Electric bike weight issue

[NoMadVan42]

I have an Adria Coral Supreme 2019 and have been advised by an authorised dealer that I should not carry 2 electric bikes on an external rear wall mounted bike rack. The bike rack I would buy claims it can carry up to 60kg, my 2 bikes would weigh about 55kg, so the rack is not the issue. The issue appears to be the construction of the vehicle. I would assume Adria construction is of a similar strength as most other brands. Has anyone else ever been told that electric bikes should only go in the garage and not on wall mounted bike racks?

 

[FrankNicklin]

Its is also the overhung weight acting on the rear axle that may take you over the legal limit. Also although the rack says it will cary 60KG, the mounting to the MH rear will also need to be of sufficient strength to carry the cantilever weight.

55KG roughly 1.5 to 2m from the rear axle will add considerably more than 55KG to the axle weight..

Mel B's Spreadsheet to show effect of rear loads on axles

This spreadsheet will let you know if that bike overloads your axles.

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[The Coops]

Take the batteries off and the weight will go down about 10kgs then no problem I have the Adria compact and use the cycle rack, the garage on the Coral is huge just how much stuff do you need?

 

[Mikeco]

If the rear wall is that weak then don’t reverse into anything other than a paper bag.
Personally I think that it’s a load of rubbish, if the bike rack is fixed with through fixings then it won’t go anywhere.
I had a bike rack fixed to the rear wall of a Swift Caravan and it carried two e-bikes to Spain and back several times and that rack was only fixed with coach screws in to the timber framing.

 

[PaulW2]

I have an Adria Coral Supreme 2019 and have been advised by an authorised dealer that I should not carry 2 electric bikes on an external rear wall mounted bike rack. The bike rack I would buy claims it can carry up to 60kg, my 2 bikes would weigh about 55kg, so the rack is not the issue. The issue appears to be the construction of the vehicle. I would assume Adria construction is of a similar strength as most other brands. Has anyone else ever been told that electric bikes should only go in the garage and not on wall mounted bike racks?

Unless I have a clear understanding of the structure underneath the skin of a coachbuilt van I think I'd be quite reluctant to put any weight onto anything suspended from it.

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[Jo May]

I have a tow bar rack which takes my single E-bike (but could take two).
My worry (at least initially) was not merely the weight, but bouncing through pot holes or over uneven surfaces. I don't know how much extra downward force is generated here, but it is considerable. As carefully as we try to be, there are occasions where we bounce over a bump.
Same (or similar) forces with a rear wall mounted rack should think.

 

[dunnah01]

Another @r$e covering exercise to make sure if their is a problem it's your fault so no comeback on the manufacturer or dealer for selling you a van that can't carry standard moho designed bike rack kit. It would be interesting to see Fiamma or Thule's thoughts on these restrictions

 

[Dart]

Unless I have a clear understanding of the structure underneath the skin of a coachbuilt van I think I'd be quite reluctant to put any weight onto anything suspended from it.

Many motorhomes have strengthened areas in the rear bodywork to allow the safe fixing of bike racks. Supplying dealers should know where these are. Otherwise strengthening bars are available from Fiamma.

 

[lorger]

As mentioned above you could get a towbar one or I’m sure I’ve seen one bolted to the chassis.

 

[Broadway]

Some makers offer lighter weight alloy bikes or if money is no object carbon fibre electric bikes are very light, just heavy on the wallet!!

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[MisterB]

I have an Adria Coral Supreme 2019 and have been advised by an authorised dealer that I should not carry 2 electric bikes on an external rear wall mounted bike rack. The bike rack I would buy claims it can carry up to 60kg, my 2 bikes would weigh about 55kg, so the rack is not the issue. The issue appears to be the construction of the vehicle. I would assume Adria construction is of a similar strength as most other brands. Has anyone else ever been told that electric bikes should only go in the garage and not on wall mounted bike racks?

Just replied to you on Facebook lol! Under Yvette's name ...

On our 670SLT, the bathroom is at the rear, supported by chassis extensions, which also takes the weight of the rear of the van after the spring mountings. Even with two people in the bathroom there is no issue re downward force on the chassis so I don't see how two bikes on the rear (which weigh less than one person) should be a problem.

 

[NoMadVan42]

Many thanks for all your thoughts. What I am trying to really understand is what is the permissible weight allowed on a bike rack for this model of motorhome. I thought this technical info might be available somewhere, but apparently not. I thought I was missing a trick. I guess I will have to badger Adria directly again but from previous experience they are very poor/evasive at responding to what I actually consider to be a very simple technical enquiries.

 

[Ernesto]

I doubt Adria will come up with a definitive answer. Its a tricky one to answer definitively.

