Product Review ISI 2 bike carrier 2x4x4

swaz

Likes Bikes and Dirt
Item: ISI 2 bike carrier
Purchased From: ISI direct
Purchase Price (approx): RRP nearly $800 for the package I had
Usage: Mostly highway, suburbs. Some off road fire trails

Pros –
Well built. You wont break it
Australian made steel, design and build.
Powder coated
Can replace certain parts with off the shelf items. I couldn’t find short screws at the big green shed though. Luckily the specialist fasterns place near me had some for about $0.25 each
Bikes don’t touch each other when loaded and you can off set them to a certain extent to avoid this.
It tilts out of the way (also a con)
I left the hitch mount in place almost all the time and took the rack part off and put it away.
the bikes DO NOT move when on the rack.
The off-set system ISI have designed only becomes apparent if you have used other racks where you have to dick around with bars touching each other or taking a seat post out to have bikes fit. Once you get the wheel hoops in the right spot, it's just a matter of dropping the bikes in and away you go.
Cons -
Heavy
Doesn’t fold down or pack away.- yes I realise it’s intended use. I found this a bit of a PITA.
The wheel hoops did not slide easily along the rails which made for quick adjustments a massive hassle. You also need an alen key on hand all the time to cinch up the screws. Not a deal breaker but if you’re keen to get your mates bike on there and too the trails f-ken about like this gets old very quickly.
My wheel hoops would not slide together and oppose each other until I distorted them. I hit ISI up about this and George sent new wheel hoops but they still did the same thing.
Fitting a 16” kids bike on there didn’t work well
Putting a light bar/license plate with lights on it with the added attachment ($50) wasn’t very successful. This was because it tilted to the ground and the light bar scraped on the ground. This was the best I could do because with it out of the way of the ground, it got in the way of the bikes. No win here.
Pulling the pin out every time I needed to tilt it. Picture this:
Have everything next to car ready to go in. Put carrier onto hitch attachment (maybe 30 seconds). Load boot of car with bike gear and pull up into place so the lever holds it there (no pin in yet). Put pin in Put bike/bikes on. Discover that I didn’t put shoes/helmet/bag/water/dogs in yet. Take pin out which is a bastard because there is load against the pin now (tried diff types of lube with no improvement, only mess). Stand at rear of rack, perform contortion act to flip retention lever, lower bikes all the way to the ground and lay super gently onto the ground. Load forgotten items. Reverse and hope you don’t get grease on you.
It lowers bikes ALL the way to the ground. Fantastic if you have a barn door boot or a van where the clearance is needed, but ultimately why I sold both my racks. A personal thing, yes. However It actually never occurred to me how much of an issue this would be until I started taking other peoples bikes around with me. When lowered the end of the handlebar takes the full load of the bikes + the rack. The final straw for me was putting new grips on my bike, having it laid down whilst in the rack and our two dogs + kids hopping into the car. Scratched the bejesus out of the grip ends. Thankfully it was my bike and not someone elses.
The other thing that became a bit of a bear is the upright supports for the frame fingers don’t fold down out of the way so you can access the boot quickly and easily without bikes loaded. I didn’t trust this to stay on the rack whilst at the trail head either so that would have to go into the back of my car.


Comments:

As you can see, the cons out weighed the pros and my criteria for spending money on an expensive rack is that it had to be easy to use and not make using it a chore. There appears to be a very simple solution to the issue of it folding all the way to the ground, however I didn’t feel like machining something up to fix an issue on an $800 rack.
Pictures/Videos:

I made a license plate backing plate from a piece of scrap stainless and bought an LED light bar for a motorbike from eBay for about $12

I had the two larger wheel hoops on one side because I found that held the 29er heaps better.

 
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Joe_MTB

Likes Dirt
I've got this rack and agree with some of your cons. It's a beast of a rack and doesn't really collapse so you need the storage space. But after having seen the amount of play that develops in some of the folding racks this was worth it for me to have something sturdy. And also, yeah it would be nice if it stopped an inch or two above the ground when folding.

Never had any issue sliding the wheel hoops though. And my release pin pulls out easy when loaded. No grease needed. Maybe you got one slightly out of tolerance?

I love mine but it is what it is. Designed with strength in mind. If it's never going to leave tarmac then there's probably better suited options
 

spikenet

Likes Dirt
thanks for the review, very informative! I think its a no-brainer if you need a true 4x4 rack (like B grade 4x4 trail stuff) but I'd guess most of us really only need medium duty stuff at most!

