Rear mounted bike rack?

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Johann

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Decided that the mountain bike needs some use again! Tried to fir my old rear bike rack but it did not fit the A2 at all! Grrr...

Does anyone on here have a good one to recommend? There is a picture of a gorgeous steel one in the main Audi-A2 site (that I can't find now), but I seem to remember someone saying that was an official Audi picture of a concept design that never came to fruition...

I saw a Golf 4 the other day with a very nice rear mounted silver steel system. It had locks with keys around the edges of the boot door so you could leave it on the car AND still open the rear hatch!

Anyone know who makes such a bike rack? And then who knows of a company that makes sepcific racks for the A2?

____________________________________________________________________________________
[img=left]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-2/11882/a2andme2.gif[/img=left]
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony II, BOSE upgrade, DIS and HALF a winterpack!

iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve, rear cupholders, luggage net and floppy wiper!

http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk23.htm
 
This one looks nice and is also made of aluminium:

http://www.bikesportandleisure.com/products.php?plid=2-0-92-375

But how do these fit at the top of an A2 hatch? Reason I ask is because the top of the door is glass and not steel as on most cars... The bumper is also so extremely profiled that there is not much a ledge at the bottom to fit the rack onto! Grrr

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[img=left]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-2/11882/a2andme2.gif[/img=left]
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony II, BOSE upgrade, DIS and HALF a winterpack!

iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve, rear cupholders, luggage net and floppy wiper!

http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk23.htm
 
The problem you are going to have is the issue about the glass and how much pressure it can/can't take, if a carwash can break it then there is a good chance a bike or two could do the same.

oh, its the same problem as the Citron AX, Glass not designed for the additional pressure.

but I would have thought that if Audi had looked at one (concept) then maybe its ok (unless thats where they found the problem)

Lee and Sheridan,
TDI SE, Build 11/01, Dolphin Grey
50% Brighter Bulbs : Audi 6 CD Changer : Rear drinks holder : Floppy Wiper : Centre Tray : Elasticated Belt System : Chrome Numberplate Surround : A3 Transmission Nets
 
Take the seats out and put it in the back - aerodynamics & security are better as well. Mine fits with the front wheel dropped out.

Ian

2002 1.4 Petrol SE, silver with climate control.
Why are NEARLY all the A2s in Lichfield are silver ? ? ?
 
All fine and well to fit it inside, but it only really works with a clean bike! The moment you have done your trip and have a muddy bike it does not sound that appealing anymore! And what if you want to take 3 people with you! And 3 bikes!

____________________________________________________________________________________
[img=left]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-2/11882/a2andme2.gif[/img=left]
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony II, BOSE upgrade, DIS and HALF a winterpack!

iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve, rear cupholders, luggage net and floppy wiper!

http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk23.htm
 
Johann, there is an A2 bike rack available.
I'm not sure if it is available through UK Audi dealers though...I'm sure someone mentioned a while ago that they were able to get hold of this - in The Netherlands??

bike.jpg


[img=left]http://www.a2forum.net/stuart.gif[/img=left]Stuart Diamond: A2OC Founder | Forum Administrator

2001 TDi SE:http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk1.htm Cobalt Blue Metallic | Open Sky Roof | Kenwood Mask CD | Front Centre Armrest | Front Centre Tray

A2OC Website | A2OC Forum
 
Thanks Stuart! That is the one I am on about!

____________________________________________________________________________________
[img=left]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-2/11882/a2andme2.gif[/img=left]
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony II, BOSE upgrade, DIS and HALF a winterpack!

iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve, rear cupholders, luggage net and floppy wiper!

http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk23.htm
 
Gentlemen

I can heartily testify that this rack does not actually exist. As a triathlete, racing cyclist and A2 driver, I've been trying to track one down for the last 15 months. I spent ages in the Neths and Germany enquiring about buying one such. I have forever been told the same thing...that it is indeed only a CONCEPT design and has never been produced.

I'm more than happy for somebody out there to prove me wrong and to tell me that they've been driving their bikes around on one for ages. But the word from dealers from Rotterdam to Dresden is everywhere the same, and I have never once seen one on the road!
 
Well I guess that proves it...

But to Johann: as you can see from the picture you can only take 2 bikes on the 'concept' roof. Not three, as you'd like to do.

So that leaves you with:
a. fitting that ridiculously expensive rear caravan hook (what's that called in proper English?)
b. UNfitting that lovely open sky roof of yours and go the normal roof-rack way ;)

a. wasn't an option either, for 2001 A2's, as I recall. Bad luck!

Rent a cheap car for the day. It's the cheapest option so far!


--
Edo
(2003 Silver 1.4 Tdi Exclusive(SE), black interior, sport seats, JVC KD-SH909RB cd-receiver, Infinity Kappa 63.1 + Vifa on-dash tweeters, 12" Subwoofer on 300w Amp)
 
Why not just ride the bike?????[8D][8D][8D]

2002 1.4 Petrol SE, silver with climate control.
Why are NEARLY all the A2s in Lichfield are silver ? ? ?
 
Straying off the subject, and ono one which has been much discussed already, I suspect all the A2s around Lichfield are silver for the same reason that most of the A2s in the UK and Europe are silver.

That is, I can only guess, that some/many people are buying an aluminium car and seem subliminally to want to show its aluminium-ness.

[NB: not my thinking... mine's Amulet Red...]
 
Just a suspicion having looked at the image of the rack above, but I'm guessing that it didn't make it to production because for a rear mounted bike rack it's sitting ridiculously high up from the car. The difference in height of the bike handle bars from the ground compared with the A2 roof is quite a big one, which for me defeats the whole point in a rear mounted bike rack, hence it not making production! Which probably left Audi with the thought of 'oh, well if it's that high up just scrap it and they can make do with the standard roof rack'.

