RS 6+ roof rack / bike carrier

Post by **yorkrs6+** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 2:47 pm

ok - some of you may find it highly amusing to see 997 turbo with 2 decent mountain bikes strapped to the top, but as it was my only motor at the time and I still needed an excuse to get it out the garage - a day out mountain biking with a pal seemed like a good idea at the time. Strapping it all on was a bit worrying to start with - but it has all been well thought at by the men in porsche.

kids are getting older now and the 911 isn't quite cutting it as sunday car anymore. Hence the RS6+
I've seen that the porsche bike carrier is also the same as the audi, VW and honda version - just different logos on it. I recall seeing this same bike carrier with the manufacturers own logo on it - but can't recall its name now.

Anyway Ive seen the Audi ones on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volkswagen-Au ... 4161a03979
I'd quite like to keep the porsche ones as well, but I need the correct rack (cross bar) to attach to the rails. Does anyone know what these are? and what to ask for.

Also - I'm hoping that this wont mark the rails?
thanks

Post by **drybeer** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 8:04 pm

The official Audi roof-rail cross-bars are quite hard to locate as brand new items these days, sometimes you see some on the parts for sale forums on here and Pistonheads etc.

However they are square ish section bars, and you might fancy some more "aero" shaped ones...

Why not check on:

http://www.roofracks.co.uk

For some Thule aero bars and a foot kit for A6 Avant or allroad. This is Thule UK's own sight and they're v good.

Post by **Tabinor24** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 8:38 pm

I have the above Thule set up,
aero bars and foot kit, it works brilliantly, easy to fit and very safe and secure
and available from most halfords superstores in the uk

Post by **crazybees** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 8:45 pm

I'd second drybeer's recommendation on Thule, I have the Aero bar kit etc for two road bikes. They fit perfectly on the rails without marking or vibrating, even when you're doing a ton plus on the Autoroutes

Post by **philroach** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 9:25 pm

what if you have up to 4 bikes , r u better off getting a tow bar fitted , am sure Grizz has done a removeable type so you dont see the 'ball' bit unless u r using it ? think it is two part ?

Post by **RSKiwi** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 9:41 pm

Pro rack whispbars ftw. Quieter than Thule and look better (IMO!). I run them permanently on the avant and there is literally no change to the noise I hear in the cabin at any speed! roofbox.co.uk is a great site.

Post by **drybeer** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 10:02 pm

philroach wrote:what if you have up to 4 bikes , r u better off getting a tow bar fitted , am sure Grizz has done a removeable type so you dont see the 'ball' bit unless u r using it ? think it is two part ?

4 road bikes - you might get away with all on roof.

I can get three ATBs on the roof easy, but four might be a push with the wide handlebars.

I've got the original Audi roof-rail cross-bars and the (old) style of bike carrier we had as an official accessory in about 2000 and TBH they do contribute to some drag and noise above 60mph, but I got them for £0 as they were NOS at work! Bonus! So I can't justify changing them. Pic below of the set up.

Post by **Shoppinit** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:53 am

Fixed:

philroach wrote:what if you have up to 4 bikes , are you better off getting a tow bar fitted , am sure Grizz has done a removeable type so you dont see the 'ball' bit unless you are using it ? think it is two part ?

You can't put a tow bar on an RS6.

Or rather, physically you can, but the car is not homologated for towing so if you have an accident you could potentially be in deep doodoo.

Post by **ChrisRS6** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 1:25 pm

I've got a set of Thule aerobars (with roof-rail compatible feet) and I regularly carry 2 MTBs on the roof.
I use the Thule 591 bike carriers.

Easilly takes both my Scott Scale 35 XC bike and my Specialised Enduro DH/XC bike despite the wildly different weights/frame shapes.
Also manages fine with my mates' bikes as well.

They fit securely ie: bikes don't wobble around much and with the locks on the Thule system, the bars are locked to the car, the bike carriers lock to the bars and the bikes are locked to the bike carrier.

I always remove my bars when not in use, so can't comment on wind noise much, apart from the fact that I do notice a bit of extra noise when the bikes are fitted.
I don't notice any change in MPG... cuz I've got an RS6 and MPG is irrelevant

!

Post by **gingertoss** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 1:30 pm

i've got a hidden towbar on mine for my bike rack, you really notice the difference come time to visit the petrol station as I reckon on 5mpg better off as oposed to using a roof rack.
Used to get 4 moutain bikes on the roof of my s4 using thule racks.

Post by **drybeer** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 2:39 pm

gingertoss wrote:i've got a hidden towbar on mine for my bike rack, you really notice the difference come time to visit the petrol station as I reckon on 5mpg better off as oposed to using a roof rack.
Used to get 4 moutain bikes on the roof of my s4 using thule racks.

Yep - longest journey I've done with bikes on the roof is Normandy, and I reckon 5mpg or more was knocked off easily, on the other hand it did not seem to matter whether I cruised at 70mph or 80...

Post by **philroach** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:12 pm

gingertoss wrote:i've got a hidden towbar on mine for my bike rack, you really notice the difference come time to visit the petrol station as I reckon on 5mpg better off as oposed to using a roof rack.
Used to get 4 moutain bikes on the roof of my s4 using thule racks.

hidden towbar ? how does that work then ?

Post by **yorkrs6+** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 12:01 am

I found the manufacturer of the honda/porsche/audi = mont blanc
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mont-Blanc-Ba ... 588827bb15

I also found these rack rails - which I'm assuming are compatible with the audi/porsche mont blanc carriers. This basically means I can keep my porsche ones and buy some audi/mont blanc versions.

Does anyone else have the mont blanc rack rails?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mont-Blanc-Al ... 43ac5df33f

Post by **drybeer** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 10:39 am

York are your Porsche cycle carriers not cross-compatible with a set of Audi roof rails (or Thule / Mont-Blanc / other)??

Surely you just need the roof bars?

Post by **gingertoss** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 5:41 pm

philroach wrote:
gingertoss wrote:i've got a hidden towbar on mine for my bike rack, you really notice the difference come time to visit the petrol station as I reckon on 5mpg better off as oposed to using a roof rack.
Used to get 4 moutain bikes on the roof of my s4 using thule racks.
hidden towbar ? how does that work then ?

Its a swan neck towbar that you can take the ball/neck off when not using it, the electrics are hidden behind the bumper.

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