

[MadDad]

Thule 561 for me, works a treat - keeps the bike nice and solid regardless of your driving style. Never had any issues, mines used regularly and has been all over Europe at all sorts of speeds - your more at risk of damaging the carbon by hitting an bird at speed than from using the 561....

[stuarthat]

Few of my friends use sea suckers ,and happy with them .

[Matt-ST]

I just bought a Thule 561 second hand, ive been using the down tube clamping racks for years with no problems on my alloy MTB apart from scoring on the bike, it holds reasonable secure. the problem is bike security, it took only a few minutes for someone to take my sons pride and joy even though I had a lock around the bike and the roof bars

I now have a carbon Enduro bike after reading the hype about frame clamping, I decided on the 561, however I just read on the Thule website that the 561 is not suitable carbon bikes and to use the Sprint XT which however does not support the thru-axle, so I cannot use it and to be honest it doesnt look much different to the 561 if not a bit more aerodynamic.

Apart from having no theft security with the thru-axle on the 561, it seems to hold the bike ok, even if it seems to flex quite a lot, and not sure if those stresses will affect the carbon? I haven't driven far with the bike in this new arrangement although planning trip to Fort William in a couple of weeks.

I guess there is a reason Thule have added the disclaimer for carbon bikes on the 561 maybe some complaints or claims for broken frames but I cannot see why there is a risk, its reassuring to see that you haven't had any issues with the 561.

Edited by Matt-ST on Friday 14th July 17:50

[ALawson]

561 user here as well simply due to Specalized stating not to clamp onto down tube.

No problems and driven everywhere with it, no complaints.