Cycling isn’t dying. In Britain, it’s surging.
People want to save money. They want better health. The electric bike boom lets them go farther, faster, and with less sweat. But here is the problem: you can only pedal around your local park so many times before it gets boring.
To explore new routes, you need your car. And if your vehicle isn’t a massive estate or an SUV with room in the back, you have to mount bikes on the outside.
Bootlid racks? Forget them. They damage paintwork. They’re insecure. We don’t recommend them.
Roof racks are fine, unless your car is tall or your e-bike weighs as much as a small child. Lifting heavy steel frames over your head is a recipe for back injury. So more drivers are switching to towbar mounts.
We tested nine models. Here is what happened.
How We Tested It
Every rack had to tilt. This lets you open your boot without unloading every cycle.
We looked for:
– Ease of use.
– Security locks.
– Compatibility with weird bike shapes.
– How hard it is to store when not in use.
– Whether you can add extra bike slots later.
– Risk of hitting rear lamps during setup.
“Value for money matters more than fancy branding.”
We checked for fragile parts getting broken too. Finally, we weighed the cost against the performance.
The Contenders
BUZZ RACK Scorpion Pro 5
Price: £393 approx.
Capacity: Up to 3 bikes, 60 kg
Rating: 5.0 / 5 stars
This thing is cheap, but it thinks big. The Scorpion Pro handles heavy e-bikes without complaint.
It folds flat. It has wheels for rolling it into storage. You push it onto the towball. You pull a handbrake lever. It clicks.
Loading is the killer feature. An integrated ramp means you just wheel the bike on. No lifting. No straining. Adjustable rim holders and a sliding post take care of big frames.
It wins because it does the job, makes it easy, and doesn’t break the bank.
Cruz Axler 2
Price: £313 approx.
Capacity: 2–3 bikes, 45 kg
Rating: 4.5 / 5 stars
New for this summer. It made us wait for pricing, but the wait was worth it.
Easy to handle. Easy to fold. It clamps on with a handbrake mechanism similar to the Scorpion. Steel-core straps lock around frames and wheels. It fits any style of bike.
The rear lights have scrolling LEDs. They look great. They don’t need protection, which simplifies the design.
But watch the weight limit. 45 kg is tight. If you add a third slot with conventional bikes, you are pushing it.
BUZZ RACK E-Horneta 2
Price: £278 approx.
Capacity: 2–3 bikes, 60 kg
Rating: 4.5 / 5
On a budget? This is your pick.
It has a tilt mechanism. It handles heavy e-bikes (up to 30 kg each). Ratchet straps secure the wheels quickly. The upright slides for different frame sizes.
The connection to the towball uses a spin-off clamp. It is slightly fiddly, but secure.
It sits high off the ground. This matters. Why? Steep ferry ramps and speed bumps are less likely to clip your frame.
Halfords Advanced 4-Bike Rack
Price: £420 approx.
Capacity: 4 bikes, 60 kg total
Rating: 4.0 / 5
Need to transport a family? This rack holds four.
Check your towbar limits though. The rack alone weighs 19.5 kg. That leaves you with about 40–41 kg for actual bikes. That rules out multiple e-bikes, but plenty of standard and kids’ cycles will fit.
Lights are protected. Arms fold up. Straps are tight. It doesn’t feel as premium as the others, but for four slots? Good value.
Yakima JustClick EVO
Price: £489.99 approx.
Capacity: 3–4 bikes, 58 kg
Rating: 4.0 / 5
No struggling. Just lift, place, click.
It stays folded during transport. Pull out arms when needed. Adapts from road racers to mountain bikes to small wheelys.
You can buy an adapter for a fourth bike. It is easy to install, easy to remove.
But check the restrictions. You can only carry one e-bike. It won’t fit a Land Rover Discovery 4 because it covers the electric socket.
Atera STRADA EVO RV
Price: £739 approx.
Capacity: 2–3 bikes, 62 kg
Rating: 4.0 / 3
Expensive? Yes. Unique? Also yes.
It uses a slide-and-tilt system. First it slides backward. Then it tilts. This works with campers, vans, and cars with huge vertical tailgates.
You get easy boot access. You don’t lean across bikes. The bike arms are lockable and wrap around frames to protect the paint.
It is beautifully engineered. If you drive an RV or a van with tricky doors, this is the one.
Uebler i21 S 60
Price: £954 approx.
Max Load: 60 kg
Rating: 4.0 / 2
It is pricey. We still think it is worth it.
Why? Weight. It is 13 kg. Light enough to carry into your boot after you unload. Safe from theft in car parks. Compact enough to fit in tight spaces.
Click it onto the towball when needed.
The best trick? Reversing sensors. A wireless display plug into your 12V socket beeps before you back into a wall or another car.
Thule Epos
Price: £999.9
9 approx.
Capacity: 2 bikes, 66 kg
Rating: 3.5 / 6
The brand leader. The flagship. It works perfectly.
A telescopic arm lets you attach anywhere on the frame. Odd-shaped bikes are no problem. Steel bands hold wheels securely. It folds into a suitcase-sized cube.
We love it.
We wince at the price. For most people, cheaper options do the job just fine.
Halfords Advanced 2
e-bike Rack
Price: £400 approx.
Capacity: 2 e-bikes
60 kg
Rating: 3.0 /
5
Built for big e-bikes. Chunky slots. Beefy frame. 60 kg capacity.
It has wheels. It folds. It feels solid.
But the tail-lights are unprotected. It lacks some features of competitors. It is easy enough, but offers less for the money.
The Verdict
Some riders spend thousands on their bikes. They don’t blink at a thousand pounds for a rack.
For most of us? Value counts.
Top spot: BUZZ RACK Scorpion PRO 5. Easy, strong, affordable.
Second: Cruz Axler 3. Smart, stylish, easy storage.
Third: BUZZ RACK E-HorNET 2. Sturdy, well-priced, practical.
What You Need To Know
Racks are an investment. Especially if you also paid for a towbar.
Do your homework.
Wheel Support vs Hang-On:
We tested wheel-support racks. These hold the frame and rim.
Hang-on racks clip only the top bar. They are cheaper. Easier to store.
But they are less secure. They don’t fit all frame shapes (good luck with those geometry-heavy e-bikes). They are more likely to scratch your paint. You’ll also need a separate lighting board to stay legal.
Heavy E-bikes:
Check the weight capacity. Check the wheel size accommodation.
Your Car:
Not every rack fits every car.
- Rear spare wheels on SUVs block many designs.
- Vertical tailgates on MPVs might not open. Even with tilting racks, clearances matter.
- Some doors hit the rack when opening.
Measure twice. Buy once.
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