Obviously nobody from Audi thought about this when designing the car, but then again why should they sacrifice the design of a car for a bike rack. I do find it hard to believe having said that, that Audi don't now have a solution for this available at the dealers, as there are always engineering solutions for things like this, if they have the technology to build the car in the first place it can't be that difficult for them to source a creative solution for this... ...can it?

Happy hunting!!

Silver TDI Sport | 17 inch TT alloys | Audi bodykit | CD | Climate control | Custom Badges
visit: http://www.mediacitizen.com/audi
 
Thanks Guys... funnily enough that rack actually has an Audi part number!!! 8Z0 071 104 Martyn of VAG parts sent it to me but he can't find the number on the system anymore! You get the same looking rack for A3, A4 and A6... but not A2... I suspect it is a magnetic suction system... thus it worked fine on the top with the glass, but was not strong enough at the bottom where the car is aluminium and the magnets don't work (thus suction only)!

Frido uses the standard A2 roofrack with an Open Sky system, so I will just do that. The roof rack does not touch the roof - as you would expect anyway as the roof is painted!!! So it sits between door and roof and does not touch the roof or in my or Frido's case: the glass. BUT you must just remember no to try and open the Open Sky... and that is not too difficult I would say... after all the roof is glass and you will actually see the bikes through it!!!

And Swiv: I only want to fit 2 bikes... 3 is a would-be-nice...

____________________________________________________________________________________
[img=left]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-2/11882/a2andme2.gif[/img=left]
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony II, BOSE upgrade, DIS and HALF a winterpack!

iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve, rear cupholders, luggage net and floppy wiper!

http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk23.htm
 
Hi Guys.

Since this thread is all about bike racks, can one of you knowledgeable chaps or chappesses tell me how much I'd have to pay for an Audi/VAG A2 roof rack?

Also, are there two flavours; hydraulic lift style and normal, back stretching? I ask, as I remember seeing two in one of those Audi extras brochures (that don't contain prices!).

Any info would be appreciated. Also, where can I get Martyn VAG's number - I am a paid up member, just not a very vocal one?

[27]
 
Jaffa, don't rule out 2nd hand A2 roof racks.
Although far more rare than any other racks, over the last 5 months I've seen two on one of the biggest 2nd hand online marketplaces here in Holland. I bought one of those, for a mere 75 euro (that's about 50 pounds if I'm not mistaken). The second one also was 75 euro asking price. The dealer quoted me a price of around 180 euro, I think. Well worth the patience.

Or were you talking about a _bike_-rack, not just the roofrack?
Anyway, anything can be bought 2nd hand...

--
Edo
(2003 Silver 1.4 Tdi Exclusive(SE), black interior, sport seats, JVC KD-SH909RB cd-receiver, Infinity Kappa 63.1 + Vifa on-dash tweeters, 12" Subwoofer on 300w Amp)
 
Does anyone know if a Thule system fits an A2 in the same way as an Audi original system?

Frido's is an Audi system (http://www.a2forum.net/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=1794&SearchTerms=roof,rack) and the Thule people can give me one, but only if I'm sure it will work on the Open Sky!!! So I thought Frido proved it, but as he has an Audi system I'm still none the wiser... grrr...

Looking at the generic Thule pic:
750.jpg

it clearly shows that nothing of the system is touching the roof (or glass with an Open Sky)...

____________________________________________________________________________________
[img=left]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-2/11882/a2andme2.gif[/img=left]
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony II, BOSE upgrade, DIS and HALF a winterpack!

iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve, rear cupholders, luggage net and floppy wiper!

http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk23.htm
 
Hi guys,

Thanks for all the helpful replies. Martyn's site doesn't appear to stock the A2 bike rack (yes, swiv, bike rack + roof rack needed! [27])

Has anyone got any idea how much I'd be looking to shell out if I went to Whites Audi in South Wimbledon for the roof bars and bike rack combination?

I've just been to http://www.car-roofracks.co.uk/

And for the Thule solution, with alu aero bars, and four cylinder locks, it'll be 130 pounds. <phew>

Swiv - what should I be searching for on a Dutch auction site? My dutch extends no further than smutty terms and phrases picked up from friendly dutch kids on happy summer holidays in France, 10-15 years ago.[:p]

I didn't think it'd be this difficult to sort out for a new car. I've had a Thule rack before, with locks and bars and feet for my old Sirocco. It was okay, so I'll watch Johann's progress with interest down the Thule root. Maybe that'll be the way to go.

However....

Aesthetically, I was hoping for something with smooth aluminium lines, rather than the Thule jury rig (solid dependable powder coated steel).

Gawsh. It's all so confuddling.
[21]

Oh, and fellow list users, by all means call me jaffa, alternatively, you can call me James. S'up to you.

[27]

James/Jaffa
 
Johann

We have Thule bars for our Passat, black bars not the posh aluminium ones but still very quiet. Very well made, easy to fit (only takes a little longer the first time as you have to set the foot spacing on the bars.

At least all the components are interchangeable so if you change your car you only need a new set of feet, unless you get a much bigger car and need longer bars. Suggest you take a trip to halfords and look at the feet as they may not extend over the glass, on the Passat they extend about 10mm beyond the cars side rail and the rail on A2 is a lot wider.

Ian

2002 1.4 Petrol SE, silver with climate control.
Why are NEARLY all the A2s in Lichfield are silver ? ? ?
 
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