Rooftop bike racks can be bulky when not in use. Rocky Mounts hopes to change that with its BrassKnuckles, a to-be-released bike mount rack unveiled last weekend.
It sits just 2.5 inches off the roof bars and is the “lowest-profile upright tray on the market,” the brand claims. When stowed, the rack has a profile height that is less than half that of the competition.
I gave the system a quick try at an event in Boulder. The pivoting handle, which resembles brass knuckles, pulled up easily from its lowered position.
Once a bike was in place on the tray, I pulled the trigger button with one finger and the arm clamped down firmly on the front wheel.
The bike mount comes with hardware to attach to any common crossbar system. Its aluminum bars can hold wheel sizes from a road bike to a 29er. A brand rep told me that there is talk of making the rack fat-bike compatible in the near future.
BrassKnuckles racks will cost $200 per tray. They will be available in multiple color options later this spring, each choice with the funky “knuckles” and the low-profile look as distinguishing features on the new kind of rack.
