?Bicycle Carriers for Roof Rack?

[Clembo]

I Just recently purchased a 2003 PR5 with factory roof rack.

I would be interested in finding out how anyone carries a bike using the factory load bars. Are there any adapters or "quick-fixes" that anyone has found/uses? Are there wind fairings that fit particularly well? Does Mazda offer trays that I would be able to find, if so who manufactures the trays for Mazda? I know that Saris used to make all the factory Saturn Roof Rack Accessories.

I have a Saris roof rack and trays currently, and can't imagine giving up the convenience of a roof rack for carrying my bikes. I would like to use the factory bars on the Protege5, and I am a handy Machinist, so if I can make something my self, all the better...

Thanks in advance for any advice.

P.s. I will post some pics of the new ride once I get some time.

 

[pw~mp5]

I am using the Rocky Mounts. They mount directly on the Mazda cross bars and work pretty well, my only complaint is the spoiler hits the bike rear wheel when the hatch is open and my bike has a pretty short wheelbase. The front mount could be modified to move the tray forward to allow more clearance of the rear wheel. I think Thule and Yakima also makes racks that will fit the factory cross bars.

 

[booboo0809]

Yakima definantly carries a rack that is supported with the mazda oem cross bars... u can check online to check their fitment guide

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

I have an Xport 2 bike fork mount rack that attaches to the factory crossbars. As was stated, rear wheels touch the hatch spoiler. I had to trim about 1/2 inch off each of the rear of the trays too so those wouldn't touch the hatch spoiler when open all the way without any bikes on it. Also had to trim a small bit on each of the trays up front so disc calipers would clear top of tray edges. Don't have any pics of it here at work but this is the one.........

http://www.performancebike.com/images/performance/web/PDFs/xport_factory.pdf

Not sure they make it any more but was about 150.00 shipped when I got it. Have had no issues with it. Only bad thing about it is hauling krusty mt bikes home and having spooge drip on the roof. I use a Saris Bones 2 bike trunk/bumper mount rack for times when I know there are gonna be muddy bikes to bring home for gak-free roof..............or mostly use the truck for bike hauling, lol.

 

[Ride92]

Yakima no makes two different bike trays that work very well for the p5 cross bars. The first is a the yakima forklift fork mount bike trays. As stock those need to be either put on backwards or have 4" cut off the back so that they don't hit the spoiler when you open the hatch. I currently have two of them installed on my car. The other option is the yakima frontloader which is there brand new upright bike tray (both wheels stay on) which uses a vary similar system as the forklift. They will both work for factory cross bars. I don't know if any cutting or modding is needed for the frontloader. I've included some pics of my forklifts installed on my car.

 

[pasadena_commut]

Bikes mounted up on the top racks are going to knock your MPG way down. Not a problem if this is just a couple of miles to the park, but if you are routinely going to be strapping the bikes on and driving hundreds of miles you might be better off with one of the racks that mounts behind the car. Those put the bikes in the dead air behind the car and don't increase drag very much at all.

 

[Ride92]

Bikes mounted up on the top racks are going to knock your MPG way down. Not a problem if this is just a couple of miles to the park, but if you are routinely going to be strapping the bikes on and driving hundreds of miles you might be better off with one of the racks that mounts behind the car. Those put the bikes in the dead air behind the car and don't increase drag very much at all.

I drove about 300mi over the summer with two bikes, a pop up sunshade, and a tent up there and only noticed about a 2mpg drop over the whole trip. Really i don't think it's that bad to go from 30mpg to 28mpg. I can live with it.

 

[Clembo]

Thanks For the replies, I appreciate the help.

Does anyone know if I can carefully remove the center plastic that runs the length of the load bar? Is it a T-Slot under?

P.s. I choose the Roof for the convenience, not the MPG.

 

[fangtl]

I have a Thule single bike mount on OEM bars. Good thing is it takes 5 mins to install; bad thing is it will only take 5mins to get stolen.

 

[Ride92]

Thanks For the replies, I appreciate the help.

Does anyone know if I can carefully remove the center plastic that runs the length of the load bar? Is it a T-Slot under?

P.s. I choose the Roof for the convenience, not the MPG.

You want to remove what??? I have no idea what your talking about here

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

If you remove that then the feet of the rack attaching to the factory rack won't have same grip or other stuff you may carry up there and an open slot for junk to collect in and even more annoying, it may whistle or hum on the hwy like that. Give it a try tho, haven't done that with mine so just supposing ther'd be problems.

 

[XtremelyYellow]

I might be wanting to sell my forklift mounts (Exactly like pictured above). I just bought them in July and they are already cut down so the hatch opens. I just bought a new bike and it has a thru-axle fork

 

[reut1]

I might be wanting to sell my forklift mounts (Exactly like pictured above). I just bought them in July and they are already cut down so the hatch opens. I just bought a new bike and it has a thru-axle fork

buy something like this

https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)

 

[Boilermaker19]

This looks like it would work;
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...akeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

 

[Ride92]

I might be wanting to sell my forklift mounts (Exactly like pictured above). I just bought them in July and they are already cut down so the hatch opens. I just bought a new bike and it has a thru-axle fork

Yeah no need to sell they make adaptors like pictured above that work great for what you got!!!