From: fastreac@ajpo.sei.cmu.edu (Danford Lehman)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Thule vs. Yak Rack
Keywords: roof-mounted bike racks
Date: 13 Apr 92 23:40:49 GMT


   So far, I've seen very little advice for Kevin, but some interesting
history of Yakima's whereabouts--one can't be too sure!

   I bought a Thule roof rack & a pair of their cheapest grip-the-downtube
type bike racks ('cause the EMS store was discounting everything in the
store 20%, and that put the price for the entire deal at $210 (+/-) (sans
fit kit, which I got from REI because they had one in stock and EMS didn't
(but EMS were very nice about cancelling the order for one that I'd given))).
Yakima racks seem to be a bit more expensive than Thule, by about 8%?

   Later, in REI--which carried both brands (EMS didn't)--, I asked one
clerk for a comparison:  he thought that they were comparable, but that
the Yakima racks might be easier to install.

   I have a gutterless (read, "hidden gutter") Subaru Legacy wagon
(with some input from rec.autos etc.!).  I found installation to be
frustratingly difficult--admittedly in part because I was anxious to
run out and offer bikers lifts, but ... ['' (-; ``, for humor-impaired].
What made the installation so hard was the fact that BOTH the_securing-
_of_the_rack_pillars (which support the cross bars on which one mounts
bike racks, etc.) to the car and the locking_into_position_of_the_bars
in these pillars is effected by tightening a single long screw.  And
this screw didn't easily find its way into the threaded hole!  This makes
accurate adjustment problematic, so far as I can see.  I ended up doing
a bit of re-positioning and tightening after my initial installation
(using a lot of elbow grease, and shedding a bit of paint from the gutter
shield (grrrr)).  I don't know whether Yakima's system is better (but I'd
sure be willing to see, were I in the market again).  From a cursory look
at one on a car it seemed that there was a separate securing mechanism for
the cross bars.  If one wants to have a roof rack that can be removed (to
reduce drag, e.g.), this is an important consideration.

   Also, Thule's system was nearly devoid of directions.  The egregious
e.g. is their guide to *placement* of the rack-pillar supports:  the
illustration was as effective and precise and helpful as hearing an
adviser standing by a vehicle over 75 meters distant vaguely point
towards the roof of the car and yell "They go up here!"--some help!
The impression that I got, for my car, is that I must mount them above
the doors, and not (as I'd like) more to the rear (there is a difference
in the *give* of the rubber there.  One is referred to seek further
guidance from carmakers about load (etc.)--something I'd like Thule to
have done for me.

   I don't mean to recommend against Thule, but rather to help provide a
perspective for evaluating whatever offers are available.  Looking a bit
further, one might find that either Yak or Thule or ... <BarreMaster?>
has advantages in other accessories, for skiis, boats, luggage ($$$!)... .
(If your local Becky's Bikes only carries Thule and you want to make her
happy, choice isn't an issue.)

   A final point:  so far as I have seen, there is no competition between
these two firms for each others' accessories business--no "adaptor" kit to
enable Thule bike racks to be mounted on a Yakima bar?  Is this really so?
If so, what grot!

---Dan
------- *

=============================================================================
From: markc@hplvec.LVLD.HP.COM (Mark Carleton)
Date: Sun, 5 Apr 1992 23:51:26 GMT
Subject: Re: TREK 1000 or 400
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Loveland, CO