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Cyclists know that their bike is an investment into their hobby and health, and a bike rack that offers peace of mind during transportation and no damage to the bike is of utmost importance.
Bell Bike racks are one of the most known brands for their safety and performance and provide high-quality bike racks for one to four bicycles.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Bell Bike Racks
- OUR TOP PICK: Bell Cantilever 300 Trunk Rack
- RUNNER-UP: Bell Cantilever 200
- BEST FOR THE MONEY AND BEST BELL 2 BIKE RACK: Bell Rightup 250 Platform Hitch Rack
Table of Contents
Comparison of the Best Bell Bike Racks
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Who is Bell?
Bell Sports offers several bike racks, including trunk mount and hitch racks to suit most bike designs and vehicle models. Bell is a well-known brand of cycling, motorcycle, and racing products and accessories. Their brand is based on the philosophy of wanting customers to live, ride, drive, and thrive, and they build their products with the same utility of race cars and fighter jets. Best known for their helmets, Bell has equipped more world champions with helmets than any other helmet company combined. The brand started as an auto parts store and grew to become an industry leader in safety equipment.
What Makes Bell Bike Racks Stand Out From the Competition?
Bell bike racks have become so popular because they provide a quality product at a lower price than the competition. The company builds its products in the United States of America and has a couple of different warranty options to suit the needs of its customers. The company is known to use high-quality materials such as premium aluminum, for which most brands charge significantly more. Unlike the competition, Bell does not want their customers sacrificing their safety for affordability.
Review of the Best Bell Bike Racks
There are so many options on the market that the choice can seem daunting, so we have narrowed them down based on our research and customer feedback to help cyclists get to their destination with safety and affordability in mind. We are focusing on trunk racks and hitch mount racks for this review, so read on to find the best fit for your bike, vehicle, and lifestyle.
Best Overall:
Bell Cantilever 300 Trunk Rack
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Overall, users feel this is a suitable product for the money, and the rack feels very stable and secure. However, buyers did feel the straps are not as strong as they should be and need tightening occasionally. Some customers felt the installation was more challenging than advertised.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Bell Cantilever 300 Trunk Rack is designed to fit up to three bikes on the trunk of most vehicles and is reasonably priced. It fits most cars and bike designs, so anyone who purchases this product can be sure they will get to their destination quickly, with one step and no tool assembly. The reflectors on the end caps are great for increasing visibility. It folds down for storage and will not scratch or damage the car. This product is suitable for family cycling trips, and you will not have to worry about the safety of the product. It is a stable bike rack that you can trust.
Bottom Line
With no tool assembly, one step setup, reflecting end caps, and universal fit for all vehicles and bikes, this is a product that is easy to use and install for family trips, weekend getaways, and road trips. It is secure and durable without causing damage to the vehicle.
Runner-up:
Bell Cantilever 200
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Many customers have been using this product for years without any significant issues. The only concern is that the product makes contact with both the trunk and bike, and you may need extra padding to guarantee that the vehicle or bike does not get scratched.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Bell Cantilever 200 stands out for its ease of installation and safety. This product is ideal for one bike or two of a slimmer and lighter design, making it suitable for a solo rider, two-speed cyclists, or even a parent and child. It is a stable and well-built product for a low price, so buyers do not have to compromise their safety for affordability. We like that there are reflecting end caps for increased visibility, and anyone can install the product without tools. This product is accessible to anyone, regardless of budget or mechanical know-how.
Bottom Line
This product is reliable if you do not have many bikes to transport. It is a universal fit and can be put on any vehicle and safely transport any style of bike. It is a perfect starter rack for taking the bike to trails or the cottage for the weekend.
Best for the Money and Best Bell 2 Bike Rack:
Bell Rightup 250 Platform Hitch Rack
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers like that the rack uses strong aluminum, and it is as good as products with a much higher price tag. The main complaint is the poorly written instruction manual, which makes assembly difficult for anyone who is not mechanically inclined. Also, Bell does not send replacement parts, so if any part is lost, the company can not help.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Bell Upright 250 stands out for being able to fit tire sizes that are larger than most products on the market without requiring an adapter, which is essential for mountain bike owners who routinely have trouble finding racks that fit their chunky tires. We also like that there is the padding on the bike rack to protect both the vehicle and bike. Overall, we feel this is a well-made product that offers peace of mind and good value for the price. It is significantly less expensive than other products with similar quality.
