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Home > Allen 103S Premium 3-Bike Trunk Mount Rack
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Allen 103S Premium 3-Bike Trunk Mount Rack
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Show more by Allen Bike Racks
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Average Rating:  (44 Reviews)
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List Price: $139.99
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Our Price: $105.03
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You Save: $34.96 (25%)
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Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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8 New from $100.00
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- Fits most sedans, hatchbacks, minivans, and SUVs, including some vehicles with spoilers
- Quick set-up design pops into place right out of box; can be folded down using one hand
- 15-inch long carry arms easily accommodate up to three bicycles
- Comes fully assembled and can be set up and installed in minutes
- Lifetime warranty on workmanship and material
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Product Description:
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Premium trunk mounted 3-bike carrier
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The Allen 103S Premium trunk-mounted, 3-bike carrier snaps easily into place right out of the box and can be folded away with one hand. Featuring 15-inch long carry arms, it also offers added internal clearance to fit most sedans, hatchbacks, minivans, SUVs, and vehicles with rear-mounted deck spoilers. A patented dual compound tie-down cradle system individually secures and protects your bicycles. It comes fully assembled, and it's backed by a lifetime warranty on workmanship and material defects. About Allen Bike Racks
In 1967, after a few years of working on the aerospace technology for the Apollo missions, Dick Allen was out of a job. Government cutbacks led Allen, a Harvard-trained physicist, to transform his garage hobby into a new industry. A cycling enthusiast, inventor, and family man, Allen had a personal need for a bike-carrying device. On weekends, he would take his sons and wife to Cape Cod or the White Mountains of New Hampshire. What proved difficult time and again was the transport of his family?s bicycles. Rather than fight through inconvenience with twine and a dinged car, Allen sought an answer for himself as well as a market in which he foresaw major growth possibilities. Always a pathfinder, Allen took to work in his Lincoln, Massachusetts garage in search of a more efficient way to transport bikes. Drafting designs during the day and constructing them throughout the night, he put together a model made of electrical conduit, metal strapping, and fire hose casings (for padding). At first, the Allens tested the prototype on weekend excursions. Finding the first trunk-mounted rack to be a success, Dick started Allen Bike Racks. Dealer acceptance came quickly, and by 1971 Allen Bike Racks were sold nationally through a number of major bicycle distributors. Today, the company owns over three dozen patents and offers a versatile product line of bike racks while Dick?s son Alex now owns and operates the business. What started out as a small garage run operation now operates three warehouses nationally, two factories abroad, and has products sold in more than a dozen countries around the world.
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Customer Reviews:
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 Strong and reliable...but basic., January 10, 2009
By Tweezak (Pacific Northwet)
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I opted for this rack over others because I kept hearing about things like recalls on the Yakima "Joe" series racks and that those and other similar racks had a nasty habit of dropping bikes. This was often because these racks had plastic hinges that failed. A button release mechanism might be really cool and convenient but if it drops your $1000+ bike...it tends to lose its coolness.
The Allen Premium 3 Bike Rack is hell for stout. The pipe is thick and because it is bent rather than joined with bolts or rivets, it does not flex. Also, the hinges are metal. They are two metal plates that swivel together and are secured in the locked position by a 3/8" steel pin. This is not going to fail unless you do something stupid like haul lumber on it.
The rack only has 4 straps and I thought that would be a problem...but because of the inherent side-to-side rigidity of the design, it does not need any side supports. When it is strapped down and tightened you can grab the thing and shake the whole car. The only movement in the rack is a result of compressing the squishy foam pads that rest on your car.
Speaking of straps...the buckles on the trunk straps are high quality cam-lock style. They are all metal and are a smaller version of the buckles used in my motorcycle tiedowns...they are bulletproof and will never release. The harder you pull on the strap, the tighter they bind. If they seem to be stuck, give the loose end of the strap a little pull and the button will push right in.
The lower straps have a rubber section in them that holds tension on the rack even if it shifts a bit. Pretty cool idea but I wonder a bit about the durability of that rubber.
