Yakima RidgeBack 2-Bike Hitch Rack
The Yakima RidgeBack 2-bike hitch rack carries 2 bikes, comes fully assembled and tilts down for easy access to the rear of your vehicle.
- UpperHandâ„¢ control lever tilts rack down for easy vehicle access
- Padded arms feature fully adjustable, anti-sway cradles for superior protection and stability, eliminating bike-to-bike contact
- ZipStripsâ„¢ secure bikes to the rack and are fully removable
- Tool-free SpeedKnobâ„¢ quickly tightens and locks the rack to your car; fits 1.25 and 2 in. hitch receivers
- Not intended for tandem or recumbent bikes; carrying bikes with step-through frames requires the purchase of an adapter (sold separately)
Imported.
| Best Use | Cycling |
|---|---|
| Number of Bikes | 2-bike |
| Max Weight Per Bike (lbs) | 40 pounds |
| Hitch Receiver (in.) | Fits 1.25 or 2 inches |
| Bike Mounting | Hanging |
| Bike Attachment Point | Frame |
| Trunk Access | Unloaded |
| Weight | 32 pounds |
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Makes Loading a Bike Easy
This is my first bike rack and it's very simple to use. I'm not mechanically inclined but it was a snap to install and uninstall. It came with a hitch lock and I did purchase the recommended external cable lock to secure my mountain bike to it.
I love this bike rack!
This bike rack is perfect in every way for my needs. I installed this on my new Jeep Renegade and I don't ever take it off. I haul my bike often and I love how easy this rack is. The install took 5 minutes, and another 5 minutes to install the optional handcuff bike lock. I can attach my 29 er in less than a minute. The bike is firmly held in place, there is no shake or wobble, even when I'm on bumpy and rutted 4 wheel drive tracks. The best part is how easily it folds down so I can open the back hatch of my SUV. The only possible downside is that it is heavy and it might be difficult for a small person to take it off and put it back on regularly. I'm a pretty big guy so it isn't a problem for me. You can probably tell by now tha I am seriously impressed and highly recommend the RidgeBack 2. Best Valentines gift ever!
Yak Ridgeback2...
Nifty rack! Use it with a 1.25" receiver hitch and life is good. Bought the Handcuff locking system and it works for short-term theft deterrence - easy to install and the extra key cartridges make it a one key operation - lock /rack. Such a deal!
Doesn't fit as expected
We purchased this rack to use with our 2 full suspension mountain bikes. It has been one of the most disappointing REI purchases I have ever made. We can barely fit both bikes on the rack at the same time, have to shift them around a bit to get them both seated onto the rack and then the bikes still have contact points once they are strapped down. I realize that Yakima does not recommend using this rack with RVs however, this is a tow-ready hitch and the issue is with the bikes fitting on the rack, not on the vehicle. Even if we move this rack to our truck we will still have the same issues with poor fit. I think it is silly we would have to consider buying a 3 or 4 bike rack just to get our bikes to fit without friction points. We are also unable to submit any feedback to Yakima via their website - they want you to call them only.
Convenient and Easy to Use
We bought this about a month ago and it is so much better than our trunk rack. It's easy to install, is secure, and we love that we can open the trunk while the bikes are loaded.
Doesn't fit in 2" receiver hitch, part protruding
New Yakima RidgeBack 2 won't fit into my 2" receiver hitch. The converter piece for 1-1/4" hitches is sticking out, protruding far enough in width that it blocks the rack from sliding into my 2" receiver hitch. Is this a manufacturing defect? It does not appear to protrude in online photos.
So-So Bike Rack
This is my second Yakima bike rack and first for a receiver hitch. I use this on my pickup with a 2" receiver. The hitch is ok but several features are just hoky. (1) The safety pin to hold the rack into a 2" receiver is borderline useless; the hitch is held in place only by tension pressure from the lock knob. (2) The directions call for tightening the lock knob to 10 ft lbs; give me a break!! Even if you own a torque wrench there is no way to use it to tighten according to specs. 10 ft lbs is what the engineers said and the product managers just passed it along with their mind in the clouds as to how you are supposed to do this. (3) The plastic connectors that lock the bicycle onto the rack are far more difficult to use and far less effective than the strong elastics built into the Yakima rack I used to use on my trunk rack. (4) The straps used to hold the front wheel and pedal in place certainly work, but are much more difficult to use than a bungee cord which is what I am using. While I consider the rack so-so, I can't specifically recommend a better one. The lack of a good safety pin is the major flaw of this product. If you're buying a bike rack look at it closely.
Excellent investment
Very sturdy. Recently hauled our bikes 2000 miles with no issues. It's a little heavy to get on and off. However a definite plus is the ability to tilt the carrier away from the lift gate, giving us access to the back of our car.
Sturdy, safe double bike rack carrier
The first one of these I purchased was probably defective. When I would go to lower the bike rack in order to open the back of my car, I had to try several times to get it to lower. The replacement that I received is easy to fold in and out for the actual bike arm piece, as well as, the entire bike rack. I have taken several 1500 mile trips, carrying my bike, with no issues. I wish this bike rack had a lockable system so I didn't have to add my own lock.
READ BEFORE BUYING THIS RACK FOR TWO BIKES
To be very clear with potential buyers, because I wish Yakima would be more upfront about this, there is a distinct possibility that this "2 bike rack" will not actually fit two bikes, particularly if the top bar of your bike frame is sloping. You can purchase an accessory (the Tube Top) to help two bikes fit, but the accessory is cumbersome, awkward, and, as some have reported above, even after shelling out extra for this accessory you still may not be able to get two bikes to fit on the rack. What's even more frustrating about this design flaw is that the cradles are very close to each other on the rack and much of the bar space is wasted. If the cradles were separated more and actually used the full length of the rack arms, you probably could fit any two bikes on the rack, without needing the "Tube Top." It's odd of me to have to tank Yakima in a review about a rack, as I'm a loyal customer who is always impressed with Yakima having thought of everything. But this rack is not on brand for Yakima and doesn't fit its basic advertised ability of being able to fit two bikes without being extensively modified to do so. Save yourself time, money, and headache and purchase another two bike rack option.