Bottom Line
This product is a secure bike rack that earns our spot as best for the money for its well-made construction at a price point that is significantly less than the competition. It gets bonus points for being able to fit a wide range of tire sizes and offering padding for extra protection.
Best Bell Bike Rack For Car and Best Bell Trunk Bike Rack:
Bell Overpass 300 Folding Trunk Rack
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Bell Overpass 300 users like that it folds down for easy storage. Buyers also feel the product is not as sturdy as they would like and report that the bikes can sometimes start to slide down the trunk, which is unnerving. Some buyers have rigged this product so that their bikes do not slide while being transported.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Bell Overpass is ideal for cars because of its folding and storage capabilities. Not everyone has a garage for storage, so this product is perfect for anyone who removes their rack off in the offseason. We like that this product will fit on any vehicle from small cars to SUVs and can carry up to three bikes, which is impressive for the very affordable price tag. Overall, if you can see past this product requiring a bit of readjustment to get everything stable, it is a good investment and a long-lasting bike rack.
Bottom Line
This product holds three bikes and folds for storage, so anyone who has multiple bicycles to transport and needs a product that does not take space should consider this product. We especially like this rack for cars as there is no guessing if it will fit – it will.
Best Bell 3 Bike Rack and Best Bell Right Up Bike Rack:
Bell Right Up 350 Platform Hitch Rack
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyer reports show that the product is well made and secure on the road. One issue raised is that the hitch bolt is not the best quality, and you should replace it with a stronger one from the hardware store. This only costs a couple of dollars and will offer better peace of mind when transporting a valuable investment.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Bell Right Up 350 is perfect if you need to transport three bikes. Often, a rack will say three bikes, but it ends up being more like two to accommodate adult bike sizes and differing designs. This trunk rack does consider this and ensures that three bikes will indeed fit. It even fits tires that are thicker (up to 3 inches) than standard. The trays and Velcro do need to be adjusted every time, and this may seem tedious, but it does ensure an exact fit that guarantees safety and stability in transit.
Bottom Line
This bike rack is a well-made product that fits three bikes and transports with safety and stability in mind. The Bell Right Up folds for the off-season, space-saving storage and is not too difficult to assemble. This product is ideal for carrying three bikes on your trailer hitch.
Best Bell 4 Bike Hitch Rack:
Bell Hitchbiker 450
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Customers report this product as being very secure and dependable on the road, even for long road trips. Some buyers feel that with all four bikes on the bike rack, it makes brake and signal lights difficult to see on smaller vehicles. There is also a threaded pin used to take the bike rack off that users feel is difficult and time-consuming.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Transporting four bikes is no small feat, and the Bell Hitchhiker gets the job done without sacrificing safety. The powder coat finish over the e-coat keeps the product looking new for longer than other similar products. The cradles keep the bikes separated, and with carrying four bikes a big concern is them rubbing together and scratching, so this feature prevents that. This product works with both 1 ¼ and 2-inch hitches in addition to universal vehicle fit. It's a well-made product that will keep all four bicycles secure on even the bumpiest roads, and we recommend it for anyone who needs to transport up to four bikes.
Bottom Line
It is rare to find a rack that can accommodate four bicycles without damaging the bikes or vehicle. This product has been used for years by users without fail. It has earned its spot for the best four-bike trunk rack for its safety and functionality.
Types of Bike Racks By Bell
There are different types of Bell bike racks to choose from, including hitch racks, trunk mounted racks, and foldable bike racks.
Hitch Racks
You use a hitch rack when you have a trailer hitch installed on your vehicle. The main benefit of a hitch mount is that you do not need to lift the bike as high as the roof to load. Also, because the hitch comes out from the trunk, the vehicle and bicycle are less likely to come in contact and cause damages
Bell Hitchbiker 450
Trunk Rack
The main benefit of a trunk rack is that you can open your trunk when the bike is secured, which is beneficial when taking the bikes on long road trips when you need access to items in the trunk. One downside to the trunk mount bike rack is that some models obscure views and lights on the rear of the vehicle.