Other nice things: The pipes where you slide your bike on are fully covered with vinyl so if you bang your bike up against them, it's no problem. The vertical tubes are also covered in this manner.
Negatives:
This is a very basic rack. There's no mechanism to keep your bike from swinging so you'll need an additional strap and buckle or a bungee to put around the frame and wheel. The buckles that hold the bike on - while extremely secure - are not super convenient. After a few uses, you get the hang of it though.
The bottom line: If you are not hung up on getting a trendy brand. Consider this rack. If you want a rack that is so strong that your trunk will probably buckle before the rack folds up, this may be the one.
18 of 18 people found the above review helpful.
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 Quick rust / poor service, January 16, 2009
By Biker Bob (Ohio)
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After owning a 103D for several years, I gave it to my son and purchased a new 103S expecting an even better rack. The rack is stronger and spreads the bikes a little farther apart. The hold-down system is wonderful. I attached the rack in mid-May. Within a month, I notice that the nuts had started to show rust. Those on the old rack still looked new. By July, the rust was so bad that I e-mailed customer service. They responded immediately stating that this was not acceptable. They took me up on my offer of close up pictures that they could relay to their supplier. After that I heard nothing. Finally after several inquiries, they said that they had given the photos to the supplier. Since then (it is now 1/16/09) none of my five e-mails have been responded to. After many tries, I finally got a connection on their phone line in October. Reluctantly, they promised that new nuts would be sent, but that they would be the same material. I just gave up and purchased new stainless steel nuts at the hardware store and replaced them so that I would not worry about the safety of the rack over time. When I asked via e-mail about sending the rack back under their "lifetime warranty", there was no response. Silence is disappointing customer service.
16 of 16 people found the above review helpful.
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excellent design, September 11, 2008
By C. Resnick (New York, NY United States)
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This rack fit snug on my Mazda 3 hatchback and carried three adult bikes from NYC to Maine and back without a waver, even on poor quality highways. I had been considering a roof rack, but I'm very glad I found this instead.
Some standout qualities:
1. A sturdy, snug fit.
2. A very quick, simple, and logical setup/dissembly.
3. The excess strappage from the upper tensioning straps is generous and ideally positioned to thread through the wheels and tie, thus prohibiting front wheel knock.
4. When not in use it easily collapses to a profile that's nearly flat. It should easily fit in most closets.
5. It's very reasonably priced.
A caveat: at least on my car, only the lower rubber pads touched metal, as the upper mounted against the hatch window, so I had no concern for abrasions. However, the way this thing stuck I doubt it would be an issue on any car, provided you wash off any grit at least in the few places the rubber meets the body.
13 of 13 people found the above review helpful.
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Nice Trunk Rack, April 11, 2009
By M. Ellis (Tampa, FL)
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I did some research on these and finally chose this one to haul 2-Schwinn Corondo bikes. They were on the heavy side, so I opted for the 3-bike rack instead of the 2. Setup was easy and the rack fit nicely on my Honda Accord. The 4 straps keep the rack in place, although I wouldn't recommend whipping around any sharp turns, especially with heavier bikes on the back. I did make a 30 mile trip at highway speeds with no issues.
Men's bikes are a cinch to load, but women's are a little tricky because of the downtube design. It is possible to rack a women's bike without the optional bar (this is how I did it), but the bar would probably make it easier. It easily accepts 2 bikes, but I've never tried 3.
We sold the Schwinn's and purchased a set of road bikes (much lighter) and they work great with this rack. If I had these bikes at the start, I probably would have purchased the 2-bike model.
A few tips, I use socks on all the bike pedals to prevent scratching of the trunk and other bikes. I also put pipe insulating tubes on the bottom bar of the rack where the innermost bike rubs. I noticed my bike was rubbing against the tube and it scratched the finish away. Adding the tubes solves that problem. Also, I cut up an old innertube and use it for extra tie downs from the bikes to the rack (keeping tires and handlebars from swaying). The only negative point I have come across since Feb is rusty nuts on the rack. Another poster mentioned this happened to him. Its not a big deal, I will just go to the hardware store and pick up a few extras, but I would have expected them to remain rust free.
