4.74.7 based on 39 reviews
3 to 4 bikes - Atera STRADA Sport M3 Reviews
Dave B -
Vehicle type: 4x4
I’m REALLY pleased with my Atera (3-bike) rack which has been used numerous times since I bought it earlier this year (at least twice per week). It has received positive comments from friends who say it’s attractive, ingenious, robust and looks a quality piece of kit. It’s extremely well made and designed and, after the first few times of fitting to the towball it’s easy to set up. The online tutorials are well worth watching (twice in my case!) as they made fitting so much easier than simply following the paper diagrams/instructions. Sussing out how to open up the hitch is the secret, which I did in front of the computer in the house! The rack is a quality product that is well built, looks good, is extremely strong, durable and works well. Fitting the bikes to the rack is straightforward; the longest “arm” is rather cunningly slightly bent and can be twisted around to aid attaching to the third bike - someone who understands the problems of fitting more than two bikes on a rack has really thought this out. There is even a handy sleeve to fit the electrics plug into so it doesn’t dangle when stored or being moved (I wish my trailer had one). I also like the large lighting cluster. Tilting the rack to access the car boot is straightforward too. On the downside the carrier is weighty but IT NEEDS TO BE - it’s heavy duty and designed to carry three heavy electric bikes. My wife manages to lift and fit it onto the towball O.K. It’s good value for the money too; presumably it could be made with lighter materials but would it be as strong? And if it was it would cost a small fortune like its competitors. In conclusion I can unreservedly recommend the ATERA Bike Carrier and it won’t bust the bank!<
Anne B -
Vehicle type: Van
We needed a bike rack for 4 bikes and this one does the job perfectly. It is a 3 bike rack but you can get an additional bike accessory which just bolts on and is very secure. The bike rack itself is easy to fit and once you have the hang of it you can attach the rack and place bikes on it within minutes. Each arm that secures the bikes has its own lock and the wheels are strapped in place using a ratchet style fitting which is so easy to use. We love this rack and we have travelled many miles with no problems at all. We also had great customer service from The Roofbox Company too, what more could you ask.
Peter C -
Vehicle type: Estate
Excellent tow bar bike rack. Easy to use and easy to lift on and off the car. Simple to drop so you can open the boot - highly recommend.
Paul P -
Vehicle type: 4x4
Bought the bike rack to take 4 bikes round France for two weeks. Absolutely brilliant. No problems. A bit tricky to get it on the tow bar at first but once you've got the knack it's OK.
Gethin O -
Vehicle type: Estate
Great quality built product. Have now used it about 5 times in last six months. Used with 3 bikes and it's been a easy & secure every time. It's not light so does need a little muscle to get it on the tow bar but it's built to last. Good lock system ensure both bikes and carrier is safe even when away from the car. Well worth the money and expect to use it for years!!!'
Conor M -
Vehicle type: Estate
Very well made, I was extremely impressed by ever aspect of this product
Simon C -
Vehicle type: Estate
Very good product. Took 1 ebike and 2 full suspension mountain bikes on holiday. The bikes were on and off the rack for rides and security at night. Likes, ease of mounting and general use. The tilt facility to get into the back of the car is more useful than you might think. If I was being picky, the straps that hold the wheels in place get in the way when lifting the bikes on to the rack as they are stiff and tend to lie on the channel. Once set up with the arms in position it is a quick operation for loading and unloading. The only extra things I needed were some pipe insulation pieces to avoid bikes rubbing on each other due to their design. So much better than mounting on the tailgate as before with the old rack and I did not have to worry about the bikes moving while in transit. The straps are very secure and easy to tighten properly, important for a heavy ebike. You can lock the rack to the towbar and the bikes to the rack but additional security would be sensible as someone could conceivably cut through the straps on the arms. The equivalent products by other manufacturers are more expensive but no better made, in my opinion. I have a set of roof bars by Atera and the quality of manufacture is very good for both products.
