Mazda Bike Rack
 

I purchased the Mazda adapter plates for the bike rack. I was wondering do I HAVE to buy the mazda bike channel or can I get by with just purchasing the yakima lock jaw? ANy help or pictures would help alot.

Thanks

Picture on the Mazda website looks alot like my setup. I've got Yakima Mighty-mounts and Yakima upright rack. Works pretty well.

How are those Mazda brackets?

actually, i have a similar question as well....i was wondering if, after purchasing the mazda bike adapter plates, i would be able to attach the yakima "boa" fork mount system (without trays)...

can anyone help us out here?

thanks in advance,
dan

The mazda brackets look ok. I looked at a yakima setup in a store and there was a large metal plate that attached to the brackets but I am unsure if said plate comes with the rail or not. Im thinking about going to my LBS and see if the guys there can help me out.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Opus
[B]Picture on the Mazda website looks alot like my setup. I've got Yakima Mighty-mounts and Yakima upright rack. Works pretty well.

hi opus:

could you explain in more detail how your rack is setup?....

1. are you using the factory rack AND rails?
2. if yes, do the yakima mighty mounts attach directly to the factory rails?
3. is the "upright" yakima rack the only piece that will properly attach to the mighty mount brackets?

i'm really trying to avoid retro-fitting my factory system with yakima towers/cross-bars if at all possible.....

can you post a few pics of your setup???

thanks very much for your help,
dan

What is the price for the Mazda brackets?

I dont have the rack on the car right now, but I'll try to get some pictures in the next day or two.

I've got the Yakima Mighty-mounts attached directly on the factory cross bars. They fit pretty well, but they flex a little, so I make sure to take corners slower than usual.

I've got the Yakima Lockjaw attached to the mighty mounts. Takes three mighty mounts, two on the front, one on the rear. Bike stays put well. I wanted a fork mounted carrier, but I dont think any of the Yakima ones work with mighty mounts. There's a Thule fork-mounted rack that fits but I think it looks ugly.

Mighty mounts work with lots of other Yakima stuff. Planning on carrying a sea-kayak with them later (once I get one... :) )

Pictures coming in a day or two.

thanks very much for your reply...i would really prefer a fork-mount system, but might be SOL in this case...i also am thinking of carrying a kayak this summer, so hopefully we can figure out the correct system for that.....

looking forward to your pics, and thanks again!
DJL

Yakima does not recommend using mighty mounts on the factory mp5 rack. I wouldn't want my bike/kyak/whatever to go flying off the roof or to ruin my factory rack, so I wouldn't use them.

From what im reading here the yakima mighty mounts are just like the Mazda mounts but the mazda ones are made and fit perfectly on the roof rack. Even some pictuers of the yakima setup would be nice. It would give me a change to look at everythign up close and see if itl work. But the sounds of it it will.
This is good news because Itl save me 50 dollars or so. Ill just have to go to my LBS and get the rail instead of going to my local mazda dealer.

Here are some pics, sorry about the poor lighting, I rarely get home before dark.

http://students.washington.edu/billcat/rack1.jpg
http://students.washington.edu/billcat/rack2.jpg
http://students.washington.edu/billcat/rack3.jpg
http://students.washington.edu/billcat/rack4.jpg
http://students.washington.edu/billcat/rack5.jpg

I havent seen the Mazda ones, but if they fit very snug they may be better for a bike rack. The Yakima mounts fit pretty well, but not perfectly. I've had the rack for about four months now without any problems. I think alot of the wobbling is due to the height of the bike above the roofline. Something like a kayak that sits down low on the roof should work fine with the mighty mounts.

So I take it the plate that the channel sits on comes with the channel. I wil try to post pictures of the mazda mounts tonight. But by the looks of it itl work just fine. Thanks for the pics.

No problems with it yet. There are two parts of the rack; the plate with the arm that connects to the downtube, and the tray with the wheel holders. The only modification I made is to replace the plastic wing-nuts Yakima gives with bolts. Easier to crank down tight.

Here are some pics of the Mazda brackets. For me they were like $26.00 american. But my father in law is a mazda mechanic (at a mazdaspeed dealer no less) so i got his discount.

http://www.couchpotato.net/crackmunch/Image1.jpg
http://www.couchpotato.net/crackmunch/Mvc-001f.jpg

The Yakima mounts actually look like they're a closer fit to the shape of the rack. I was expecting something a bit more form fitting. Plus that hinge section looks kinda weak to me. They're metal right? Might help keep the rack more rigid. Looks like it should work with the Yakima rack I have, just might need a longer screw.

http://students.washington.edu/billcat/bracket1.jpg
http://students.washington.edu/billcat/bracket2.jpg

Do you have to buy the brackets individually, or is it a set?