Bike Carrying

[Pylon37]

Hi all. Can anyone recommend a bike carrier for the Mk3 5 door Leon?

I currently use a Saris Solo which is really good but now looking to carry more than one bike so interested in any recommendations. Particularly interested in how secure the rack fits and how quick to put on/ off?

Particularily interested in the Saris Bones or the Buzzrack Beetle but would welcome any recommendations for the mk3.

Not really wanting to go down the roof bar route - had them on my Honda CR-v and while they probably work a lot better than a rack , i suspect they would spoil the look of the car and I couldnt be bothered with the hassle of taking them on and off after every use.

 

[hstjern]

I know its a pricier option, but have you looked into getting a detachable towbar and using that with a bike carrier?
Just got a quote on my Leon MK3 5D without the "towbar prep" as an option.
The garage wanted 1200 for a Seat Original towbar. (labour cost around 600 included)

 

[Doug_m]

Had the saris bones 3 on another two cars, A3 and 3series saloon.
Great bit of kit but paint rub is the issue.
I sold it as I couldn't face putting it on my new Leon paint...

Thinking of going down the roof rack route myself.

 

[hstjern]

@Doug m

Great info regarding the Saris Bones, was looking at getting one of thoose as an option instead of having to fork out 1200 for a towbar.

When it comes to roofrack I'm more concerned about how I get the bike up on the roof in an easy way.
Have never installed a bike on roofrack tho, maybe its easy done.

 

[concerned cat]

Roofrack. No question. I have an ST. The feet on my old Passat won't fit so invested in some new ones & still kept the bars. Thule may be a bit expensive but they're not the market leaders for nothing! Another bonus with roof systems is that you can still use the tailgate without a problem.

 

[Ewan]

@Doug m

Great info regarding the Saris Bones, was looking at getting one of thoose as an option instead of having to fork out 1200 for a towbar.

When it comes to roofrack I'm more concerned about how I get the bike up on the roof in an easy way.
Have never installed a bike on roofrack tho, maybe its easy done.

Just open the door and stand on the sill to get the bikes on. I use a roof rack with three bike carriers on it. Not on a Leon however but Chevrolet Kalos would not use this on my Leon. Roof rack mountings still cause paint rub issues. Whilst it is more expensive the towbar mounted carrier is best for car and bikes.

 

[neil_f225]

Just open the door and stand on the sill to get the bikes on. I use a roof rack with three bike carriers on it. Not on a Leon however but Chevrolet Kalos would not use this on my Leon. Roof rack mountings still cause paint rub issues. Whilst it is more expensive the towbar mounted carrier is best for car and bikes.

I've used thule roof bars on various cars over the years and they've never damaged the paint. Currently have them on my Leon St. I'm only 5'7" and can easily lift two bikes onto the roof without standing on the door sill. If you were going to carry a third bike then yes you would probably need to stand on the sill to reach to the middle. Roof bike carriers also offer more security as the bikes are locked onto them. My brother has the thule towbar carrier which is also excellent and better on his car as it is a 4x4 making it harder to lift a bike onto the roof. Only downside is cost of fitting towbar as well and when parking it sticks out of the parking space.

 

[Ewan]

I've used thule roof bars on various cars over the years and they've never damaged the paint. Currently have them on my Leon St. I'm only 5'7" and can easily lift two bikes onto the roof without standing on the door sill. If you were going to carry a third bike then yes you would probably need to stand on the sill to reach to the middle. Roof bike carriers also offer more security as the bikes are locked onto them. My brother has the thule towbar carrier which is also excellent and better on his car as it is a 4x4 making it harder to lift a bike onto the roof. Only downside is cost of fitting towbar as well and when parking it sticks out of the parking space.

The bars that damaged the paint on the roof are Thule bars!
Admittedly the Kalos does not have proper roof bar attachment points.

 

[stevemc81]

My Leon with a Saris Bones 3 on it - http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showpost.php?p=4404895&postcount=13

Works fine, felt a bit shoogly at first but I just needed to tighten the straps and grow a pair. I also put some cloth between the hooks and the car paintwork to avoid scratches. Oh and try not to engage reverse because the rear wiper fires and gets caught in the straps.

 

[Seastormer]

My Leon with a Saris Bones 3 on it - http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showpost.php?p=4404895&postcount=13

Works fine, felt a bit shoogly at first but I just needed to tighten the straps and grow a pair. I also put some cloth between the hooks and the car paintwork to avoid scratches. Oh and try not to engage reverse because the rear wiper fires and gets caught in the straps.

