everything you need to know about Yakima’s industry-leading bike racks
Bike racks are an essential piece of gear for cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you’re a gravel rider seeking the end of the pavement or a mountain biker heading to the trail, Yakima has the best solution for your next outdoor adventure or road trip.
Yakima’s slogan is “take it easy,” which is encapsulated in every rack they offer. From the StageTwo tray rack to HangTight vertical rack to the extremely versatile EXO organization system, each product enables riders to take and store their gear more easily, paving the way for a great experience outdoors.
Hitch-Mounted Tray Racks
The Yakima StageTwo is the ideal rack for riders looking to transport 2-4 bikes, no matter if it’s a mountain bike, road bike, or e-bike. Aesthetics matter when you’re transporting your lovingly beausaged, two-wheeled wonder, which is why Yakima took the classic hitch tray rack and recently updated it with breathtaking looks to match the top of the line built-in features.
“We sought beautiful styling shaped by rock solid engineering,'' said Chris Horton, bike category manager at Yakima. “The StageTwo’s sleek design lines increase ground clearance, and makes it easier to load bikes.”
Available in 1.25” or 2” hitch receiver options, StageTwo’s “stadium seating” tiered architecture means increased ground clearance for dips in the dirt road or steep driveways. Yakima knows that cargo is precious so they added an offset tray design to minimize bike to bike contact, while SpeedKnob™ 2.0 allows for easy access to the rear of the vehicle.
With e-bikes becoming increasingly popular, the StageTwo is the perfect option for your battery-powered pedaler, and it’s rated to carry bikes up to 60 pounds each. StageTwo is also approved for use on RVs, and the rack is approved for off-road use for bikes up to 36 pounds each.
Vertical Carry Hitch Racks
Different riders have different use cases, and the HangTight is a great solution for those who want to carry 4-6 bikes of any type at the same time.
“Finally a bike rack to carry the entire family’s bikes on one vehicle, one rack,” Horton said. “Ready to shuttle the whole gang, the kids and adults, the mountain and road bikers.”
While some vertical racks on the market have limited carrying ability, Yakima’s HangTight works with all types of bikes, including drop bar bikes like road bikes and gravel bikes. That’s because padded cradles secure the bikes at the handlebars, while rotating rear wheel cups accommodate wheelbases up to 50”.
HangTight can accommodate bikes up to 37.5 pounds each, and a foot-operated tilt mechanism allows for easy access to the back of the vehicle. Like StageTwo, HangTight also features an integrated lock loop to add your own bike lock for added security.
Adaptable Carry System
Finally, for those adventurers looking to transport more than just bikes, the Yakima EXO System turns vehicles into a gear carrying multitool. The system can be reconfigured to carry any of the EXO-specific gear mounts in a plug-and-play way.
“This is a system that redefines the definition of a hitch rack,” said Garrett Barnum, Director of Category Management at Yakima. “You can start out small and then buy the other gear mounts later when you need them. It can be customized and adjusted for different activities and gear from one weekend to the next.”
EXO begins with SwingBase, which is what anchors the system to a vehicle’s 2” trailer hitch receiver. SwingBase swings away from the vehicle for easy access to the rear door, even when fully loaded. Adding TopShelf allows for two levels of configurations, one of the most popular being the DoubleUp bike rack and GearLocker storage container.
EXO DoubleUp is a 2-bike tray rack that accommodates both road bikes and mountain bikes. EXO GearLocker is similar to a roof storage box, but with the added ease of it being on the back of the vehicle. Also available is EXO GearWarrior, a basket mount, and EXO OpenRange is Yakima’s first camp kitchen storage product.
Aside from the bike category, Yakima offers excellent products such as rooftop tents and ski and snowboard roof racks to help people take it easy. To learn more about Yakima, visit Yakima.com or get in touch with Verde for all of your Yakima PR needs.