Allen Sports Deluxe+ Locking Quick Release 2-Bike Carrier for 1 1/4 in. and 2 in. Hitch, Model 820QR , Black

Super sporty bike rack. Very secure and simple to set up. Looks great also!!!

I've had my bicycle for years and haven't ridden it much since it's not that much fun to ride in the neighborhood. I was considering selling it, but thought if I got a rack I could ride it in some local paved nature trails and combine birding with it. I purchased the Allen bike rack and am so happy I did. My car is a 2017 Ford Escape Titanium with a two-inch hitch receiver. The rack wasn't difficult to assemble, and I had no problem inserting it into the hitch mount. It took me rereading the instructions to fully understand how the locking mechanism worked, plus a short video by Allen helped a lot (I was leaving the key in after turning it then turning the handle, but the key should come out after you turn the key clockwise or counterclockwise). I'm a 70-year-old female without a lot of upper body strength and I worried at first that I'd have to return the rack because I couldn't lift the bike high enough. But using the tilt feature while still supporting the weight of the bike as much as possible to load and unload the bike worked out fine, and soon I was on my way to one of the parks. I went to local parks the next two days as well, and tonight I removed the rack from the car. It unlocked with no problem and I used the eraser end of a pencil to push in on the button in order to slide the rack out. The rack held the bike securely with no wobble (I also used some bungee cords) at 55 mph. Also, since I have a "female" bike, I purchased the Allen 900B crossbar adaptor to make mounting the bike easier. I highly recommend this rack. The only negative is Amazon itself for raising the price of the crossbar between the time I saw it and the time I ordered it, and yet now it is listed at half the price I paid for it. That makes for an angry customer.

Received this for use on a Focus Sedan and I'll have to say it works great. I purchased the Deluxe+ Locking model. Has all the main features I'm looking for. Here's what I like: 1) The unit is very easy to put together. Essentially you'll have to install 3 bolts. Pay attention though because 1 is longer than the other 2. Metric wrenches are required. 2) The unit will install in either 1 1/4" or 2" receiver. It does this by coming with a 1 1/4" to 2" adapter installed. If you use a 1 1/4" receiver you will have to remove the 2" adapter which requires a metric Allen wrench. My receiver is 1 1/4". 3) Installed in a 1 1/4" receiver this is pretty much rock solid. You have to insert the rack into your receiver until a button 'clicks' into the hole in your receiver. At this point it's not completely secured. You then have to turn a knob at the end of the unit (which is the triangular looking part in the photo) which will engage a wedge that fully secures the unit in your receiver. At this point it should feel very rigid in the receiver - if not (at least with a 1 1/4" receiver) you've got some kind of a problem. 4) Once in your receiver the triangular knob has a key lock that allows you to disengage it. So if someone tries to unscrew it to steal your rack it will simply spin without doing anything. Works great. Just be sure to put the key on your car key ring so if you're on a trip and have to remove it you'll be able to. This comes with 2 keys. 5) The tilt feature is kind of nice. It allows you to tilt the upper part of the unit away from your vehicle 20-30 degrees by pulling up on the red handle that's about 1/3 up from the bottom in the photo. This should allow most trunks or SUV doors to be opened. It's spring loaded so I don't see a bump or something accidentally engaging it in normal use. To re-right the unit just push it back and it will automatically lock in the upright position. 6) A word of advice when it's time to unplug this from your receiver. Remember that triangular knob you used to secure it? Well you're going to have to unscrew it to release the unit. Remember that little button I mentioned that 'clicks'? Well you're going to have to press it in to release the unit. There's a little trick though. You want to unscrew the the knob just to the point it releases the wedge and no more. Then press the button and pull the unit out. If you 'over' un-screw the knob pressing the button and pulling won't work because the button will push the opposite side and wedge the darn thing in your receiver. Pull to your heart's delight and it ain't movin'. Just remember not to 'over' unscrew it and you'll be fine. I think this is a quality unit overall. However I am deducting 1 star because it doesn't come with straps or padding you'll need when transporting your bikes. What is it you'll need you ask? 1) You will need straps to secure the front wheel in place so it doesn't bang around (unless of course you don't care in which case don't worry about it). 2) You will need straps to secure the frame of the bike to the rack so the bike doesn't rock back and forth as well (same deal - don't care then don't worry about it). 3) You will need padding to put between the 1st bike & rack and if carrying a 2nd bike between the 2 bikes. Without padding there is nothing to prevent any bike from hitting/rubbing against things. I'm going to use polyethylene (closed cell so it shouldn't get saturated w/water - think like a pool noodle) instead of polyurethane (open cell so it's like a sponge) foam blocks. If this had come w/straps & padding it would have been a solid 5 stars. Yes, I believe most people would want these.

