Bird Automotive Bike Rack Available Soon!
08-09-2003, 09:09 AM
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Bird Automotive Bike Rack Available Soon!
Check out the details here: http://www.birdautomotive.com/Bike%2...san%20350Z.htm
I should have mine within the next few weeks and will post a review.
I should have mine within the next few weeks and will post a review.
08-09-2003, 11:43 AM
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I seriously doubt that it is flimsy. The designer told me that I would be able to drive as aggressively as I want. All those Boxster & TT owners who have bought the same rack for their cars cannot all be wrong.
08-10-2003, 08:24 AM
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I am an avid bike rider and triathete logging over 5,000 miles a year on my bike. Personnally I would never put anything like a bike rack on a Z. I have had bike rikes on every car I've owned and no matter how careful you are, sooner or later, the car gets a nice scratch or two or three. That's what they make SUV's for which is what I drive if I'm carrying my bike.
Just look at the bike rack pictures on your link. How stupid does that think look on this car? Some things are just wrong.
Just look at the bike rack pictures on your link. How stupid does that think look on this car? Some things are just wrong.
08-10-2003, 09:58 AM
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I agree that a bike rack looks out-of-place on the Z, but I cannot afford to own a 2nd car at this time. At least the Bird rack is a hitch-mount design. A roof rack would look even goofier on the Z.
As for the risk of scratching, the Bird rack is hitch-mounted and doesn't touch the Z's paint. I think the risk of scratching is really more of a problem with roof & trunk designs, since they have contact with the paint.
As for the risk of scratching, the Bird rack is hitch-mounted and doesn't touch the Z's paint. I think the risk of scratching is really more of a problem with roof & trunk designs, since they have contact with the paint.
08-10-2003, 08:42 PM
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It's common, Z owners aren't the only ones who a place for our bikes.
Bike rack for a Corvette
http://www.cfive-corvette.com/bike.htm
Bike rack for a Corvette
http://www.cfive-corvette.com/bike.htm
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08-11-2003, 04:43 AM
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Looks just as stupid on a Corvette!
As far as potentially scatching the car, the hitch mount certainly helps, but I guarantee you one day either from the bike itself or from the rack you will get a nice gouge. Its not if, its when. Speaking from experience.
However, I suppose if the Z was my only car I might be forced to do the same thing.
As far as potentially scatching the car, the hitch mount certainly helps, but I guarantee you one day either from the bike itself or from the rack you will get a nice gouge. Its not if, its when. Speaking from experience.
However, I suppose if the Z was my only car I might be forced to do the same thing.
08-11-2003, 03:47 PM
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Speaking of biking, I just ordered my . . . . . . .
Not not a Z license frame holder but a triathlete license frame holder with the three icons, swimming, biking and running on the top and triathlete on the bottom.
A Z owner and a triathlete - does it get any better? 48 year young and digressing.
Not not a Z license frame holder but a triathlete license frame holder with the three icons, swimming, biking and running on the top and triathlete on the bottom.
A Z owner and a triathlete - does it get any better? 48 year young and digressing.
08-29-2003, 07:55 AM
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I would like to see a review also.....I am interested in hearing how secure it keeps the bikes....I cant tell how the 2 horizontal tubes actually hold or cradle the bike frame from the picture.
08-29-2003, 09:05 AM
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no offense or anything, but I read the topic title and rolled my eyes. I just can't see a bike rack on a Z, but if it's what you need/want then have it at. Just not my tastes.
08-31-2003, 07:08 PM
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09-01-2003, 06:29 AM
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This is the first time I've seen the Whiteson rack & I definitely think it is a superior design to the Bird. I like the fact that it uses Thule hardware & is fork-mounted. I wish it was available for the Z 
05-22-2004, 11:36 AM
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Bird Automotive Bike Rack System
I got my '04 back in March, and installed the Bird Automotive 350Z Bike Rack about a month ago. I have yet to take it on a 3-4 hour drive to my favorite mountain biking spots in PA, but I did take it out for ~1 hour drive, mostly at highway speeds. Here is my assessment thus far:
1. Price:
The Bird Automotive bike rack system is quite expensive ($450 shipped with security package), but luckily I was able to sell my Thule roof rack system from my 2001 Honda Civic trade-in on Ebay for $350. Net cost to me = $100...not too shabby.
