Saris Freedom 2-Bike Hitch Rack – Universal Fit for All Bike Types, 1¼" & 2" Receivers, 120 lb Capacity, Compact Design, Secure Ratcheting Straps

We recently purchased a 53 lb "commuter" ebike with a step through frame and fenders. Our existing rack can not carry such a bike so I went looking for a new one. I have many requirements.1. Support for both a 1.25" and 2" hitches (I have vehicles with both)2. Support for the e-bike with the weight, step through frame and fenders being notable challenges3. Support for carbon fiber frames4. Support for a few other bikes I haveI spent hours doing research and was nearly convinced that a rack that could do everything I wanted did not exist. Then I ran across this Saris. I'm happy to say that everything on my wishlist is fulfilled!Of course no rack is perfect and this one has its own pros and cons:Pros:1. Sturdy. Loaded up with the ebike and another bike, this rack is solid. There is some axial movement when going over bumps but it's not worrying to me.2. Bikes are held very securely but also gently. I really like the tire straps and the fact that most of the bikes weight is supported by it's tires. The holders are nicely designed and interface the bike with soft surfaces.3. Lightweight. At only 21 lbs, this rack is easy to install and carry around. My 1.25" hitch is only class 1 (100 lbs max weight) so the 21lbs avoids cutting too much into the weight budget for that hitch..Cons:1. Getting the heavy ebike into the (recommended) back position requires some strength. I fold down the center bar which helps a lot but still I'd say any bike being put in the back position will need to be held at chest height for 30 seconds to a minute or more.2. It was quite a puzzle getting everything to fit the first time. The tire holders need to be slid into the best positions and the center support is too short to reach the horizontal bar of my road bike. The tire holders are also a bit close to the center bar and to each other, meaning that there are possible interference issues with the center bar and the bikes. I was able to puzzle through it all and have a satisfactory solution. Now that everything is where I decided to put it, the bikes go on very quickly.3. The shape of the rack makes it a bit awkward to store. I put up some storage hooks that are getting the job done but I wouldn't call it a tidy package when off the car.Overall, I'm very satisfied with this rack.

This rack was easy to adjust and fit in my trailer hitch. It was everything I was looking for and well engineered and built. The alignment tape was a great thought and very useful. Collapsibility of the rack without bikes allows the back up camera to view although it’s light and easy enough to remove when not in use and carry into the house or apt.NOTE: The rack is loose in the trailer hitch until the locking bolt is fully tightened at which point it becomes very solid. This is not a complaint just a note to users to tighten the both fully. If the rack was tight in the hitch it would be very difficult to get on/off. This is a solid design with good tolerances.

I recently traded up my car for an SUV is I wanted a hitch rack for my bike. I have had the Saris Bones 2 rack for years and have absolutely no complaints. I wanted a tray rack for my bike and sprung for this one as I was so happy with my last Saris rack, and other similar racks were quite a bit more pricey.I have only used this rack once since I have had it and liked it ok. Install was a breeze and the rack itself feels very sturdy so I do trust it ok. The only criticism I have as of yet is that the adjustable center clamps don't go up any higher. Fairly minor, but I would rather clamp to my crossbar as opposed to my down tube. The ratcheting straps are kind of a pain to work around/through my bottle cages. Like I said, fairly minor but for me worth throwing the note in there. Other than that no complaints and would certainly recommend for anyone wanting this style of bike rack and doesn't want to break the bank, definitely worth the money.

I may change my review to a more favorable rating after I've used this rack a few times. I've gone through three different bike rack assemblies now, and this one was by far the easiest to put together. I really do not like the plastic "cups" and don't trust them to hold the weight of my ebike, even though my bike meets the weight limit for this rack. I also found out that the 2.5 tire cups do not fit my bike. Other 2.5 ones did -- so I had to order (at a cost of $50 more) Saris's extra wide tire wheel holders. If you are only carrying one bike or you have two bikes of different weight, you must put the heavier bike on the inside mount -- closer to the car. It is really, really difficult, unless you have two people, to get the bike onto the inside mount. I like the heavy metal frame but I am extremely nervous about those plastic wheel holders. If that plastic cracks, you are going to lose your bike. I really wish those were metal. There is little support at the top part of the bike to hold it in place. I'm going to be doing a lot of extra strapping with Velcro straps to help insure the bike stays in place. In summary, I'm really nervous about this rack, especially with an ebike.