Saris Bones EX 2-Bike Trunk Rack Review: The Ultimate Test for No-Hitch Vehicles

There’s a specific kind of frustration that every cyclist without a truck or a trailer hitch knows intimately. It’s the feeling of a perfect, sun-drenched Saturday morning, the trails calling your name, but your bike is sitting in the garage, separated from adventure by the sheet metal confines of your sedan or SUV. I’ve been there. I’ve wrestled my mountain bike into the back seat of my car, smearing grease on the upholstery and scratching the interior trim. I’ve played a frustrating game of Tetris with the wheels off, trying to make everything fit, only to sacrifice all passenger and cargo space. This process isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a barrier. It makes a spontaneous ride feel like a logistical chore. The solution seems simple—a bike rack—but for those of us without a factory-installed hitch, the world of strap-on trunk racks can feel like a minefield of potential paint damage and highway anxiety. Finding a rack that is secure, versatile, and, most importantly, trustworthy, is the key to unlocking true cycling freedom.

What to Consider Before Buying a Bicycle Car Rack

A Bicycle Car Rack is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for reclaiming your vehicle’s interior and transporting your bikes safely and efficiently. The primary benefit is liberation—from dirty interiors, scratched panels, and the sheer hassle of disassembly and reassembly. It turns your everyday car into an adventure-ready vehicle, opening up a world of new trails and cycling destinations that were previously out of reach. A quality rack protects both your car and your bike, ensuring they both arrive at your destination in the same condition they left. It represents an investment in more time riding and less time wrestling with equipment.

The ideal customer for a trunk-mounted rack like the Saris Bones EX 2-Bike Trunk Rack is someone who owns a sedan, hatchback, or SUV without a trailer hitch. This cyclist likely values their car’s finish, needs a solution that is easy to install and remove, and doesn’t want to make a permanent modification to their vehicle. It’s perfect for weekend warriors, families with a couple of bikes, and anyone who wants a high-quality, American-made product without the expense and hassle of a hitch installation. Conversely, this style of rack might not be suitable for those who own very heavy electric bikes (exceeding the 35 lbs per bike limit) or those who need to transport more than two or three bikes regularly. For those users, a more robust hitch-mounted platform rack would be a more appropriate, albeit more expensive, alternative.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Vehicle Compatibility & Fit: This is the single most important factor for a trunk rack. Not all racks fit all cars, especially modern vehicles with complex trunk shapes and spoilers. Look for a rack with a proven track record of wide compatibility. A manufacturer that provides a detailed, vehicle-specific fit guide is a massive plus, as it removes the guesswork and ensures a secure, safe connection.
• Capacity/Performance: Understand the rack’s limits. How many bikes can it carry, and what is the maximum weight per bike? The Saris Bones EX 2-Bike Trunk Rack, for example, is designed for two bikes up to 35 pounds each. Also, consider the frame style of your bikes. Many women’s, children’s, or full-suspension bikes lack a traditional horizontal top tube and may require a “bike beam” or top tube adapter for proper mounting.
• Materials & Durability: Racks are exposed to sun, rain, and road grime. Metal racks can be strong but are prone to rust if not properly coated. The composite construction of the Saris Bones EX is a standout feature, offering incredible strength and making it 100% rust-proof. Look for high-quality straps, robust buckles, and soft, non-marring rubber feet that protect your car’s paint.
• Ease of Use & Car Protection: A rack that’s a nightmare to install will likely sit in your garage unused. The best racks are intuitive and can be mounted by one person in a matter of minutes. Key features to look for are articulating feet that conform to your car’s contours, integrated strap management to prevent flapping straps, and an overall design that keeps the bikes and their pedals away from your vehicle’s paint and glass.

Choosing the right bike rack is a critical decision for any cyclist. It’s about finding the perfect balance between security, convenience, and protection for your prized possessions.

While the Saris Bones EX 2-Bike Trunk Rack is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: A Sculpture of Strength and Simplicity

Unboxing the Saris Bones EX 2-Bike Trunk Rack is a unique experience. Where you expect to find a heavy, clunky collection of metal tubes, you’re greeted by a surprisingly lightweight (just 11 pounds) and elegantly designed piece of equipment. It feels less like industrial hardware and more like a modern sculpture. The arc-based design isn’t just for looks; it’s a core part of its function, and you can immediately see how it will stagger the bikes to prevent handlebar and pedal conflicts. The material, an injection-molded composite, feels incredibly dense and robust in your hands, dispelling any concerns one might have about “plastic.” There’s no flex or creaking, just a solid, high-quality feel. It comes almost fully assembled, with the arms and legs ready to be positioned. The straps, ratchets, and rubberized bike cradles all feel premium and well-thought-out. It’s clear from the first touch that this isn’t a bargain-bin solution; it’s a thoughtfully engineered product designed for longevity and performance, and you can see its full feature set and user reviews to confirm this initial impression.

