Better Than 1UP & KUAT But Not Perfect // Saris MHS Rack

[@leefitler4597]

On the 1UP rack the “stadium seating” for multiple bike trays is so you can get bikes closer together without overlapping bars, pedals, etc. Also has better ground clearance as stated in the video.

[@TheBikeSauce]

makes a lot of sense

[@gevons]

Saw saris and turned it 0ff

[@99spokes]

Have you noticed the arms getting stuck up on the tire with the duo tray? I have trouble releasing mine and I’m wondering if I’m over doing it when pushing them up

[@TheBikeSauce]

@@99spokesthat does happen from time to time. I think it’s mostly that there’s too much tension on the internal ratchet. If you push the arm, it tends to relieve some of that tension and it opens easily.

[@rocko10ish]

Great video. I’ve tried bunches of bike racks and my heavy duty 1UP is my most prized rack. If I ride alone, I can just throw the single on the hitch and if I need a second bike, I connect the second rack. Light! And all it does is work. ❤️

[@markmonroe7330]

I have a roughly 15-year old 1UP. I am not sure how it would compare to their new ones but I have been happy with this one.

[@mikemazzantini6397]

I'll probably get a 1UP because they're aluminum...I've had my Thule for probably 7 years and it's quite rusty.

[@Cyclonejustin]

The 1UP rack is depth adjustable in the cars hitch receiver. For storage off the car some versions of the 1UP have folding bike trays making the unit much more compact for storage. It all just depends on what you need your rack to do.

[@aaronfletcher9590]

Another thing that I appreciate about the Ride1Up is the entire rack is made from aluminum. There aren't any plastic parts used to secure the bike. Here is Colorado, the sun tends to deteriorate plastics left exposed to the elements pretty quickly. But since their racks have none this is not a problem. I've had mine for almost 9 years and it still works extremely well. I can't say the same about other cheaper racks I've had in the past. But to the subject of this video I have never used the Saris or the Kuat, so I can't speak to their long term durability.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Good point. I’ve had the Kuat NV on my car for a solid 5 years straight. It’s got a lot of plastic, but has been very resilient to weather. One thing I didn’t mention is that the 1Up has a more polarizing aesthetic. Lots of people appreciate the all alloy construction and the resulting industrial look. I personally feel that it looks unfinished. Lots of machined aluminum stock bolted together. Many of the other brands use molded plastic components to make the overall product look more refined. It’s an unpopular option, I know.

[@leefitler4597]

Agreed. Most of the time i am only traveling with one bike on my 1UP and it is very low profile! When the single tray is folded up (without the bike) it doesn’t stick out at all and i can still open my trunk (Subaru) with the tray folded in the up position.

[@Cyclonejustin]

​@@TheBikeSauce they do have a black finish option on the 1UP racks. That is what I have and it looks great.

[@TheBikeSauce]

For sure, I’d get the black anodized option. Still not my personal aesthetic choice

[@mygamertag2010X]

Looks very nice, I love the cargo basket attachment

[@8rett]

I think the one thing you missed is the offroad weight capability, and one of the reasons why 1Up is considered a God in the rack world -- a lot of these racks have a different weight rating when "off road" is put into the mix, Saris says the rack should not be taken off road or mounted to any kind of trailer. They also say the maximum weight is 155lbs total, which includes the rack attachments themselves (effectively lowering the rated weight). It's unfortunate that the industry seems hell bent on cheaping out on certain things but advertising them with the highest of hopes, because the language in the product manual will be used to deny a defect claim in the future. This seems like a perfectly useful rack on-road, but not particularly better or sturdier than others in the same niche, IMO.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Fair. Tough to say where mnfr limits really come from and if they’re all directly comparable.

[@rhubarbbs]

I actually left 1up after using them off-road for several years. I was not happy with the performance. It comes down the the fact that the 1up uses a metal ball cranked down by a bolt to create the friction to hold the rack in the hitch. I found that the ball method means that even when super tight, very little surface area of the ball actually touches the hitch. I found that when driven off road, the 1up wiggles loose. I feel like it got worse over time as the ball or the hitch (or both) deformed from the ball being cranked down to keep it steady. For my next rack I chose specifically based on the contact patch being larger. It came down to the Kuat Piston X, and the QuickerStuff. Both are quite pricey. Way more than this Saris. In the end I went with he Kuat because I could get it on Amazon right away and with points, and the QuickerStuff had a six week lead time.

[@hippiebits2071]

Love my 1UP and no plans to replace it with anything different but that cargo basket option would definitely be a useful thing to have.

[@puggy454]

I think you can buy a cargo tray for the 1UP.

