Tray-style hitch-mounted racks have become the go-to style of bike racks over the years for most riders because of the stability, ease of loading and, in most cases, lack of frame contact. Thule has been a strong player in this segment for years with its popular T2 and the recently released Verse. One of the downsides of these racks is their price tag, with many of them costing a thousand or more dollars. Thule is hoping to lower that barrier and a few others for riders with its all-new user-friendly OutPace rack that comes in at just over half of what other racks cost.
Tech features:
The Thule OutPace two-bike hitch rack is designed to accommodate a broad range of bike frame geometries and tube diameters, supporting sizes from 0.8 to 3.5 inches (20 to 90mm). Its rotating, sliding and adjustable frame clamps are designed to help ensure compatibility with various bike styles—from road to full-suspension mountain bikes. The rack supports bikes weighing up to 55 pounds (25 kilograms) each with a maximum system capacity of 110 pounds (50 kg), and it fits both 1.25- and 2-inch hitch receivers.
Additional features include a tilt-down mechanism that provides access to the vehicle’s trunk even when bikes are loaded. When not in use, the rack can be tilted up to reduce rear overhang or folded into a compact shape for easier storage in confined spaces. A built-in carrying handle and lightweight construction are designed to make it easy to install or remove. The system uses ratcheting buckles and straps that accommodate tires up to 3 inches wide to secure the wheels. A dedicated storage slot keeps the wheel straps organized during loading.
Field test results:
have tested a lot of racks over the years, and many require a lot of assembly, so it was a bit worrisome to see the small box that OutPace arrived in. However, when we peeked inside, we were met with a fully assembled, ready-to-use rack, revealing one of its greatest attributes—its compact storage size. Because the wheel trays fold inward, this rack takes up very little space when not in use compared to most bulky, hard-to-store ones. The next advantage was its relative light weight. At just under 28 pounds, the OutPace is easy to handle and install.
Securing it to the vehicle is easy and tool-free, thanks to a spring-loaded lock pin and key-locked folding handle of the anti-rattle device. On the vehicle, it tilts up and down more easily than most, too, because of the location and ease of use of its strap release system.
Loading bikes is more difficult than most tray-style hitch racks because there is little to hold the bike in place while you strap it down. After a few uses, testers figured out that it’s usually best to start with the upright pole’s locking strap and then move to the wheel straps. The upright arm is designed to only attach to the frame—something that we generally don’t love to do, especially to high-end bikes with nice paint. However, the straps are well padded and didn’t leave any marks, but you’ll need to make sure both the frame and straps are free of dirt before use, or that won’t be the case. We like that the arm’s strap features a lock to slow thieves down, but that’s all it will do, so we’d suggest backing that up with a heavy cable or chain lock too.
On the road, bikes are generally stable; although, the front wheel tends to move a bit, since there is not much of a channel for the tire to sit in. We found that if you center the tire in the channel even if the rear sit out of it a bit, stability is improved.
Even though the OutPace touches the frame and is more difficult to operate, we found ourselves reaching for it more often than other racks when we were taking bikes on and off of vehicles, often because it’s so lightweight, easy to handle, and store. It’s really worth a look for those who don’t keep a rack on their vehicle all the time, especially if cost is a concern.
HITS:
• Lightweight
• Compact when stored
• Affordable
• Works on just about any bike
• Fender-friendly
MISSES:
• Contacts frame
• Bike is not as stable
STAR RATING: ★★★★
Weight: 27.8 pounds
Price: $600
Contact: www.thule.com