Thule EasyFold XT 2 Bike Rack Review - $750
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ก.ย. 2024
- The Thule EasyFold XT 2 Bike Rack is a feature-rich electric bike rated car rack that is well thought out, relatively lightweight, and portable. Has a ramp for both loading and unloading, can be folded and stowed away in the center, also has versatile locking arms for securing your bike without damaging parts like fenders. A lot of thoughtful touches like wheels to cart it around, license plate frame so it is not obstructed, 3 locking cores, and can hold 130lbs total. No repair stand, no option for quad rack option (although it has a triple rack option), and the price is a bit higher at $750.
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I've got this bicycle carrier with all the lights at the back (a legal requirement here in Europe). Many good points about it but the first time I parked my car in a parking bay with this trailer (but without the bikes) someone crashed into it trying to come out of the bay behind me. It's too low to the ground so a driver in a high car has difficulty seeing it if you're not carrying bikes on it. Very easy to put on and take off,
Okay review I guess but would have been very helpful to see the loading process especially in walk mode. Also to note the unit is locked to the receiver so can't be stolen (easily ). Many complain that the loading rack is too short and Thule will sell you a longer one for $100. Note how steep an angle the standard ramp is...imagine this rack on a full sized pickup.
I recently purchased this bike rack for my PEDEGO Trail Tracker - (not a small bike, not a light bike) - this piece of equipment is AMAZING! It is well thought out and my bike with it's huge tires fit well. First outing was to Chesbro Canyon from Manhattan Beach! (>30Miles) I was worried about how the combo would work - surface streets only. On the way home - standard freeway driving!!! well worth the price!
I will be purchasing an e-bike soon. Understanding what other equipment such as bike racks, locks and lights need to be considered. Thank You very much for a informative and well performed demonstration.
Very informative review of the Thule foldable rack. We just went ahead & ordered one! Thanks!
Fantastic review as ALWAYS! Plus what a nice bike shop you were in there also. Would love to check out his shop!
Best bike rack period.
No thanks I'll stick up with my Way better 1UP Rack anyday. Peroid
@@wanee8039 , does it have a ramp?
Can we do a video showing the walk up using the ramps. The ramps almost look like they are on too much of a steep angle.
apparently the thule company sells a longer ramp to address this problem....
Can this bike rake be modified to install rear lights that tie into the wiring harness? I purchased this bike rack in December 2019. Love it but would be helpful to have brake light, running lights and turn signal that is more visible.
I bought one of these last week from my LBS. When not in use, the rack does not fold up close to the vehicle, thus I must remove it to park in my garage. I find that it is not easy to manhandle for a reasonably fit 75 year old.
I can't imagine having to tilt the rack with 2 bikes on it to stow the ramp, should have a ratchet for that tilt mechanism that takes the physical effort away.
I agree. When not in use I need to store the rack in the trunk of my car. That isn’t optimal. Otherwise, I really like the rack.
I have the same rack but I wish they would sell a light kit because the car taillights are blocked when the eBikes are on the rack
Great presentation! Thank you
This is a great AD for Thule, not an actual review. How does the rack handle on the road when fully loaded? Compared to other racks? Most importantly, does it wobble, both up and down and side to side like mine does. Does it wobble even more on one of those rack extensions you mention. Mine does.
True. I just spend 7000+ on two ebikes - certainly deserves a high quality rack - this one? Still researching....
I like this rack, or check out Hollywood Racks for functional but less nice racks that can handle e-bikes (look for their e-bike specific models).
You can buy this for a couple hundred less than the list price stated here. Worth having if you have already invested $$$$$ in a couple ebikes and want to take them around to tour with.
It would be cool to have an option that had brake lights that plugged into your trailer connector.
This! I was almost rear ended while turning into a trailhead with a hitch rack and three bikes on the back. The driver said they didn't see my turn signal or break lights behind the bikes.
Buy the european version, it has brake lights, rear lights and indicators. It’s also cheaper than the US version!
@@oddjob4877 where could I find the euro version? great idea!
@@rhondabovine4558 In Europe, maybe?
Be sure that European electrical connections work on North American vehicles; they may not?
Why on earth they did not mount the tail lights in the US?!? Most American made trucks/vans/cars have poor lighting from factory so why save on lights? Worldwide they mount the lights only in the States they don’t.
Hi guys, great review. Can you please provide the Thule Easyfold XT2 part /model number as the hitch mounted version is not available in Australia ( only tow ball mounted ). Appreciate any advice on the Thule part number as I’m interested in getting the hitch mounted version.