My wife can only "just" put on my chinese 2 bike rack as it is, no way she could use anything heavier. I've toyed with the idea of getting a better rack.. just not found one that ticks all the boxes yet (plus the $$)!

cheers
 

pharmaboy

Eats Squid
I can't remember exactly what was said, but I seem to remember advising swaz against the 4 carrier for his uses (small kids bikes, one person operation with 4 heavy bikes on board)

If you have all 4 bikes on board and want to lower it without unloading, you need one other person to take the weight off the top pin in order to remove the pin easily. My rack was just taken on a 3000km 10 day bike trip with some friends and they reported back how easy it was, and one of them is buying an ISI as a result.

If you are ordering, ask for the T bolts for the wheel hoops (and for pretty much everything else)- I think I know why ISI has gone std with Allen bolts, but I'd rather the occasional difficult tightening than having to have an Allen key all the time.

George, you really should ship both types for the small amount of dollars - the brass coloured T bolts are an awesome thing.

Light bars are a stupid thing - don't do it, don't even think about it on any rack - they are always a pita and no one gets booked for obscuring lights. License plate is enough.

For the 4 bike carrier, you also need to know that you should load the bikes from closest to car backwards. Also you need to know it is heaps easier to remove the uprights on position 3 and 4, so you can get bike 3 in easily - just sit it there, put the vertical in and do up the grub bolts (get T's and no Allen key required)

Do not buy a 4 bike rack if 90% of your requirements are 1 or 2 bikes. The 2 bike carrier has no down sides and is easily the fastest to put on, take off, load and unload bikes of any carrier - this includes grip sorts. This is because the tilt to the ground means you can rest the carrier on the ground, lift with one hand on the top part of the mount and with the other hand insert the lower pin, then it lifts and locks.

Fwiw, for short urban trips I don't use the second pin, but if you hit a speed bump aggressively the carrier will tilt back and the bike handlebar will hit the road - have done this with same bike twice (lol) little bit of scraping damage to the carbon bars and bar plugs. This leads me to mention that if I have had a bike drop to the road on tilt twice with no damage to the bike, that bars are well strong enough to cope with the tilt action when stationary with absolute ease (roadies with white tape excluded of course)

;)

one of these days I'll sell the 4 bike carrier anyway, it's used by me once a year, not really enough to justify it
 

swaz

Likes Bikes and Dirt
I can't remember exactly what was said, but I seem to remember advising swaz against the 4 carrier for his uses (small kids bikes, one person operation with 4 heavy bikes on board)

If you have all 4 bikes on board and want to lower it without unloading, you need one other person to take the weight off the top pin in order to remove the pin easily. My rack was just taken on a 3000km 10 day bike trip with some friends and they reported back how easy it was, and one of them is buying an ISI as a result.

If you are ordering, ask for the T bolts for the wheel hoops (and for pretty much everything else)- I think I know why ISI has gone std with Allen bolts, but I'd rather the occasional difficult tightening than having to have an Allen key all the time.

George, you really should ship both types for the small amount of dollars - the brass coloured T bolts are an awesome thing.

Light bars are a stupid thing - don't do it, don't even think about it on any rack - they are always a pita and no one gets booked for obscuring lights. License plate is enough.

For the 4 bike carrier, you also need to know that you should load the bikes from closest to car backwards. Also you need to know it is heaps easier to remove the uprights on position 3 and 4, so you can get bike 3 in easily - just sit it there, put the vertical in and do up the grub bolts (get T's and no Allen key required)

Do not buy a 4 bike rack if 90% of your requirements are 1 or 2 bikes. The 2 bike carrier has no down sides and is easily the fastest to put on, take off, load and unload bikes of any carrier - this includes grip sorts. This is because the tilt to the ground means you can rest the carrier on the ground, lift with one hand on the top part of the mount and with the other hand insert the lower pin, then it lifts and locks.

Fwiw, for short urban trips I don't use the second pin, but if you hit a speed bump aggressively the carrier will tilt back and the bike handlebar will hit the road - have done this with same bike twice (lol) little bit of scraping damage to the carbon bars and bar plugs. This leads me to mention that if I have had a bike drop to the road on tilt twice with no damage to the bike, that bars are well strong enough to cope with the tilt action when stationary with absolute ease (roadies with white tape excluded of course)

;)

one of these days I'll sell the 4 bike carrier anyway, it's used by me once a year, not really enough to justify it

You know this review was for the 2 bike carrier, right?
 

schred

Likes Bikes and Dirt
Review is fair to me and I could see it happening if I don't take the bikes on some proper adventures. Be hard to justify over much lighter/user friendly options.

I hold rack in one hand, insert lower pin with other, swing retention claw thing over then put in top pin. Trick is doing it in the dark.

I also run one vertical bar for both sides and put the allen bolts on that one, locked the fck down, and put the four t bolts on the hoops. Still need a good whack to get them moving if needed.