The issue for me is having the equivalent of a small adult hanging off the back doors and then driving over bumps, potholes etc at up to 70mph…. The constant impacts and the effects they will have is the issue, and it just feels like a sub-optimal solution unless you take special measures to strengthen the mounting points.

 

[Scottish Scrutineer]

Some makers offer lighter weight alloy bikes or if money is no object carbon fibre electric bikes are very light, just heavy on the wallet!!

However, once you have purchased a carbon-fibre e-bike your wallet and bank balance will be considerably lighter

 

[suavecarve]

They seem quite strong to me.

Someone on here (and highly likely others) have had 2 bikes and an illegal immigrant prepared to stay in it for a few hours but no reported damage.

If the bikes were e bikes along with a lightweight immigrant that has to be over 100 kg

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[DandJ]

Just something to perhaps bear in mind.....if you remove the batteries to save 8-10kg...and the bikes on the rear rack are subject to moisture from rain or wet roads...you may introduce issues of internal corrosion to some of the electrical components/connections that cause/cost big issues down the line. (I'd rather the 5 minute hassle of garaging my wifes e-bike if the alternate was the risk of corrosion/problems)

 

[jumar]

12,000€ worth of eBikes hanging off the back of our Hymer. No way...even when they are in the garage they are locked together...My number one bike without battery weighs in at 17kg..but I don't want that on offer to anyone with a grinder.

 

[lorger]

You can get lightweight e-bikes for under £2k, Ribble do on at 14kg including the battery.

 

[PlacidoD]

I have an Adria Coral Supreme 2019 and have been advised by an authorised dealer that I should not carry 2 electric bikes on an external rear wall mounted bike rack. The bike rack I would buy claims it can carry up to 60kg, my 2 bikes would weigh about 55kg, so the rack is not the issue. The issue appears to be the construction of the vehicle. I would assume Adria construction is of a similar strength as most other brands. Has anyone else ever been told that electric bikes should only go in the garage and not on wall mounted bike racks?

Why oh why would you want that super long lever affecting your vehicle handling plus exposing your Ebikes to risk of theft?! If you had a PVC with no garage I could understand such an enquiry but not when you have this giant cave at the back of the van. On my 6 metre Hobby T500 I have taken the trouble to secure the spare wheel to the inner wall of the garage rather than lying flat on the floor and the Ebike fits nicely in the garage BUT I still take the battery out and put it in the glove compartment (and heavy EHU cables x 2 fit snugly in carrier bags in the step into the front passenger seat.)

Your vehicle is FWD . You are going to scrabble for grip on poor surfaces on the set up you propose and others have pointed to the risk on pot-holed roads. I would add to that much less agile handling in an emergency manoeuvre (The dumbbell effect).

I speak from past experience of working as a delivery driver when a student. Driving a heavily overloaded Ford Transit with far too much weight over the rear axle the handling at high speed on a busy motorway was frightening!

I do understand the pfaff of two Ebikes in a garage (Handlebars facing opposite ways perhaps?) but I would urge you to concentrate your energy on how to accomplish that task most efficiently.

 

[Smify]

I have an Adria Coral Supreme 2019 and have been advised by an authorised dealer that I should not carry 2 electric bikes on an external rear wall mounted bike rack. The bike rack I would buy claims it can carry up to 60kg, my 2 bikes would weigh about 55kg, so the rack is not the issue. The issue appears to be the construction of the vehicle. I would assume Adria construction is of a similar strength as most other brands. Has anyone else ever been told that electric bikes should only go in the garage and not on wall mounted bike racks?

I had the same problem and had a chassis mounted bike rack fitted by Armitages
It’s also lower and easier to lift on to

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[Rapidorob]

I have an Adria Coral Supreme 2019 and have been advised by an authorised dealer that I should not carry 2 electric bikes on an external rear wall mounted bike rack. The bike rack I would buy claims it can carry up to 60kg, my 2 bikes would weigh about 55kg, so the rack is not the issue. The issue appears to be the construction of the vehicle. I would assume Adria construction is of a similar strength as most other brands. Has anyone else ever been told that electric bikes should only go in the garage and not on wall mounted bike racks?

I bought my Rapido secondhand with a bike rack that would take the weight (according to the rack spec.) of the E bikes I had. We used it for a few years and I noticed the beginning of a wrinkle in the van back below the rack. I took no further chances and removed the rack and added a towing hitch and bikr rack that mounted on that to avoid potential damage.

 

[Lenny HB]

They seem quite strong to me.

If the bikes were e bikes along with a lightweight immigrant that has to be over 100 kg

But you don't do that every day.
I suppose you could if you get fed up with the wife in the cab.

