Softride Element 4 Bike Hitch Rack
This product is not available.
The Softride Element 4 bike hitch rack offers a streamlined design, low load height, and easy bike attachment. You'll be able to quickly load your bike and hit the trailhead with this rack.
Shop similar products- Integrated pull-pin release mechanism lets you tilt the mast forward to access the rear of your vehicle; mast can be tilted with bikes attached
- Soft, rubberized cradles support bikes; includes 8 rubber straps to secure bikes to rack
- Mast arms feature built-in reflectors; arms adjust from 7 in. to 9 in. in width to accommodate different frame sizes; arms fold down, and can also be detached when not in use
- Quietride anti-rattle hitch bolt reduces vibration noise
- The Softride Element 4-bike hitch rack fits both 1.25 and 2 in. hitches
- Holds 4 bikes weighing 30 lbs. each
- Not intended for tandem or recumbent bikes; carrying bikes with step-through frames requires the purchase of an adapter (sold separately)
Imported.
View all Softride Hitch Bike Racks| Best Use | Cycling |
|---|---|
| Number of Bikes | 4-bike |
| Hitch Receiver (in.) | Fits 1.25 or 2 inches Fits 1.25 inches Fits 2 inches |
| Weight | 35 pounds |
Review this Product
Adding a review will require a valid email for verification
Attachments points and straps break
First, it is difficult to fit 4 full size mountain bikes on this rack. Second, the attachment points (plastic knobs) and rubber straps break. Some of them broke with the first use. Many more have broken over the next 10 times I've used it in the year that I've owned it. I must now use bungee cords to secure the bikes. I will be returning this to REI and would warn anyone considering this type of rack to avoid this one. This is the first product review I've ever taken the time to write, but I feel that REI should discontinue offering this failure of a product.
Great Rack
We've used this rack on several camp trips-one to Yosemite and one to Ft. Bragg-both 4.5 hours away. It fits all 4 of our bikes with no problem-1 men's Giant mb, 1 women's Specialized Safire with a Swagman Bar Adapter Deluxe, 1 12 inch Specialized Hotrock, and 1 Strider bike. The rack is bolted onto the Armada without a lock, and we lock our bikes together with a cable lock to the rack. I love that you can move the rack, with bikes loaded, out of the way to access the trunk.
Good, Sturdy Rack (so far...)
Bought this because I was tired of stuffing my bikes into the back of an SUV. From the pictures, it looked like the vertical support bars might be lighter weight than some other brands, but after receiving the package & installing it, it's definitely not too light. The rack feels sturdy. It's a little bit of work to get my full suspension mountain bike all the way to the back of the rack, but that's more a function of how my bike is designed (cables underneath the top crossbar), than any fault of the rack. So far I have no complaints. I can easily lift the back of my XTerra up with the rack pulled out. I'm a little worried that with 2+ bikes, the rack tends to want to 'fall' away from the vehicle when moving it out to get the car's rear liftgate up, but if it was any harder to move when NOT weighted, it might be hard for some people.
Good and bad
I bought this a month ago for our four bikes and it worked great initially. I liked especially the fact it folded away fully loaded using the parallel vertical bars. All the metal parts are stout and well built. Unfortunately the half nobs the straps lock down onto broke off. One of the straps tore and I resorted to restraining the bikes with the provided Velcro straps. I ended up returning it and purchasing the Yakima brand for the extra $70. When we tried to remove it, the plastic nut the bolt uses to connect it to the hitch receiver broke and took some ingenuity to get it off the vehicle. Thanks to the helpful staff at the Missoula Mt REI, we removed it! Sometimes you get what you pay for, sometimes it ends up being a great deal. My experience with this was, unfortunately, the former.