Bike rack manufacturer Saris is known for their high quality, yet affordable offerings in the bike rack market, and for 2019 they’ll offer a rack that will compete with Kuat, 1Up, and other premium racks.
The MTR (modular tray rack) will be available in a one bike base model for 1.25-inch hitches and a two bike base model for two-inch hitches. One and two bike add-ons will also be available, making it extendable to fit up to four bikes on one rack with a two-inch hitch, or up to three bikes with a 1.25-inch hitch.
Saris is trying to make bike transportation as easy as possible with the MTR. There aren’t any vertical posts to maneuver a bike around. By popping just the front wheel of the bike onto the tray, consumers can push the bike up and onto the rack without lifting, which is helpful for consumers with physical limitations. Saris says that a ramp will also be available for the end of the tray.
The MTR will accommodate almost all wheel sizes, from a 20-inch BMX to a 27.5-inch wheel with a five-inch wide tire or a 29-inch wheel with a three-inch wide tire. Buyers will need to adjust the rack with a hex key to change the rack to fit different wheel sizes, but the MTR has a hex key stowed away at the bottom of the rack.
The MTR will also come equipped with an extendable cable on each tray for security against bike theft.
The MTR will be made of aluminum and will weigh about 65-pounds. The base racks can support about 50-pounds per bike and the add on trays support 35-pounds per bike.
No launch date has been announced yet, but Saris says that the MTR will be available in 2019. The price hasn’t been announced yet either, though expect a premium price tag to accompany the premium quality, probably upwards of $500-600.
Aluminum construction and it weighs 65 pounds! That must be incorrect, my steel Thule weighs around 52 and they appear to be of similar size. I always liked Saris bones racks, good product.
Not sure if I like the idea of adjusting the rack with a hex key to fit different wheels sizes. I would have to contantly deal with that because I have a few bikes with different wheel sizes. With my Thule rack even with older model racks it was always easy to fit 27,29 and 26 fat bike tires without any adjustments. Not sure if I am just a bit lazy but I tru to avoid the extra hassle of adjusting something if I dont have to.
Without seeing the rack in person it looks similar features to my 1Up USA rack. You have the ability to adjust for wheel size also using a hex wrench by adjusting the crossbar on the wheel supports, but this is not a hassle. A standard setting will handle 27-29 without making any adjustments. I haven’t touched this setting (not needed) but’s nice to know you can make adjustment if required, especially for junior bikes.
looks to come up short compared to 1upUSA rack. I mean the 50lb limit doesn’t cut it wheil 1upUSA offers 70 lb bike weight, plenty of room for eMTB weight on 1up, but not on this Saris. Maybe if this rack was several hundred cheaper than the 1upUSA i would buy it .. but too late I just ordered a 1up rack