Does this bike rack come already assembled? Also can you use this with a stepthrough bike?
it does come fully assembled. it does work with a step thru. you would attach the rack to the vertical seat tube .i saw one of the commenters said either here or another video that they called thule to ask this same question and they said it would work. also try "evoluntionary Tom's" videos. he does a good tutorial on this rack. th-cam.com/video/9wX7Ns_8b2c/w-d-xo.html
What kind of RV bike carrier do you have on your MOTOR home. Jim
Are you supposed to get two back license plates then? Also is there a possibility for the clamp to loosen up while driving? Would you tighten the clamp until it spins freely to know that you've tightened it sufficiently well? Lastly, what is the point of the key on the clamp, as you could disconnect the other end of the clamp from the bike rack right?
When you tighten the clamp, it tightens against the mechanism that is used to disconnect the other end, effectively locking it in place.
Good review albeit a paid one. Could've shown how it tips over to give clearance for the hatch opening. Would've been good seeing you actually place and secure a bike on the rack too. A good review gives critical points besides positive so will look for that elsewhere. Thanks.
Do you think you could put a hyper scorpion and rad mini step thru on this..? They’re heavier than the suggested weight so didn’t know if it would handle it or not..?
Great review. I have this rack and learned more about it watching this. You can see the tilting feature here: th-cam.com/video/QjqsfK8byqw/w-d-xo.html with two fat bikes. I had to order Thule's extended straps for our fat tire bikes but they are available and easy to install with one screw. I got my rack on Amazon and it was a scratch and dent sale for $425. I couldn't find the damage and it turns out they sold it like that because the box was pretty beat up. Lucky find. Great rack!
I just purchased a IGO Royal step thru with 4 ' tires, could this carrier handle this specific bike
Why are power racks good?
I gave up on Thule racks, they are rust prone. I have been happy with my new Kuat rack
I bought one of these racks a couple of years ago. It's well made, but half the time when traveling in our motorhome I'll bring my wife's Pedego steel frame ebike and my carbon (non-powered) road bike, instead of my own ebike. Clamping the arm to the carbon frame is a really nerve racking. I usually put a strip of foam* (cut from a pool noodle) around the clamping spot on the frame. It works okay, most of the time, but it's not an ideal mounting solution for a carbon frame, because it doesn't take much force to damage the frame tubing.
*after our last trip in our motorhome I won't be using a strip of foam anymore. I had clamped my wife's ebike using a strip of foam so as not to mark the frame. I tightened the clamp to what I thought was sufficient force and off we went.
Driving along the freeway I had a another motorist honk at me and point to the back of my RV. The clamp had come loose and the bike had fallen over and was dragging on the pavement. Luckily, only the end of the handle bar had made contact with the pavement. Dragging it along the road had worn off about two inches of the end of the handle bar and the end of the brake lever. Thankfully, the wheel straps kept the bike connected to the rack and kept the damage to a minimum.
If you purchase on of these racks make sure the clamp is really secure. I thought I had tightened the clamp sufficiently, but obviously I hadn't. I'm really thankful it wasn't my expensive carbon road bike that had fallen over. It would have surely destroyed the bike.
Personally, if I had it to do again I wouldn't buy this model.
Ah the noodle bit DOWN harder than expected. . . invest in rubber insulating tube the comression curb and internal diameters exceeding an INCH will help or have a hard plastic bushing printed with thin finish protector on touching surfaces.... Easy alternatively to with ceramic clay mold your own. Just wrap frame with wax PAPER then HAVE paper divider between lobes of creation. Another new material is the aeresol zero compressibility foams sold by can for under ten buck's EACH. Bike shops should invest $50 in brass gun to spray fractions of can then flush out with acetone to save DOLLARS of foam?normally lost per use as without the cans nozzle gets plugged within hours of single use irreparably.
These foams set quickly and latest versions promise nanobubbles making surface paintable I think! Personally I would put wax paper against rack clamp and have conversation piece on frame permanently selfglued and banding 360 to match grips perfectly and spread force BETTER than any alternative adding only grams.
So are you saying the clamp loosened up while you were driving? That would be alarming.
Very nice -- I am not surprised at the price,,,,it is the Tesla of bike racks - LOL
Cheers
Hey Patrick, small world!... Cheers! (Voltair).
Will this hold two Specialized turbo levo comps?
In three years this thing has gone up 250 bucks
Yep. Ridiculous. Lets go Brandon.
