ThuleThule TH9700 Xpress 2-Bike , Silver/Black

Like many others on here, I bought this bike carrier with some trepidation as I wasn't entirely convinced that a carrier that grips onto a towbar would be stable and strong enough to securely carry my new £800 two-wheeled-torture-contraption.So when it (very quickly) arrived in the post, I immediately unpacked it and set about attaching it to my car's towbar. The carrier works in a sort of scissor-action and quite simply clamps to the towbar's ball. The first time I attached it I was astonished at how strong it's grip on the bar is; I was pulling at it as hard as I could and it simply wouldn't budge! Very impressive and amazingly quick - the process of attaching my removable towbar to the car, getting the Thule carrier out of the boot and clamping it on could probably be done in under 60 seconds - it's seriously that quick.Attaching a bike to the carrier is also a simple process, although it took a few attempts to get it right. My bike (A Revolution Triad 1.0, bought from Edinburgh Bicycle, plug, plug!) has a bit of non-standard frame when it comes to where the downtube meets the fork/top tube, so the rubber strap has to stretch diagonally around the downtube, which was a little tricky at first but I've got it down to a fine art now. It should be capable of fitting bikes with chunky frames too, although I'm unsure if full-suspension bikes with outlandish frames would fit. Bear in mind that an adapter is required for women's bike frames too, and that it's not suited to kid's bikes.If you've got any concerns about your car's paintwork being damaged by this carrier, stop worrying now - it holds the carrier far enough away from the back of my Audi A4 saloon so that even the end of the closest handlebar (and sharp pedals) comes nowhere near. The carrier's grip on the towbar is such that there's no chance of it moving while in transit either.If I were to make any negative points about the carrier, I'd probably mention that the strap that's probably intended to wrap around the wheels to stop them spinning is ridiculously short - it doesn't even wrap around both the wheels on my bike alone, let alone a second one! Another is that the carrier comes with no means of locking it, despite it having a hole in the frame to do just that.However, these are very minor quibbles - if you've got a decent Krypton lock with a cable loop, you'll be able to lock the lot of it to the carrier. Remember to remove any QR bits though!Summing up...+ Folds up nice and small so it takes up barely any boot space+ Simple & seriously quick to fit+ Very secure and stable - even at 70+ MPH on the motorway+ Holds bike nice and clearly away from the boot+ No chance of it damaging either your car's or your bike's paintwork+ Rubber straps are easily replaced if broken- Supplied tethering strap far too short- Doesn't come with a lockThumbs up all round!

I’ve used a lot of different bike racks of various types and needed one which could be left in the boot of my car so that my wife can rescue me if I have a breakdown (I have another thule rack with integrated numberplate/lights where the bike wheels sit on a track, but it is heavy and bulky and buried in the garage) this thule rack is the best to date, after looking at cheaper units with poor reviews I saw this one on offer and decided to pay the extra for a recognisable brand, it is worth every penny, after the first fitting and adjustment to fit my car it comes on and off in seconds without the need for any tools (it did require an allen key (not supplied) on first fitting), there is a position for a padlock if needed and the integrated straps mean there is no need for elastic straps to hold the bikes on (I would probably use them anyway if travelling longer distances) I’m not sure the webbing strap will last in the long term, but that can be easily replaced if necessary, a simple design and rock solid on the car it folds to a flat bar with 2 hand screws.

True to he Thule name, this towbar mounted bike rack is easy to use, looks good and easily holds two adult bikes. It can be tight getting some bikes on the rack but the mounts for the rubber securing straps can be eastily twisted flat to ease mounting. If this fine bit of kit folded when installed to allow the tailgate the rise, I'd give it five stars.

Wanted something to free up the boot of the car when taking my girls bikes out. Looked into various options but this was the most cost effective option for me. Surprised how well it clamps to the tow ball and how secure it feels. Easy to set up and folds away neatly. Only minor let down is that it needs a padlock to stop someone trying to unlock it from the tow bar instead of having a built in lock. I bought a bike lock cable to wrap around the bikes and the carrier just to add a bit of extra security. All in all and handy bit of kit.

This product is a brilliant solid bike rack. So easy to fit on and off the tow bar. Keeps bikes away from the car and no scratches which are caused by traditional bike racks which are strapped to the rear of the vehicle.After using this I would not go back to a traditional rackWould definitely recommend this product

Very straightforward to fit to the towbar, slightly more tricky getting the bike on but once I'd faffed about a bit it fit perfectly. Very pleased with this, a bargain for the price and extremely secure.

Simple and sturdy and it does the job perfectly. I wasn't sure if I ought to use a lighting board with this but decided 'yes' as it obscures my number plate, which is certainly illegal. This meant a bit of fiddling sorting out how to attach the light board securely. In hindsight I may have been better to spend more and get one of the racks with lights included. However, I am still going to award five stars as this is a top quality product at a sensible price and I have confidence in its ability to carry my lovely bike safely. Having previously used one of the racks that straps onto the car tailgate I would definitely recommend a tow bar mounted one provided, of course, that you have a tow bar.

Product looks to be good and very well made, what you'd expect from Thule. But the delivery was terrible.The whole box was opened and no protection at all.Fortunately it all seems to be in good working order with no broken parts. Just wish a bit more care was taken as i vary rarely moan about anything.