6 of 6 people found the above review helpful.
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Stop Looking, Buy This One!!!, May 26, 2009
By David Laxman (Salt Lake City, Utah USA)
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I spent a lot of time looking for the perfect rack for a good price. I looked at Yakima, Thule, Hollywood, and Allen Racks. The Hollywood racks seemed to be cheap and had poor reviews. The Yakima seemed to be overrated and one day, I say a Yakima Super Joe rack on a car and the bummer was completely ruined - the rack does not keep the bike up off the car. My co-worker has a Thule rack with the stabilizers that seems very nice. His only complaint with the Thule rack is that it does not lay flat when not on the trunk. My complaint is that his Thule rack cost $150 on Amazon. Because of these reasons I went with this Allen rack. I was little hesitant to by this rack at first because some reviews said that the bolts rusted. I also was nervous about not having side straps to stabilize the bikes. I decided to take a chance and I bought the rack. I could not be happier. Allen has obviously listened to their customers. The bolts on the rack are now all coated and the rack now includes side straps that have an elastic material attached - making it very easy to install the rack. We put three full size mountain bikes on the rack with relatively few problems. On one bike, we had to take the seat off, but that is not a big deal. I haven't taken three bikes on a long trip, but I have with two, and the rack held secure.
The rack is very easy to install and the bikes are held securely up and away from the Hyundai Sonata - never had a scratch. When the rack is not in use, it lays completely flat in my trunk. I would highly recommend this rack!
4 of 4 people found the above review helpful.
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Great bike rack, July 3, 2008
By R Jessica Turner
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This bike rack is easy to install and take off the car. It folds easily for storage in the trunk or wherever else when you don't need to use it. It is sturdy and has done a great job transporting our bikes.
4 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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GREAT bike rack, October 6, 2008
By B. Long (Washington DC)
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I considered buying a Thule rack when I noticed that Amazon had this rack on sale - almost 60% off. I did a little checking of other customer reviews as well as the Allen website. I hadn't heard of Allen before (not that that means anything) but I decided to take a chance on this product. The rack arrived in three days and was ready for installation straight out of the box. The rack is VERY easy to install and fits nicely on my 2007 Nissan Murano. It crowds the back wiper a little but if you are careful it's not a problem. Definitely an easy rack to install and appears to be very secure on the vehicle. I recommend this rack to anyone.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Best customer service ever - and excellent product, October 26, 2010
By C. Norton
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This is the first review I have ever left on Amazon, as honestly I am too lazy to typically write one. But after the amazing customer service I received from the head of Allen Sports, I figured the least I could do was leave a review and tell others of my experience.
I purchased the 103S about 6 months ago right after purchasing a mountain bike. I came to Amazon to research the best one for me and the 103S seemed like the best bet. I knew I was going to be getting a new car soon, so I also checked the Allen website to make sure the 103S fit my existing car as well as the one I would be getting sometime in the near future.
I just recently got the new car, but before that had been using the 103S on my old car for 6 months with zero issues. I often had 2 mountain bikes on it, and at times had 3. I have driven on highways, dirt roads, etc. and the rack worked perfectly. Great product - especially give the reasonable price.
So when I got my new car, I hooked the 103S up just like I had on my old car. I loaded 2 bikes on it, adjusted the rack and tested it to make sure it didn't move around much, and drove it 30 miles on the highway. When I came home, I was VERY bummed to see the rack had left a 3 inch scratch on the trunk of my new car. I went back to make sure I had hooked it up correctly, and I saw nothing wrong or different from the way I hooked it up to my old car. I figured I was screwed and that Allen would never do anything about it (just based on experiences with other consumer products companies).
So the next day I called Allen to see what, if anything, they would do. Not only did someone call me back, but Alex Allen (I believe the CEO of the company) called me back. I explained to him what happened, and with zero resistance he offered to send me a brand new rack (more on that in a second). He also offered to pay for the repair of the scratches. I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Send me a new rack AND pay for damamges? I was floored. I received the check and the new rack within days.
