Holdfast vs Thule

[BigDL]

I had a cheapish hard tail Mtb that did the business, got me around, kept me going for 3 years. I bought a decent spec bike at four times the price which is much more fun, probably safer and will hopefully last four times longer.

 

Similarly I have also dabbled in the non Thule world and found functional carriers that did the job, but now have a ten year old Thule three bike towball carrier and 4 6 year old Thule roof bar carriers, all of which I expect to still have in ten years time.

 

Thule is the business. Others will do the job, just like a cheap bike will do the job, but they are hard to love

 

 

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[BrandonF_]

I had a cheapish hard tail Mtb that did the business, got me around, kept me going for 3 years. I bought a decent spec bike at four times the price which is much more fun, probably safer and will hopefully last four times longer.

 

Similarly I have also dabbled in the non Thule world and found functional carriers that did the job, but now have a ten year old Thule three bike towball carrier and 4 6 year old Thule roof bar carriers, all of which I expect to still have in ten years time.

 

Thule is the business. Others will do the job, just like a cheap bike will do the job, but they are hard to love

 

 

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Comparison 1) k@k vs better - (Bike)

 

Comparison 2) Great vs Great - (Rack)

 

..? Not a good comparison at all.

 

Please elaborate.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Comparison 1) k@k vs better - (Bike)

 

Comparison 2) Great vs Great - (Rack)

 

..? Not a good comparison at all.

 

Please elaborate.

Goedkoop is duurkoop

[Wayne Potgieter]

Thule. Thule, thule. But i think thule. Or maybe thule.

 

Yes. Thule.

 

 

I have shipped mine around the world and will only use the thule.

 

The buzzrack is rubbish.

 

The thule is refined and well thought out. I put 4 mtb on mine without issues. No straps or anything.

 

These are a range of carbon all mountain. 29r. Kiddies bikes. Fat bikes. Steel bikes. You name it...my thule has carried it.

 

See it as an investment in protecting your valuable bikes.

 

 

 

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[Jaco Steyn]

The buzzrack is rubbish.

 

I am quite intrigued by this statement?

 

I have been using the Buzzrack Buzzrunner Spark for about 5 years now without any problems.http://www.buzzrack.com/galleries/buzzrunner-spark-3-tow-ball-platform-bike-carrier-2/

I can easily carry 3 bikes without any additional securing of the bikes, and carried various combinations of MTBs and road bikes, 26" and 29" MTBs. Been down to Cape Town and back twice with this rack, carrying 3 bikes safely and securely down. I only secure the bikes with the fasteners that comes with the rack (no need for bungi cords or pool noodles), which tilts and also locks each bike individually as well as onto the towbar ball. I purchased mine for ±R3000 vs the ±R5500 at that time. I have never regretted this purchase whatsoever.

[Wayne Potgieter]

I am quite intrigued by this statement?

 

I have been using the Buzzrack Buzzrunner Spark for about 5 years now without any problems.http://www.buzzrack.com/galleries/buzzrunner-spark-3-tow-ball-platform-bike-carrier-2/

I can easily carry 3 bikes without any additional securing of the bikes, and carried various combinations of MTBs and road bikes, 26" and 29" MTBs. Been down to Cape Town and back twice with this rack, carrying 3 bikes safely and securely down. I only secure the bikes with the fasteners that comes with the rack (no need for bungi cords or pool noodles), which tilts and also locks each bike individually as well as onto the towbar ball. I purchased mine for ±R3000 vs the ±R5500 at that time. I have never regretted this purchase whatsoever.

I bought the 4 bike rack.

 

I am not a fan of all the straps all over my bikes. It damages the finish. It rains a lot here, so the straps get wet and then after a bit of a dirt road the straps get all gritty like sandpaper.

 

Its not insurance approved for theft.

 

I battle to fit the 4 bikes on .

 

In order to fit it properly, you have to install a plate on the towbar. I have two cars with towbars and in making the plate part of the design, i am restricted to only ever using one car.