Robin P -
Vehicle type: 4x4
I bought the Strada having studied all the alternatives available both higher and lower in price. This 3 rack bike carries the load securely and without fuss. The construction of the equipment makes it easy to operate, attach and store in or out of the car. I would buy the same again without hesitation
John A -
Vehicle type: 4x4
Very useful piece of kit
Charlie S -
Vehicle type: 4x4
Excellent bike carrier and very easy to use. Great build quality
Phil S -
Vehicle type: Estate
This is a very good product and as others has said it’s easy to attach to the tow ball, and once attached it’s very steady, On a down side the additional rail for the fourth bike is very expensive for what it is, also the nylon / plastic stud to hang the cycle rack on the is very expensive to, nearly £100 extra , But that said the rack does what it does and very well, but it’s early days yet, next year 2018 will put it to the test as my two sons are now enjoying being on their bikes at clumber Park & sherwood pines
Andrew P -
Vehicle type: 4x4
I found the bike rack easy to use however it is quite heavy to lift on the car. The build quality is good , the only slight criticism is I found it difficult to mout the car registration plate and the accompanying instructions leaflet poor. But no criticism about the rest of the features of the rack and the delivery from the roof box company prompt and very good.
Elliot J -
Vehicle type: 4x4
A great bike rack, which we have used numerous times. Easy to use. Have recommended to friends.
Mathew D -
Vehicle type: 4x4
Very good quality and easy to use. Well designed ensuring the bicycles are secure when in transit. I also brought the modification to add a rail for a fourth bicycle, again it was well thought out and easy to fit. The only criticism is that its relatively heavy.
Colin H -
Vehicle type: MPV
Needs to be heavy to be robust enough but sometimes it is difficult to get onto and off the tow bar not just because of weight but getting the angle right to hook up. However once on it is a brilliant piece of kit.
Ian C -
Vehicle type: MPV
I wanted a cycle rack to enable me to carry my wife's electric bike which weighs around 21kgs with the battery out, this cycle rack does it with ease. It's a very strong robust piece of kit very versatile and easy to use, and is actually excellent value for money, the instructions/pictures are also easy to follow, highly recommended. Ian.
Adam F -
Vehicle type: 4x4
It is a great product, easy to operate, I like the fact I can still get into my boot with all the bikes still on the rack, really handy when going away with all the family and dog. Can't fault the rack.
Tim M -
Vehicle type: 4x4
Fabulous product. Beautifully made. I don't use it that often so sometimes I have to remind myself how to get it on and off, but once I do it's a joy to use. Attaching the bikes (two adults and two kids) is an absolute doddle. The rack is really secure, on the towbar and holding the bikes. Superb piece of kit.
Angie D -
Vehicle type: Estate
Great piece of kit. Had 2 ebikes plus 1 other on the carrier without any trouble. Easy to load and stable when in transit. There's a knack for putting the carrier on & off the car but there is a good photo crib-sheet showing the process. Being able to lock the carrier on the car and lock the bikes on the carrier makes for great security. Could be improved by having a mechanism for holding wheel straps out of the way when loading the bike (cable clips are a temporary option). A friend researched several other options but bought the identical model when she saw mine in use! The Roof Box company were extremely knowledgable & helpful & delivered as promised
Tim W -
Vehicle type: 4x4
A quality product which is quick and easy to use and the tilt mechanism is invaluable for a car with a tailgate/hatch. Particularly useful is the fact that it folds flat and is narrow enough to simply unhitch and slide into the back of the car (I have a Q5). This makes the car easier for parking, does not take up too much boot space and stops it being in the way if not needing to carry bikes for a couple of days whilst away. A bag to slide it into would be a bonus -- but not included with the rack I bought.
The trade-off for lightness and manoeuvrability is that some fixings are relatively lightweight in materials and I wonder whether they will all stand up to repeated, long term use. However, no sign of any such problems as yet and very pleased with the product.