Now you may be asking why get a new rack if the same thing could happen again? Well, turns out Allen slightly changed the design of the rack so that the bar between the 2 pads that contact your trunk is now curved away from the trunk, where before it was straight. My guess is that for most cars the straight bar is fine (as it was on my old car), but for some newer cars with softer metal the straight bar would leave a scratch as the weight on the pads causes the trunk surface to press in just slightly (though it did not leave any dents on my trunk at all).
I confirmed with Alex Allen that the product sold on here is the new design, even though Amazon still has the picture of the old design. You can go to the Allen website to see the new design. So if you order the 103S from Amazon, Alex told me you would get the new design.
That may be the best customer service I have ever received on any consumer product. Allen Sports (and Alex) clearly stand behind their product and went way above and beyond my expectations to make sure I was a satisfied customer.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Perfect, January 5, 2010
By Z. Buccola
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This product was exactly what I wanted and more. I've had no problems whatsoever. It is extremely easy to set up, even for a girl like me. I keep my bike rack in the trunk. It folds and unfolds easily. I have a Mazda Protege hatchback and yes, the bottom rubberized bar of the bike rack does rest on my license plate and cover it up, but so what. Even if it didn't the bikes would be in the way and the cops wouldn't be able to see my plate anyway.
I would like to address some gripes other users had. Some said it was hard to put a girls bike on it and they had to buy some bar to make it like a guys bike. I have put two different types of girls bikes on this rack with no problem. You see, the strap rests where you set the bike turn. If you need it at an angle for a female bike, turn it at an angle. It's very easy. Also, some have complained of the slack of the straps and that they hang down too far. I use these and tie them through the bike wheels. That way my wheels don't turn while I'm driving. This bike rack also hasn't scratched my car nor the bikes on it. Really, if you have any sense this rack shouldn't cause you a problem.
I have driven long distances with multiple bikes on my rack. If I drive over pot holes the bikes do bounce around and cause me a little scare, but they have never come close to falling off or loosening on the rack. It's only my paranoia that gives me jitters, not an actual experience with them coming off. If you are parked in a shady area with your bikes on the rack, please secure them one way or another because they can be tempting for a thief.
I would recommend this bike rack to everyone.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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This is it! Stop looking, November 30, 2008
By Gumbus (Scottsdale, AZ)
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I have a Lexus ES330 and concerned for the security of our higher end road bikes as well as the paint on the car. Don't look any further! This carrier is GREAT. It was delivered in the morning and I immediately mounted it to the car and strapped it on our bikes (in 15 min) for 110 mile drive to the Tour de Tucson. Stopped once to check on the bikes, no problem, all secure and no scratches or rub marks. For those worried about scratching the paint on the trunk lid apply a strip of shelf paper that has weak adhesive. Worked perfectly and after the trip back from Tucson (and very tired legs) just peel off the shelf paper when you remove the rack and your paint is PERFECT. No scatches. Bottom line, this carry rack is the best value with excellent construction! Stop looking at any others.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Slightly more money but a great product, September 30, 2008
By volge.com (Windsor, Ontario, Canada)
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This is a great product even though it may cost a bit more than some other 3-bike racks. The bike mounting straps look like they were made to hold triangle framed bikes, but swivel to easily accomodate Y-frame bikes. I used this rack on my Winstar van with three bikes and a canoe on top and had no issues at all.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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First rate bike rack, August 25, 2008
By ABR (WI)
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Have gone on trips in a small car (Mazda Protoge and Saturn wagon) loaded with three bikes: a normal men's bike, a large woman's bike and a kid's trailer bike. This rack is beautifully designed - super easy to set up and load, secure, very compact and a great price. A+ all the way!
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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satisfied customer, August 22, 2008
By jenni
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The bike rack is exactly what we were looking for. We have used it for a short distance and long distance, approximately 4 hour drive, trip and it has worked great. It is really nice that it fits many different vehicles. Both of ours were on the list. Prior to the short trip we washed the van and there were no scratches. After the long trip there were some scratches where the rack had slid on the back of the van. We did not thoroughly wash it prior to putting on the rack so that may have been the reason. Just something to be aware of. Overall we are satisfied. Was easy to use.
