C
Chainline
VIP Member
- Messages
- 232
Just for info. My bike disappeared down the motorway today at 70mph off my new VW bike rack!
Thankfully no one hurt, quiet motorway. Bike not great unfortunately as it’s expensive.
One sliding channel chock was still strapped to the wheel when I retrieved bike from the middle lane, the other is gone except for a clearly failed part where the channel retention lip has sheared.
Clamp was secure and locked and I had checked both straps, that clearly wasn’t the issue.
I theorise the plastic channel that secures the chock failing caused the bike to twist (it has an oval frame tube) and flex/come out of clamp putting undue force on the other chock, causing that to fail too, and bike exit backwards.
I will both contact VW/Campervantastic about warranty for the plastic chock and seek some form of redress. in my opinion that isn’t safe enough if one part (particularly the clamp) fails.
I will also implement a second strap around the channel (there seems to be some kind of second strap retention) for the chock and a 2nd security strap around the bike/bikes over top bar as I can’t have this happen again. Not only for the bike but what if it went through someone’s windscreen or the motorway was busy, someone could be killed.
anyone else had similar issue
And contacted VW.
I used my old T5 rack for 10 years with. O issues! The sliding part on the new one seems much less secure/robust.
Thankfully no one hurt, quiet motorway. Bike not great unfortunately as it’s expensive.
One sliding channel chock was still strapped to the wheel when I retrieved bike from the middle lane, the other is gone except for a clearly failed part where the channel retention lip has sheared.
Clamp was secure and locked and I had checked both straps, that clearly wasn’t the issue.
I theorise the plastic channel that secures the chock failing caused the bike to twist (it has an oval frame tube) and flex/come out of clamp putting undue force on the other chock, causing that to fail too, and bike exit backwards.
I will both contact VW/Campervantastic about warranty for the plastic chock and seek some form of redress. in my opinion that isn’t safe enough if one part (particularly the clamp) fails.
I will also implement a second strap around the channel (there seems to be some kind of second strap retention) for the chock and a 2nd security strap around the bike/bikes over top bar as I can’t have this happen again. Not only for the bike but what if it went through someone’s windscreen or the motorway was busy, someone could be killed.
anyone else had similar issue
And contacted VW.
I used my old T5 rack for 10 years with. O issues! The sliding part on the new one seems much less secure/robust.