I've daisy chained both pins and two r clips with safety wire so it's all together, pin-pin----clip-clip. Pharmaboy no second pin?? wtf man?
 

pharmaboy

Eats Squid
I've daisy chained both pins and two r clips with safety wire so it's all together, pin-pin----clip-clip. Pharmaboy no second pin?? wtf man?
Haha, the catch holds really well - not so well if the bike is on the inside, so there isn't enough weight pulling it tightly, and you go over a speed bump. TBH, there weren't any instructions when I got it 4 years ago, so I assumed the pin was for heavy duty work/4wd'ing. Now I know how well it works without one, I don't bother. Stick helmets, etc in the back, and it takes 10seconds to get the rack out of the way, get my shit, and be on my way
;;)
 

Soul-Rider

Likes Dirt
I don't own one of these but I have borrowed one off of a fellow Burner for a number of road trips now.

From Alice Springs to... well, anywhere is going to 2000 km plus (at high speed) so I like the overbuilt nature of the rack. T handle bolts on the bike holders mean that you only need a 6mm to adjust the rack for different bikes. Throwing a 6mm in the boot has never seemed like a big deal to me.

The rack that I've used has a steel loop on the front that hits the ground when you tilt the unit and holds the bikes up. I've never had a bike contact the ground. I'm surprised that you rack doesn't have this feature.

In short. I've been very impressed by the isi rack that i've used and would have to buy one if I didn't have such generous mates!
 

gcouyant

Farkin Advertiser
Thanks for the thread Andrew and whilst this is arguably the least complimentary review on the internet I can see why. I’m a firm believer that the customer is always right and think that it’s important to communicate effectively long after sales are made. Sorry we couldn’t get the love to last but I suppose it had to happen one day.

Perhaps the following will assist others.

The carrier is designed specifically to take up zero floor space. Lays flat against the wall and as such is one of the most efficient to store. If you have a bit of room you can slip the frame support posts back in and hang bikes off them – hanging off the wall. In our carport that’s gold because we hang several racks on the wall ready to be slipped into any pivot base on any of our cars and trailers. Takes 20 seconds to pin the beam in. Something like this on 4x4x4 carrier – same applies with the 4x4x2.



The mass of your 4x4x2 carrier assembly is 9.7kg and that’s what you move from the car to store in the garage …… Two fingers through the nose of the carrier and it hangs flat against your side as you walk it from the car.

There are plenty of ways to load and unload bikes with flexibility to facilitate personal preferences. The best IMHO is to pull the post up and hang the post off the wheel support tube. That’s 10 second bike load or unload leaving a clear working area so that you don’t have to bend or twist. With this method you never adjust the frame support cradle because it remains set and consequently don’t have to stretch up high. I’ll ask the guys to post a video so you’ll see how to best operate the carrier.

Spot-on Graeme - It’s under 10 seconds to move both posts out of the way. The vertical support posts are held rigid in place with our corner clamps. A rigid post means that you can apply very light pressure on the frame support cradle to support and stabilise a bike over the harshest terrain. You can’t stabilise a bike effectively with a pin joint at the base of a vertical post. The frame and wheel supports must be dynamically in phase in roll, yaw and pitch. It would be irresponsible of us to deliver a product that stabilised in pitch only.

Yes, two posts so that each bicycle is stabilised at the strongest part of the top tube for the slimmest load possible. You don’t have to push bikes left and right to make them fit. It’s actually a huge benefit for all but a handful of users. To assist when bikes are together, each wheel cradle at each end of each bike is adjustable vertically as well as horizontally.



After you pull the upper pin you just raise the carrier slightly to release the over-centre latch and tap the latch with your foot. Dead easy and flips right over. It’s convenient for even the shortest riders. Then lower the lot. That’s twenty seconds tops. You should never get grease on you. See here:



Bar end caps. Meh…. But fair enough.

To raise, latch down and raise carrier up and forward. The latch engages and holds the lot in place. Then insert the upper pin. I can’t see any benefit in leaving the latch up when raising the carrier.

Graeme, you need to use the upper pin. Prolonged use without the upper pin will affect the alignment of the PoziLock latch. The whole pivot design has six points of alignment and stabilisation and they all need to bed in together.



We manufacture the tee-screws by the thousand in-house and they are available from spares. We don’t include them on the wheel support cradles standard because of the cost/benefit for all but a few users. Those who want them contact us and we’re happy to help. Every single component is available separately.

