Accessories

Don't bimmer with bike rack
This bike rack though it looks beautiful and not too difficult to use caused several hundred dollars damage to our bmw 325 xi EVEN THOUGH Thule states that the rack can be used with this vehicle. It caused a depression in the rear bumper. Instructions were followed, installation was perfect. Now seeking damage $ from Thule. Don't use this with a 325 xi!

Thule 962XT Speedway 3-Bike Trunk Rack
I purchased a VW Rabbit the other year and finally got around to purchasing a bike rack. I normally just get on my bike and ride (I hear a Queen song), as it's pretty rural here, but I had a longing to get out to the Harlem Valley Rail Trail again, so it was rack time. For my 1999 Honda Civic HB, I had purchased a tow hitch rack. By the time I sold the Civic, the interface between the U-Haul installed tow hitch and the trunk was thoroughly rusted, so I shied away from another tow hitch. [I had purchased the tow hitch rack because I liked the idea of having the bikes well away from the car.] I did some quick Google searching and found this Thule well-rated. The only negative comments I saw were something about the time to fit it to the car. So, when I purchased this, it sat in the box for a while as I was in the midst of reworking the deck on my house and loathed the idea of a convoluted installation. This past weekend I really wanted to go out to the rail trail, so I bit the bullet and went for the initial installation. It took less than 15 minutes to open the box, read the instructions, install the hitch, and mount my Trek 1000. I'm not the most conservative driver and the route to the rail trail is bumpy and windy, so it was a good test of the rack. I did not see the bike budge on the ride there. The bike was off in 30 seconds and the rack off in a minute. It was pretty hot for the ride and I extended the ride well into Connecticut to check on a house. So, when I returned to the car I was in no mood for struggling with the rack. It went back on in a minute. So, I'm very happy with the rack and would recommend it. Oh, I forgot one thing. In the instructions, they show how to lace the straps through the wheels to keep the front wheel straight. I've always used pieces of blown out bike tire tube for that, and still do, so I would not know how well the lacing would work.

Very Bad Experiance
The rack was sturdy, but the straps that hold the bike to the rack are horrible. My brand new bike came off of the rack while going down the highway, from hitting a very small bump in a construction area. This rack cost me $400 in bike damage the second time I used it. Luckily it didn't cause an accident and hurt someone.

All that the rack has is two rubber straps that stretch over a post with wings, to secure the bike. Nothing to lock the bike down to the rack with. I even double checked that the rubber straps were fully secured over the winged posts, before leaving and read the instructions several times before ever setting it up. It seems alright for going to the local park, but would never take it on the highway again or at any speeds over 35mph.

Seems OK
I have yet to travel with the Thule 962XT, but it seems as it would do an adequate job. One major design flaw--it appears that the "no-sway bar" is only made to accomodate male bikes. I used it on another part of my bike, but it does not appear it will work as well. I will have to use additional straps. I would return it, but I have a feeling all the racks will be the same. Amazon had the best price with free shipping.

Works Well | Impossible to Lock Down
I have an Oldsmobile Achieva and this rack works well. The only hangup is the fact that securing this unit to the car so it cannot be stolen doesn't seem possible. The two arms which hold the bikes are attached to the rest of the frame by quick release pins so it would be easy to release the arms and steal the bikes. For the price, this is a great product and works well. My main concern would be someone stealing the bike(s) when I'm away from the car.