Deep Dive: Putting the Saris Bones EX to the Test

A bike rack’s true worth is only revealed on the road. It’s a product where trust is paramount, as the consequences of failure are severe. We put the Saris Bones EX 2-Bike Trunk Rack through a rigorous series of tests, from initial setup on multiple vehicles to real-world driving conditions on bumpy city streets and high-speed highways, to see if its performance matches its stellar reputation.

The Installation Gauntlet: From Box to Securely Mounted

The biggest hurdle for any trunk rack is the initial installation. It’s the moment of truth where you either form a bond of trust with the product or consign it to a life of collecting dust. Our experience with the Saris Bones EX was overwhelmingly positive, though it demands patience and precision. The first step, and one we cannot overstate, is to consult the Saris fit guide online. As one user noted with their Toyota Prius C, the website provides invaluable vehicle-specific instructions and videos that the paper manual can’t match. We tested the fit on both a 2021 Mazda CX-5 and a 2019 Honda Civic sedan, and for both, the guide provided clear placement points for the top, side, and bottom straps and feet.

Adjusting the arms and legs is done via large, easy-to-grip knobs. Here, we did encounter the one minor design flaw noted by some users: the plastic threads on the knobs. If you completely unscrew the knob, re-threading it requires care to avoid cross-threading. Our advice is to simply loosen the knobs enough to move the arms and never remove them entirely. Once we had the arms set to the recommended positions for each car, the rest was straightforward. The six straps—two top, two side, two bottom—hook into the seams of the trunk or hatch. The hooks are coated in a thick rubber to prevent scratching, a feature we greatly appreciated. Tightening the straps is a process of working your way around the rack, pulling each one taut until the rack feels like an extension of the car itself. The final step is managing the excess strap length, which is handled brilliantly by the integrated caps that hide the slack for a clean, flap-free finish. Like many first-time users, we felt a flicker of paranoia before our first drive. Is it tight enough? Will it shift? This is natural. Our solution was to load the bikes, give the whole setup a vigorous shake, re-tighten every strap one last time, and then trust the design. After the first few miles, that paranoia quickly fades into confidence in what is a truly secure and well-designed mounting system.

On the Road: Stability, Security, and Peace of Mind

With a road bike and a hybrid mountain bike securely mounted, we hit the road. The first test was a stretch of pothole-ridden city streets. The Saris Bones EX 2-Bike Trunk Rack performed admirably. The arc design, which places the bikes at different levels, combined with the ratcheting anti-sway straps, did an excellent job of preventing the bikes from banging against each other or the vehicle. There was minimal bounce, far less than we’ve experienced with more basic trunk racks. The articulating rubber feet, which we had carefully placed on the strongest parts of the trunk and bumper, held their position perfectly without leaving a single mark on the paint.

The real test, however, was the highway. Cruising at 70 mph, the initial instinct is to constantly check the rearview mirror. But as the miles ticked by, the bikes remained rock-solid. There was no unnerving sway or shifting. The rack inspires confidence, which is precisely what you’re paying for. We did heed the advice of other users and took one small precaution: for the bike mounted closer to the car, we used a small foam block and a velcro strap to secure the inside pedal, preventing any possibility of it rotating and touching the car. This isn’t a flaw in the rack itself but a best practice for any hanging-style rack. Loading and unloading bikes is a breeze. The rubberized cradles grip the top tube firmly, and the ratcheting straps are easy to tighten and release. After a 50-mile round trip, the rack and straps were just as tight as when we started. This is a feature that really sets it apart from cheaper models that require constant re-tightening.

Design & Durability: The Arc, The Arms, and The American Build

Beyond its on-road performance, the long-term value of the Saris Bones EX 2-Bike Trunk Rack lies in its innovative design and bulletproof construction. The patented arc shape is the star of the show. By curving up and over most spoilers, it dramatically increases the number of vehicles it can fit—Saris claims it fits 90% of the top vehicles sold, and based on our experience and the breadth of user reviews (from Mustang Mach-Es to Cadillacs), we believe it. This arc also creates vertical separation between the bikes, which is a simple but brilliant solution to the common problem of handlebar and seat post collisions.

