Saris’s Cycle-On hitch bike rack is one of the latest Saris racks and it was developed specifically to make it easier to load and unload heavier bikes such as eBikes. The rack uses the classic tray design, but adds some new features such as folding trays and built-in dolly wheels to improve usability. Retail price for the Cycle-On rack is $899.99 which includes a telescoping ramp and integrated cable locks. Saris offers the rack in either a 1.25” or a 2” hitch configuration with a removable adapter to swap between receiver sizes. The rack is also rated for up to 70lbs per tray to accommodate eBikes or heavier mountain bikes. A symmetric tray design is used to allow for simple setup with ratchet straps for each wheel and a telescoping clamp for the frame.
The Saris Cycle-On 2-Bike Hitch Rack is a versatile and feature-filled bike rack designed for easy loading and unloading.
| Retail Price | $899.99 |
| Rating | 8.4 / 10 |
| Weight (lb) | 53 |
| Likes | + Compact form factor thanks to folding design + Saris includes ramp, integrated locks and dolly wheels +,Symmetric tray design makes it easy to load bikes from either direction |
| Dislikes | – Design requires clamping onto frame – Separate levers for tilting and folding can be confusing – Ratchet direction can be flipped accidently and cause ratchets to open |
| Where to Buy (US) | Saris |
ASSEMBLY
The Saris Cycle-On is one of the first bike racks we’ve seen reviewed that does not require any assembly. Instead, the rack comes folded in a large and heavy box which weighs slightly more than the 53lb of the rack due to packing materials. It’s nice to not have any of the normal assembly, something that usually takes around 30 minutes for us, the single box packaging is heavy and difficult to move around. Inside the box, the rack is ready to go with the hitch lock, instructions and the removable telescoping ramp all packed up safely. The only step required is to slide the rack onto your receiver, insert the pin and lock and then rotate the anti-wobble knob until there is no play. Note, you should gently rock the rack back and forth as you tighten the knob to eliminate any play.
FIT & FINISH
In terms of design, the Saris Cycle-On hitch rack follows the classic formula of a two tray design with a center spine that connects to the receiver. Saris has moved toward a more monochrome appearance, so the rack is all black with some gray highlights on the handles, buttons and for the logo. The rack is compatible with both 1.25″ and 2” receiver thanks to the use of an adapter on the receiver portion that can be removed for smaller receivers. Saris has used a standard hitch pin design with a hitch lock that attaches to the end of it. An expanding plug with a dial is used to remove any wobble between the rack and the receiver.
As far as the trays, the Cycle-On has a symmetric design with split trays. The trays have a deep V profile to help keep wheels centered with ratchet straps mounted located toward the center of the rack on each side of the trays. Rubber pads on the straps are designed to prevent scratching between the hard plastic of the straps and bike rims. Each strap is also quite long so that they can work with fat tire bikes or thicker profile tires on eBikes along with a hook at the end to hold any excess in place. The bike is held in place by the two ratchets along with a telescoping arm with rubber end that clamps onto the frame. There is an integrated lock in the clamp that prevents the ratchet from being opened which provides a stealthy and convenient way to deter bike thieves.
There are two gray handles, one near the center of spine, and a wider one at the end. The first handle has an ergonomic design which you tilt forward to fold the ramp upward for storage. The unusual feature is the inclusion of the wide bottom pedal which is positioned to be easily stepped on to tilt the tray portion of the rack backward. It’s an unusual design as most racks will tilt the entire spine downward to help with access to hatchbacks or truck tailgates. The bottom foot handle is also convenient as a hand hold when you fold the rack upward.
One of favorite features of the Cycle-On rack is the fact that Saris includes a ramp for loading and unloading and has also integrated dolly wheels into the rack for storage. The ramp is similar to the one offered with the Saris MHS rack, but is included for free and has an expandable metal design to make it easier to roll bikes up or off the rack. This is particularly useful if you have a heavier bike or eBike which can be difficult to lift up without help. The dolly wheels are also another feature that is typically an add-on accessory which are integrated into the spine of the rack. There are two small wheels which can be used to roll the rack around on the ground. Hidden buttons behind the trays allow them to fold inward allowing the rack to be easily stored in a garage or in a house without having to remove trays or taking up too much space.
ON THE TRUCK
We’ve reviewed a few Saris racks including the Saris Edge and the Saris MHS which both had two bike tray configurations and were well built. The new Saris Cycle-On shared some components from both racks but simplifies things specifically for easier loading and unloading of heavier bikes. Setting up the rack was simple, aside from the heavy weight of the single box, as there was no assembly required. You just have to attach the rack to the receiver, install the hitch pin lock and tighten the expanding plug. The monochrome black and gray design of the rack looks modern, and a bit dull to be honest, with simple branding and colored interaction points. We liked the symmetric design with deep channels that made it easy to keep the bike centered and lets you load the bikes in either orientation.
It’s also great to see Saris include some many accessories with the rack instead of selling them separately. The loading ramp is all metal with a simple and secure tab design to lock the end to the rack edge. We still wish a company would come out with a rack that has an integrated ramp instead of the removable design that can be awkward to store and travel with. For carbon bikes, we’re not a fan of frame clamps, but the Cycle-On has a soft rubber arm with lots of flexibility to reach seat posts and different geometry shapes. The best feature of the rack though is the folding design and dolly wheels that makes it easy to store the rack in a garage. With most racks, you have to disassemble racks or take up a lot of space that are annoying enough that we often just leave the rack attached. Thanks to the built in wheels the Cycle-On is compact and easy to roll around so you can easily install and remove it as needed.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Saris Cycle-On two bike hitch rack to be a well built and secure bike rack. Saris has designed the Cycle-On to simplify loading and unloading of heavier bikes such as eBikes. That means the rack has a symmetric smooth tray design with a loading ramp included at no additional charge. The bike is secured in place with ratchets on the front and rear wheels along with a pivoting center arm that attaches to the frame. It’s a simple design that works well even when loading heavier bikes without help as you can avoid lifting the bike up. We also liked the soft rubber attachments on the clamp and ratchets that prevent scratching and the fold-up tray design and dolly wheels that make it easy to store the Cycle-On in a garage. As far as negatives, the two lever design is a bit confusing and that some riders would prefer a no-frame contact rack design. That said, the Saris Cycle-On offers a nice combination of features and simplified tray design that is great for loading and unloading heavier bikes.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Saris. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.