David L -
Vehicle type: Estate
Fairly strong and sturdy. A little on the heavy side, but not too unwieldy. My tow ball to bumper measurement was the same as the minimum clearance listed (60mm? but this spec. seems to have been removed from wherever I saw it) so I was a little concerned I'd end up scratching the bumper lots. There is actually a reasonable amount of room to manoeuvre the carrier into place, but it's probably still worth using a towel/rug/rubber mat as bumper protection the first couple of times you try attaching the carrier, just in case. The Atera instructions are appalling, but Roofbox helpfully include an extra sheet with more useful pictures and words. Even with this it took several goes to get used to it. (The bit I missed was to *not* push in the grey trigger on the clamping handle when you're initially hooking the carrier onto the tow ball.) However, once you know what you're doing it's a matter of seconds to attach the carrier to the car. Attaching bikes to carrier is also simple. Allow a bit of time (and maybe a spare person to slide wheel clamps into position while you hold the bike in place) on first use but once setup (assuming you always carry the same bikes in the same order) loading is a piece of cake. It takes less time to fit the removable tow bar, fit the carrier to the car, and put a bike on the carrier than it used to take to attach the strap-based rear carrier I used to use and secure a bike to it. With the bike supported by the frame and each wheel clamped, everything is rock-solid and stable when driving. Kept a close eye for the first couple of trips, but didn't spot any movement of either bike or carrier. The arms that hold the frame of each bike in place are removable, so you can leave unused ones in the garage out of the way if you're not taking 3 bikes. This is handy, but it does mean that the bike-locks-to-carrier feature is only a very minor deterrent -- It's only a thumbscrew to remove the arm from the carrier, at which point a thief can make off with the bike and remove the arm later. It's easy to D-Lock the first bike to the carrier frame then second/third bikes to the first, and as you're probably taking your locks along with your bikes anyway this shouldn't really be an issue. Finish quality is good, with lots of scope for adjusting bits and pieces to get a good fit and little touches like the clip to hold the lighting plug making life just that little bit easier. Overall, really happy. I used to dread setting up my old strap-based rear carrier, and would only use it when I absolutely had to. Whilst admittedly noticeably more expensive, the Atera Sport makes life so much simpler I'll happily sling it on the back and take a bike just in case I need it. Much easier to fit, much easier to load, and much more stable and secure while driving.
Ed S -
Vehicle type: Estate
I bought this bike rack just over a year ago. I was pleased with it straight away. The bikes were held securely and didn't stick out beyond the vehicle. It is really simple to fit and to get the bikes secured. One major advantage is that you can access the boot even with the bikes attached by tilting them out of the way. The storage hanger is a must so that the rack is also kept out of the way in the garage. Would and have recommended this rack to friends and family.
Helen S -
Vehicle type: MPV
Brilliant product - great build quality and easy to use. The bikes are held securely and at an easy height for loading and unloading.
Robert F -
Vehicle type: Hatchback
Sturdy rack that does the job well. Little bit fiddly till you get the hang of it. Instruction leaflet somewhat frustrating as it's all pictures with no text, but Roof Box staff very helpful and knowledgeable and once you know what the pictures are telling you (by experience of using it!), then it all makes good sense. Tilt facility very handy and easy to use (again once you have managed to interpret the instruction leaflet). Need to consider the logistics of which bike goes where in relation to rack-retaining arm length and which fits over the bike's crossbar, under the crossbar etc, so allow a bit of extra time for first time use or if transporting different bikes. Three-bike rack is fairly heavy so bear this in mind when deciding, e.g. if you have a bad back. I have no reservation about recommending this rack
Andrew S -
Vehicle type: 4x4
The rack is sturdy and locks solidly on the towbar. The bikes go on easily and are firmly secured giving you peace of mind that they are going to stay put. Being able to tilt the rack back to open the rear door is so useful. The only downsides are that it's a bit heavy and the locking click device for securing in to the towbar is a bit temperamental on mine but I would still thoroughly recommend it.
Dave S -
Vehicle type: 4x4
The build quality is reasonable but I am disappointed overall in the stability of the carrier when fully loaded
PW -
Vehicle type: 4x4
Can be difficult to secure unisex bikes with no crossbar. Articulated arms would be helpful
Marc N -
Vehicle type: 4x4
Amazing excellent fantastic
Robert D -
Vehicle type: 4x4
Fantastic piece of kit! Easy to use and easy to store in the garage when not in use. Never any doubt that the bikes are secure and also allows simple access to the boot area with the tilt mechanism. Couldn't recommend more highly, this is the carrier you need for four big bikes!
