Bell Bike Rack Reviews – Bell Cantilever | Right Up | Hitchbiker Bicycle Racks
Bell is among the top-rated bike rack manufacturers. They manufacture some of the finest bike racks that you can buy right now. Bell racks are renowned for their extreme build quality and durability. Choosing the right bike rack will depend on what type of bike you have and your needs.
This article will further talk about the Bell bike racks that I have reviewed for you.
| IMAGE | MODEL | TYPE | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
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Bell Cantilever 300 |
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Check Current Price |
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Bell Right Up 250 |
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Check Current Price |
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Bell Right Up 350 |
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Check Current Price |
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Bell Hitchbiker 450 |
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Check Current Price |
Contents
Why Consider Bell Bike Carrier For Car?
Bell is a US company that specializes in making bicycle accessories. It was established back in 1954. They started gaining much popularity since then. Though Bell makes different bicycle accessories, they are famous for their top-of-the-line bicycle helmets. Hardshell bicycle helmets are one of the kind when it comes to protection, which Bell introduced first in the mid-1970s. It was a revolutionary innovation by Bell.
In the late ’80s, the market started getting quite competitive, several new companies started manufacturing what Bell did. Their business was sinking slowly because they had no other products to compete in the market. So, Bell started manufacturing other bicycle accessories other than bike helmets like bicycle safety lights, bicycle pumps, seats for children, and bike racks. This was a huge turning point for Bell as they got a huge response to these products.
One of the main reasons for the tremendous response was their quality products. Bell was known for ensuring the highest quality, which they also maintained with their other products like their bike racks. Their bike accessories started gaining popularity, which later on brought their glory days back again.
5 Popular Bell Bike Racks
Bell offers a wide range of bike racks of different types, sizes, and different budgets. And it can get pretty confusing to choose the best suited for your needs.
So we reviewed 5 of the most popular bike racks from Bell that you can buy right now.
Bell Cantilever 300
Bell Cantilever 300 is a decent trunk rack from Bell that you can hook up easily on the back of your vehicle and transport your bike safely and securely.
The Bell 3 bike trunk rack features a hefty build quality with two pieces of heavy carved metal. The heavy metal build makes it more stable and suitable for bumpy rides. This rack uses a strap mount mechanism. It comes with six sturdy straps that you can use to attach with your car securely.
This Bell bike trunk rack can accommodate up to 3 bikes and uses cushioned straps to secure the bikes. As this is a trunk rack, you need to be aware of avoiding any sort of potential damage as it uses the car body to support itself. And this rack can also block the rear window wipers of some specific vehicles. So you need to be sure about whether this model fits your vehicle perfectly or not before you decide to purchase it.
Features
- Can accommodate up to 3 bikes
- Requires no tool to assemble and fits easily
- Red reflective end caps for increased visibility
Pros
- Value for money
- Sturdy build quality
- Easy to install
- Fit almost all type of cars
- Very safe and secure
Cons
- It might scratch the car body and damage the paint.
- Less stable if fully loaded
Bell Right Up 250
Bell Right Up 250 is one of the most popular hitch rack style bike racks that you can find in the market right now. You can use it to easily carry two bikes of any size and transport them anywhere easily.
The Bell Right Up bike rack features solid steel construction, making it very solid and super stable. It can stay stable even in long bumpy rides, preventing any type of unwanted damage to the bike. And as it is a hitch type bike rack, it is less likely to cause any type of damage to the body or paintwork of the car.
This Bell bike carrier comes with an improved strap system and padded hooks that secure and stabilize it. It is also very compact as well; you can fold it when you are not using it. The platform is designed in a way so that it can fit any type of bike easily. The loading and unloading mechanism is also pretty much easy and straight forward; just use the simple strap that comes with it.
Features
- Supports bikes from 20” to 20”
- Can accommodate up to 2 bikes
- Secures bike into place using the padded grips and straps
- It can be folded up to save space.
- Easily adjustable
Pros
- High weight capacity
- Sturdy steel construction
- Safe and secure fit
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- Poor instructions
Bell Right Up 350
Bell Right Up 350 is another great hitch rack from the Bell that can accommodate up to 3 bikes of any size. So, the Bell Right Up 350 3 bike hitch rack can be an excellent pick for you if you like to travel with your family. There’s plenty of room for you to transport a bike for yourself, your wife, and a kid.
This bike rack is very flexible and built so that it can accommodate any type of bike, including road bikes with skinny tires and extra-thick MTB tires. The mounts are adjustable and padded, ensuring the perfect fit for your bike and secures it properly.
