Thule 962XT Speedway Bike Carrier
The Thule Speedway Bike Carrier is a great and versatile way to carry up to three bikes on the back of your vehicle with quick and easy mounting using a six point strap system.
Ease of Use, Performance: 20/25
Look & Feel: 22/25
Features 24/25
How much I enjoy 23/25
Total: 89/100
Owning a minivan may be the family thing to do but the van does not make family outings any easier for wanting to take along a couple of bicycles. Sure you can toss them on the roof which I actually did but that is a hassle plus it can scratch the roof. For a quick and easy way to transport a couple of bikes on the back of your vehicle I looked to an industry leader in carriers, Thule.
Thule is a sports utility transportation company dealing in sports carriers and other transportation racks and devices for cars, trucks and recreation vehicles. They have a wide range of products including bike carriers but also manufacturing car top carriers, trailers and sports equipment carriers.
Their line of bike carriers include roof mount, trunk mount such as the Speedway 962XT and hitch mount carriers as well as some spare tire carriers. Thule specializes in these products and has been manufacturing car related products since the 1960’s but has been a manufacturing company since 1942.
The Thule 962XT Speedway Bike Carrier can carry up to three bicycles using a six point strap system to securely mount the carrier on the back of most any vehicle. The Speedway 962XT is the three bike carrier while the 961XT is for two bikes, with both having a limited lifetime warranty.
he Speedway 962XT weighs about 8 pounds and comes with the bike carrier including the two mount arms, six straps that are attached to the carrier, two wing adjustment knobs, 3 no sway cages and three rubber straps with instructions. The bike carrier is made from tubular steel for a sturdy frame and solidly built plastic joints.
The carrier comes disassembled but requires no tools; you simply insert the upper frame piece into the plastic joint and use the thumbscrews to lock it down into the position according to your car type. The included instructions and the website have the assembly directions as well as the chart for which positions to use for the adjustment knobs and the straps.
To tie down the carrier you put one strap from each side up to the top of your trunk or rear door and slip the clip onto the edge. The side/bottom straps go to the edge of your trunk or rear door and the bottom of the door or trunk or even the rear bumper.
The straps are easy to install and adjust so the carrier can be put on by yourself without the need for a second person, a single person can also put the bike on the carrier. The large pads on the top and bottom of the frame protect your vehicle and the strap clips are rubber coated for protection as well.