Anyway, it’s all valuable feedback Andrew so thank you for that. We make a point of digesting all feedback in context and at the end of the day use our expertise to deliver meaningful product that addresses the target dynamic and operational parameters.
 

swaz

Likes Bikes and Dirt
Thanks for the thread Andrew and whilst this is arguably the least complimentary review on the internet I can see why. I’m a firm believer that the customer is always right and think that it’s important to communicate effectively long after sales are made. Sorry we couldn’t get the love to last but I suppose it had to happen one day.
Hmmmm, that doesn't sit well with me given the recent interaction with your staff member where I bought an expensive spare part which was, in my opinion, missing parts and then having to pay for these parts plus postage PLUS get attitude from your staff has turned me off for life and undone what was a good interaction with yourself and others in the past.
 
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Yet1

Likes Dirt
Fwiw...

I have been using one of these carriers for about 5 years and have completed too many trips to count, including many shuttle runs using the rack. And a 9000km trip from Melbourne to Perth and back via some serious 4x4 tracks with 2 bikes on it. And I have had zero complaints, it still works brilliantly and I have recommended to many friends who have also bought one.
 

gcouyant

Farkin Advertiser
Hmmmm, that doesn't sit well with me given the recent interaction with your staff member where I bought an expensive spare part which was, in my opinion, missing parts and then having to pay for these parts plus postage PLUS get attitude from your staff has turned me off for life and undone what was a good interaction with yourself and others in the past.
I reviewed the correspondence Andrew. Zac was acting on my instructions regarding the pins.

I’m not a fan of resolution through internet stoushes but believe it or not, each of us here bust our guts to acknowledge the individual demands of each customer and wherever possible, accommodate those demands - but in this particular case, clearly can’t. I like to think that we normally do though - http://www.isi-carriers.com/customers/isi-bicycle-carrier-customers.html
 
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Joe_MTB

Likes Dirt
Hmmmm, that doesn't sit well with me given the recent interaction with your staff member where I bought an expensive spare part which was, in my opinion, missing parts and then having to pay for these parts plus postage PLUS get attitude from your staff has turned me off for life and undone what was a good interaction with yourself and others in the past.
Whether or not you were in the right with your claim, this no longer feels like an impartial review
 

swaz

Likes Bikes and Dirt
I've added more pro's to even things out a little. I admit I was a little negative about what is a fantastic rack.
 

Camdyson

Likes Bikes
I have one of these 2-bike racks on my Prado for some time now, and whilst the ergonomics can be an issue at times, I've found it bullet proof. Taken it from Vic to FNQ, countless off-road trips including Vic high country, and never had an issue. Super quick to load, tailgate opens over the lowered rack, and no sign of wear.

Agree readjusting for different mates' bikes can be a bit of a PITA, but having tried many other racks over the years I'd get another ISI every time.

Cam
 

Dales Cannon

lightbrain about 4pm
Staff member
If it is ok to jump in I too have an iS! rack. Having tried lots of other options I can honestly say it is the best option of all that I tried.

Can be awkward but not overly so. I carry my fatbike, my Bronson, wifesy's bike and others from time to time. Never have to worry if the bikes won't fit or will rub. Easy to adjust and lock the bikes in. Traveled some rough country too.

Best of all George was a true gentleman and helped me out with ideas to fit a modified version to the front of my Tvan. Couldn't ask for better service especially since I didn't buy anything more room iS!.
 

void

Likes Bikes
I have just purchased a 4x4x4 carrier.

The customer service and advice that I received from George is first class. :first:. I know have a rack that can carry the range of bikes in our stable, 20in BMX's. 20", 24" 27.5" and 29" MTB's.

As for the product, wow, absolutely impressed. My only issues I found where:
1. that the powder coating in the nuts for the thumbscrews on the wheel hoops could have been tapped out prior to delivery (but that is a minor issue).
2. I now need to buy a mount to install it on the camper trailer... (but then again this is a positive!!)

Would I recommend this rack to others, definitely.
 
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A good mix of reviews & opinions. Undoubtedly gives good cause for consideration, as too for George in terms of ways the product could potentially be refined as it evolves- user feedback is the best kid of feedback after all.

Light bars are a stupid thing - don't do it, don't even think about it on any rack - they are always a pita and no one gets booked for obscuring lights. License plate is enough.
Maybe I've been unlucky, but I have to wholly disagree with this. Not only have I been booked twice in the space of 3yrs for obscured brake & signalling lights as a result of a towball rack, but I've also been victim to almost running up the arse of a car loaded 4 deep with bikes on a towball rack (admittedly the douchebag driver decided to throw the anchors out & peel off the road very late) as a result of their indicators & brake lights being obscured. After the $300+ of fines it was a no brainer to contend with the minor PITA & install a light bar for my rack, especially when considering the outcomes of someone running up my arse while loaded with expensive bikes.
 
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