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Well Built Rack., December 5, 2008
By Bracan
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Goes on easy, seems sturdy and durable. It was a bit difficult placing my son's slightly smaller mountain bike frame on it, but we made it work. We transported two Specialized mountain bikes with it without worry.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Easy and Efficient, September 4, 2008
By Debbie (Staten Island, NY)
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This bike rack is extremely easy to use and requires no special tools to attach to the trunk of our car. And the clips holding the bikes helped to provide ease of mind on our first trip which was a 30-minute highway drive at highway speeds. On the way home, the bottom strap came away from the bumper (probably due to our not pulling the strap tight enough), but this had no bearing on the bikes. They remained sturdily attached. The rack folds up easily enough and can be stored in the trunk of the car. And the price can't be beat. Our local bike shop tried to sell us a rack that was obviously inferior, and twice the price. I would definitely recommend this rack.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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 Three bikes? Not usually, September 14, 2009
By Mary Keating (Maryland)
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I fought with this bike rack several times, and almost lost a bike to the road. It attaches easily, but it's not really made for three bikes. I like the locking cable and will use that again, but I've replaced this rack. I think I would use it for just two bikes, but that's not my situation.
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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 Cheap holding buckle, July 10, 2009
By EZE (California)
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The first time I opened a buckle, the buckle tab broke off and the spring below it put a gash in my thumb.
The buckle is extremely cheap. I took the 1" x 1/2" tab that broke off and I was able to break it in half again, using very little effort.
This is one the buckles that holds the rack to the car. If these fail, the rack will fall off your car and onto the freeway.
I am returning it.
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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I love this rack, it works great on my Pontiac G8, July 23, 2011
By Do something healthy (MA USA)
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I have been using this for 2 years now and I must say I am always very impressed with the purchase I made.
This Allen 103S Premium 3-Bike Trunk Mount Rack can hold 3 adult sized bikes easily, fits perfect on my Pontiac G8, never any scratches, and the price was a bargain.
I highly recommend this.
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Good Solid Rack for 2 Bikes!!!, May 15, 2011
By Sidney Wong (ILHA DE COLOANE, Macau)
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I got this a few days and it worked GREAT! A Good Solid Rack for 2 Bikes!!! Yes for 2 Bikes!
I basically place 2 MTB on rack #2 and 3 and it's very Good! I cannot imagine to put 3 MTBs... I don't know if it has the space for the third bike? Maybe it can fit 3 Road bikes but I don't know.
The only disadvantage is that it does block your reverse sensor...
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Sturdy, good value, April 26, 2011
By Ryan (Andover, MA)
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Great rack, its sturdy. The first rack I ordered from Amazon had a faulty piece. I contacted Amazon and got a new rack in two days and sent back the defective rack at no charge. Great customer service.
I travelled from MA to NC and back again with 2 adult bikes attached with no issues. I did however use a few things to modify the rack. I used rags between the rubber cushions where it sits on the top and bottom locations. If you do not do this, you may get a scratch on your car. To reduce swaying, I used a tie down and wrap around the bikes. I have used this rack on 3 different cars with not issues. 2008 Honda CRV, 2006 Nissan Murano, and 2000 Toyota Celica. Worked great on each vehicle.
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it is not made for three bikes, October 10, 2010
By baaba (los angeles CA)
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I owned it for one year and a half.I used it for one adult bike and a child bike. it was O'K.
Today I used a third bike,After two miles of drive,The rack broke.
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Great bike rack for the occasional rider, May 18, 2010
By Alan Gold (Boston, MA USA)
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The Allen 103S is light weight, folds flat for easy storage and is easy to use. It arrived 3 days after ordering with the free shipping option. I like the fact that it is made in America too. My only wish for improvement is that it had better hold down straps for the bikes. The nylon straps are a bit clumsy to thread. My other bike rack is made by Saris and it has nice quick release plastic straps to secure the bikes to the rack. The Saris is more expensive and also difficult to attach to the car however.