 

It is harder to load by yourself. The thule uses a simple lever clamp, the buzzrack needs to have the tightening knob turned and turned.

 

Sure, it does the job. But its fiddly and frustrating. I find the thule is refined and simple to use.

 

Each to there own, but i think when you are putting 100ks worth of bikes on a rack...you dont buy a fiddly flimsy rack.

 

 

 

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[WhuYu]

Holdfast. Local product and better service. 

Ditto. I have a 2 bike Holdfast for last 6 years..................no issues.....works like a charm. And for the price...a no-brainer.

[PhilipV]

We've used a 2bike holdfast sprint for 6 years now. The only negative thing about it is that the straps are a Las. If the new holdfast rack has replaced straps with a clamp of sorts, then I'd suggest getting the holdfast.

My friend has a 3bike Thule, fancy pancy thing that can tilt etc, but we can't fit three trail bikes on it. As soon as thru axles come into play the spacing between bikes is too narrow and no matter what we tried, we could not get the bikes to not touch each other. That kind of makes it pointless for the big bike crowd (Road bikes are svelte, so no worries there. )

We ended up having to put two bikes on the rack and one on the roof (two trances and one fuel ex,) so until Thule widens the spacing between bikes, I'm not going to spend top dollar on them, then I'll rather have the Las of the holdfast straps.

[Grebel]

Had a similar choice to make a few years ago. I had a Holdfast hanging rack, I refused to drop that kind of money on a platform rack so I copied the Holdfast platform design and built my own. Nearly got divorced the first time I used it... Admittedly that was my fault and not Holdfasts... Started looking at different options (Menabo, Buzzrack, Holdfast, Thule etc.) I bought a Thule G2 3 bike whick I got a really good deal on through Leigh's Cycles.

 

It turned out to be one of those purchases that I have never regretted. I have never attached my rack and felt that it was a grudge purchase. Loading bikes can be tight but once you've figured it out it's not an issue.

 

Would I buy another Thule? Without hesitation. All the others will do the job, but IMO Thule just do it better.

[JonoZA]

Thule = Trust

 

 

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[slickandtyred]

Saris.

 

Have a look at bicyclepower https://www.bicyclepower.co.za/

 

Good value and very stable. Easy to use.

[Spock]

Don't automatically assume Thule is superior just because its more expensive. Maybe 30 years ago when it was still made in Sweden...yes, may have been different back then. Now they outsource manufacturing like everyone else and quality is not guaranteed, like I experienced with a rack that faded, started to rust in two spots and also a lock that decided to stop working for no reason.

 

Marketing hype makes you believe that Thule = Trust and all such BS just so they can get away with the premium price tag. But having said that, I must admit that I am happy with my Thule laptop sleeve...:-)

[Riaan H]

I have the Holdfast pictured on 1st post and love it. Paid R4k at Autostyle for it a few months ago, the Thule pictured is something like R12k.

 

Admittedly the Thule loads fsster due to the clamping arms, but the can still be broken to steal the bike just as easily as a lock can be cut. I have found the Holdfast very stable and it's really not that much of a mission to strap the bike and put a cable lock over.

 

I also don't need the tilt function but if it ever bothers me the Holdfast can easily be modified to tilt.

 

If I had R12k I'd buy the Thule, otherwise the Holdfast makes a great alternative.

[Longbarn Killer]

I would happily have a slower load time to save myself R8k

[dannygirl]

Only thing I would replace my Thule with, is another Thule (and it would have to have been stolen, then...). 

 

The tilt function is absolutely priceless (a number of friends have since sold their hanging racks, one of which was also a Thule, to replace with tilting).  Sturdy, trustworthy product.  But what clinches the deal for me, is after-sales service.  Had a problem with one of the holding arms, and 3 years after purchase it was replaced without quibbling, and without me being able to produce proof of purchase. 

 

In my opinion, goedkoop koop is duur koop... I've never regretted forking out a bit more for the Thule - how many bike racks are you going to be buying in your lifetime? 

[Spoke101]

For me 12k of rack is justified when carrying +R300k of bikes.