[@dodginglions5163]

Great job making this video!…very comprehensive…😎

[@thewintersteiner]

Quality seems legit for the price point

[@SarisOfficial]

Thank you for this great review! We're so happy you're liking the MHS 😄

[@sturdyvw]

Quikr rack is the best combo of everything.

[@don_sharon]

We are full time RVers and so far this year, have driven over 10k miles, and last year was about 12k miles. On the motorhome, I have a newer Kuat Sherpa 2.0 and on my towed Ford Expedition, I have an 8 year old original Sherpa (60lbs max per bike). The Kuat system works well for us over various terrain, highways, and at freeway speed. We carry three bikes: my Ti gravel bike (Sherpa 2.0 on motorhome) and two Trek e-mountain bikes (original Sherpa) that weigh around 48-49 lbs each. Anyway, these racks fit the hitches securely, and have stood the test of time and distance. As always, another great video.

[@thomashayden4522]

15 year old Kuat with thousands of miles of service with 0 issues. Kuat is the best in my humble opinion.

[@kellvwen]

Great video. At 1:21 shows you putting the hitch pin in from the driver's side. Go from the passenger side instead. Then the wedge will expand vertically when the pin is tight and it will be super tight in the hitch.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Oh snap, no way! I did notice there's a touch of vertical play in the hitch this way. I'll flip it around. thx!

[@Miche27]

Awesome content as usual 👌

[@WordupG]

No one ever talks about QuikrStuff Mach2, but it’s another all metal, made in the USA, 1Up style rack. Actually it’s an evolution of the design by the original 1Up inventor. Pretty great IMHO. I do wish it had one handed opening though, that’s my biggest gripe.

[@jacobgray3746]

I like the way the quickr rack is built but the wait list is crazy and price is high imo.

[@WordupG]

@@jacobgray3746​​⁠yeah, no argument there. I got mine on the initial pre-order price, which was a lot cheaper than it is now. Waited a couple years for them to finally make it!

[@jjswee]

Every time I see somebody post about the quickr, I feel like it’s an advertisement. Almost every post talks about hope it’s the same inventor as the 1up. On their home page they say this in huge text. It seems like it’s the main selling point. And I think this type of comment is on every bike rack comment section. Just feels like employees are posting it to me. Besides, for a single bike, it’s $700 versus $485. That’s a huge difference. 44% more expensive. And for what? Very high capacity, sure. But most of the operation is only slightly easier than one up. More tool free levers. I’ve watched a lot of reviews and I don’t get it.

[@WordupG]

@@jjswee I’m not an employee. Just a satisfied customer. I have friends with 1up racks, and I have the Mach2. It’s just a better rack in a few important ways. Not perfect by any means, but a step forward in the design. I bought mine on the pre-release price so it was about the same as a top spec 1up. I see they cost more now, but still have a long wait list. Apparently other people find value in the design as well. They market that story about the original inventor because it dispels the notion that they simply stole the 1up design and knocked it off. I repeat it for the same reason, any time I mention this rack, the 1up fanbois always blast it as being an exact knockoff. I’m just glad we have multiple options for high-quality, all metal, USA made racks these days. Cheers.

[@vjmtz]

Have to say, as someone new to bike racks....this one is a bit of a nightmare. Its pretty unpolished and I suppose its for pretty much someone who doesn't mind its complexity and rough design vs engineering. So from the install video I saw its easy enough, but it has a lot of knobs and locks and mechanisms which would not be seen as user friendly. It's also very expensive...$700 for 1 bike is a lot. Kuat gives you at least 2 bikes for $800, Saris $900. QuikrStuff Mach 2 charges $550! for 1 Bike to be added. I also find the anti-theft lock add-on, while not bad...its a tad tedious to deal with compared to the integration Kuat and other brands can offer. To me this feels like a unfinished product. Good for what it is if you are ok dealing with its maybe not very end user feel and design, but I suppose that's its purpose, to be something for those who really are into their bike racks and don't mind the lack of ease of use. But ultimately the price point kills it. Saris, Kuat, and to a lesser Degree 1UP are better in this way, though I think 1UP suffers from the same kind of over engineering fatigue

[@allan6344]

I like the high tech pre-production license plate privacy screen. There must be an engineer in the house.

[@TheBikeSauce]

space grade T6 cardboard

[@andarenbici]

You say you don't judge which is better, but your thumbnail does.

[@TheBikeSauce]

It says "Modular"!

[@andarenbici]

​@@TheBikeSauceZing. I meant the title, excuse my poor Internet vocabulary. But wow, these racks are expensive. Are there cheaper versions that can stabilize with ties?

