Saris Bones 2-Bike Review

This contender is a lightweight, versatile trunk mount rack that will fit a broad range of vehicles. It can carry two bikes and utilizes quick release ladder straps to secure bikes to the frame.

Performance Comparison

Ease of Everyday Use

Loading and unloading bikes is easy, due to its low loading height. Front-wheel removal is not required, eliminating a step that must be taken with some other types of racks. Once a bike is lifted onto the rack, rubber-coated ladder straps secure the frame by the top tube and seat tube. The Bones 2 has an additional strap that wraps around the seat tube to prevent back and forth movement. When the Bones 2 is mounted to your vehicle, you will not have access to the trunk or rear compartments due to the fact that it rests on the bumper.

Ease of Removal and Storage

The instructions are of the pictogram variety with no written directions. We found them adequately easy to follow. Some trial and error is required to achieve the optimum position for the support arms that contact the vehicle. The Bones 2 is designed to deliver most of its support from the bumper, so it is important to make sure the lower arms are contacting the bumper and not the hatch or trunk lid of the vehicle. Attachment is complicated by the design of the nylon straps used to secure the rack to the vehicle. Six points of attachment are utilized. A total of three straps are threaded through the main body of the model, and each strap has a hook and cam-lock buckle on each end. The design makes attachment frustrating; centering the rack is difficult because an equal amount of strap must pass through each cam buckle on a strap for the model to be centered.

Off the vehicle, the 9 lb Bones rack is quite lightweight and easy to move around. It also collapses down into a compact size that can easily be stashed in the trunk of a car and won't take up much space in a shed, garage, or closet at home.

Versatility

This model has a two-bike capacity and a weight limit of 70lbs or 35 lbs per bike. It holds bikes in the same manner as all other trunk-mount racks we tested, on two horizontal arms. Three plastic straps are used to clamp the bike at the top tube and seat tube. This design is ideal for carrying bikes with traditional front triangle shapes and horizontal top tubes. If you have a bike with an abnormally shaped frame, Saris recommends the use of the Bike Beam which holds the bike from the handlebar to the seatpost and creates a straight tube to better fit the rack.

The support arms on the Bones 2 are adjustable and will fit a wide range of vehicles. We recommend referencing the fit guide on the Saris website to ensure that it will be compatible with your vehicle before purchasing. In their user manual, Saris states that the Bones 2 is not recommended for off-road use, and we would caution against using any trunk-mounted rack on anything other than paved roads. When we tested this rack, Saris also cautioned against using it at speeds exceeding 65mph. Since then, however, Saris has updated their user manual and increased the recommended maximum speed to 80mph.

Ease of Assembly

The Bones 2 comes out of the box ready for attachment, with no assembly required. Once unboxed, you simply have to mount it on and attach it to your vehicle. The printed mounting instructions are okay, but we'd recommend watching the short video on their website for reference.

Security

This bike rack has no security features and leaves both your bikes and the rack vulnerable to theft. This lack of security features is similar to most other trunk-mount racks on the market.

Durability

The Bones 2 is made entirely of plastic. During testing, two of the plastic screws that hold the support arms in position stripped, making them useless. This is a complaint cited in several customer reviews on other online sites. While the majority of the reviews for this contender are positive, it seems that screw failure is a recurring issue, and one to be aware of if you purchase this rack. We had no other durability issues while testing the Bones 2.

Value

The Bones 2 is somewhat expensive for a rack this basic. Other contenders function similarly, such as the Allen Deluxe 2, and are a better value. It is relatively user-friendly and may be a good option for the infrequent bike rack user.

Conclusion