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Allen bike rack 103s, March 8, 2010
By James D. Blue (O'fallon, Missouri)
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Great product. Easy to install on vehicle in minutes the very first time. Have only used it with one bike to this point. Only sugguestion is the need to secure front wheel from moving while driving on interstate.
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PERECT BUY FOR MY NEEDS, February 6, 2010
By Gary Shidaker (SARASOTA, FL)
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THE RACK IS EASY TO LOAD AND THE BIKES ARE SECURE AND STABLE - IT IS WELL CONSTRUCTED AND PROTECTS THE CAR FROM DAMAGE - THE PRICE WAS RIGHT!Allen 102S Premium 2-Bike Trunk Mount Rack
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A little fussy..but it works, December 13, 2009
By The Haze (USA)
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This is a very well built rack and once you get it working with your vehicle it'll be fine. Worth the $$. The issue I have is that the upper and lower cross braces are straight. If your vehicle has any curvature, the metal brace will rub the body. I fixed this by adding a layer of foam rubber pipe insulation onto each foam pad, moving the metal bars away from my vehicle body.
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Worked well for me, September 23, 2009
By Michael L. Orrick (Franklin, TN USA)
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Used this rack for a hybrid, a cruiser, and a child tag along. Rack held all three securely with suffient space. This was on a 98 Camry and bikes were held out far enough to not contact car. I used a bungie cord to secure front wheels from banging around. Straps held securely and did not need constant re-tightening during 8 hour trip.
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Great Bike Rack, September 14, 2009
By Book Lover (Atkinson, NH)
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This is a great bike rack. It is very solid when three bikes are loaded onto it. The clips to hold the bikes come in handy too. We are very happy with the purchase.
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Hard to make it 100% secure, but eventually, worked great, September 12, 2009
By E. Tsalik (Durham, NC USA)
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I don't have any point of comparison as this is my first purchase of a bike rack. However, we first used it for a 5 hour drive to the beach. I was a bit concerned about this big thing hanging off the back of my Subaru Outback, but overall it was fine. There was some slight side-side jostling (about 1 inch) as I got about 20 mins into my drive. I had to pull over and tighten the straps again, which is hard to do with 2 bikes on it. After a bit of cursing, I finally got it set more securely and it was fine after that. Had the same issues on my way back, just less cursing. I wish there were more explicit instructions on how to make it really secure, not just where to put the straps. I'd offer my own, but I don't know if my approach is really the best one. In retrospect, getting my own set of cargo straps and securing the rack laterally (in addition to the vertical straps it comes with) would have offered that security. Lastly, I used this rack for 2 bikes b/c reviews of 2-rack mounts suggested it's hard to actually fit 2 bikes on it. Mine worked fine for 2 bikes (one adult and one child), but it would have been very very difficult to get 3 adult bikes on it.
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Good Rack, September 12, 2009
By K. Schaller (Vacaville, CA)
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I wanted the possible option of carrying a third bike so this was the one selected. We use this rack to carry a Trek 7200 and Trek 7200WSD currently on a Mazda Protege. We haven't yet used it on the other car, which is a larger Buick, but I've seen that all the needed contact points will work.
I was skeptical of the claim that it takes only a couple of minutes to hook up, but it really is that easy. Once the rack is up and the bikes are mounted, I give a quick final tightening to the lower straps and it's good to go.
It has taken a few times to get the bikes situated to avoid scratching each other and I have added a piece of inexpensive pipe insulation to add protection. Also, a few short bungee cords give needed stability to avoid wheel movement and bike rocking while transporting. If these minor issues were dealt with in the product package, I would have given the 5 star rating.
For me, two full sized bikes are enough and I'd guess it would do ok with a smaller bike as a third. The optional purchase of a cross bar adapter is essential if one bike is a woman's or step-thru. From what I've seen, that style of bike would need the adapter for just about any rack. I am putting my comments on this particular adapter on its page.
