Question for '10 MS3 Owners who are Road Cyclist as well.

[SpinWinger]

Recently I've been seriously considering getting the new Mazdaspeed 3. I drive a Honda Fit now and I love the roomy cargo space when the rear seats are folded flat down.

In that configuration, I can fit my road bicycle in the car upright with the front wheels off. The rear wheel will stick between the front driver and passenger seats, but it does not intrude.

I'm wondering and hoping that the Mazdaspeed 3 will be able to do the same. Has any owners transported their bikes in their MS3 like that?

Does the rear seats of the MS3 fold down to create a flat floor with the boot floor?

Can someone be so kind as to measure the maximum vertical interior height against the cargo floor board and let me know approximately where this maximum height occurs?

Thank you.

 

[rsvinylgraphics]

well not sure about the new speed 3 but my bike fits in the back of my 08.5 without even taking the front wheel off.

 

[SpinWinger]

well not sure about the new speed 3 but my bike fits in the back of my 08.5 without even taking the front wheel off.

Thank you for your reply. That is promising. Des it fit up right or on its sides?

I would like the bike in the upright position in the back, not lying on its sides. I've seen pictures of whole bikes on its side in mazda 3's but I'm trying to figure out if there is enough head room in the rear to have a small sized road bike in the up right position with front wheels off.

Thank you.

 

[Cannondale]

I measure about 750-760mm of vertical space around where the saddle would be w/ the rear seatbacks down. I'm about 5'9" w/ 30" inseam and my road bike (Giant TCR Composite) requires about 870mm of vertical height w/ the front wheel off. So it would not fit upright inside my '10 MS3. Why is it important to have the bike upright?

Personally, I have a Thule roof rack b/c I often carry multiple bikes. Works great.

Patrick.

 

[blinduno]

lol cannondale sn, but ride a giant! what c'dale do you ride?

 

[Cannondale]

Oh yeah, I forgot my own screen name! I used to ride a Cannondale CAAD3, but that frame is currently sitting stripped down in my basement. Guess I'll have to build it back up just to live up to my name.

 

[SpinWinger]

Thank you Cannondale for your reply. I have a bow case thats always on the right side of the back and my gym bag and stuff on the left side. That is why I would like to have the bike in an upright position. It just makes things look neater. I rather not have a roof rack for many reasons. Cost, added work to go through car wash, exposure of bike to elements while driving, and peace of mine while away from car.

 

[blinduno]

i dont know if my $.02 is welcome here since i drive a p5, but i can slide my bike in between front seats and back seats... just gotta take the front wheel off, and put in so that the drive side is facing forward in the car (you dont want the bike leaning on the derailleur so you dont bend that or the hang) if your bike is dirty this isnt good, but if you keep it clean not a problem. im not sure what the size difference is between our cars but i ride a 56cm road bike and and 19.5" mtn bike and both fit mine this way.

 

[Cannondale]

Good idea, blinduno. That may work. I'll try to measure the width of that backseat area tomorrow if Spinwinger is interested.

 

[SpinWinger]

Good idea, blinduno. That may work. I'll try to measure the width of that backseat area tomorrow if Spinwinger is interested.

Yeah! I'm definitely interested in exploring that possibility. I'll think that you might have to slide the front seats a little forward to give the rear area more room for the bike. Can the bottom of the rear seats fold up in the MS3?

FYI, I ride a 52cm bike, or small size with most manufacturers so its a relatively short bike.

Thank you!

 

[blinduno]

Good idea, blinduno. That may work. I'll try to measure the width of that backseat area tomorrow if Spinwinger is interested.

Id take a picture for you. Buuut I no longer have rear seats.

 

[Cannondale]

I measure 51" from armrest to armrest. It's hard to know exactly how a road bike would fit b/c you can angle it upward. If blinduno got his to fit, I'd guess it'll work, but you'd be best off if a dealer would let you try it.

 

[SpinWinger]

Thank you Cannondale.

I'll try it in my car and measure the armrest to armrest dist and compare it to your 51" to get an idea.

 

[ibrewalot]

I have a 2010 MS3 and put my road bike in on it's side, rear wheel in first with the front wheel off. No problem with the space, but the covering on the back of the back seats is pretty thin and I've already had a couple of small holes worn by the axle rubbing on it. I'll probably get some kind of black mat for next season...no riding left up here in New England unless you've got winter gear (27 degrees this morning).

 

[Cannondale]

27 degrees? That's the best time to ride -- when all the fair weather bikers abandon the roads and trails.

 

[DarKnight]

ya i have a mountain bike and even fit 2 bikes in my mazdaspeed 3, with one bike having the front tire on, and one with it off. love the cargo room!