Yakima’s StageTwo is one of the brand’s heaviest duty and premium hitch bike rack in their current line up. As a part of the 2025 product line, Yakima updated the StageTwo to improve the usability and functionality. Retail price for the rack is $949.99 for the two-bike rack configuration with an optional $699 two bike Add-On to accommodate four bikes with the 2” rack configuration. Yakima has designed the rack to accommodate E-bikes with a 70lb limit per bike with a steel structure and aluminum trays. Some of the improvements of the rack are the black color finish, deeper trays and improved SpeedKnob to lock the rack in place.
The Yakima StageTwo bike hitch rack combines a robust construction that can accommodate e-bikes with intuitive design details.
| Retail Price | $949.99 |
| Rating | 9.2 / 10 |
| Weight (lb) | 63 |
| Likes | + Robust design with strong steel structure that supports heavy e-bikes + Integrated cable locks in front wheel arm and second hook on spine + Deep tray design holds bikes securely |
| Dislikes | – Plastic tilt lever feels cheap compared to the rest of the rack – Lacks the color options or accent colors to make rack stand out |
| Where to Buy (US) | Yakima |
ASSEMBLY
The Yakima StageTwo rack comes in one large and heavy box with all the parts and tools inside it. Some assembly is required to attach the trays and wheel hooks onto the rack’s center spine. It’s a straightforward process but expect to spend at least 30 minutes to get the rack assembled as there are a fair amount of bolts and positioning required. The first step is to install the spine onto the hitch which holds the rack steady as you attach the trays. Each tray is a two piece design with multiple installation positions to accommodate different bike geometries. Assembling the trays requires paying attention to the orientation with small details like the Yakima logo helping differentiate the front and rear trays.
The trays attach to the rack using four bolts and washers that can be quickly installed with the provided hex wrench. We’d recommend using a torque wrench like the Topeak Torq Stick Pro to ensure everything is properly tightened as no torque wrench is included. The pivoting StrongArm hooks for the front wheel then need to be aligned and slide onto the front of each tray. This part is a bit tricky as everything needs to be positioned correctly with the right order of washers. The process is repeated for the rear tray which has the pivot arm placed on the right side to improve clearance between the two trays. Once this is complete and the bolts are torqued, the rack is ready to use.
FIT & FINISH
Visually, the Yakima StageTwo has a traditional tray style construction with a thick steel center spline and two trays that bolt on. The rack is designed with e-bikes in mind which is why the center spline looks and feels overbuilt to achieve the 70lb rating per tray. Yakima currently only offers the rack in a black finish with subtle gray Yakima branding on the outside. Compared to brands like Kuat that use color accents , it’s a subtle design that blends in rather than stand out. There are also a number of accessories from LED lighting to ramps that add additional functionality to the rack. The 2″ version of the rack even has a $700 +2 Add-On which extends the rack with another two trays to allow up to four bikes to be mounted on the rack.
Each tray on the rack is constructed from aluminum and features an updated V shape that helps center bikes on the tray. The two trays are offset horizontally and vertically with Yakima’s StadiumSeating setup to help prevent any contact between the bikes. Attaching the bike to the tray is done via a telescoping front arm that pushes down on the front wheel and a simple plastic ratchet to secure the rear wheel. The StrongArm front arm has a ratcheting design with a large release button that is easy to use. Usability is also excellent with the tilt handle which is a wide dual-sided plastic lever with red graphics to help indicate when it is not locked. The rack can tilt downward to access pickup beds or trunks as well as fully tilt upward when not being used.
IMPRESSIONS
We’ve been lucky enough to have reviewed the original Yakima StageTwo hitch rack which is still our main bike rack more than three years later. The original StageTwo rack still looks and operates like new with its user-friendly contact points and sturdy build quality. Yakima’s refreshed version retains all the features that made the original one popular and adds some minor improvements. One of the most obvious changes is the SpeedKnob for tightening and locking the rack to the hitch. The original version had a metal knob with attractive knurling, while the refreshed version is a more generic cone shaped black plastic. Although we prefer the appearance of the original SpeedKnob’s metal finish, the updated design is more ergonomic and easier to operate as the tapered design is more comfortable to operate.
Otherwise, the stadium seating design of the racks, which slightly raises the outer rack above the inner rack, ensures the bikes never touch each other. Putting a bike on the rack is easy as the trays have a deep V shape and wide front wheel holder that make it easy to position and hold the bike while attaching the front and rear wheels. The pivoting and expanding StrongArm front wheel hooks are easy to position and have soft plastic at the contact points so they don’t damage your bike. Small details like the separate cable locks are why we prefer the StageTwo over racks like the Saris Edge. The only improvement we’d like to see is a more premium feeling handle, the all plastic design feels cheap compared to the rest of the rack.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Yakima StageTwo tray hitch rack to be a well built and easy to operate rack. Yakima has done a minor refresh to their popular StageTwo rack by adding deeper V channels on the trays and a more ergonomic SpeedKnob. The improvements work well and help improve the overall usability of the rack. As with the original StageTwo, the refreshed one is easy to load, unload and has a high quality construction that can accommodate heavy e-bikes. The welds and thick metal construction give the StageTwo a premium feel that matches the price and should hold up as well as the StageTwo does with regular usage. The only improvement we’d like to see is a refined tilt handle that uses less plastic. That said, the Yakima StageTwo hitch bike rack is a solid and durable rack we’d strongly recommend.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Yakima. 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.