[@andarenbici]

And can any rack hold a cargo bike? In my case a Bullitt.

[@thomasblak5315]

A better comparison than the NV is the Kurt Piston Pro. That and the One Up are similar in design. I do like the versatility of the Saris. Smart idea.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Yes the Kuat piston is the Fox Factory of the rack world. Would love to try it.

[@BruceChastain]

What about when there are no bikes on it and it's tilted up, does it cover up the license plate or rear lights? That's what I'm somewhat hesitant about. My current, sort of cheaper rack I leave on all the bike and when not loaded it doesn't cover up the plate or lights.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Good question. Will carry from vehicle to vehicle, but the saris doesn’t block significant light from the rear. It does block part of the license plate, but so does any hitch rack on my car

[@arndtbc]

I have the Saris Super Clamp rack its very stable and We love it. This MHS rack you have looks great too and we have a forrester, so well look at this ones wee replace our 5 year old rack.

[@51249ca]

Would love to see a review of the QuickR rack

[@TheBikeSauce]

Me too 😆

[@tty04]

Perhaps the Saris depth from the car allows space for the cargo basket when the rack is tilted up

[@obfuscurity]

I agree with most of your analysis of the 1UP, except that it doesn't actually require two hands to manage the arm. You just need to unlock the rear arm first, roll the bike back and let the fixed rear lean on that arm while you move the front arm out of place.

[@TheBikeSauce]

But, to open the arms from a stowed position, don't you need to hold the lever open with one hand and lift the arm with the other?

[@obfuscurity]

@@TheBikeSauce Yes, but the bike will stay in place if you follow the steps I described.

[@ronvaz2008]

Quik Rack Mach 2 - although not as well known, this rack is a better evolution of the 1Up. I would not be surprised if both companies knew each other once. The DNA is quite similar. The 1Up however has a much wider array of accessories on offer.

[@joshuarebennack68]

They did. The original designer of the 1UP sold to another person, then started Quik Rack. He is... something special... and not in a good way.

[@cm5896]

The Saris is not approved by the manufacturer for a tow-behind trailer, such as a 5th wheel trailer. They specifically exclude tow-behind applications which is the reason I was considering buying it. The 1UP is rated for tow-behind installation. Looks like it's going to be a 1UP for me.

[@gabespartan]

I'm partial towards aluminum racks vs steel, as the steel racks I have used all get rusty. Which of the 3 are aluminum?

[@TheBikeSauce]

fair point. The 1Up is aluminum for sure. Kuat - not sure, but mine isn't rusted after several years.

[@slaisebam]

I love my MHS rack.

[@virginiascurti5036]

You have an imposed weight limit on 1.25 of ~ 75lbs if you carrying more than one bike and 3 bikes are out of the question due to the load they put and a smaller hitch as the extends out per bike. I have a Kuat and I use a rubberized strap on the wheel across the cradle on the swing arm side for holding the bike(s) in place.

[@SergejGrabun]

and what do you do if you live in Europe and we have ball tow bar... not a 2' receiver :( I spend so much time loading our 4 MTBs that it's aint funny and also bikes get damaged a bit during traveling as they rub in random places even with the best effort to protect areas!

[@mikemazzantini6397]

The one up is aluminum, so no rust. My Thule, like this Saris is painted steel and now covered in rust. Doesn't give me the warm fuzzy feeling I would like when you see all that rust on structural parts.

[@dcv9460]

Interesting 😎👍

[@newttella1043]

Those arms should sit as close to the fork as possible in case your tires deflate, the arm won't drop away..if you stare at how the wheel at the fork is a low point. It'll also prevent those arms from protruding.

[@Frank-i-e]

Is it just me or the swapping out trays make it really easy for someone to just steal the bike with the tray all together? Can’t tell if there is a lock on that bottom piece that hooks on to the hitch part.

[@eddyvaltierra4737]

The only issue I have with this rack is the ratchet system in the arm I’ve already broken 2 of them and the warranty doesn’t cover it, you have to purchase the entire arm in order to replace it.

[@TheBikeSauce]

That's not the first I'me that's been mentioned in the comments. I'll keep an eye on it and report back in the description if anything changes.

[@charlie_one_9]

Love my 1up quick rack.

[@justinghio5035]

Comparing a NV to this and not a piston is interesting choice

[@pauletavard7807]

More plastic junk that will deteriorate in the sun. 1up all metal construction made in the good old USA. By once, fellas!

[@TheBikeSauce]

0:46 😆 there it is.