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Good rack; no hassles, September 6, 2009
By C. Lee (San Jose, CA)
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Setting up and using this rack is as easy as advertised. Out of the box, it is a simple matter of unfolding it, adjusting straps to the size of your car, and you are done. Initial set up was maybe ~10-15 mins for me as a familiarized myself with the rack and adjusted the straps. Subsequent set up is less than 5 mins including getting your bikes loaded.
No marks as far as I can see left by the rack where it contacts the car. One word of caution - if using the inner-most bike holder, make sure the bike's pedal is covered or immobilized or placed in such a way that it while not rub against your car's bumper. That will definitely leave a mark. But that probably goes with the territory for a trunk-mounted rack.
Unloading and re-folding the rack is similarly a snap, and the rack stores well in the trunk or your garage. Because of its ease of use, the number of rides we have taken as a family immediately went up and I am very happy with the purchase. I would consider it to be easier to use and less of a hassle than my roof-mounted rack I used to use.
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Allen Comes Through Again!, September 3, 2009
By Travel Junkie
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I bought this bike rack to replace another Allen bike rack that I have owned for about 12 years. The old one still works fine, however I wanted to upgrade to a new rack to get the tie-down straps on the support arms instead of needing to use bungee cords. This new rack is great! So far I've only had 2 adult mountain bikes max on it, but I feel confident that 3 will fit. I've put it on the trunk of a 3-series BMW and driven on a 2.5 hour highway trip at highway speeds and not had any problems with straps coming loose or the bikes looking unstable. It's easy to set-up and break-down (minutes) and doesn't take up too much space in the trunk when not in use. I have to admit that I looked at some popular competitor racks before purchasing this one, but then based on the excellent track record of my previous Allen rack and the great price of this rack compared to the others, it became a no-brainer. If this one holds up as well as my other Allen rack (which I still have), then Allen will have a life-long advocate in me.
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Solid Performer, August 31, 2009
By Mike (Bound Brook, NJ United States)
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I looked around for a while to find a new detachable bike rack and the Allen 103S seemed to fit the bill. After several months of use, I have not been disappointed. There are several good things about this rack:
First, the rack comes fully assembled -- you open the box, pull it out and you are ready to go.
Second, the design is simple and sturdy. I didn't even have to look at the instructions the first time I opened the rack - it just snaps into place exactly as you would think. No loose parts, nothing rattling.
Third, it's very easy to mount. If you have ever had a rack like this before, you know the drill. If you haven't, then I would suggest reading the instructions. If you are taking longer than 2 or 3 minutes to mount this thing, you are doing something wrong -- it's just that easy.
Fourth, the bikes load very easily and securely. This area is the only one in which I have a beef with this rack, though. I have put two bikes on it and they fit just fine. I'm just not sure about three -- it would be a snug fit. In all fairness, though, I haven't tried it yet. Also, I would recommend that you put a sock over the pedal closest to the car, just to protect the car in case you are driving on bumpy roads.
So all in all, this is a good rack. Get it and let the adventures roll.
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If you have a hatchback don't even waste your money and time -it dinged my car!, August 10, 2009
By LeoDC (DC, USA)
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I bought this rack based on some of the good reviews I read. I own a VW Golf 07 (hatchback) which according to Allen's manual fit right with the 103S rack. However, as soon as I installed this rack in my car and drove very few miles, I noticed that the bikes were coming off. I tightened-up the belts twice and re-read the instructions flier just to make sure. Then after 2-3 miles...I hit a pothole, the rack got lose and the bikes almost fell off to the pavement --I had to pull over.
Results: my trunk was dinged badly, and one of the bike wheels got damaged. Yet I had to dismount the bikes and start all over again so I could make it home. I changed the position of the rack -thinking that was going to help but this piece of steel never worked. It's one of the worst items I have ever bought.
If you have a hatchback or a minivan, SUV don't waste your time and money and then more money in repairs for your car!
