I have this. It is amazing. My ebike has fenders, but the way you can adjust the tire cradles in the arms up and down to clear the fenders makes it a non-issue. Totally worth the money.
The Piston S does look solid and much better than older racks. The Kuat ramp does look shorter than our QuikrStuff ramp, but you can reduce the ramp steepness by parking next to a curb. I did not see a way to store the ramp on the back like QuikrStuff. As you mention, one bike only and no ability to fold are shortcomings.
Great review. On the cons...it does not fold up, but it is very low profile. My truck tailgate can be opened and it doesnt hit the rack. No swing out needed. I do wish it could be expanded. The hitch bracket is very basic design. A diy fabricator could probably weld together a dual rack tray easily.
Huge fan of your bike content. Keep up the amazing work. Tilting the rack is key for me to get stuff from the back of my rav 4. 9 times out of 10 I ride solo but want the option for a second bike. I guess I have to spend the $ and get the quickr stuff 🤗. Have a great day.
I’ve got this but the roof rack mount version. For what it’s worth, you only need to click it in so it’s touching the tyre then 1-2 more clicks. Any more is overkill if you read the manual. You definitely don’t need to push it as hard as you were in the video! Cheers
Just ordered this - looks super sturdy. It will be nice to drive around with my bike and not see it wobbling around in the rear view mirror. Definitely would have been nice to know that it was the roof rack and a hitch adapter that you buy separately.
"It holds this 90 pound bike - well, it's a motorcycle really." Finally, an e-biker that does not BS himself about what he is a riding - a bike with a motor (AKA a MOTORCYCLE)!
Looks good here but I want to see it tested with super skinny road bike wheels with zero knobbies to see how much for and aft wiggle happens. The wheel holders look like they are designed to work beat with wide knobbie tires - which is great for all the motorbike (e-bike) riders but not us real bike riders - I can see 23mm road wheels allowing a significant amount of wiggle.
There's quite a bit more wiggle because of two reasons. One, there is not as much rubber to hold and stabilize with the arm and the tray. Second, the pressure is very high so the arm cannot compress and deform it well for stability. But since the bikes are so light, the wiggle has little consequence the bike is secure.
I don't think Kuat will ever claim it's ok. But in my humble opinion, it will be fine. The reason is this is only ONE bike and a rack that weighs about 40 lbs. Also length of the rack behind the vehicle is only about 20 inchess. Thust, there is not much leverage on the hitch, even if it's 1.25" only. That is well under what many 1.25" hitches have been used for. Just don't get a long extension that makes the rack stick out further.
Quite simply the best e-bike channel for me out there. Stay true! You’re so refreshingly trustworthy. Thanks for all you do!
You did a good job on this review. I like how you did some testing with driving over speed bumps as that really shows how much a rack can flop about.
Thank you. I made sure to use a very heavy test bike and hit some bumps at full speed. This thing is rocksteady.
I have this. It is amazing. My ebike has fenders, but the way you can adjust the tire cradles in the arms up and down to clear the fenders makes it a non-issue. Totally worth the money.
Agreed 100%. And it's so strong and stable that the bike is still sturdy at different clamping poistions on the tire.
The Piston S does look solid and much better than older racks. The Kuat ramp does look shorter than our QuikrStuff ramp, but you can reduce the ramp steepness by parking next to a curb. I did not see a way to store the ramp on the back like QuikrStuff. As you mention, one bike only and no ability to fold are shortcomings.
The ramp is adjustable. You can extend the length to about 54".
That’s great that it extends. 54” is pretty good. Our QuikrStuff ramp is 54” too and my wife and I can get our 63 lbs. e-bikes up the ramp easily.
I wish this hitch adapter folded up.
Yeah that’s definitely a key need for me as well
For pickup trucks not needed as tailgate can open without hitting. For SUV I understand the need.
Great review. On the cons...it does not fold up, but it is very low profile. My truck tailgate can be opened and it doesnt hit the rack. No swing out needed. I do wish it could be expanded. The hitch bracket is very basic design. A diy fabricator could probably weld together a dual rack tray easily.
This is one sweet.. waiting on black Friday see if they discount
Great review!
This or the quikrstuff rack?
Huge fan of your bike content. Keep up the amazing work. Tilting the rack is key for me to get stuff from the back of my rav 4. 9 times out of 10 I ride solo but want the option for a second bike. I guess I have to spend the $ and get the quickr stuff 🤗. Have a great day.
Awesome! Thank you!
I’ve got this but the roof rack mount version.
For what it’s worth, you only need to click it in so it’s touching the tyre then 1-2 more clicks. Any more is overkill if you read the manual. You definitely don’t need to push it as hard as you were in the video!
Cheers
Just ordered this - looks super sturdy. It will be nice to drive around with my bike and not see it wobbling around in the rear view mirror. Definitely would have been nice to know that it was the roof rack and a hitch adapter that you buy separately.
Good choice! Definitely doesn’t wobble
"It holds this 90 pound bike - well, it's a motorcycle really."
Finally, an e-biker that does not BS himself about what he is a riding - a bike with a motor (AKA a MOTORCYCLE)!
This 90 lb ebike is more like a motorcycle. I do have a 36 and 38 lb emtbs that are really more like bicycles.
Looks good here but I want to see it tested with super skinny road bike wheels with zero knobbies to see how much for and aft wiggle happens. The wheel holders look like they are designed to work beat with wide knobbie tires - which is great for all the motorbike (e-bike) riders but not us real bike riders - I can see 23mm road wheels allowing a significant amount of wiggle.
There's quite a bit more wiggle because of two reasons. One, there is not as much rubber to hold and stabilize with the arm and the tray. Second, the pressure is very high so the arm cannot compress and deform it well for stability.
But since the bikes are so light, the wiggle has little consequence the bike is secure.
I have a 1.25 hitch. Can you use an adapter, since this is a 2” fitting. Or does that void its carrying capacity?
I don't think Kuat will ever claim it's ok. But in my humble opinion, it will be fine. The reason is this is only ONE bike and a rack that weighs about 40 lbs. Also length of the rack behind the vehicle is only about 20 inchess. Thust, there is not much leverage on the hitch, even if it's 1.25" only. That is well under what many 1.25" hitches have been used for. Just don't get a long extension that makes the rack stick out further.