Don't you have to put a reg plate and lights over the bikes, as the police pulled my mate for not having that, another reason for sticking bikes on the roof.

 

[Pylon37]

Thanks for the advice all - very helpful

looking at the image it looks like the number plate and lights would still be visible as its a fairly high level carrier and the rear no plate sits pretty low on the leon.

Years back I had one of the older low level types (A Paddy Hopkirk) on my Renault Scenic, that totally obscured the number plate and lights - think the police might justifiably have had an issue with that one but if they pulled you for the Saris Id be thinking they didnt have much to do.

 

[Seastormer]

Thanks for the advice all - very helpful

looking at the image it looks like the number plate and lights would still be visible as its a fairly high level carrier and the rear no plate sits pretty low on the leon.

Years back I had one of the older low level types (A Paddy Hopkirk) on my Renault Scenic, that totally obscured the number plate and lights - think the police might justifiably have had an issue with that one but if they pulled you for the Saris Id be thinking they didnt have much to do.

Sounds about right, looking for easy targets to fine and get their quota's met.

 

[Doug_m]

Picked up roof rack and 2x bike carriers from Seat yesterday.
Bit disappointed with the carriers, my MTB wheel wont fit into the front wheel holder part so the strap doesnt go round. Basically useless. A 2.2 wide tyre so not stupid wide :/
Taking them back and looking at thule pro ride 591's instead.

 

[DEAN0]

Picked up roof rack and 2x bike carriers from Seat yesterday.
Bit disappointed with the carriers, my MTB wheel wont fit into the front wheel holder part so the strap doesnt go round. Basically useless. A 2.2 wide tyre so not stupid wide :/
Taking them back and looking at thule pro ride 591's instead.

Thule 591 highly recommended.

Had 4 of them on top of my Ibiza SC roof bars ( 2 point forwards & 2 point backwards )

Rock solid bike mounts even at motorway speeds.

 

[Doug_m]

Thule 591 highly recommended.

Had 4 of them on top of my Ibiza SC roof bars ( 2 point forwards & 2 point backwards )

Rock solid bike mounts even at motorway speeds.

Cheers Deano, picked up a brand new pair from someone on gumtree for £100 so saving £80 on the Seat ones too

Not fitted yet but will tomorrow!

 

[DEAN0]

Cheers Deano, picked up a brand new pair from someone on gumtree for £100 so saving £80 on the Seat ones too

Not fitted yet but will tomorrow!

Not sure if you got the instructions with them but you can configure them so the bike clamp and key lock face outwards on the car - even when both racks are facing forwards.

 

[Doug_m]

Not sure if you got the instructions with them but you can configure them so the bike clamp and key lock face outwards on the car - even when both racks are facing forwards.

Ah... Nice one.

Will have a look into that. Thought it would be a bit awkward

 

[slamka33]

Thule 591 highly recommended.

Had 4 of them on top of my Ibiza SC roof bars ( 2 point forwards & 2 point backwards )

Rock solid bike mounts even at motorway speeds.

Just a question - do you think about max allowable weight which can be carried on the roof? For Leon ST, it is 50kg. Quite small weight..

With Thule system you can carry just TWO bikes! Crazy, but calculate with me:

Thule wingbar roofracks, 3kg (with lockers already)
Thule 591, 4kg each
nowadays bike, 14kg each.

2 bikes:
3 + 2*4 + 2*14 = 39kg, OK
3 bikes:
3 + 3*4 + 3*14 = 57kg, NOT OK, but 7kg overweight..lets say should be
With your 4 bikes:
3 + 4*4 + 4*14 = 75kg, NOT OK, 50% more than allowed for Leon ST, do not know how much is allowed for your Ibiza SC.....

So question for all - Do you consider this max weight or just don't care???

 

[DEAN0]

Bored now

 

[slamka33]

Well, weight quoted by Thule is speaking about weight which can be carried on the roofbars.

But SEAT has own limitation of max. allowable weight carried on the roof, it means max weight which will not "destroy/crack" or anyhow else impact your car roof and will be safely still kept on the roof (if used properly roof bars).

So, Thule is speaking about 100kg, SEAT 50kg.
It means - Thule can be used for ANY car and can carry up to 100kg.

But if Thule carrying capacity is 30kg, then you can use it as well on SEAT, but you can not exceed 30kg (even when Seat Leon max weight is 50kg). You still have to keep lowest limitation.

For example, small Citroen C3 has max roof weight 60kg... Funny, but reality.