[@kawabus]

I have been running a 1up rack for almost 4 years and absolutely love it. IMO it's the best in the game

[@itscaptainadobo]

I ditched my 1up in favor of Saris and RockyMounts alternatives. Once black endcaps on the 1up faded to raw metal after only a few months in Southern California sun whilst the polymeric components on the other brands show no degradation at all. Great video showing how other brands provide more value as compared to antiquated designs that have never seen a real update.

[@jered2177]

Let's test lateral and vertical compliance

[@TheBikeSauce]

slap the accelerometers on!

[@subliminalfreedom]

Interesting!

[@MazingerZX]

That protruding arm is a no go.

[@ericbeech2652]

You may have gotten a bad kuat. Mine isn't like that. My neighbors kuat also isn't like that.

[@SkiRidesMTB]

Kuat Piston Pro looks like a better bike rack to me. That operation looked way more clunky...bending over almost to the ground to tilt, the bikes are harder to load and unload. 67 lb capacity is plenty too...plus lights! The modularity is nice for families that go camping though.

[@davidcrowson4745]

❤

[@artcaballerojr]

Well I have come to the conclusion that 2 or 3 different bike racks are what is needed depending on how many bikes one will be transporting.

[@TheBikeSauce]

😆 n+1 for bike racks

[@s_a4022]

Personally I do not trust Saris MHS - had it and replaced it with 1UP. I got Saris MHS and after just a few months of use (and not daily use or anything) one of the arms would not lock in certain positions - opened it up and some of the teeth on the cogwheel got sheared off! They send me a replacement which is nice of them but I don't trust this rack now. Looks like bad design and/or poor quality materials.

[@dogface7966]

I’ll buy the 1up it’s not $900 for 2 bikes. This one isn’t even on the radar at these out of the question prices.

[@Scott-mu4xw]

Try a INNO

[@prestaposts]

Saris consistently make inferior quality racks and have for many years. I’ll never buy one again.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Could you elaborate on that?

[@goukenslay7555]

yeah your driving a subie, Those shitboxes arent meant to have bike racks let alone be stable. Plus your running an after market hitch even less stable. Always a fool rolling in saying they hear rattle noise guess what, they got a bike rack/cargo tray on

[@TheBikeSauce]

🤦🏻‍♂️

[@mikestivers8302]

INNO, one of the best and most secure made of durable materials. not modular tho..

[@neillee4406]

the MHS is by far heavier than the 1-up

[@fleetgt]

Get a Lolo Rack. No moving parts or plastic junk.

[@ellerybice3787]

1UP 4 me. 🤨 Your whining about them convinced me.

[@EdZachary1]

I spy a TechDeck 🛹

[@TheBikeSauce]

Since high school and still going 😎

[@BustedForks]

1Up for people who like products that will last a lifetime. Buy something else if you like to throw things away, including money.

[@mattjax16]

Had my one up for 6 years thing still works like a charm had plenty of bike racks before it that just disintegrated

[@mistuhjawknee5505]

$400 for a basket LOL y'all done lost your minds

[@torresalxndr]

You lost me at the first minute. Your issue with the Kuat is called user error my friend. Sorry. Going to jave to pass on this channel. I should have known better since you are hyping a Saris rack. Those things are horrible.

[@sheintz7]

💯 I stopped watching after 10 seconds since he clearly knew he was not mounting the Kuat correctly in the hitch or the bike on the rack and just wanted it to look terrible. What a sham of a “review”…

[@sheintz7]

I stopped watching less than 10 seconds in when you clearly didn’t mount the Kuat correctly in the hitch, nor mount that mtb correctly on the Kuat rack. If you’re going to make videos comparing products at least represent them all fairly. The Kuat will never rock side to side like that when you mount it correctly in the hitch (ie install it, put in your pin, turn the knob on the end of rack, jiggle rack, turn knob, etc.). It is rock solid with no side to side jiggle when done correctly. Clearly you just put a pin in it and jiggled it for show… Further, if you can’t even use the wheel chock/bar thing correctly on the Kuat how can I trust anything you say in the rest of the 10+ minutes. It’s pretty basic and elementary but clearly you just mounted it too far back on the tire and not ratcheted down correctly so the bike looked super loose on that rack for comparison purposes. I mean come on, so obvious to anyone who has ever used the Kuat correctly. Like I said, stopped watching after 10 seconds. Perhaps this rack is better, but I’ll never know because you decided to play games vs. do an honest actual review.

[@TheBikeSauce]

You typed a lot of words in 10 seconds

[@TheBikeSauce]

Maybe check out the actual Kuat review vid first. It's mounted in the hitch proper. The video is longer than 10 sec tho, so..