| Bike rack review; Atera Strada 3 bike rack | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Dec 2 2011, 08:36 PM (2,513 Views) | |
| Rich_F | Dec 2 2011, 08:36 PM Post #1 |
Mudthing
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All, At the last Club ride a number of folks were looking at and rubbing their chins in the general direction of our Atera STRADA DL 3 bike rack.  We've had it since March 2010 and I thought it time I did a quick write up on how we've found it. The Pros It works like a dream!. The rack uses a towball attachment and when you have to manhandle it to attach to the car whilst it’s a bit awkward, but it’s not massively heavy for what it does. Atera do a beefier version of the rack for the heavier downhill type dude bikes (that also has wider gutters for bigger wheels). Fitting to the towball is foolproof, although you can overtighten if you go a bit mad (You push down a big handle and only need one click to secure.). Attach the electrics and it’s on to adding some bikes.  Solid, secure, simple The rack works by having a strap securing each wheel, plus an arm and strap on the frame. The wheel straps are solid things, with an easy to use ratchet system to tighten them up.  Wheel strap and ratchet The frame arm can be rotated to fit pretty much any size and shape frame. The strap that attaches to the frame has a steel core, making it more secure and it’s this kind of feature you’re paying for. The frame strap locks using a key and again uses a simple to use ratchet.  Gentle frame holding (the lock and key access is round on the hidden side..) I’ve not had a need to fit three bikes on there yet , but fitting two is pretty easy. Again, everything can be moved about to make it fit different frame sizes and there are even nice rubber bumpers to protect your pride and joy’s paintwork. Fitting a number plate is a bit fiddly, but secure once it’s on there. One of the big benefits of this rack is the ability to get to the boot of your car, by sliding the whole rack backwards. This is done using a button and a foot operated bar. Very easy and as the bikes slide (rather than just pivot) you never have to take the full weight of the bikes when you slide back. Very clever and the mechanism has remained smooth even with lots of use. At your destination, taking the bikes off is quick and easy, and I stick the rack in the car whilst I’m out riding. Gone is the faff of squeezing muddy bikes into an already packed car. Oh and you can buy an add-on kit to get a fourth bike on there if you want to as well. It’s a well made, well put together rack with good quality materials, that’s a joy to use. And the Cons Its not cheap! I paid over £300, and there’s the cost of fitting the towball on top of that if you don’t have it already. Consider it an investment, especially as putting cars in the boot is free! Learning how to fit the bikes on takes a little time, so you need to allow some time until you have it sorted. There’s a few other fiddly things, like how it’s possible to lose the rubber protective bumpers as they are not attached to the straps themselves and they can slide off. I’ve also managed to slightly mangle one of the wheel straps from over zealous tightening. It still works just fine regardless. The biggest drawback is a slight design flaw with the slide mechanism, or more specifically how the rack fixes back in the upright position. When you slide the rack back upright, it’s possible for the rack to not lock in position. If you’re not careful it is possible to drive off and then get sparks from the back as the rack slides back and grinds along the road! Thankfully the rack takes the damage (I’ve done this) rather than your pride and joy. The trick is to make sure the little green release button that you press to release the rack has returned to the upright position. Once you know what to check its much less of a problem – and you only tend to forget just the once ! Overall, an impressive bit of kit – not 100% perfect, but pretty damn close. A real joy to use and a good (if expensive) way to keep the muddy bikes out of the car during the winter. R |
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| belugabob | Dec 2 2011, 08:45 PM Post #2 |
Mudking
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Top review Rich - will probably be getting one of these if/when my Thule 9503 needs to be replaced. Not sure that number plate is legal, though 
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| Ming the Merciless | Dec 2 2011, 09:50 PM Post #3 |
Overlord of all Known Sheds!
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We've got the Atera heavy weight version for ahem more massive bikes, it takes takes two bikes in stock form and is a bit more rugged. Again you have to practice fitting the bikes to ensure they go on smoothly but once familiar you can put the bikes and rack on the car in about 5 minutes. I would keep a few bits of pipe foam in the boot to fit around forks etc to avoid the occasional rub point when things are sitting in the buffet generated at 80mph....ahem I went the DIY route for towball fitting and it took 30 mins to fit the towbar and metal work and then half a day (4hrs) to wire in the electrics neatly (flipping CAN-BUS systems make it a pain) as well as working out how to get at the bits of the loom to do the work, now I've done it once I suspect I could do it neatly in 2.5hrs. The pivot system is slightly different as well but still allows you to open the boot of an estate with the bikes loaded. The engagement is more positive than Rick's version so we've not had any sparky issues. It's taken Mrs Mings bike twice and one trip with the Bucket and the other the Beast to Cornwall, so its easily had 2000 miles of hauling two bikes problem free. I will add that when carrying the Beast (43lb) and Mrs Mings bike any distance I've used uber zip ties we use for feeder rigging on radio masts for a bit of extra security and paranoia easing as it does wobble a bit without them. Not cheap but a quality bit of kit. |
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| Chadders | Dec 5 2011, 07:15 AM Post #4 |
Mud Connoisseur
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I have the Atera roof mounted system and I have to say I am very impressed with the whole product range having seen Rich's rack too. Everything is just a bit more thought about than on the Thule racks I tried. They are often a little cheaper if you find the right place. The Roof Box Company seem to be very competitive. |
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| darth vader | Dec 19 2011, 07:54 PM Post #5 |
Mudking
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Handy Hint is to wrap an old towel or rags over the interesting bits of the bike as a disguise, a chap I know in Seaford reckons he was followed home by some one who saw his nice bike on the car , the bike got nicked that night nothing else taken nasty |
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