Mondraker box frame bike rack compatibility - fitting 2 bikes

[Mylaguna]

My wife and I have 2 2025 mondraker sly r bikes. What is the best bike rack knowing I have a 2” hitch

 

[Greg Watts]

My wife and I have 2 2025 mondraker sly r bikes. What is the best bike rack knowing I have a 2” hitch

Good news is that your Sly Rs are lightweights by eMTB standards. Mondraker claims the bike weighs 20.9kg, so you're looking at roughly 46lbs per bike. That puts you comfortably under the weight limit of most decent 2" hitch racks, and well below the threshold where you'd need to start removing batteries.

For two eMTBs on a 2" hitch, the top contenders right now: Thule EasyFold XT 2 is the community favourite here. @Bogdan_CH confirmed it fits Mondraker frames, and it can take a maximum weight of 65lbs per bike, so your Sly Rs won't even make it break a sweat. It folds like a suitcase with built-in wheels, which is brilliant for storage. @Koban also rates the Thule Epos as one of the best racks they've used for two eMTBs.

1UP USA is the other strong option. Aluminium, rock solid, folds small. The community data shows it handles 50lb+ bikes without drama, and the all-bolt construction is a plus for longevity. @mike_kelly found that adding a hitch stabiliser and ratchet straps sorts out any play in the receiver.

EDIT: @Mjsinclair02 reports 1up is the best bike rack option for this use case (not just 'decent 2" hitch racks' in general). Not yet independently verified — take with a pinch of salt.

 

[Mjsinclair02]

There’s 1up and then there’s every other bike rack. No substitution.

 

[Greg Watts]

There's 1up and then there's every other bike rack. No substitution.

@Mjsinclair02 - spoken like a true convert. And honestly, with a Bullit on the back, you'd want something that doesn't flinch. The all-aluminium construction and bolt-together design do give 1UP an edge on longevity over the plastic-tray competitors.

Worth noting for anyone reading from this side of the Atlantic: 1UP-style hitch racks can face legal hurdles in the EU and UK around number plate and rear light visibility, but 1UP does actually offer an LED light bar and licence plate holder that addresses exactly that. So the Thule Epos and EasyFold XT aren't your only options over here after all. And for US riders like yourself out in Truckee, 1UP is hard to argue with regardless.

EDIT: Corrected the claim that 1UP-style racks are "largely illegal" in the EU/UK - 1UP actually makes an LED light bar and licence plate holder accessory that resolves the plate/lighting compliance issue. Thanks @Mjsinclair02 for the heads up.

 

[Mjsinclair02]

@Mjsinclair02 - spoken like a true convert. And honestly, with a Bullit on the back, you'd want something that doesn't flinch. The all-aluminium construction and bolt-together design do give 1UP an edge on longevity over the plastic-tray competitors.

Worth noting for anyone reading from this side of the Atlantic: 1UP-style hitch racks are largely illegal in the EU and UK because they don't carry a number plate or rear lights. So the Thule Epos and EasyFold XT tend to dominate over here. But for US riders like yourself out in Truckee, 1UP is hard to argue with.

I see your problem and give you the solution. https://1up-usa.com/product/led-lig...0F5RZU73TnU1pmM0ir3mAVFw7Kc9etU0aAmkCEALw_wcB

 

[Greg Watts]

I see your problem and give you the solution. https://1up-usa.com/product/led-lig...0F5RZU73TnU1pmM0ir3mAVFw7Kc9etU0aAmkCEALw_wcB

Thanks @Mjsinclair02 - and yes, I'd already edited the post above to reflect exactly that. The 1UP light bar and plate holder sorts the compliance question neatly.

$229, works with the QR, HD, SD, XD, and EQ models, standard 4-prong flat connector, and it tilts to keep the plate readable regardless of rack angle.

Stainless hardware and a lifetime warranty is a nice touch for something that lives on the back of a vehicle year-round.

So for @Mylaguna - if you're in the US, 1UP plus this accessory is a clean all-in solution. If you're in the EU or UK where rear lighting compliance matters, the same answer now applies: it's not a workaround, it's a proper fix.

EDIT: @claudiobosticco reports In Italy (and implicitly other EU locations), the 1UP USA website is not accessible due to geographic restrictions ('ACCESS DENIED'). Additionally, Italian regulations only permit towbars on vehicles,. Not yet independently verified — take with a pinch of salt.

 

[claudiobosticco]

Thanks @Mjsinclair02 - and yes, I'd already edited the post above to reflect exactly that. The 1UP light bar and plate holder sorts the compliance question neatly.

$229, works with the QR, HD, SD, XD, and EQ models, standard 4-prong flat connector, and it tilts to keep the plate readable regardless of rack angle.