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great for the price, May 1, 2009
By sh6323 (Hustonville, KY USA)
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I purchased this to be able to bring the family bikes camping with us. We have 2 mountain bikes and a teen boys bike. My bike is the heaviest so that one went first (it had to go caticorner to fit). Then the teen bike (his did not fit good so it went upside down) then the other mountain bike which was tight but went on. All three bikes fit good, was secure with not other tie downs. The rack did not rub, scratch or make any damage to my minivan. Overall well worth the money. We have only used it twice so far for about 90 minutes on small highways (which means potholes, etc...), but plan on using it more in the future.
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Very good rack, though 3 bikes is a stretch, August 2, 2008
By T. H. Sutphen (Farmington Hills, MI United States)
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Rack goes on easily, fit nicely and securely on my 2008 Focus. Advertised for 3 bikes, I comfortably put two on the outer fittings... the inner one seems too close to the car to avoid scratching the car, especially with adult sized multispeed bikes. If you only need to move two, this rack is great. And fact that it folds flat for storage is a plus.
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No that good, January 26, 2010
By Titan (Boca Raton, FL USA)
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I got this product couple weeks ago, and at installing it for the first time, some metal part breaks on my. I'm giving it a second try just because the product is really easy to use.
0 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Great product for the price, July 15, 2008
By Alex (Seattle, WA USA)
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Easy to install, easy to load the bikes and sturdy. And great price compared to similar products.
0 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Great Bike Rack, August 5, 2011
By C7
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Fits over the spoiler as advertised. Very easy to adjust. No assembly required. Very satisfied with the product.
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Great trunk rack, September 15, 2011
By chicklikeme
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I purchased this rack after reading all the reviews for multiple 3 bike trunk racks, and buying and returning crappier racks from a local store. It is the best I could find. It stayed perfectly in place on multiple trips up north on Michigan's notoriously bumpy roads. I like that the lower straps hook on to the bumper of the car instead of on to the bottom of the trunk. This rack is sturdy, well made, and is exactly what I was looking for. The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is because it did rub against the spoiler of my car(2002 Olsdmobile Alero), and the rack scuffed the paint on my bike in the one small place it made contact with it. But, this is an easy fix, I just tied a piece of cloth where the bike or rack made contact with anything. No problems after that. I am VERY happy with my purchase, and believe got the best trunk rack available.
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one of the latch broke, August 26, 2011
By Jason P
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one of the latch which secures the band broke after half a year of use, 2 mountain bike and 1 road bike. I'm using a wire tie to fix it now, does not want to depend on the other latch, it might broke at anytime. This product is otherwise a good product but the latch made from some mix of plastic material, it should be made from metal which is much more durable.
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Good rack, good value, August 17, 2011
By J. Endahl
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Nothing much to add beyond what others have said. Very sturdy rack, mounts on the vehicle easily, mounting system for the bikes works well. I do use an additional bungee to stabilize the bottoms of the bikes. Just be sure you follow the instructions and tighten the bottom straps so that ALL the stretch is out of them. Mounts on my 2008 Prius easily (bottom clips attach to the bottom of the hatch). Very satisfied with this purchase.
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Great Bike Rack, December 13, 2011
By Kevin
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I've had the Allen 103S Premium 3-Bike Rack for over a year and have used it on many occasions, from short trips to the nearby trails, to 4 hour long trips to the mountains. I haven't encountered a single problem with this rack. Design is great and quality of construction is awesome. Fits nicely on a Ford Escape. Rack holds two adult 26" mountain bikes and one kids 20" BMX bike without any issues. I highly recommend this bike rack.
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spoiler, December 3, 2011
By josephMadre
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I bought this rack because I have a 06 honda civic si with the factory spoiler. It fits perfectly and is sturdy. The key is to not place the top bar over the spoiler on the top of the trunk. Rather, place it on the back of the trunk (beneath) the spoiler. The straps will then go over top the spoiler and latch to the trunk. Enjoy!
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Great product for the price, July 15, 2008
By Alex (Seattle, WA USA)
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Easy to install, easy to load the bikes and sturdy. And great price compared to similar products.
0 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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