Bicycle rack: whether on the way to vacation or just to the starting point of the bike tour - without transporting the bikes by car it is usually not possible. Often enough, a bike rack is the method of choice; be it because the car is too small or the bikes are just too big. Most electric bikes are like this: with a weight of over 25 kilos, they can hardly be pushed into the station wagon from behind, not to mention their dimensions. So they have to be on the outside of the car - and there are different options for this: roof racks, coupling racks and tailgate racks.
The simplest option is of course to remove the wheels and put the bike in the trunk - no problem if you are traveling with a racing bike and little luggage. For mountain bikes, there's the pick-up where the front wheel and fork hang casually over the tailgate, and if you have a van, you can also make life easy for yourself. But when it comes to longer distances, trips with luggage and e-bikes, you have to come up with something else - and this is where bike racks come into play.
roof rack
Transporting additional luggage and loads on the car roof is actually a logical choice, especially since many cars today are equipped with roof rails to which cross members can be attached. These in turn accommodate the attachments for the bicycles. Sometimes you see a whole family fleet with four bicycles on the car roof. The number of bikes that can be transported depends not only on the individual bike carrier system but also on the roof load, which is between 50 and 100 kilos depending on the vehicle model. In principle, electric bikes can also be transported on the roof; however, the difficulty often lies in lifting them onto the carrier. There are two different attachment systems: either the front wheel is removed and the fork is attached to a carrier block at the dropouts, or an extension arm with a retaining claw fixes the frame while the wheels are attached with locking straps.
Roof bars are already available at very low prices, not forgetting the cost of the cross bars. It's practical that the bicycles on the roof don't restrict your view to the rear, and you don't have to get used to maneuvering either. Trunk or tailgate can be opened as usual. On the other hand, you always have to keep the roof load in mind - so that you don't get the idea of driving into a parking garage. Bicycles and e-bikes are full in the wind on the roof, which can increase fuel consumption by up to 40%. When it rains, water can be forced into insufficiently sealed bearings, etc.; Components such as the battery and display should be dismantled and the electrical contacts covered.
Coupling carrier
If you own a car with a trailer hitch, you don't have to think twice - a carrier attached to the ball head has many advantages and is the first choice for e-bikes in particular. Let's start with the assembly: The carrier is placed on the ball, aligned and clamped, then you only have to plug in the plug for the additional lights and the bikes can be charged.
Of course, there are still a few things to consider: First of all, the so-called vertical load is important, which indicates how much mass can be transported on the coupling. It can be less than 50 kilos for small cars and more than 100 kilos for large cars. The vertical load is an important parameter, especially when transporting e-bikes, as the following example shows: Two e-bikes with batteries removed weigh around 50 kilos, plus the weight of the carrier, which is usually just under 15 to over 20 kilos 65 to 70 kilos, which corresponds to the vertical load of a mid-range car. You also have to pay attention to how heavy the individual pitches can be loaded, with 30 kilos being the rule here.
Of course, it is practical that you do not have to lift the bike or e-bike very far; there are even ramps for some bike carriers, which makes things even easier. Optimal are rear carriers, which can be folded backwards even when loaded, so that you can open the trunk lid or tailgate.
Thanks to their low weight, towbar carriers are less critical than roof racks when driving; when driving in the rain, it's important to remember that the bikes are constantly being showered by the car's wake. The additional fuel consumption is significantly lower than with a roof rack and is likely to be between 15 and 20%. It's also important to note that, depending on the vehicle's width, the bikes can protrude a few centimeters from the sides. A high-quality towbar carrier costs between 400 and 1.000 Euro, models with parking sensors are about another 100 euros more expensive. Retrofitting a trailer hitch costs the same amount – so if you don't have one, you might like the third option for transporting your bike.
Tailgate support
A rear carrier makes sense on the one hand if there are no roof rails or trailer hitch, on the other hand with certain vehicles such as the VW T6, which is very popular in camper circles. Particularly solid carriers are available for this model in particular, which are also suitable for e-bikes with a load of up to 60 kilos. These carriers are fastened with retaining claws that are hooked into the tailgate, whereby care must be taken to ensure that the assembly is damage-free. Usually two to three bicycles, each weighing 15 kilos, can be carried, but there are also models that can be loaded with two times 25 kilos and are therefore suitable for e-bikes. Of particular interest for e-bike users are flap carriers with "low loaders", where the bike has to be lifted up much less. Such systems then also have rear lights and are therefore significantly more expensive.
With the standard flap carrier, the bicycles are fastened so high that the rear lights and number plates are not covered. The bikes thus protrude significantly over the vehicle roof, which, as expected, increases consumption. If the carrier is loaded, the tailgate can no longer be opened due to the additional weight, which should be considered when packing.
Especially compared to the coupling carrier, the tailgate carrier is an interesting alternative; with prices around 500 euros for a high-quality standard model, it is also comparatively cheap. You should beware of models that are supported on the rear window; when loading the bikes, make sure that there are no protruding parts in the way of the rear window wiper. And with this carrier system too, caution is called for when manoeuvring.
Attachment with locking straps and retaining claws
The bicycles are always attached to the carrier using the same principle. The bike is placed on a rail and the wheels are secured with locking straps; in addition, a holding claw fixes the frame. If you want to transport mountain bikes and e-SUVs, you should make sure that the rails are wide and deep enough to give the wheels a firm hold; the fastening straps must also be long enough. The retaining claws have to be so flexible that they can be attached to different parts of the frame - an e-bike with a low step-through and integrated battery, for example, can only be clamped to the seat tube. The retaining claws should be lockable so that the risk of theft is reduced, at least in the case of shorter stops (motorway service area); If you want to transport a bike with a carbon frame, you have to make sure that the clamp is free of damage, ie not too tight. If two or more bikes are being transported, care must be taken to ensure that there is sufficient distance between them so that they do not rub against each other while riding. Any contact points should be well padded.
If you have found and installed a suitable bicycle carrier and have securely fastened your bicycles or e-bikes, you can't really do anything wrong. Now it's just a matter of getting used to driving with the extra luggage, which means above all a forward-looking driving style and a slower pace, especially when cornering - and of course adhering to the recommended speed on the motorway. On the way to the starting point of the day tour or on vacation you shouldn't be in a hurry anyway...