Foldable Bike Racks
The foldable bike rack can be a hitch mount or trunk mount, but they fold up to a small and storable size, which is ideal for anyone who is not an all-season rider and would like to take off their bike rack and store it in the winter or even between uses if the bike rack is not used often.
Bell vs Allen Bike Rack - Comparison Overview
Bell and Allen are both quality bike racks that share several similarities and differences. They are the same in the fact that they both offer trunk mount, hitch mount, and foldable models. They also both offer bike racks that will accommodate up to four bicycles. Even within the hitch mount category, they both offer the locking and tray models.
There are some significant differences between the two brands. Allen is more expensive across the board for every bike rack model that they offer. They also provide very compact models. Allen has more models to choose from of similar design, but Bell’s products are generally easier to install to get their customers out on the trails faster. Allen focuses primarily on its bike racks as the mainstay of their business, whereas Bell has many facets to their company, including helmets for various sports.
Overall, these are companies that offer a similar range of products, the key differences being that Bell has easier installation and lower prices, and Allen has more models for a higher price tag. Deciding between the two should come down to budget and needs. Allen has a lot of extra bells and whistles, whereas Bell is built for utility and practical functionality.
How to Install a Bell Bike Rack
Use this tutorial to set up your Bell strap rack.
- Unfold the product and make sure the Bell logo is facing up.
- The straps are labeled. Select the one labeled “upper”. These are the first ones connected to locate the rack.
- Connect the two straps to the edge where the trunk and rear window meet.
- Pull on the straps to fit snugly. At this point, you want the two arms to be at a slight incline.
- Now find the straps marked “lower” and “side”.
- Attach the lower strap first to the bottom of the trunk or bumper.
- Attach the side strap to the side of the trunk. Tighten all four down.
- Return to the upper straps and tighten them again.
To load the bike:
- Open the Velcro straps
- Load the bike by the top tube.
- Resecure the Velcro straps and tie on the security cable, which may not be included with the product.
- Sometimes the weight can loosen the straps, go back and tighten all the straps again.
- Check straps at every gas stop on long trips to ensure safety.
Be sure to supplement this section with the video tutorial to get the best instructions possible for your installation.
Conclusion
Bell bike racks are ideal for anyone who wants to carry multiple bikes from their trunk or trailer hitch at an affordable price point. The company is known for designing products with safety in mind and manufacturing their bike racks using the same quality materials as the more expensive brand making these products a good investment for cycling enthusiasts.
People Also Ask
Here are some frequently asked questions to assist with deciding on the best bike rack to suit your needs, budget, and lifestyle. It's also an ideal opportunity to provide more information about the Bell brand to customers who want to learn more about the company history, values, and extras, including customer service and warranties.
Where Are Bell Bike Racks Made?
Bell is an American company, and the products are made in the USA to a high degree of quality standards. The brand prides itself on being based in North America and providing safety equipment and bike racks to Americans from all over the country.
How Long Have Bell Bike Products Been Around?
Bell Sports was established in 1954 and was started in a garage, which turned into an auto parts business before finding its niche as a manufacturer of helmets and sports accessories for racing. The Bell line now includes helmets, locks, baby strollers, and a large selection of bike racks for cycling enthusiasts in the United States and all over the world.
Why Are Bell Products So Popular?
Bell products are so popular because the company has built a solid reputation as a quality provider of sporting goods and accessories. The brand has also been seen in popular racing events all over the world, including motorbike, car racing, and cycling. They are a household name and a trusted brand known for safe and lasting products.
What Kind of Warranty Does Bell Offer?
Bell has a limited warranty on all products which includes a replacement for any purchase deemed defective due to workmanship or the manufacturing process. The warranty is valid for one year from the date of purchase. This warranty does not include any damages or accidents caused by the purchaser. There is also a limited lifetime warranty with conditions that can be applied for.
What Size Hitch For Bell Bike Rack?
Hitch mount racks from Bell use 1 ¼ to 2-inch hitches, providing a universal fit for most standard hitches on the market and adding to Bell’s ease of use and universal fit for most vehicles. This flexibility also increases the likelihood that you can share bike racks between different vehicles for multiple members of the household.
Are Bell Bike Racks Reliable?
Bell bike racks are reliable. They are made with safety and durability in mind and have several features that ensure reliability, such as multiple straps and locks. The bike racks stay stable throughout transport and keep the bikes locked firmly in place.