2. Installation:
Bird automotive gives pretty detailed instructions on how to assemble and set up the Z with the rack. They say it takes about 1 hour to set up, but it took me about 3-4 hours from bare Z to fully set up with a bike on the back. I'm not a grease monkey or gear head, but do know my way around a drill, and it was not too difficult to set up, The most frightening aspect of the installation is the drilling! 4 holes need to be drilled into the rear bumper beam, and 1 hole needs to be drilled through the bottom of the trunk. The trunk hole is fairly easy, but I would say that the first hole in the bumper was about the scariest 30 seconds of my life with my Z so far. One tip: Make sure you measuse 2x or 3x and do a "dry run" before drilling any holes, 'cause if you screw up, it could be very bad
.
3. How Does It Look?
Once the "receiver pipes" are installed, you can cap the ends...they almost look like multiple exhaust tips, but not really. Visibility of the receiver pipes when the rack is not on the car is not too bad, and I am planning to remove the receiver pipes during winter months when I don't ride. When the rack is installed and the bike is on however, you can't miss it!
4. Functionality:
The bike rack works very well. The bad thing about other bike racks that may fit the Z is that they are trunk or hatch mount systems, and it makes getting into the trunk damn near impossible when the bikes are on the car. With this system, you can throw two bikes on and still access the trunk whenever you need to.
Pics can be seen on the Bird Website. If anyone has any questions, send 'em my way. Good luck on all of your rigs!
1. Price:
The Bird Automotive bike rack system is quite expensive ($450 shipped with security package), but luckily I was able to sell my Thule roof rack system from my 2001 Honda Civic trade-in on Ebay for $350. Net cost to me = $100...not too shabby.
2. Installation:
Bird automotive gives pretty detailed instructions on how to assemble and set up the Z with the rack. They say it takes about 1 hour to set up, but it took me about 3-4 hours from bare Z to fully set up with a bike on the back. I'm not a grease monkey or gear head, but do know my way around a drill, and it was not too difficult to set up, The most frightening aspect of the installation is the drilling! 4 holes need to be drilled into the rear bumper beam, and 1 hole needs to be drilled through the bottom of the trunk. The trunk hole is fairly easy, but I would say that the first hole in the bumper was about the scariest 30 seconds of my life with my Z so far. One tip: Make sure you measuse 2x or 3x and do a "dry run" before drilling any holes, 'cause if you screw up, it could be very bad
.3. How Does It Look?
Once the "receiver pipes" are installed, you can cap the ends...they almost look like multiple exhaust tips, but not really. Visibility of the receiver pipes when the rack is not on the car is not too bad, and I am planning to remove the receiver pipes during winter months when I don't ride. When the rack is installed and the bike is on however, you can't miss it!
4. Functionality:
The bike rack works very well. The bad thing about other bike racks that may fit the Z is that they are trunk or hatch mount systems, and it makes getting into the trunk damn near impossible when the bikes are on the car. With this system, you can throw two bikes on and still access the trunk whenever you need to.
Pics can be seen on the Bird Website. If anyone has any questions, send 'em my way. Good luck on all of your rigs!
Last edited by kjh176; 05-22-2004 at 11:45 AM.
05-22-2004, 10:30 PM
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Great review, only questions are the two straps from inside attach to the rack, what do they attach to? the strut bar?
How did you attach your bike to the rack? It looks like Bird didn't put an indent on the rack pipes for the top bar of the bike frame, looks like the bike would slide off.
How did you attach your bike to the rack? It looks like Bird didn't put an indent on the rack pipes for the top bar of the bike frame, looks like the bike would slide off.
05-24-2004, 06:16 PM
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Damn.. I have been waiting for a bike rack, but not sure I want those two pipes sticking out the end. They look ridiculous. I may be forced to buy this if nothin else gets on the market soon.
05-25-2004, 04:17 AM
#20
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I made my own rack using an existing trunk mount with a upright mount bolted on. Works well, cheap, strong, and easy/quick to mount and remove. It's held up to 130kph very well.
Cargo under the hatch is accessible as it's only ~30lbs to lift.
The red bungee cord is just additional insurance as I never trust those downtube mounted racks (seen a few bike get deposited on a highway - Ti Lightspeed being one of them).
Cargo under the hatch is accessible as it's only ~30lbs to lift.
The red bungee cord is just additional insurance as I never trust those downtube mounted racks (seen a few bike get deposited on a highway - Ti Lightspeed being one of them).
Last edited by FritzMan; 05-25-2004 at 04:23 AM.