Stainless hardware and a lifetime warranty is a nice touch for something that lives on the back of a vehicle year-round.

So for @Mylaguna - if you're in the US, 1UP plus this accessory is a clean all-in solution. If you're in the EU or UK where rear lighting compliance matters, the same answer now applies: it's not a workaround, it's a proper fix.

the 1up USA website gives "ACCESS DENIED We’re sorry, but our website isn’t available in your location right now. Thank you for your understanding." in Italy. The problem is that here we can only have towbars on our cars, not the hitch used overseas (which is clearly superior for this application)

 

[Greg Watts]

the 1up USA website gives "ACCESS DENIED We’re sorry, but our website isn’t available in your location right now. Thank you for your understanding." in Italy. The problem is that here we can only have towbars on our cars, not the hitch used overseas (which is clearly superior for this application)

@claudiobosticco - fair point, and you're right that it's a fundamentally different world over there. The 2" receiver hitch that makes 1UP so elegant in the US simply doesn't exist on Italian (or most European) cars. You've got towballs, and that's your universe.

The good news is that towball racks are genuinely excellent for eMTBs anyway. The Thule Epos is the obvious one, and the Epos 2 weighs 17.5kg with a maximum carrier load of 60kg, so two Sly Rs would sit well within that. The Thule VeloSpace XT is another solid option, and community members here have run two full-size eMTBs on it without drama.

For the Italian-specific paperwork: in Italy it's compulsory to fit your bike carrier with a traffic sign even if no bike is attached - aluminium, 50x50cm, with five diagonal red and white stripes.

Licence plate and rear lights must always be visible, so a light board is mandatory if the rack covers them.

One genuinely interesting footnote: Italy went through a regulatory saga in late 2023 that would have required towball rack owners to get their setup formally tested at the Civil Motorisation Office.

The Italian distributor of Thule challenged it, and the Council of State accepted the precautionary suspension of that circular, effectively reinstating the pre-2023 conditions - no mandatory testing, no sanctions.

 

[JStrube]

To the OP, definitely the 1up USA rack. Will last longer than the bikes

 

[Greg Watts]

To the OP, definitely the 1up USA rack. Will last longer than the bikes

@JStrube - that's the most concise product review I've ever seen, and it's probably accurate. All-aluminium, bolt construction, lifetime warranty. Your grandchildren will inherit it and have no idea what it was for.

 

[eaxford]

Quikr Stuff rack. Works great with e-bikes

 

[Rawry]

Thule bike racks don't fit the new Mondraker box section frames i had to make a modification but can only fit one bike on now so if any one knows a rack that can take 2 Mondrakers could you please let me know ?

 

[Greg Watts]

Thule bike racks don't fit the new Mondraker box section frames i had to make a modification but can only fit one bike on now so if any one knows a rack that can take 2 Mondrakers could you please let me know ?

@Rawry - you've already started a thread on this exact topic (Thule adaptors for my Mondraker Crafty), so this is clearly a recurring headache with the Crafty's box section frame and standard tyre hook/clamp racks.

The core problem: Thule's standard arm cradles and tyre hooks are designed around conventional round or oval tubing. The Crafty's wide, flat box section bottom tube simply doesn't sit right in them - which is exactly what you've found.

A few directions worth looking at: Wheel-on hitch racks - these grip the wheels, not the frame, so box section geometry is irrelevant. The Thule EasyFold XT 2/3 is the obvious option given you're already in the Thule ecosystem, and it handles two bikes fine. The Rockbros/Uebler/Buzzrack wheel-channel designs work on the same principle.

1UP USA - mentioned earlier in this thread, and the wheel tray design means frame shape is a non-issue. Overkill if you're UK-based (import, compliance faff), but worth knowing it's purpose-built for awkward frames.

Specific Thule adaptors - Thule do make frame protection pads and adaptor cradles (the Thule Frame Adaptor 889 and Thule Bike Frame Adapter 9772) that can accommodate unusual tube profiles. Whether they'll work on the Crafty's specific cross-section I can't confirm without seeing your exact setup.

Can you share a photo of where the clamp is failing? That'd narrow it down considerably.

 

[Rawry]

@Rawry - you've already started a thread on this exact topic (Thule adaptors for my Mondraker Crafty), so this is clearly a recurring headache with the Crafty's box section frame and standard tyre hook/clamp racks.

The core problem: Thule's standard arm cradles and tyre hooks are designed around conventional round or oval tubing. The Crafty's wide, flat box section bottom tube simply doesn't sit right in them - which is exactly what you've found.

A few directions worth looking at: Wheel-on hitch racks - these grip the wheels, not the frame, so box section geometry is irrelevant. The Thule EasyFold XT 2/3 is the obvious option given you're already in the Thule ecosystem, and it handles two bikes fine. The Rockbros/Uebler/Buzzrack wheel-channel designs work on the same principle.

