
The Bones Bike Carrier is a popular choice among cyclists, and for good reason. It's a heavy-duty bike rack that can hold up to 5 bikes, making it perfect for families or groups of friends.
The Bones Bike Carrier is designed to be easy to use, with a simple clamp-on design that fits most vehicles. It's also made from durable steel, ensuring it can withstand rough handling and harsh weather conditions.
One of the standout features of the Bones Bike Carrier is its ability to fit a wide range of bike types, including road bikes, mountain bikes, and even e-bikes. This makes it a great option for cyclists who have multiple bikes or like to switch between different types of bikes.
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Product Overview
The Bones Bike Carrier is a top-notch product that's designed to make carrying your bikes a breeze. It fits over most spoilers, including those on popular sedans, hatchbacks, and SUVs.
One of the standout features of the Bones Bike Carrier is its premium bike hold downs, which are incredibly easy to use and quick to load. This makes it perfect for those who need to transport their bikes frequently.
The integrated strap management caps do a great job of hiding away strap excess and eliminating pesky flapping. This keeps your bike rack looking tidy and organized.
The ratchet straps on the Bones Bike Carrier are the best in class, speeding up the process of securing your bike to the rack. This is especially useful when you're in a hurry or need to transport multiple bikes.
The Bones Bike Carrier boasts the strongest frame on the market, ensuring that your bikes are safe and secure during transport. This is a must-have feature for anyone who values their bike's safety.
The Bones Bike Carrier is built with 100% recyclable materials, making it a more eco-friendly option for bike enthusiasts. This is a great choice for those who prioritize sustainability.
Here are some key features of the Bones Bike Carrier:
- Unique dog leg fits over most spoilers
- Premium bike hold downs
- Integrated strap management caps
- Best-in-class ratchet straps
- Strongest frame on the market
- Built with 100% recyclable materials
- Rust-free injection molded plastic
- Rubber feet articulate to protect paint
- Arc–based design separates bikes on different levels
Design and Features

The Bones bike carrier is a masterpiece of design and functionality. It features an arc-based design that fits over most spoilers and separates bikes on different levels.
The arms are injection-molded and are the strongest on the market, ensuring a sturdy hold on your bikes. The rubberized feet protect your car's paint, while the coated straps protect your bike from scratches.
The rack's design also includes a unique dog leg that fits over most spoilers, including those on popular sedans, hatchbacks, and SUVs. This feature makes it easy to load and unload your bikes.
Here are some key features of the Bones bike carrier:
- Arc-based design fits over most spoilers and separates bikes on different levels.
- Injection-molded arms are the strongest on the market.
- Rubberized feet protect car paint.
- Coated straps protect bike.
Bike Rack (2-Bike)
The Saris Bones Bike Rack is a game-changer in trunk-mounted bike hauling. Awarded 4.5 out of 5 stars from Bicycling Magazine, it's a tested statement of style, design, convenience, and durability.
One of the standout features of the Bones rack is its arc-based design, which fits over most spoilers and separates bikes on different levels. This design makes it easy to carry multiple bikes at once.
For your interest: Family Cargo Bikes
The injection-molded arms and legs of the Bones rack are the strongest on the market, providing a secure and stable hold for your bikes. This is especially important if you plan on carrying heavy bikes or riding in rough terrain.
The rack's rubberized feet protect your car's paint job, while the coated straps protect your bike from scratches. This attention to detail is a testament to the rack's design and functionality.
The Bones rack is compatible with most vehicles, but it's always a good idea to consult the Saris Fit Guide to ensure a proper fit. A BarNone may be required for frames without a horizontal top tube.
Here are some key specs to keep in mind:
- Carries 2 bikes (35lbs/bike)
- Compatible with most vehicles
- Injection-molded arms and legs
- Rubberized feet
- Coated straps
- Designed by Fabio Pedrini
- Built with 100% recyclable materials
- Rust-free injection molded plastic
A Cut Above
The Bones trunk rack is a game-changer when it comes to bike hauling. Its unique arched leg design allows it to fit over most plastic spoilers found on popular sedans, hatchbacks, and SUVs.

