Bike racks take a lot of abuse. They sit exposed to the elements while we, and our bikes, hide safely inside. They’re bashed about, year after year, with little fanfare when they work. Or they’re a cause of annoyance on every ride when they don’t. That makes a good bike rack a really good investment. And, with the MHS Duo, Saris delivers a bike rack that works with minimal fuss, season after season, without complaint.
Saris MHS Duo 2+1
The MHS is the tray-mount style bike rack from Saris. It’s not just one bike rack, though. There are a few versions, depending on your needs. A single rack, double rack, triple rack or this 2+1 option all work off a similar base and the same design. With the 2+1, you can extend the rack to add a third tray. There’s even a basket option for non-bike weekends.
As far as bike racks go, it has some hefty towing capabilities. It can hold bikes up to 100lbs / 43kg each (or 80lbs each in the three-bike configuration). It’s also quite versatile, with the arms adjustable to hold wheels from 20-29″ and up to 5″ tires for the fatbikers out there. It will fit bikes up to 53″ / 1,346mm long, handily covering the longest of long XL bike’s I’ve tested over the years.
One interesting feature is that each tray has a built-in cable lock, so you can lock your bike to the rack (which also locks to the hitch) while running errands on the way to/from a ride. Or stop for a recovery beverage without being so stressed about having to park in eyesight of your bike.
One thing to note is that the MHS Duo only works with a 2″ hitch.
Saris offers the MHS Duo for $1,670, though seems to be online for less in some places.
Saris stands up to daily use over the long haul
I’ve had the MHS Duo on the back of my vehicle for over two years now, probably closer to three. After some initial qualms about the weight (this thing is a beefy 72 lbs), am more impressed with each passing month.
Tray racks are, I think, the way to go for modern mountain bikes. Frame shapes are weirder than ever, carbon frames are prone to scratching, especially when covered in dirt, and you just don’t have to lift the bike as high as for vertical racks. For all those reasons, I like a system that holds the bike securely without touching the frame (or fork crown). And, while North Shore-style vertical racks are also great, Saris adds a slight vertical stagger to the MHS that makes loading multiple bikes together easy. You also don’t have to worry…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…