Piston Pro X Hitch Rack - 2-Bike
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Why We Like The Piston Pro X Hitch Rack
Modern bicycles are a marvel of engineering, but let's not forget the importance of a quality rack to get our steeds to and from the trailhead. Kuat has been a top contender for years, and their Piston Pro X represents the pinnacle of technology and ease of use. It uses two "touchless" arms that secure the bike by the tire rather than the frame, and it features integrated LED tail lights that synchronize with your vehicle for added safety and visibility.
Details
- A 2-bike hitch rack with outstanding form and function
- OneTap levers allow arms to open automatically into position
- FastFit wheel chock adapts quickly to 18 - 29in wheel sizes
- Foot pedal makes it easy to tilt the rack for vehicle access
- Integrated LED tail lights with magnetic light hookup
- Includes 12mm cable lock with soft-touch outer coating
- Made of high-quality metal with powdercoat finish for durability
- QuickConnect lets us expand the rack to 3 or 4 bike capacity (trays sold separately)
- Item #KUAZ00J
- Bike Capacity
- 2
- Compatibility
- [hitch receivers] 1.25in, 2in, [bikes] mountain, road, gravel, fat, [wheel sizes] 18 - 29in, [max tire width] 5in
- Locks Included
- stainless steel hitch lock, semi-integrated 12mm cable lock
- Part Number
- PX22G, PX12G
- Manufacturer Warranty
- lifetime
- Activity
- mountain biking, cycling, travel
Reviews
Q&A
What do you think about this product?
Overall Rating
4 based on 4 ratings
Review Summary
Fits True To Size
Screen reader users: the following list provides a visual scale to illustrate the product fit. Please refer to the heading above for the fit type in text.View
Selecting an option will reload the available reviews on the pageNovember 2, 2024
Mostly good rack, two big issues
- Familiarity:
- I've put it through the wringer
Solid, heavy steel rack. Easy to use, easy to install and remove. I Like that nothing touches the bike frames. Road bikes with higher air pressure are a little harder to secure, softer tires hold better. I use rubber Voile straps on the wheels/wheel trays on highway trips, just for extra hold. On a long road trip, got into some snow and ice, as mentioned in another review, the pistons iced up and wouldn’t operate. Luckily, with some repacking I was able to get my bikes into the vehicle and the stuck-open arms cleared the sides of my 4Runner so I could flip the rack upright. This rack chips easily from rocks etc, and the bare spots rust if you don’t put some touch up paint on, which Kuat doesn’t sell. Kuat told me to touch it up with black paint, but the rack isn’t black.
September 5, 2023
Car bike rack of my dreams
- Familiarity:
- I've used it several times
Everything I ever wanted out of a bike rack. Installation was easier than expected, did it in under an hour into a two inch trailer hitch, and removal is easy as heck other than it being heavy for some, wasn't a problem for me. The fastest most secure bike rack, takes seconds to load and unload everything from 29" 2.3 MTBs to 700x32 road bikes to 650b touring bikes and holds them steady on Interstate and gravel roads. Looks great, ingeniously designed, folds up to get out of the way and looks good. Signal lights work fantastic. And specifically on a Subaru Forester Wilderness edition, license plate is clear, rear camera is plenty visible, and it doesn't interfere with blindspot detection. We'll see how long the kashima piston arms last, but for now, as a former bike shop employee who has installed hundreds of racks of customers cars, this is the best rear rack I've ever come across. Some of the worries about wiring seems to have been revised with the model we received, no more magnetic interfaces. Modular arm designs means in future you should be able to replace troubled sections if needed.
Originally reviewed on Backcountry.com
August 8, 2023
Fails in cold weather , wiring fails
- Familiarity:
- I've used it several times
The locking mechanisms fails in cold and snowy weather. Customer service says it’s a known issue and solution is carry a blow dryer or deicer. It will be okay to the trailhead but you open and take your bike off and then it won’t ratchet or lock down again so no way to get your bike home safely. Wiring failed as well in under a year. Each issue they’ll send replacement parts but expect you to fully rebuild the rack. For the money it’s not worth it! If you live in TX and never get things dirty, muddy, icy etc it’s probably great. Very disappointed in this product for the money.
January 9, 2023
This rack is amazing
- Familiarity:
- I've used it several times
I've had a bunch of racks. Recently 1-Up, Kuat NV, Thule T2 Pro XTR. I got rid of the 1-Up because it didn't really hold the front wheel very firmly, which resulted in the wheel wobbling back and forth rapidly in the wind, which is ultimately why I got rid of mine and switched to the hook style. Unfortunately, no matter what I did I couldn't get the hook of the Kuat or the Thule to not rub on the fork. This was particularly troublesome for a matte finish I have on one bike, which ended up getting polished, even with a rag in-between. So I decided to give this one a shot hoping it would have the convenience of the 1-Up rack, but with higher quality. It really fits the bill. The wheel chocks it has are really substantial (not the little dinky bit that's on other racks) and holds the wheels really firmly. My trail bike, even on the Thule T2 XTR, would wobble quite a bit just because of how big the bike is. The Piston Pro holds it completely solidly. The pistons are cool, but probably pretty unnecessary. Maybe they'll come out with a non-piston version down the road. I also like that the arms will open all the way to the ground. It really makes it easy to get bikes in and out, especially ones with a long wheel base. I think the lights are also a big asset, especially the brake lights, in helping avoid getting rear ended. Despite all the features and capabilities, the rack is actually pretty compact when folded up. This rack really ticks all the boxes.
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