Does it lock at the hitch pin
Yes. In Europe we ha e brake and indicator lights. Cool. Eh?
why don't we have European style of hitch bike rack that comes with REAL brake lights in North America?
Can you please talk about the connection to the hitch receiver?
Does it has a locking pin?
It locks, yes. Here's another overview video which shows this: th-cam.com/video/whuvYx49BKY/w-d-xo.html
How does this handle long wheelbase cargo bikes? Are there adapters for tadpole trikes? Or do I keep saving my pennies?
Check out a rack that Hollywood Racks sells specifically to handle up to 2 electric cargo bikes. I have and use the Hollywood rack on a regular basis.
@Bob and Jayne Dambman
Thanks for the info.
Cargo bikes like the Yuba Mundo have wheelbases of almost 56 inches.
Wish it came in a single carrier.
Will this rack be good for 2 Radrunners?
Very expensive. I will stick with my 100 dollar metal bike rack/luggage rack that holds up to 500 pounds. It is strong and solid. I have to use two ratchet straps and two Velcro straps for the tires.
I like it
Xt2 means two bike in that the xt3 holds three
Good review is there a more affordable hitch rack you reccomend .tia.
Check out Hollywood racks, they have a few e-bike specific racks that can handle the extra weight. My family uses a Hollywood rack on a regular basis. The overall mechanics aren't as heavy-duty as the Thule however. It works fine for us though.
You look strange without a bike helmet on..
USA DMV about add on lights is very iffy
Wow Québec merci Canada ❤😅😊
That ramp is too short
I like your hair
drive down a dirt road with this rack and show me what the bikes look like at the end of that dirt road....only 9inch spacing between bikes? thats a no for me dawg....
So..... my bike 🚴 is 92 lbs
A bike 🚴 rack that cost more than my bike?
You need a narrator...
If ebikes came standard with recharging windmills for when on roof racks YOUR silence on meters lost EVEN in a hybrid per gallon or many MANY miles per charge on ANY ekectric car on highway from EVEN empty roof racks would arguably not be so negligent.
THE June 2019 print figure from consumer reports I think WAS racks COST to leave on roof about a third more gas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes you burn on a long high speed trip extr a ENTIRE tanks or literally hour's parked to charge if you can't live without tall long frame based wheels.
Evolution ruthlessly shrivels not just to folding the 'bike'. This weekend I hoped to buy a golf club carrier flight suitcase for half off lol. No SUCH 'luck' the sun was just too out AND I slept in instead.
Arguably owning this rack saves THOUSANDS in petrol over life BEFORE even factoring in trip replacements. Given that however surely you Sir can find?or develop an enclosed genuinely aerodynamic range extending battery INCLUDING as high cost option FOUR bike trailer for our carbon fiber now bareky teens used German BATTERY car of yesteryear? Owner's likewise of the routinely $3,000ish used emissionless smart Mercede's car's do spend more on one bike and need a way of bringing them!
As far as enclosed roof racks go large format 3D printing enables custom built to exact car and bike(s) dimensions?with the ramp not needing to be rigid at all duh, nor even inflatable. The walk mode allows?vertical?climbs omfg grow THIS clue or else neurons are lacking BEYOND few.
Talk about dragging something out 😴
This rack sucks!!! i got it for my two kenevo's to to replace my standard 2" thule platform rack. Super flimsy!! It was a downgrade from my previous rack even thought it cost 250$ more!! could not use the clamps because the head doesnt pivot. Clamping bar always in the way and you cant fold it out of the way!! Tire straps also suck. You have to balance the bike with one hand and then try to strap the tire with the other hand. Also the tire trays are super cheap plastic and barely held my 2.8 tires. Got a new 1 Up rack much much better!! Dont get the stupid thule easyfold!!!
hmm , always thought it was pronounces like 'THOOL' .
nope. "toolie".
First
You got it! How's your weekend going?!
Don’t like it
Good review. Rack sucks
I thought this was about a $750 electric bike not a freaking car holder for Car rack for 750 not rich like you
So you didn't bother to read the title.
Hey, I don't own most of the products reviewed here... I drive or fly around and cover them in shops, at the manufacturer, or sometimes with a friend. I also donate most of the bikes that we buy for testing. Got one like that in the works now, keep an eye out for an Ancheer review soon :D
@Bumble Blimfield Some people CAN afford this type of stuff though. That's why the reviews are so varied and not just tailored to you buyers on a tight budget.
Judgemental much? What makes you think the reviewer is “rich” just because he happens to be reviewing a high end rack? He reviews all price ranges of bikes and equipment.