Just something to perhaps bear in mind.....if you remove the batteries to save 8-10kg...and the bikes on the rear rack are subject to moisture from rain or wet roads...you may introduce issues of internal corrosion to some of the electrical components/connections that cause/cost big issues down the line. (I'd rather the 5 minute hassle of garaging my wifes e-bike if the alternate was the risk of corrosion/problems)

And the risk of theft, I wouldn't want my expensive E-bike hanging on the back.

Had a rack on our first van bad enough getting ordinary bikes on it let alone an e-bike, much quicker to put them in the garage.

 

[SalcombeRegis]

I have an Adria Matrix 600SL. I didn’t like the idea of fitting two electric bikes to a rack. Initially I had a scooter rack as I carried a Honda 125 on the rear so with the ebikes I adapted it to take the two bikes. The benefit of using the scooter rack is that it is lower and the bikes easy to load. I also remove the batteries.

Being lower it makes them easier to steal but with the amount of locks and chains and the wired through alarm cable they will have to work hard to get them! Nothing is impossible though!

I always cover them with a bike cover so mr thief will have to take a look first to see what he is taking a risk for. I just hope it will make them target one they can see.

Must also say that I up-plated from 3.5T to 4.4T and so glad I did. Been over a weigh bridge fully laden with water, fuel etc. and it came in well within limits for both axels.

I also have a Thule tow bar bike rack on my 4x4 that takes both electric bikes with ease and also easy to fit and put the bikes on.

 

[suavecarve]

if you get fed up with the wife in the cab.

100 kg s with 2 bikes you've met her !

 

[French Charlie]

I have a tow bar rack which takes my single E-bike (but could take two).
My worry (at least initially) was not merely the weight, but bouncing through pot holes or over uneven surfaces. I don't know how much extra downward force is generated here, but it is considerable. As carefully as we try to be, there are occasions where we bounce over a bump.
Same (or similar) forces with a rear wall mounted rack should think.

I also have a tow bar rack rated to 50kg. To be on the safe side of the cantilever effect I simply remove the batteries which are heavily disguised as seat posts. This allows me to balance the internal load much more effectively, and remove the most expensive bit of the bikes and stow them somewhere less attractive to the light fingered brigade.

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[richard8]

For peace of mind it’s probably better to have a tow bar and fit a rack to it. We have carried two ebikes on ours all over Europe without a problem.

 

[NF camper]

I have an Adria Coral Supreme 2019 and have been advised by an authorised dealer that I should not carry 2 electric bikes on an external rear wall mounted bike rack. The bike rack I would buy claims it can carry up to 60kg, my 2 bikes would weigh about 55kg, so the rack is not the issue. The issue appears to be the construction of the vehicle. I would assume Adria construction is of a similar strength as most other brands. Has anyone else ever been told that electric bikes should only go in the garage and not on wall mounted bike racks?

We had a similar issue with one of our previous vans. Garage or Towbar mounted bike rack are the safest way to travel with e-bikes

 

[Rugeley Tim]

Same problem with our Autotrail Savannah it was fitted with a 3 bike carrier but was only rated to 36kgs. We enquired about upgrading the bike rack to a 50kg one but we're told the back panel would not take the extra load (by 3 different companies) eventually we went with a towbar mounted rack, however this compounded the overhang problem we already had with this van especially going on and off ferries. We now have a PVC and still use the towbar mounted rack and have travelled all over Europe with it with no issues.

 

[drmartinwhite]

I have a tow bar rack which takes my single E-bike (but could take two).
My worry (at least initially) was not merely the weight, but bouncing through pot holes or over uneven surfaces. I don't know how much extra downward force is generated here, but it is considerable. As carefully as we try to be, there are occasions where we bounce over a bump.
Same (or similar) forces with a rear wall mounted rack should think.

Exactly, we installed a two bar and use a Thule 2 ebike rack system. Given the van, ours is a Hymer PAUL construction, so foam sandwiched between two thin sheets of aluminium. I wouldn’t trust the rear wall mounted racks with eBike weights. At the very least I would want to bolt all the way through and use large spreader plates. I assume specific rear wall bike racks are anchoring into internal wall structures and the designer has calculated for standard weight bikes and these forces. Can’t see the point in trying to outguess their specifications.

 

[Swiperman]

I have an Adria Coral Supreme 2019 and have been advised by an authorised dealer that I should not carry 2 electric bikes on an external rear wall mounted bike rack. The bike rack I would buy claims it can carry up to 60kg, my 2 bikes would weigh about 55kg, so the rack is not the issue. The issue appears to be the construction of the vehicle. I would assume Adria construction is of a similar strength as most other brands. Has anyone else ever been told that electric bikes should only go in the garage and not on wall mounted bike racks?

We have ebikes that weigh 23kg each and when on the rack i take the batteries and saddles off and store them inside the motorhome. That brings the weight down to about the same as a normal bike, say around 15kg each. It also makes them less inviting to anybody who would consider stealing them.