Kradl - Spring-Powered Ceiling Bike Hoist and Rack for Effortless Storage

I wasn’t sure about this product for a few reasons. 1. the way they claim it works 2. the cost Well, I needed two but only bought one because of those concerns. So I installed the one I ordered. Turns out It was a super easy install. Very flexible and simple. Way easier than the cheaper, manually operated bike holders with tons of string, pulleys, etc… this one is just one box mounted with two screws. Then I went through the process to pull the line down for the first time using a bucket. Then connected my bike and was nervous it would yank it up too fast and bang into the garage door guides. Turns out it works exactly as described. I was able to easily control the bike on its way both up and down. Super easy and smooth. In addition to a much easier install than the cheaper options, this one is much safer AND the other thing that sold me on it is that the cheap ones don’t allow the bike to go all the way to the ceiling because they have either straps or hooks that extend above the bike. Because of the lack of clearance in the area I needed to mount this rack, the bike would have hung too low and my family would run into it every time they walked by. With this one, your handlebars and/or seat can actually touch the ceiling giving you the maximum lift. Now the bike’s wheels are above our heads. Great!!! I’m now buying a second one for my other bike. It is more expensive than those cheap pulley types where you tie the string to the wall. This is on another level. Built strong and looks sleek. I strongly recommend it, especially on a bike you’ll be getting up and down frequently. It is so quick and simple to use. On the photos you’ll see a yellow rag. I did that on my first attempt with this lift because I wasn’t sure the rubberized strap wouldn’t mark up my paint on this new carbon fiber bike. Now that I’ve used it a few times, I don’t think the rag is necessary. I tried the lift on my other bike (aluminum) and it left no marks. The strap is soft and rubbery so it won’t slide on slanted top tubes like I have on both my bikes. Spend a few extra bucks and get this lift over the cheap ones. You won’t regret it.

PERFECT solution for what I needed. I just installed yesterday so I can't speak to durability yet, but so far so good. Installation was pretty straightforward and easy. Bikes go all the way to the ceiling, allowing for maximum headroom in the garage. I doubted whether I needed the 40 lb models and talked it over with the owner who was super responsive. One of our bikes was only about 20 lbs and the 40 lb model is still easy to pull down despite the extra tension. It was certainly more expensive than other options but the ease of use is worthwhile in my opinion. My garage is drywalled but not painted so it was easy for me to find the ceiling joists. I suspect that would be the trickiest part of installation for most people. The bikes can hang parallel, perpendicular, or somewhere in between relative to the unit once installed so it could work in almost any situation. I would buy this again if I had more bikes!

After reading the reviews I was cautious about concerns expressed on ease of install, balance point, spinning etc. I purchased based on the innovative design and the need I had to fit my specific configuration. To say that I'm pleased with my purchase would be an understatement. The product is excellent in design, and function. Install: mine was trickier than the standard "attach the Kradl to a joist" that would fit most applications as I had to span joists because I wanted a drop point where there was no joist above. But even with the added considerations I was able to install a spanning board, and attach the Kradl with ease. All it took was thinking about location and drop point of the cable for about 15 minutes and planning my work. It took about 1 hour to cut the spanning board, paint it, drill it and then install and complete my first use of the Kradl. BTW I'm an average to below average skilled homeowner/handy person. Function: easy to retract up and dock into the Kradl, finding the bikes balance point took literally 15 seconds. After install I realized that the product, using a single cable and balance point function, was versatile enough that my next use of one could be over items that are beneath it and i could "pull" the bike towards me over the objects (i.e. don't need 100% clear space under the bike if you have tight quarters , the bike will lower and raise at an angle if you need it to though its certainly easier straight up and down). The online install and function videos are great. Tip: the videos show you may need to add some weight to the cable at initial startup to extend it closer to the frame of your bike, they suggest a bucket of water as that weight, I used a 40lb dumbbell and would highly recommend it if you have one, vs filling a bucket with water. Also, at this step of the install don't be afraid to pull down on the cable as it does take a bit of effort and naturally you are concerned with harming the Kradl but you will not. Certainly got what I paid for, solid value. Finally, I shared my experience with Kradl and received near immediate feedback and tips. 100% would buy again and would tell my friends and family.

I used to use ceiling hooks, but every time I lifted my bike upside down to hang it, I worried I would drop it on my car. Kradl now makes it much easier to hang my bike, and it even fits nicely between all of the other hanging storage racks and shelving in my crowded garage. It takes a little bit of practice to get it all figured out, but now it's a breeze to use. I ended up calling their customer support for a couple of questions, and they were really helpful. I tried installing the metal arm piece that prevents the bike from rotating, but the screw head wasn't visible where it was supposed to be. We figured out that it rotated out of position during shipping, and then it was easy to sort it out so I could connect that docking arm piece. I also thought the main spool got jammed when I first unboxed it and tried to retract it by hand. It retracted a few feet and then it stopped. I was worried about pulling too hard, but they assured me the cable was much stronger than it looked (I think they said it's rated for over 200lbs). They said once I had my bike's weight hanging on it, everything would work properly. Sure enough, I mounted the unit, and attached my bike, and then it extended and retracted just fine. Since I ordered the 40lb unit for my 20-ish pound bike, I learned that I need to be a little more careful to raise the bike slowly so it doesn't trip the safety mechanism. After some practice, I figured out the speed that wouldn't engage that feature, so it would raise all the way without stopping. Also, the bungee cord that they include to keep your front wheel aligned isn't long enough to completely wrap around the wheel and frame of my mountain bike, but I just ended up hooking it to a spoke and then wrapping the other end around the frame tube, and that works too. I haven't really seen anything like this product before, so I can understand that there's a little bit of learning curve to use it. Their videos and phone support were both really helpful. It really is an elegant solution. I definitely recommend it.

