Review: Rad Racks Rad4 Double-Folding Bike Rack
Transporting mountain bikes never seems to be as easy as it should be. Various frame shapes and wheel sizes have caused many headaches and scratched paint throughout design iterations, but mounting the bike vertically eliminates a few of those concerns.
Rad Racks adds a twist to the growing popularity of basket-style racks that only contact the bike’s tires. Two hinges fold the mast in half and also rotate the basket to tuck well out of the way. Building a rack that folded out of the way to access truck beds and hatchbacks prompted the design. When fully lowered, the rack also doubles as a workstation too. Replaceable strap systems lock bikes with 20-29” wheels (up to 3.5” tires) into place to ensure no components are damaged.
Rad Racks adds a twist to the growing popularity of basket-style racks that only contact the bike’s tires. Two hinges fold the mast in half and also rotate the basket to tuck well out of the way. Building a rack that folded out of the way to access truck beds and hatchbacks prompted the design. When fully lowered, the rack also doubles as a workstation too. Replaceable strap systems lock bikes with 20-29” wheels (up to 3.5” tires) into place to ensure no components are damaged.
Rad 4 Details
• Articulating basket and mast pivot points
• Frame-contactless loading
• Carries 20-29" x 3" tires
• 2" hitch insert
• Anti-rattle hitch pin
• Max bike weight: 23 kg (50 lb) per basket
• Weight: 33 kg (73 lb)
• Price: $1,149.00 CAD
• radracks.ca
• Articulating basket and mast pivot points
• Frame-contactless loading
• Carries 20-29" x 3" tires
• 2" hitch insert
• Anti-rattle hitch pin
• Max bike weight: 23 kg (50 lb) per basket
• Weight: 33 kg (73 lb)
• Price: $1,149.00 CAD
• radracks.ca
ASSEMBLY & INSTALLATION
Our test rack was handed off pre-assembled, but bolting it together doesn’t seem over-complicated. All of the bolts use Teflon-coated nuts for added security and the metal is finished with a 3-stage powder coat. A ratchet set, or better yet, an impact wrench would save you time and straining your wrist, though. Rad Racks will assemble the product for $25 if you wish to pick it up locally.
The Rad4 offers three setback angles; vertical, reclined, and one that is slightly forward to give the most ground clearance. There is only one height option for the main mast but there are multiple bolt holes to set the length away from the vehicle hitch mount.
LOADING & UNLOADING
Watching riders try to figure out how to load their bikes on a foreign rack for the first time is always entertaining. The same rings true for the strap system of the Rad4. Luckily, placing the front wheel in the basket is an obvious first move on the Rad4.
First, you’ll want to load the bikes from left to right, starting with the shorter bikes to reduce any handlebar interference. I never experience any issues, even with road and BMX bikes in combination with MTBs.
If you only have one or two bikes, keeping the weight centered will reduce the strain on the rack and the movement of the bikes. Likewise, e-bikes should be placed in the center positions, remembering that each basket has a load limit of 23 kg (50lb).
I found the fastest method always started with leaving the straps in their dummy position. Next, I’d release the ski strap in the basket, add some slack to the tie-down, unhook the fabric eyelet and let it hang. This way, you have two hands free to feed the strap through the spokes. Then, load the bike in the basket, loop the straps through each wheel, rotate the cranks to the two o’clock position, and finish by tightening down the hook on the pedals.
Cinching down a bike without pedals or a chain (make sure to clock the cranks in the six o’clock position) isn’t an issue.
All of the rules and loading instructions can be found in their online user guide.
BIKE RETENTION
Wheel baskets are an excellent solution for carrying a bike without damaging any precious surfaces. The ones on the Rad Rack are angled, which I believe adds some stability to the handlebars rocking back and forth in the basket versus some homemade versions I’ve seen that keep the wheel vertical.
However, the bikes still wiggle side to side through huge potholes and water bars. Thankfully, the straps and spacing on the Rad4 lock the bikes in without ever contacting each other.
SECURITY
No bike is ever totally safe, even with heavy-duty locks and the same goes for a bike rack itself. Even though you can get a locking hitch pin, the Rad4 could be removed from the square receiver bar if you removed two bolts. Although it’s not a common occurrence, I have heard of this happening before (on another similar style rack).
As far as locking the bike to the rack itself, there is an eyelet cut into the steel frame near the middle of the mast (next to the bottle opener).
DURABILITY
During the review, none of the straps showed any signs of wear and all of the bolts stayed tight. Despite all of the pivot points and plenty of rough roads, none of the pivot points produced any play or creaks.
The paint has also held up to a decent amount of wet weather, cringeworthy salted roads, and lots of bushwhacking.
COMPARISON
We’d be foolish not to compare the Rad Racks Rad4 to another locally made product, the classic North Shore Racks 4-bike carrier. The two racks go about transporting bikes in a similar orientation, but use different capturing points. Both racks fold in half when not in use and lower to allow access to the trunk/bed space.
