Kuat NV 2-Bike Hitch Rack
This product is not available. Good news: we have a newer version.
You'll be the envy of your cycle buddies when pulling up to the trailhead with the Kuat NV 2-bike hitch rack. Stylish, easy-to-use and feature packed, the NV-2 is a smart choice for bike transport.
Shop newer version- Highlights of the NV 2-bike hitch rack include its striking design, an integrated, retractable cable lock and a built-in repair stand for pre-ride prep and post-ride clean up
- This rack is an ideal choice for transporting your beefy downhill and freeride bikes, as well as road bikes and cruisers
- Built-in TRAIL DOCâ„¢ repair stand raises and lowers quickly thanks to its quick-release lever; repair stands makes pre-ride tune ups or post-ride clean ups easy
- 13 in. of protective space between bikes keeps bikes from touching one another during transport
- No wheel removal required and almost no frame contact; dual ratchet arms lift up and over the front wheels to secure bikes in place
- Rear-wheel ratchets offer a versatile fit for all styles of wheels and tires
- Spring-loaded lever allows easy folding up and down of bike trays; rack tilts 40° further for access to rear of vehicle—simply release lever and lower or raise rack
- Integrated cable locks at rear-wheel tray ends secure bikes to rack, recoiling into rack and securing with magnets when stowed; locking hitch pin delivers maximum security
- Fits 20 - 29 in. wheels up to 3 in. wide; carries 2 bikes up to 60 lbs. each
- Hand-tightening cam system secures rack into hitch receiver—no tools required
- Powder-coated finish and anodized aluminum accents offer a striking design that looks great on the back of any vehicle
- Folds up quickly for easy storage
- Capacity of rack can be increased to 4 bikes with available NV Add-On 2-Bike Hitch Rack extension, sold separately (works only with 2 in. version of the NV 2-bike hitch rack)
| Best Use | Travel |
|---|---|
| Number of Bikes | 2-bike |
| Hitch Receiver (in.) | Fits 1.25 inches Fits 1.25 or 2 inches Fits 2 inches |
| Weight | 49 pounds |
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Love it! Works well with Lexus GX470
Love the quality and ease of use of this bike rack. It is exactly what I was looking for after loads of research and reading reviews. Let me explain. I have a 2007 Lexus GX470 which has the ambulance style door in the back that swings open to the right. I was simply looking for a platform bike rack that would let me swing the door fully open when I don't have any bikes on the rack. Well, for those of us blessed with said door, this rack fits the bill and works great! And as everyone else has pretty much pointed out it's definitely one of the best bike racks out there and worth the price.
Best Bike Rack Ever!!!
This is the best bike rack ever! It arrived fast and I was able to install it in less than 30 minutes. It's lighter than any other rack I was looking at. Once I put it together, it was easy to operate. I showed my 7yr old son how to use it and he was able to put his own bike on the rack and secure it. The strap that locks the back wheel in is easy to use and can be done with one hand. The arm that secures the front tire is easy to use and can be done with one hand. The cable lock is great because it slides with ease into hiding when you are not using it and come out with ease when you need to use them. The locking cable was a big plus and provides me with extra security when my bikes are on the rack. I bought an additional cable to provide extra security, since at times, I will have high end bikes on the rack. The rack lets down, up and at a tilt with ease. The additional arm for working on your bike has already come into use, when I needed to make some adjustments on my bike. This is the easiest, most functional and best looking bike rack out there. Your money is well spent. Don't flinch at the price because after using it, this will be one of the best purchases that you've ever made. Buy, ride and enjoy life!
Very Well Made Product
Excellent assembly and paint job. Very high end look. Wheel straps could be better. Locking cable is nice but you'll need to add a thicker cable and lock to really deter thieves. Integrated bike work stand is a nice touch but may not be suitable for carbon frames. When I had this rack, I was planning to customize it with something better. Not suitable for lower hitch racks. Had an Odyssey and the bike rack's locking knob would always hit the asphalt when going through deeper driveways.
The best rack we have ever used
This is the first rack we have been comfortable putting our high end bikes on. It has a stabilizer that expands in the hitch for a very secure fit that does not bounce. Locks are built in and included. Very easy to install and use. They have a YouTube video with instructions on how to assembly and use. It's the best rack on the market.
Best rack for your valuable bikes
I use this rack on the back of my SUV to transport road and hybrid bikes. Brilliant stabilizing system is quick and easy to use, and keeps the rack from wobbling in the hitch receiver. I much prefer tray-type racks like this for their stability and support of the bikes on their tires, as bikes are designed to be; this rack precludes hanging my bikes by their frame. This rack is not really too light (but let's face it, don't you really want a solid rack to carry your valuable bikes?). It has a full range of easily operated tilt angles to include full upright when no bikes, to angled back to allow tailgate operation; all angles work flawlessly on my SUV including tailgate opening with bikes on the rack. And let's face it, it's a beautiful item! The pop up bike holder makes on-the-fly adjustments and repairs a snap. Customer service is absolutely top notch - I had to contact them and they went out of their way to resolve an issue immediately, fairly, and at some cost to them (but none to me).
The perfect rake
I'm one month into a two-month tour of the US with two bikes on behind my Chevy Tahoe. This rack is rock solid in my 2" hitch with no sway or bouncing over dirt roads or rough railroad tracks. It holds the bikes just as solidly. I no longer check them out in the rearview mirror because I'm certain they're just fine back there. One bike is a comfort bike with a step-thru frame and the other is a carbon-fiber road bike and this rack keeps them both right where they should be - no wobble, no bounce, no slippage. The tilt-away feature of the rack allows me to open the rear hatch of my full-size Tahoe without any interference from the bikes or the rack. The integrated security cable could be a tad longer but it is very convenient and provides peace of mind. It features heavy-duty materials and quality workmanship and I cannot imagine a better bike rack.