I bought the deluxe locking model. This is my second Allen rack. The first lasted ten years, thousands of miles, overloading and extreme climate variations. There were a few things that I always wished were designed differently. Allen nailed them all with this rack. The locking function is great and easy to use. The quick insert beats having to get two wrenches every time the rack must be removed. Being able to collapse the rack and tilt it easily without having to mess with pins is awesome. I can only assume the reviews about wobbling are about other models, or from folks that didn't read the directions about installation or twisting the lock. Mine doesn't wobble at all. It comes with rubber caps on the ends of segments. I assumed these were to stay on which needlessly complicated assembly, I figured out they were just protection for shipping and removed them and assembly was a snap. I used to buy Thule and Yakimas, quit years ago due to the ridiculous prices and poor functionality. Buy this rack!

this is my third hitch rack purchased in 3wks - trying to find the perfect fit. I think i've found my match. I'll update with pics, and after i've ridden with the bike on it. But i HAD to say something NOW. UPFRONT - if your rack is wobbling in your hitch, its more than likely because you have not taken the time to really read the instructions on how to tighten it. I've seen reviews where people say the key spins and spins, as does the hand grip. or they've videotaped the hitch and them wiggling it back and forth and up and down. i too thought something was wrong. i inserted the bar ( and thought) i turned the key, and then attempted to "tighten" the knob... severe wobble!! I was ready to send it back! i watched others' reviews who's rack didnt wobble, and knew i had to be doing something wrong. so i watched 3 YOUTUBE videos, which still werent 100% clear in my head. but then i re-read the instructions. went back outside, stuck the key in, turned it counter clockwise, took the key out - and "voila" - turning the knob CLOCKWISE, i felt the bar/hitch tighten up- now NO MORE WOBBLE. i mean ZERO!!!. OTHER reasons i think 'this is THE ONE for me; 1. because the arms fold down out the way, i can pull into my garage-remove my bike, pull down the arms, and shut the garage door! - i dont have to remove the whole rack, nor do i have to worry my garage door will hit the arms. my garage is small so i still have to SQUEEZE around front, or STEP OVER the rack if i want to go to the other side of the garage- but this is still much easier than removing the rack each time! OR having to open the garage door to go to the other side 2. the locking mechanism makes me confident that no one can easily steal the rack. and though it does not have an integrated locking system that includes the ability to simultaneously lock the bike - there are 4 'holes' on the rack which a bike chain/lock can easily pass through - OR you can use the holes in your hitch to lock down your bike. 3. i love that i can -with one finger- lift the latch that disengages the vertical bar and lets the rack angle away from the SUV so i can open the rear hatch EVEN WITH THE BIKE on it. i really didnt think i'd need it -but duh. its a MAJOR convenience to be able to open it -especially since my rear window doesnt pop up like my older model Pathfinder. i can also get larger items out the back (groceries - golf clubs). 4. i have a step-through "ladies" bike. As per the ALLEN video, i was able to easily lift and mount my bike to fit one arm below the seat, and the other arm between the two parallel bike bars that angle down to a V. i thought the rack arms might pinch the gear cable - but it doesnt. I STILL purchased a bar-adapter, but will see if this works before i return it. pics and videos will come later. BTW, i'm a 55yo, 5' 1.5" , non-athletic build female. i was able to put the two pieces together with NO PROBLEM. the instructions say 3/8" socket/wrench - but its really 9/16". and if you watch the Allen Youtube video - the lady says use a 9/16. Its awkward to carry, and weighs maybe ?20#s. ALSO - i DID struggle a bit sticking the horizontal bar into my hitch. had to balance it 'just right' and push and wiggle to finally get it in. REALLY was a SNUG fit. IN HINDSIGHT, i suppose i may have turned the knob 'too much' prior TO putting it into the hitch, thus pre-'expanding it'. (I dont know for sure, but that theory sounds right - either way. i struggled a bit, but finally got it in. So that, so far, seems to be the only con-which is likely due to user error. IMO - having tried 3 in 3 weeks, i think ALL racks that use ANY sort of "pin" or "spring" mechanism, will give weigh to 'some wobble'. Thus, since there must be a spring, or pin/latch, to allow EASE of angling the bike/rack away from the rear for ease of access- you have to accept that if its not a BOLT AND NUT tightening metal to metal - YOU WILL GET SOME movement. thats just plain common sense. But i'll accept that trade off, with the ability to lean the bike back and away. with the OTHER models - that use a pin/latch, i suppose you can exchange it for a bolt, and tighten it down while traveling long distance - and forego access to the rear. and when you get where you are going, swap out your bolt with the pin. BUT thats unnecessary work - since theyve obviously designed it to be secure, even with a bit of space/wobble. however, with THIS model - the quick release - there is no pin/latch. its spring loaded so there is 'nothing that can be removed and replaced'. so you dont have a choice. I'll ride around for a week - take it on the highway, and then report back.

Great Bike Rack, it is light enough to take on and off each time you take a bike someplace. I wanted one that would be an easy connection and disconnection, I did not want to have to tighten a bolt down and leave it on. This is the answer if you are like me. I have a 2 inch hitch receiver, it will expand and tighten up just fine. Do not listen to reviews that complain it does not fully tighten into a 2 inch hitch. You have to turn the key to diff positions for diff functions, you can tighten it in one position. Turn the key more and take it out, then it will just free spin. No one can take it and it stays tight. I use this for my sons BMX bike, I put it on only when we take his bike and take it off when BMX is over. This bike rack is sturdy - but light enough, so not to bad to handle. I needed a bike rack that did not weigh too much.

Easy assembly and easy install. Mountain bike was easy to strap down but the beach cruiser was tricky. Tried it on the back strap and couldn’t get the straps to sit flush, but tried it on the front (without a second bike) and the cruiser sat better. Have yet to drive with it but seemed study and tight. Would recommend bungee chords to prevent wheel spin and center the front fork.

I lost the key to this so it was stuck on my car. I reached out to their customer service and within 24 hours they had helped me resolve the issue! It was very easy to put together and somewhat easy to take on and off my car. This was my second try as the first bike rack I'd purchased had the wrong size hitch hookup, so pay attention to that! I spent more this time around and it was definitely worth it, this one was great quality for the price.

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