You don’t need to worry about bikes touching each other causing damage to the bike because this rack keeps a reasonable distance between the bikes. Before buying this rack, you need to make sure that your vehicle has a hitch receiver or won’t install this hitch rack. The installation process is straightforward. You just need to insert the rack in your vehicle’s hinge receiver and lock it with the included bolts.
Features
- Supports bikes from 12” up to 29”
- Can store up to 3 bikes
- It can be folded when not in use.
- Can handle up to 105 lbs.
Pros
- Very tight and secure fit
- It can fit any type of bikes of any size.
- High load capacity
- Solid build quality
- Affordable
Cons
- Lacks additional security options
- No down tilt option restricting rear door access
Bell Hitchbiker 450
If you travel around a lot and like to carry your bikes with you, need something heavy-duty to get your job done. This bike rack from the bell will not just get your job more than just done.
Bell Hitchbiker 450 is a heavy-duty bike rack that you can carry up to 4 bikes with a maximum load capacity of 140 lbs. It is made out of steel, which gives it extra structural integrity. The body has a powder-coated finish that protects from scratches and other minor damage.
The Bell 4 bike hitch rack comes with security loops that allow you to lock your bike with locking cables for additional security. The locking cables are not included though, you need to purchase them separately or use your pre-owned cables.
This bike rack comes with red reflective end caps, making it visible at night to avoid any unpleasant accidents. You can also fold it when not in use.
Features
- Foldable hitch rack
- Supports 1.25” and 2” hitch receivers
- Rich powder coat finish
- The load capacity of up to 140 lbs.
- Comes with a fit guarantee
- Locking loops
Pros
- Hefty construction
- Built to last
- Foldable
Cons
- It can be a bit difficult to install
- Inadequate and vague instructions
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Bell bike racks safe?
Yes, Bell car bike racks are totally safe. Apparently, Bell Racks prioritize safely carrying bikes. It will hold your bike tight and prevent any type of unfortunate damage. They can handle heavyweight and sustain bumpy rides. And if you are worried about your bike being stolen, you can always lock it with a cable lock or even shackles. Bike racks come with locking loops that you can use to lock your bike safely.
Are Bell bike racks difficult to install?
Some bike racks can be quite difficult to install. But unlike other bike racks, Bell bike racks are very easy to install. Some of the racks come pre-built, so you don’t have to go through any type of hassle while installing it. Bell racks come with instruction that provides an easy-to-understand guide, which you can follow and set up the bike rack easily and efficiently. And on top of that, Bell bike racks come with a fit guarantee.
Can Bell bike racks damage your car?
Bike racks can cause minor damage to vehicles in some cases. Some bike racks, like trunk bike racks, use a strap to fit with the vehicle. The trunk rack’s body is covered with rubber materials that stay in contact with the car body to support the car rack. It can cause scratches to the body of your car and damage the paint as well. Bell bike racks are built so that it does not cause any sort of external damage to your car. Make sure to fit it properly on your car. And it is always recommended to check now and then for any signs of wear in the rubber materials to avoid any type of potential damage.
Will Bell bike racks block my rear vision?
It is a widespread problem for rear-mounted bike racks that block your car’s rear window cutting off the visual feedback you receive from the rear-view mirrors. But Bell has that covered and designed their bike racks accordingly so that it does not block the rear vision and number plate. But the bike rack requires to be properly fitted with the vehicle for that.
Do bike racks from Bell come with a warranty?
Yes, Bell comes with a limited lifetime warranty. You will be able to claim a warranty if the product falls under the warranty provisions of Bell.
Conclusion
So these are some of the best-selling Bell bike racks that you can buy right now. You can still be confused, which is okay. To make things easy, I can leave some suggestions which you can follow. If you own an SUV or a pickup, I recommend hitch bike racks because of how easy it is to install them. You can easily carry more than one bike conveniently using it.
And SUV or heavy vehicles are likely to come with hitch receivers. If you have 2 or 3 bikes to carry, the Bell Right Up 350 is a no brainer. You can carry 3 bikes easily using it. And if you have more than 3 bikes to carry, the Bell Hitchbiker 450 can be an amazing pick considering its heavy-duty build quality and scratch-resistant finish.
If you own a sedan or any other small vehicle, a trunk rack would be the best option for you as they do not require any hitch receivers. In this case, you can consider the Bell Cantilever 300, which is a decent trunk bike rack.
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