Sweet hitch rack
I can't say for sure that this rack is phenominally better than the equivalent Thule or Yakima, but it is most definitely a sweet bike rack. Not only is the rack rock solid on the car, the tension adjustment knob works like a charm, but my bikes hardly bounce or sway at all when driving on any kind of road. It was a piece of cake to put together and install, and I must say the care taken in just the packaging "helps" justify the price tag. It also doesn't hurt that this is probably the most aesthetically pleasing looking rack I've ever laid eyes on and matches my car's color almost perfectly. The built in bike lock is a sinch to use, though it seems a shade short to actually run through two bikes, which I've not tried yet. I'm sure it works fine, but I can't say for sure. And the built-in bike work stand is also not too shabby, I have used that one and it works just like it's supposed to. The tilt and fold up is a breeze to use and made me feel a little better about getting a design that blocked the back hatch. So could you get just as much functionality from a much cheaper but similarly designed bike rack. Of course. Do I have any regrets on shelling out the cash for this thing, NO. It's a solid rack, holds my bike like it was singly built to do so, easy to set up and install/deinstall, easy to flop down to load in groceries, has good clearace on the bottom for my cross-over vehicle, looks phenominally good, and finally this thing is so well built that I have full faith that when I can afford the attachment to make it a four bike carrier it will remaim solid and sway proof. I say save your dividend and get this thing on sale because it is well worth it.
Great Rack
Tried Quat Sherpa - didn't fit our 2014 Subaru Forester (see my review there). The NV fits much better - no problem folding up or tilting out with two mountain bikes on and opening lift gate. The NV is also much sturdier than the Sherpa - very stable with bikes on.
Cadillac Rack
I have a 2014 Forester with a Curt hitch 2" receiver. First purchased Thule T2 on sale, but it did not fold upright without hitting bumper. And taking off was a bit of a hassle with tension hitch screw. 2nd opted for Yakima Fulltilt 5 and although simple, hitch came a little loose on nyc driving and cradles moved out of locked position with bikes loaded. Scratched my wife's bike. Thankful for REI return policy. Ordered this Kuat NV after reading Cruncher's review and although pricey, it works great. With bikes on able to tilt down and gain access to lift gate hatch. Bike handle bar came close to seat of the other but seat can be adjusted quickly to avoid them touching. The rack goes on easy and the simplicity of their tensioning and lock system makes it a cinch to take on and off easily. The only glitch was that I received the hitch pin and lock with key broken off in the slot. Called Kuat customer service and new one is in the mail. Worth the extra money for the design and convenience.
Wish I would have purchased much sooner
I at last got a hitch installed on my 2012 Outback, and then had to choose between the Yakima Holdup 2 or the Kuat NV 2; both are expandable to four trays (with the two-inch receiver model). I chose Kuat b/c I'd read where someone reviewed the ease of opening the hatch with a mountain bike on the interior tray, and that the Kuat offered the most clearance. (Plus, I love Kuat's gun-metal gray option.) The set-up of the bike rack was easy enough; thanks to Kuat's online, helpful, easy-to-follow instructional videos (which I had to reference). This item is advertised to weigh about 50 lbs, but I am able to carry it by myself from my condo, down a flight of stairs and to my parking spot, which I was not expecting to be able to do solo. I just wish I would have gone with this bike-transporting option much sooner, as that this set-up makes bike loading happen in about 2.3 seconds with VERY LITTLE EFFORT; Kuat's arm (which goes over the front wheel) slides up-and-down very easily, and I spend about 1.3 seconds making any adjustments (with the rear tie-down clamp) to accommodate the different lengths of my three bikes - so it is very easy to toss-on a bike on the tray, regardless of the size of the last bike that was on the tray. (Before this hitch set-up, I got lazy about putting my bike on a tray on a roof rack and would toss the bike in the back of my Outback, which ended-up scratching up my car's interior and also the bike's bar ends, and it took time maneuvering the bike into the car; this Kuat two-bike tray hitch option is so much easier and quicker than those other two options!). As to hatch clearance with a loaded bike, I have absolutely no issues (which is what I wanted!); I have a 17.5-inch (size) 29er mountain bike with 27-inch wide handle bars that do NOT hit my Outback's hatch when the bike is on the interior tray. I often access the rear hatch of my car, and the Kuat's trays are very easy to lower and to get out of the way, by pulling that orange lever to lower the trays. Also, when the Kuat trays are lying flat with no bikes on them, I was surprised by how much unexpected leg room I had between the interior tray (when in a horizontal position) and the rear bumper, for me to load/unload the Outback through the open rear hatch, so that is a nice and much needed feature. Also, we easily and quickly threw a bike in the bike stand, to lube our chains at the trailhead, which is a fun feature; it'll really come in handy on week-long desert trips when more mechanical or cleaning work is required - I can leave my stand-alone bike stand at home! The only negative feature (which could be true with all two-bike hitch carriers) is that when I drive faster than 60 MPH on the interstate, a light but annoying humming sound consistently happens, which I have pinpointed to the wind noise coming from the bikes; I have not read of others experiencing this annoyance; that humming sound only happens when the bike trays are loaded.