As quick and convenient as the NSR-4 is, there are a few downsides I’ve experienced versus the Rad4. First, is the wear that the fork cradle can induce over time, or unexpectedly. Secondly, depending on the fork lengths and head tube widths, sometimes a brake caliper can contact the adjacent fork lower. The NSR-4 also requires a separate adaptor to carry a road bike due to the fork cradle design.
The most detrimental downside to the NSR-4 is that the bike can be pushed out of the cradle if the rear wheel contacts the ground (yes, I know it’s not advised to drive off-road with either rack, but we are talking about “mountain” biking). Adding a ski strap to the cradle can reduce this, but the Rad4 does offer two points to capture the bike, the front wheel and the pedal. No bikes were lost or ever damaged with the Rad4.
I won’t get into ground clearance because that totally depends on the geometry of each individual bike and where you have the rack positioned in the hitch.
The Rad4 is heavier than the NSR-4 (23 kg) and bulkier, even when folded twice. The tie-down straps are also specifically made for Rad Racks, and although you can purchase replacements, you won’t find one in a hardware store.
It’s also a few hundred bucks more than the NSR-4. For the price of the Rad2 two-bike carrier, you could purchase an NSR-4.
If you compare apples to apples, the VelociRAX 412 is over $100 CAD more costly though. The only added benefit to that non-folding rack is the hydraulic strut to ease the lowering process.
Pros
+ Bike cannot be pushed out of rack if rear wheel contacts the ground
+ Rack does not contact frame or fork (no bike-on-bike contact either)
+ Folds out of the way when not in use
+ Fits 20-29” wheels, including road bikes
Cons
- Straps to secure rear wheel are not intuitive
- Bulky and heavy to install and remove
- Custom straps might leave you in a pinch if lost
Pinkbike's Take
 | There are plenty of options out there for bike racks these days, but having one more that brings versatility and security at no detriment to your bike's paint is welcomed. The Rad4 is a bit more complicated due to the abundance of straps, but when the loading process is learned they add peace of mind, even through the bumpiest of roads. |
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the need to have everything purchased come with a lifetime warranty leaves me very conflicted.
Its a bunch of welded tubing, and a basket to hold a wheel, what here cant be fixed or repaired for fairly cheap if required.
Add to that, most companies will look after you if you have an issue.
I'm constantly blown away that this is such an issue for people on products like this.....
You're prolly the guy who "warrantied" a couple pairs of Darn Tough socks after 5 years of use....
What makes you think that anyones rack failing is going to cover the cost of your bikes on it? Most manufactures warranties only cover their product, not damage that might occur from their product failing.
inspect your rack regularly, whether it has a warranty or not, just like our bike, and your car, etc.
a warranty is not a direct reflection of a companies faith in a product. If the rack doesnt fail in the first couple months of use, its not likely to fail. However you want this company to honour a warranty for 3 years that it'll be on the back of someones tacoma through the winter? I wouldnt, especially seeing how people treat things.
pretty well all vertical hanging racks are simpler to use dont you think?
I dont doubt their quality, but their inability to carry more than 2 bikes on their standard tray racks limits their appeal for me.
No chance that’s gonna last.
Mines 3 seasons old, its on my truck 200+ a year, and gets heavily used.
rock solid, use it on the back of my travel trailer as well.
Best money I've spent on a rack
www.homedepot.com/p/Superstrut-Channel-to-Beam-Strut-Clamp-with-U-Bolt-Silver-Galvanized-ZU501EG-10/202077398
I use one that fits my 1-1/4" hitch for my rack and it's great to prevent vertical movements of the hitch bar. I put lock nuts on top of the nuts on either side to prevent the beam from loosening over time.
If it's a joint on the 1Up rack, maybe take it back to the store you bought it from and see if they can warranty the issue for you.
I’m not for everyone
So I was just commenting that you shouldn't leave bike unattended anywhere.
Has pinkbike done a vertical rack comparison? I feel like they have, but they maybe left out the Velocirax, or a couple other contenders.
We've got almost 4 riders (One still on a balance bike, but he *can* pedal now, just prefers not to. More of a cautious type than his brother was.) in our family, so once we figure out or next vehicle we'll probably be in the market for at least a 5, if not 6 bike rack. My requirements are enough bike carrying capacity for our whole family, plus one or two extra riders (assuming our next vehicle is a mini-van or 3-row SUV that will allow us to transport a couple extra passengers), able to accommodate 20" - 29" bikes, and able to easily swing clear of a hatch or tailgate. Also not super keen on the styles that hang the bike by the handlebars or fork crown, so that rules out a couple options.
I would prefer that it had, say, two holes in the main tube that slides inside the hitch so I had an option of getting it closer to the car, but that's my only gripe and it isn't a big one.