David S -
Vehicle type: MPV
Looked at various tow bar mounted bike racks read the reviews and decided this was the one from lifting it off the garage wall to loading 3 bikes and ready for the off 10 minutes the ease of use and being able to access the hatch back even when the bikes are on brill
may not be the cheapest but definitely the best, rack and all bikes secured with the use of one key. Service from roofbox company ist class
Jennifer H -
Vehicle type: Estate
The Atera Strada Sport M bike carrier is fantastic. I am in my late sixties and struggled with the previous carrier that I owned. This one is simplicity itself. It is quite heavy because it is so robustly built but it is so easy to fit on the tow ball. The mechanism for clamping the bikes on is superb - simple and easily done with one hand while steadying the bike with the other - something that was impossible with my previous carrier. I like the fact that you can lock the carrier on the tow ball and lock the bikes on the carrier. The removable ramp that I purchased to use with this carrier when loading my electric bike is also excellent. I am looking forward to taking my bikes where I want for many years to come now!
Gavin P -
Vehicle type: Hatchback
Love it. I bought the extra bracket for a 4th bike. It took me a little while to put it on but I know it will be solid.
A very simple to use bike rack. I wish I had bought one of these years ago!
Paul W -
Vehicle type: 4x4
Was going to buy a Thule but changed my mind after reading report in Auto express. Great choice - brilliant, easy to use, solid. I love it. Had great service too.
Mat H -
Vehicle type: Estate
I have owned a number of different cycle carriers over the years. From the strap on, to roof rack mounted through to tow bracket bolt on mounted. This is by far the best made and simplest to use. Have gone for the 4th bike adaptor. We'll made and simple to add. The carrier fits onto the tow bar very easily. Am very happy with it. Just wish I had bought one of these carriers years ago. Comes with integrated lights, twin fogs. Superb product.
Product was not immediately available, I had to wait a couple of weeks. Roof box kept me informed throughout, even offered an equivalent product foc for the 2 weeks I had to wait. Super feedback. Would highly recommend this company. Absolutely no connection, just a happy customer.
Phill C -
Vehicle type: MPV
Great service
Great product
10 our of 10
Marc M -
Vehicle type: 4x4
Absolutely great bit of kit. The most difficult part was lifting it out of the box and attaching the 4th bike carrier. Make sure you get the nuts on the right way round. Being a bloke I decided not to read the instructions and it took me twice as long as it should have. The carrier is excellent quality and is very sturdy when mounted on the tow ball. I will definitely recommend.
Stuart A -
Vehicle type: Saloon
Bought this with some uncertainty as first bike rack other than with straps. Although heavy and bit unwieldy it slotted onto towball easily and provided a reassuring fit. Have since used it on around a dozen or so occasions, with drives up to 400 miles at a time. No problems encountered. I have carried an electric bike (20kg) plus two mountain bikes on a number of occasions without a problem. Two things to mention. First it didn't come with reversing lights which didn't matter much to me as I have old electrical connection. Second, although the light clusters are adjustable for width of car / bikes, the screw adjusters are fiddly and can easily slide out of sight along the track. The 'nut' is still there somewhere on the track though!
Adrian H -
Vehicle type: 4x4
Spot on for me. Easily locks on to tow ball although not light to lift but bought it for its strength. Carries an electric bike plus two fulnsize with ease. Bikes can be locked and takes seconds to lift bikes on or off. Highly recommend.
David D -
Vehicle type: 4x4
Excellent piece of kit: It was recommended to me by a friend who canvased much opinion from friends & aquiantences in his cycle club. Key feature for us is ease of use and wieght: My partner is not particularly big / strong, and she can fit it to the towbar without help. Ability to open the tailgate with the rack fully loaded with bikes is also a boon. My last rack was a Halfords hook-on job, which was OK but takes ages to fit & load-up. Once it was loaded you couldn't open the boot / tailgate, so this rack scores very highly on ease & speed of use. Other plus point is security, as everything is locked in place with a key.
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