Miata Mailing List: January 1997, Message #99
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   From: (none)

Subject: Re: Miata Bike Rack

   Date: (none)



I bought an earlier version of the rack from MMM a couple of years ago. 

The older version only used two bolts and only had one strap.  While

four bolts would certainly be better than two, I haven't had any trouble

with mine; it's carried my bike on many occasions, and I've carried two

bikes a couple of times.  



Only real problem I ever had was self inflicted, when I neglected to

attach the support strap to the trunk lip.  The weight of the bikes bent

the square tube "receiver", but I noticed it quickly and didn't do any

other damage.  The tube bent back relatively easily and I've had no

other incidents.  Well, none related to the bike rack.  We won't discuss

the endo in Henry Coe Park last year...



While expensive, as bike racks go, it's been a real treat to drive the

Miata when heading up for an early morning mtn bike ride!





Patrick Wei wrote:

> 

> Miata Listers,

> 

>         There was message a while back about a Miata bike rack from MM

> Marketing. Well, I called them up and found out about the rack. It attaches

> with four bolts to the license-plate area, which needs to be drilled all

> the way to the frame. In addition, two straps attach to the top of the trunk

> lid. The rack is a lot like racks that attach to sport-utes' spare tires.

> The MM rack beats those standard trunk racks in two areas. One, the MM

> rack doesn't touch the paint. Two, it is easier to mount because the part that

> attaches to the license plate is permanent.

> 

>         I still have a couple of concerns though. I don't know if the

> rack is laterally stable because most of the attachments are near the car's

> centerline. I also don't know if this is the same rack that was supposedly

> designed by a cat racer. That rack, the last I heard, attachs to the hardtop

> mounts and holds bikes very much like a roof rack would.

> 

>         If anyone has any information on the MM rack's stability and origin,

> please drop me a note.



-- 



John C. Day,  Gilroy, CA, USA    jcday@garlic.com