Last year, Yakima introduced its Whispbar range of upscale, aero-profile roof racks. But those sleek base systems now get dedicated accessories for 2013, with aesthetics and design features to match.
Truck owners and car drivers who prefer hitch-mounted racks get new options for carrying bikes, too. Here's what BikeRadar spotted at Interbike.
Whispbar WB200 bike mount
Yakima will offer a single WB200 fork-mounted bike tray for the Whispbar system for 2013, but it's quite the stunner and matches up well with the aero crossbars' sleek, upscale profile.
The beauty goes beyond skin-deep, too, with a slick design that can easily be switched between 9mm quick-release and 15mm thru-axle fitments with no additional parts or tools. You simply flip a switch underneath the main lever and axle spacers pop out automatically – brilliant.
Yakima has also built the WB200 to be conveniently detachable via its QuickDock bases, which secure to the Whispbar crossbars' T-slots with polished aluminum levers. Users can remove the mounts as the seasons change (there are new boat and ski mounts on tap, too) or simply shift their position with no tools required.
The rear wheel cradle can slide fore and aft along the tray
This kind of style doesn't come cheap. The base Whispbar system will cost you between US$350 and US$450, and each WB200 mount will cost US$249 when they become available in March 2013.
Convenient solutions for truck owners
Yakima's new BikerBar is a handy all-in-one option for pickup truck owners looking to carry two bikes (or more with additional mounts) in the bed. The single-bar system secures to the sides of the bed with no tools or holes required, via Yakima's versatile BedRock towers. Four lock cores are included to secure everything together.
Alternatively, pickup owners can mount four BedRock towers with two crossbars to create a two-tiered storage setup – basically a standard roof rack mounted atop the bed. Lock cores are included here as well, and users will have to add whatever accessories they desire for a complete system.
The suggested retail price for the BikerBar is US$239, while a set of four BedRock towers will cost US$160. Both will be available in stores from March 2013.
The BikerBar is an all-in-one solution for carrying up to two bikes in a pickup truck
Yakima's simplest option is the new CrashPad – the company's take on the common tailgate pad. For US$99, buyers get a high-density foam core covered with durable woven nylon, with raised blocks at either end to prevent excessive sliding, plus a handy flap for accessing the tailgate. The CrashPad will be available in two sizes from July 2013.
Updated hitch racks
Finally, Yakima has updated its range of hitch racks for 2013 – all of which are scheduled to drop in March next year.
The new US$499 FullSwing carries up to four bikes via padded top tube arms, anti-swing cradles and integrated cable locks hidden inside the main upright. The SwingAway base easily pivots the entire rack out of the way, for tailgate access, and automatically locks into the receiver base (sorry, 2in receivers only) for faster and more secure installation. When not in use, the arms flip down with a single lever.
The new US$399 to US$425 FullTilt, on the other hand, uses the same set of padded arms and cradles but the base tilts down from the rear of the vehicle. Maximum capacity is five bikes.
Yakima's popular HoldUp tray-style hitch rack gets upgrades for 2013 as well. These include beefier arms that now accommodate large-volume 29er wheels more easily, more adjustability on the trays to reduce bike-to-bike interference, integrated cable locks hidden inside the arms, and a new all-black finish that gives a more refined look. Suggested retail price is US$329 to US$439.
A cable lock is hidden inside each arm of the updated HoldUp rack