We review the Yakima SprocketRocket bike rack.

Who can get excited about a bike rack? I did because of the overwhelming advancements in the Yakima SprocketRocket bike rack compared to my old tray.

When lifting the box, I thought Yakima shipped me a complete rack because of the hefty weight. The SprocketRocket was heavier than both of my old trays combined. Generally, lighter is better in the bike world but not here. Steel is real! The front of the tray which clamps to the crossbar and also where the bike fork connects is steel. This felt and looked strong. It made wonder if it was built for a tandem. After months on my car and sitting out in the winter, it looks new as the day I mounted it. The finish is exceptional. I bumped my fork against it and it didn’t scratch the surface. There are no signs of corrosion or fading.

Can you spare two minutes? That’s how long it took me to install it. Before mounting you have to determine if its clamped to round or square crossbars and whether the head is mounted between the towers or on the outside of them. Be sure to understand your switch position! The instructions provide good illustrations and great detail. During another timed event, I installed the accessory lock.  I did it in less than 30 seconds but that included a 10 second delay due to numb fingers from the cold weather!

Use of the new front fork clamp mechanism is a one-handed operation.  I no longer have to fight adjusting the skewer. The old way took one hand on the skewer and the other hand on the nut. Now, it takes a thumb and a finger turning the red knob. On a side note, anything that you need to touch and adjust on a Yakima product is red. I easily made any adjustments even with cold fingers and while wearing gloves.

The rear block and strap slide to accommodate different wheelbases. The rear wheelstrap cinches down on both sides. It’s easier to feed the strap in and the ratcheting is more positive. It held the wheel tight yet was sensitive enough to secure delicate rims. Pushing the red button pops the strap loose without having to fish it out.

Adding locks on Yakima products has been made convenient for owners. I purchased a lock for the tray and registered my key with Yakima. My current key will work on any lock I choose to add in the future.

Riding should not include a hassle with loading and unloading a bike. Yakima makes it fun and easy!

Check out Yakima bike racks online at www.yakima.com.

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