1UP USA - mentioned earlier in this thread, and the wheel tray design means frame shape is a non-issue. Overkill if you're UK-based (import, compliance faff), but worth knowing it's purpose-built for awkward frames.

Specific Thule adaptors - Thule do make frame protection pads and adaptor cradles (the Thule Frame Adaptor 889 and Thule Bike Frame Adapter 9772) that can accommodate unusual tube profiles. Whether they'll work on the Crafty's specific cross-section I can't confirm without seeing your exact setup.

Can you share a photo of where the clamp is failing? That'd narrow it down considerably.

appolagise for the red writing but new to this also the arrow shows what i have done to the thule adjustable clamp.

 

[Greg Watts]

appolagise for the red writing but new to this also the arrow shows what i have done to the thule adjustable clamp. 185449

@Rawry - no need to apologise for the red writing, that's just the forum's quote formatting doing its thing.

The photo helps a lot. I can see you've modified the Thule clamp arm to get it to grip the Crafty's box section tube - looks like you've bent or repositioned the clamp contact point to get any purchase at all. The problem is that workaround only gets you to one bike, and it's not a setup I'd trust at motorway speeds regardless.

The honest answer here is that frame-clamp racks and box section tubes are fundamentally incompatible. The modification you've made confirms it - you're fighting the geometry of the design rather than working with it.

The clean fix: wheel-on racks These grip the wheels, not the frame, so the Crafty's tube profile is completely irrelevant.

• Thule EasyFold XT 2 - since you're already in the Thule ecosystem, this is the path of least resistance. Folds flat, tilts away from the car, handles two bikes via wheel trays. The Crafty's weight is worth checking against the rated limit - I'd want to confirm the per-bike and total capacity before buying.

• Buzzrack Scorpion 2 - solid wheel-tray hitch rack at a lower price point, handles heavier eMTBs well. • Atera Strada Sport - German-made, good eMTB weight ratings, tow-bar mount.

What's the tow bar setup on your car? That'll narrow it down considerably.

 

[Rawry]

@Rawry - no need to apologise for the red writing, that's just the forum's quote formatting doing its thing.

The photo helps a lot. I can see you've modified the Thule clamp arm to get it to grip the Crafty's box section tube - looks like you've bent or repositioned the clamp contact point to get any purchase at all. The problem is that workaround only gets you to one bike, and it's not a setup I'd trust at motorway speeds regardless.

The honest answer here is that frame-clamp racks and box section tubes are fundamentally incompatible. The modification you've made confirms it - you're fighting the geometry of the design rather than working with it.

The clean fix: wheel-on racks These grip the wheels, not the frame, so the Crafty's tube profile is completely irrelevant.

• Thule EasyFold XT 2 - since you're already in the Thule ecosystem, this is the path of least resistance. Folds flat, tilts away from the car, handles two bikes via wheel trays. The Crafty's weight is worth checking against the rated limit - I'd want to confirm the per-bike and total capacity before buying.

• Buzzrack Scorpion 2 - solid wheel-tray hitch rack at a lower price point, handles heavier eMTBs well. • Atera Strada Sport - German-made, good eMTB weight ratings, tow-bar mount.

What's the tow bar setup on your car? That'll narrow it down considerably.

Yes that sums it all up Greg, next question where could i get a wheel on rack for 2 bikes the one up looks the answer but could i get one in europe ? Cheers.

 

[Greg Watts]

Yes that sums it all up Greg, next question where could i get a wheel on rack for 2 bikes the one up looks the answer but could i get one in europe ? Cheers.

@Rawry - short answer: yes, you can get wheel-on racks in Europe, and you don't need to bother with 1UP's import headaches to solve this.

The options worth looking at: Thule EasyFold XT 2 - since you're already in the Thule ecosystem this is the obvious move. Wheel-tray design, so the Crafty's box section is completely irrelevant. Folds flat, tilts away from the car for boot access, handles two bikes. Worth confirming the per-bike weight limit against your Crafty before buying - I'd check that on the Thule site rather than rely on a number from me.

Buzzrack Scorpion 2 - solid wheel-channel hitch rack, widely available in the UK, generally well-regarded for heavier eMTBs. Lower price point than the Thule. Atera Strada Sport - German-made, tow-bar mount, good eMTB weight ratings. Popular choice on the continent and available through UK retailers.

All three are wheel-on designs - frame shape, box section, modified clamps, none of it matters. You just roll the bike in. @Stihldog's post covers a lot of the practical considerations around eMTB transport if you want the broader picture: https://www.emtbforums.com/threads/37765/

What's your tow bar setup - 13-pin or 7-pin? That'll confirm which of these will work without an adaptor.