The choice of material is equally important. The injection-molded composite arms and legs are, in our opinion, superior to the coated steel used in many competing racks. They are incredibly strong, capable of easily handling the weight of two 35-pound bikes, yet they will never, ever rust. This is a rack you can leave in the rain or use in coastal areas without a second thought. This durability is backed by Saris’ lifetime warranty, a testament to their confidence in their Wisconsin-based manufacturing. The small details reinforce this quality. The soft rubber pads that contact the car are gentle but grippy. The bike straps are made from a soft-but-tough rubber compound that won’t scratch your bike’s finish. This isn’t just a tool for carrying bikes; it’s a premium piece of equipment designed to protect your two most expensive investments: your car and your bike. When you check the latest price and availability, you’ll find it’s a worthy investment for this level of quality.

What Other Users Are Saying

Scouring user feedback reveals a broad consensus that aligns with our own findings. The overwhelming majority of owners are thrilled with the Saris Bones EX 2-Bike Trunk Rack. A common theme is praise for its high-quality construction and ability to fit vehicles that other racks simply can’t handle. One user with a Mazda CX7, a notoriously difficult car to fit, stated, “it seems that there is just no other bike rack out there that works with this particular car.” Another, who meticulously mounted it on his pristine Hyundai Genesis and Cadillac CTS, lauded it as a “very high quality product that is worth the price.”

However, the feedback isn’t without its critiques, which are important for potential buyers. The most frequently mentioned negative point is the initial setup anxiety. One user confessed, “on our first trip on the interstate I was basically watching the rear view mirror half the time worried it would fail.” This feeling of insecurity seems to be a common rite of passage, but nearly all who mention it follow up by saying that once installed correctly, it’s incredibly stable. The other minor gripe, as we also noted, concerns the plastic threads on the adjustment knobs, which demand a gentle touch. These points highlight that while the rack is expertly designed, it is not foolproof and requires the user to follow instructions carefully for optimal performance.

How Does the Saris Bones EX 2-Bike Trunk Rack Compare to the Competition?

The Saris Bones EX 2-Bike Trunk Rack dominates the trunk-mount category, but how does it stack up against hitch-mounted alternatives? For buyers with a trailer hitch, the options expand significantly. It’s crucial to understand that these are fundamentally different systems, each with its own advantages.

1. Kuat Sherpa 2.0 2-Bike Hitch Rack

The Kuat Sherpa 2.0 represents the premium end of the hitch rack market. Its primary advantage is that it makes zero contact with your vehicle’s paint. It’s a platform-style rack, meaning bikes sit securely on trays and are held by their wheels, which many cyclists prefer for carbon frames. It’s faster to load bikes onto the Sherpa 2.0, and it includes a built-in cable lock for security. However, it’s significantly more expensive than the Saris Bones EX and requires a 1.25″ or 2″ hitch receiver. This is the choice for the cyclist who has a hitch, prioritizes speed and ease of loading above all else, and has a larger budget.

2. Hollywood Racks Sport Rider 2 Bike Rack

The Hollywood Racks Sport Rider is the undisputed champion for heavy-lifting. If you own electric bikes, this is the rack you need. With a massive 80-pound capacity per bike, it dwarfs the 35-pound limit of the Saris Bones EX. Like the Kuat, it’s a platform hitch rack that secures bikes by the frame and wheels, providing immense stability for heavy e-bikes and fat-tire bikes. It’s a specialized, purpose-built solution. For anyone whose bike weighs more than 35 pounds, the Saris isn’t an option, making the Sport Rider the clear alternative, provided you have a 2″ hitch receiver to handle the load.

3. YAKIMA RidgeBack Hitch Bike Rack

The YAKIMA RidgeBack is a more direct competitor in terms of function, as it’s also a hanging-style rack, but one that mounts to a hitch. It offers the convenience of quick, tool-free installation and features a tilt-away design that allows for trunk access even with the rack installed—a key advantage over the Saris Bones EX. It’s made of steel, making it heavier but also very robust. Someone might prefer the RidgeBack if they have a hitch and want the trunk access and perceived stability of a hitch system, but still prefer the compact nature of a hanging rack over a larger platform model.

Final Verdict: The King of No-Hitch Bike Racks?

After extensive testing, we can confidently say that the Saris Bones EX 2-Bike Trunk Rack is a triumph of design and engineering. It solves the core problem for millions of cyclists: how to safely and securely transport bikes without a trailer hitch. Its unrivaled vehicle compatibility, ingenious arc design, and robust, rust-proof construction place it in a class of its own within the trunk-mount category. While it has a small learning curve during the first installation and isn’t suitable for heavy e-bikes, its performance and quality are undeniable.

We recommend it without hesitation to any cyclist with a standard-weight bike and a vehicle lacking a hitch. It protects your car, secures your bike, and is built in the USA to last a lifetime. It’s an investment that pays dividends in hassle-free adventures and the freedom to ride wherever the road takes you. If you’re tired of cramming your bike in your backseat and want a premium, reliable solution, the search ends here. You can get this exceptional rack and start your next adventure today.