I got a ridiculous Audi Q7 3 row SUV in anticipation of kids, which I'm a bit embarrassed by, although I love shuttling with the bros in it.
I wanted a truck, but for a $45k truck is gonna be super uncomfortable and my wife said we should test drive the Audi. It was so comfortable and fun to drive I was instantly sold. Makes long drives to the mountains much less tiring.
The mileage is pretty embarrassing though, like 20mpg and it runs on premium. Fortunately I work from home so it's strictly the adventure vehicle.
I get 4 bikes on my Mazda 3... so really don't know why you need this type of rack. Just because it is "biker style"....
Seeing the truck and immediately thinking about the CO2 discussion between Alu and Carbonn bikes some months ago...
All the camping gear.
Now, I just have one platform on the rack so it doesn't really block the license plate. The cops now leave me alone. I'll put the second platform back on if I need to carry 2 bikes. I also have another 2 roof racks, which I haven't put on my car yet. I think the cops here will crack down on vehicles with racks if the police services are not making enough money for their police services. Otherwise, tons of bikes in my province and in BC will get ticketed, which will end up in courts.
Happy 4th!
- you can legally get 3rd number plate (note: you cannot move number plate from your car)
- you can buy adapters for a plate with lights which can be simply strapped to a bike
www.drivesmartbc.ca/miscellaneous/how-wide-how-long-how-high#:~:text=A%20vehicle's%20load%20must%20not,center%20of%20the%20last%20axle.
We're all Americans from the Canadian Arctic to Tierra Del Fuego, but there is only one 'Murica.
I drive a Jeep Wrangler, and the hinge point on the rack where the mast attaches is too high. I can't open my rear door much at all, and the only solution I found was to add a drop adapter to lower the hitch receiver. This unfortunately cuts into ground clearance once the bike are on, even on my un-lifted Jeep. I rarely use my rack for this reason.
This Rad4 rack has the same issue - does that joint really have to come above the level of the hitch receiver? Is there a design reason for it?
But I also don't often leave my rack on my car. The NSR rack is so light, easy to move and attach/unattach, I generally remove it after most rides. Which makes using my SUV for family and work stuff during the week so much easier and totally removes the issue or "rack rot" or rust. Mine is almost 5 years old and looks brand new!
Anyone ever try the Yakima vertical rack?
If I am shuttling, I swap back to the original rack base and leave the Pivot at home.
Camping with the family I use the stubby base tube and the Pivot.
Not saying anyone needs to use something like a Pivot, but being able to open the tailgate fully is pretty awesome.
They have multiple positions for the standard rack to allow it to tilt and still open the tailgate (even goes low enough to swing out my ridgeline tailgate horizontally if I choose)
They also have the swingout adapter, and compared to most other upright racks the ground clearance is usually 6+ inches higher and closer to the frame (definitely vs. any of the racks like velocirax that carry by the wheels)
It's the knuckle that the main mast pivot uses - this LOLO rack also rotates that knuckle down and out of the way, which North Shore and Rad4 racks don't do.
It's the large bumps that can push a bike right off, think I'd rather have a crushed wheel than a crushed bike Really on;y something you need to worry about if you're crossing water bars and such.
I have one... it's pretty obvious if you've set it up so that the bikes are riding too low. Lots of adjustability to set it up so that it rides very high.
Wheel cradles sound great until you watch a full suspension bike actively bouncing on a rack.
I bounced a bike out of a wheel cradle rack after hitting a cattle crossing on a paved road, the rear wheel stayed attached, so I ended up dragging the bike until I could stop.
The bars spun tearing all the lines out, shredding the brake lever, bars, and grips. I dumped that rack, I now use a NSR4.
I've only seen or heard of bikes falling out and not wheels being crushed. I bet the straps would also give before the wheel crushed in the case where you weren't keeping an eye on the bikes.
Can youre aluminium folding scaffold carry 6 bikes?
Am I missing something? Just buy a van already?
Vans aren’t the answer for everyone.
There’s nothing dumb about my truck, works great.
Works great with 6 people inside, and 6 bikes on the rack.
Easy peasy
Have you ever shuttled with 5 or 6 riders? These types of racks are the way.
The 4 bike rack (412) is $999 cdn.
So it’s $150 cheaper than the Rad rack, not $100 more.
Seems like a better deal, currently back ordered though.
By all means, hate on though.
$1100 for a rack......by someone that owns a pickup truck?!
Remember marzocchi bomber girls?
Hope your day/week gets better, and you get out for a ride.
Also "no one is forcing you to buy" it's not like we have a choice nowadays because we keep accepting price hikes. In a world where Frame prices has almost doubled the last 3 years where I live, sorry but I'll keep complaining about these ridiculous prices they keep shoving at us
If you want to upen up your bumhole to these brands then be my guest