Solid build quality and not difficult to mount. I cut/painted a 1x4 to mount across 24” joists in the garage. Even with the docking mount installed, your bike WILL spin slightly and very likely not settle in line with the Kradl. The bike essentially hangs from a single wire so depending on where you attach the strap each time/weight distribution of the bike, spinning is naturally going to occur. I’m working on rigging up something simple to hold the handle bars in place on the ceiling so it settles straight every time. Be sure to get the rig that is rated for your bike weight as this thing is heavy duty and will definitely yank a light bike up fast if you’re not careful.

It was a little challenging to install because I couldn't find my attic rafters, I ended up cutting a hole in the drywall to locate them. No big deal, I just patched the drywall, but knowing that the bike waste securely mounted was worth it. Using the bike hoist is very simple and I love that it doesn't require any power. The ability of moving my bike out of the way and into the air saves so much space in my garage.

As someone with 3 engineering masters degrees I greatly appreciate a well engineered and produced product, as this appeared to be so I really wanted to like this product. It's a cool concept, not requiring electricity, the packaging is very sleek, the marketing videos are polished, and the overall concept seems smart in theory. Unfortunately, the real-world execution does not work nearly as smoothly or safely as advertised. First, every time you use the system, you either have to guess the bike’s center of gravity or physically mark the bike so you can approximate the correct lifting point each time. That alone makes daily use frustrating, especially in a family garage environment. Second, because the system uses only a single attachment point at the center of gravity, the bike's balance is very sensitive and consequently constantly wobbles left/right and pitches forward/backward. This makes it very easy for to hit and mark up walls, ceilings, nearby objects, or even the person maneuvering the bike. The bike never feels stable or controlled during lifting or lowering. -HINT TO THE "KRADL ENGINEERS", The cabling system requires a minimum of 2 points of contact (like other lifting systems, connect with the seat & handle bars) to stabilize the various modes of movement and ensure your walls, surrounding objects, including people are safe. Third, the spring/release mechanism is anything but smooth. When lifting or releasing the bike, the system always jerks abruptly (aloud with making a loud sound with it) upward or downward depending on the direction of movement. When it does this, and because the bike is balanced only at its center of gravity, grabbing only the front or rear doesn’t stabilize the entire bike — the opposite end still moves unexpectedly. This leaves the user scrambling to use both hands trying to control the bike and counteract the spring/gravity forces at the same time....that's a mess unless you are standing alert and ready to move quickly. Fourth, this system seems designed primarily for touring bikes or bikes with lower handlebars. As the spring quickly lifts the bikes up, bikes with taller handlebars strike the ceiling during operation, which quickly leads to marks, dents, or damage. Fifth, this is absolutely not a practical system for family use. Kids are not going to spend time carefully balancing bikes, finding center points, managing spring tension, and maneuvering cautiously every single time they put a bike away. They simply stop using it and leave the bikes on the garage floor — exactly the problem we were trying to solve in the first place. Further, because you are required to stabilize and slow the spring loaded movement up to the ceiling, unless your child can reach the bike when it's at ceiling, the bike will be out of reach and speedily go to the ceiling uncontrolled...that's not good for anyone. My biggest concern, however, is safety and ease of operation for my wife/children. My wife and I spent multiple practice sessions trying different techniques, and even after practicing, we were both concerned about hand, arm, and even head safety while operating this routinely for her, as adult, let alone the kids. The unpredictable movement and spring tension create situations where users can easily lose control of the bike's swinging around. If they try to stop the swinging/lurching movement, they will be quickly grasping for a bike part/chain, tire, pedal which can hurt & dirty their hand and then throw the bike in another spinning direction hitting them in a different area....ugh. Any one of these issues would already require adult attention and careful operation. Combined together, this system is definitely not designed for children or casual everyday family use. For the premium price being charged, there are simply too many basic operational and safety problems. Especially when there are much less expensive alternatives (~$27 for tie bosses or bike lifts) that are easier to install, easier to learn, safer for all family members, cleaner to use, and far less frustrating overall.

Fantastic innovation. Very easy to install. Game changer. I can no longer lift the bikes and attach them to a hook, so this device simply wraps around the frame and with one push goes all the way to the ceiling. I installed it on Sunday and I had one question, so I called the support number and Robert answered and walked me through. Fantastic product and amazing support. I installed two and just ordered a third one.