Yakima Universal ForkLift Bike Rack
The Yakima Universal ForkLift bike rack attaches directly to round, square and most factory crossbars right out of the box, prepping you for farther fat tire conquests the moment it arrives.
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- Rack installs quickly and easily
- Rack design accommodates most bike forks with disc brakes
- Sliding tray makes positioning the rear wheel simple
- Lockable skewer has an integrated adjustment knob for simple one-handed operation; SKS lock cores sold separately
- Sleek design and finish look great on your vehicle
Imported.
| Best Use | Cycling |
|---|---|
| Number of Bikes | 1-bike |
| Max Weight Per Bike (lbs) | 35 pounds |
| Bike Compatibility | Bikes with Fenders Kids' Bikes |
| Bike Attachment Point | Fork |
| Weight | 9 pounds |
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Easy install....a few tips...
Bought this today for my 2015 Audi Allroad...mounted 50" Jetstreams with Timberline Towers last week. Very easy assembly. Please note the following. Both the front fork and rear fork mount come with 3 "stages". For the Jetstreams you will want the lowest of the the three...adjust BEFORE you put on rack. Be careful of the clearance with your vehicle hatch...I had to move my towers forward 5 inches to ensure the hatch spoiler wouldn't be scratched by the rack. Remember the fork adjusts counter-clockwise when re-assembling. Meaning...you will unscrew the fork from the bolt..then insert the bolt through the front of the fork....when re-assembling...rotate to your LEFT to "grab" onto the thread. Test your bike re the fit for front fork and rear receiver before tightening everything. This assembly is ROCK solid and I would never be worried about the bikes detaching on the road. I've been using Yakima since 2001 and have never had an issue. This includes, F350s, BMWs, Tahoes, and now this Audi. From box to "road-ready" about 45 minutes while enjoying a beer. Good on factory cross bars as well. If you're starting from scratch (new crossbars and towers) maybe 90 minutes. Take your time and read all instructions first. Last tip...buy enough locks so towers and forks all have ONE key.
Yakima service is meh
So I got this rack. And realized there’s no lock. I realized the lock mechanism is sold separate. Which you can’t buy just one of. You have to buy at least two. Now i just have this extra lock. On top of all of this. I install the lock into the skewer and the lock mechanism doesn’t even lock or turn there’s not enough clearance on it to lock when everything is in place. When I called Yakima they said they didn’t really have a solution for me other than to travel the 30/40 miles to my closest rei to “possibly” exchange it. They had poor customer service on the phone. Still have not solved this problem now I have a 200 dollar bike rack that Doesn’t lock. Super cool
Good Bike Rack
I bought this rack about a year ago to carry my Specialized road bike on my '11 Santa Fe. It was easy to install once I figured out that I have to mount it facing backwards in order to open the back hatch while the rack is in place. It's quick to put the bike on and off of the rack, and quick to uninstall and reinstall the rack on the car as I don't leave it in place unless I'm using it. It stays steady as a rock through freeways, rough roads, and everything in between. The only downside is a whistling noise at anything over 40 mph, perhaps because of the backwards mount that I mentioned above. Other than that, this is perfect for my needs.
Perfect for factory bars!
Awesome bike rack. Bought two of these for my Caliber after I got the Mopar roof bars installed. The bike rack installed easily and quickly. The wind fairing was another issue entirely as it doesn't fit to Mopar roof bars. With a bike mounted, the system is very stable, and when you shake the bike, the whole car rocks too! On the Caliber there is plenty of room to have bikes on top with plenty of room for the hatch to open. Even in high winds I never worry about my bike coming loose! Speaking of wind, the ForkLift itself doesn't make any noise! The only noise I heard was a minor whistling before I installed the wind fairing. Great product, highly recommended!
Broke the first time I used it -- Yakima silent
The tie-down that secures the rear wheel snapped in half immediately THE VERY FIRST TIME I tried to put a bike on the rack (see picture). Doesn't exactly instill confidence that your expensive bike is nice and secure on the rack! I sent a warranty request to Yakima complete with pictures, and after two weeks, I have not gotten any response from them. I'm sure REI will take care of me....even though Yakima hasn't. The takeaway is: avoid Yakima products.
Nice universal rack for the price
I bought this unit for my 02' Subaru Outback Impreza Sport because I wanted a rack that could accept my stock rack bars. Subaru Hatchback guys should know you have to install it backwards in order to have clearance to still use your rear hatch. Unit seems strong and stable. Be aware, it does not come with the lock and key, that can be purchased at REI also however.
Good roof rack
I purchased two of these racks and quickly installed them on my 2011 Volkswagen GTI. Installation was simple and fast -- turn a few knobs, pop a few pieces of plastic and off we were. Placing the bikes on is easy: pop off the front tire, place the bike on the rack, line up the forks, tighten the front and strap the back. I've driven ~1000 miles with my bikes on these with no issue, and highly recommend them. My only reason for giving 4-stars instead of 5-stars is because the ratchet strap in the original box was broken -- the teeth were bent so the bike could not be secured. REI quickly swapped the part from another box and I've had no other issues.
Fine rack with so-so clamps.
The clamps have 3 preset spacing settings. The front one took all of my bodyweight and most of my vocabulary to get it to pop into a different hinge position but worked well enough once adjusted. Using my Subaru OEM cross bars, I was stuck between too loose and being unable to close the mechanism on the rear clamp. Using some 7/8" rubber tubing, I cut some pads for the bottom of both clamps. They now fit more snug with a bigger contact patch and pass the "grab and shake" test. I also added a black zip tie behind the rear wheel strap mount because it was able to slide around loosely on the rack when my bike isn't installed. Overall it's a fine bike mount now but for 200 bucks it shouldn't have required a trip to the hardware store.
Universal, but not universal.
Universal forklift is lightweight, works well and holds any size bike. But it’s only convenient if you have a bike with a quick release. If you don’t have a quick release or have a through axle, it doesn’t work as seamless. My old mtn bike has QR, but I just bought a new bike with through axles. I had to exchange the forklift for the HighRoad which is heavier, but is more universal for my situation. The other issue I didn’t like is when you dismount your bike you need to tighten the skewer to make sure it’s closed tight against the rack. Otherwise the lock core is useless and the rack can just be taken off. When coming back from a ride you then have to loosen the sewer and adjust it for your bike again. Not a huge deal but a detail that takes away from user experience.
Dangerous. Don’t buy.
I have had multiple parts on this break. The rear strap (twice) snapped & the plastic nut that holds on the screws stripped out. I loved the older racks from Yakima but this is a blatantly dangerous product that should be recalled. I’ve been stranded twice and ended up having to put my bike in my car because of this things failiure. The lever is about to give way on mine too (the tell tale white of low quality plastic stress is coming out). I plan on throwing this away when I get home. But I write this I am stuck because of it at the side of the road putting my bike in the cab. I wish I hadn’t trusted this company. I won’t in the future.