The rack's premium bike hold downs are easy to use and quick to load, making it a hassle-free affair for traditional diamond shape frames like road bikes and hardtail mountain bikes. The straps are plenty long and hold bikes snug, with the two top tube straps and one seat tube strap keeping the bikes from swaying into one another.
The rack's six straps keep it snug to the vehicle, but it's worth noting that full suspension mountain bikes can be difficult to mount without an optional bike beam. Bikes with a low top tube and small bike frames with water bottle cages may also require a bike beam add-on.
One of the standout features of the Bones EX is its ability to fit 90% of the top 50 vehicles sold in the USA. This is thanks to its unique dog leg design, which fits over most spoilers. The rack is also made in Madison, Wisconsin, USA, with locally sourced materials that will last a lifetime.
The Bones EX features a streamlined strap management system, which hides away strap excess and eliminates pesky flapping. The best-in-class ratchet straps speedily fasten bikes to the rack, making it easy to load and unload bikes.
Here are some of the key features of the Bones EX:
- Unique dog leg fits over most spoilers
- Premium bike hold downs
- Integrated strap management caps
- Best-in-class ratchet straps
- Strongest frame on the market
Installation and Setup
The Bones bike carrier is known for its simplicity and ease of use, but installation can seem a bit overwhelming at first.
The rack folds into itself with straps dangling everywhere, but it's actually pretty straightforward with clear labels like "upper", "side", and "lower" stamped into the hooks.
Loosening the arms is easy with simple knobs to turn, and the feet rotate to align with your vehicle's contours.
The straps are also easy to snug tight, and the rack remains tight even on bumpy roads.
The Bones 2-Bike rack comes folded up when you unbox it, making it easy to store and transport.
Adjusting the arms is a breeze: just hand-loosen the knobs and rotate them to fit your trunk.
Once you've positioned the rack, slide the top, side, and bottom clips into place and pull the straps tight – the mounting process takes less than a minute.
Removing the rack is just as easy, taking only 15 seconds to loosen the straps, flip the top clips upside down, and pull the rack away from the trunk.
Expand your knowledge: Pull behind Bike Carrier
Performance and Issues
The Bones bike carrier is designed to be sturdy and reliable, with a maximum weight capacity of 135 pounds.
It's also worth noting that the carrier can support two bikes, making it a great option for families or friends who want to transport multiple bikes at once.
The carrier's frame is made of durable steel and features a sleek, low-profile design that won't obstruct your view while driving.
Bike Hauling
The Bones rack features soft ratcheting strap hooks to hold bikes securely in place. The straps are plenty long, which is great for loading and unloading bikes without having to worry about them being too short.
The arc of the arms on the Bones rack keeps bikes separated a bit more than other straight arm racks, which is a nice feature. This design helps prevent bikes from colliding with each other during transport.
The two top tube straps and one seat tube strap on the Bones rack keep bikes from swaying into one another, but do nothing to prevent the front wheels from flopping about. This is a common issue with trunk racks.
For another approach, see: One Bike Carrier
The arms on the Bones rack measure 21cm apart center to center, which may be a bit narrow for some modern bikes. However, the straps hold the bikes secure, and the rack's six straps keep it snug to the vehicle.
If you have a full suspension mountain bike, you may need to use an optional bike beam to mount it to the rack. Similarly, bikes with a low top tube or small frames with water bottle cages may also require a bike beam add-on for secure mounting.
Strap Issues No Locks
The Bones rack has a major flaw in its strap management - they're plenty long, leading to a lot of excess. This makes it difficult to keep the straps tidy.
You'll need to get creative with knot tying to manage the extra length, which can be frustrating. I've tried it myself and it's not the most efficient solution.
There's no way to lock the rack to the vehicle, which can be a concern for security. This is a common issue with racks of this nature.
You'll also find that there's no way to lock the bikes to the rack, leaving them vulnerable to theft. This is a major drawback for bike owners.
How It Works with Cars

The Bones 2-Bike stays in place better than other trunk racks due to its side straps, which halt lateral movement when tightened.
The metal clips are covered in nylon and haven't appeared to scratch cars after two months of use.
My Accord's panel gaps measure 5mm and the clips easily slid between them with the trunk closed.
The rubber feet on the end of the rack's arms can leave a residue if you don't clean them.
Despite its lightness, the Bones 2-Bike felt rock-solid during use.
The rack comes with a lifetime warranty for the original owner.
A different take: Deluxe Trunk Bike Carrier
Review and Guide
The Bones bike carrier is a breeze to set up and use. It comes folded up when you unbox it, making storage a cinch.
Adjusting the arms is a straightforward process that takes no time at all. Simply hand-loosen the knobs that hold the arms in place and rotate them to fit your trunk.
Removing the rack is just as easy, taking a mere 15 seconds. Just loosen the straps, flip the top clips upside down, and pull the rack away from the trunk.
Saris 2-Bike Trunk Rack Review
The Saris Bones 2-bike trunk rack is a classic design that's been a game changer in trunk-mounted bike hauling.
It's built with 100% recyclable, rust-free plastic materials, making it a great option for those who care about the environment.
This rack carries two bikes, each weighing up to 35lbs, and is surprisingly lightweight itself, weighing in at just 8.5lbs.
The articulated rubber feet ensure a secure fit on your vehicle, while the arc-based design separates the bikes on different levels to prevent scratching or damage.
The Saris Bones 2-bike trunk rack is available in two colors: Black or Gray.
Here are the key specs at a glance:
Pros
The Bones Bike Rack is a game-changer for cyclists. It's designed by Fabio Pedrini, a renowned Italian designer, and has received high praise from Bicycling Magazine, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars.
One of the standout features of the Bones Bike Rack is its ability to carry two bikes, each weighing up to 35lbs. This is perfect for couples or families who need to transport multiple bikes.

The rack is also incredibly durable and features injection-molded arms and legs that are the strongest on the market. This means you can trust it to hold your bikes securely, even on bumpy roads.
The Bones Bike Rack is also designed with convenience in mind. It has a spring buckle strap system with vinyl-coated hooks, which makes it easy to load and unload your bikes. Additionally, the rack is built with 100% recyclable materials, making it a great choice for environmentally conscious cyclists.
Here are some of the key benefits of the Bones Bike Rack:
- Easy to install and adjust without tools
- Adapts to a wide range of trunk shapes
These features make the Bones Bike Rack an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable and convenient bike rack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saris Bones 3 worth the money?
The Saris Bones 3 is a solid investment for bike owners, offering reliable bike security and a simple setup process. Its quality build and performance make it a worthwhile purchase for those seeking a reliable boot-mounted rack.
What is the difference between Saris Bones and Bones EX?
The main difference between Saris Bones and Bones EX is the design of the upper leg, which is arched on the Bones EX to avoid contact with plastic spoilers. This design allows for a more even bike load distribution.
Sources
- https://www.driveden.com/product/saris-bones-rear-mount-2-bike-carrier-black-6369
- https://mikesbikes.com/products/bones-2-bike-black
- https://bixbybicycles.com/products/saris-bones-ex-2-bike-trunk-rack-804-used
- https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/accessories/bike-racks/saris-bones-2-bike-trunk-rack-review
- https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/a25475469/saris-bones-2-review/
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