Hey just got the NSR 4 North shore bike rack... and absolutley love it!! check out my review on www.dhride.com. 
North Shore Bike Rack
- Thread starter DTLogic
- Start date
we bought the 2 bike rack from north shore racks. I'm really happy with it. It would have been nice to include a bungee or quick tie rope to keep the front tires from spinning, but that's minor. One other thing is that when the rack is folded down you get an annoying rattle from the top of the rack hitting the bottom. I have ours locked to the frame of the car, so now I just slide the lock inbetween the top and bottom when it's folded so it's silent.
But the positives far outweigh these minor points. It is so fast and secure to load bikes, it's great. It doesn't add too much wind resistance either.
But the positives far outweigh these minor points. It is so fast and secure to load bikes, it's great. It doesn't add too much wind resistance either.
I've got an NSR4 and I love it. Great for shuttling, low wind resistance, folds up and I can open both my hatch and tailgate without unloading.
Would a rack like the NSR-2 http://www.northshoreracks.com/NSR%202-bike.htm work on a small sedan like a Hyundai Sonata?
I'm currently using a Thule T2 with the 1 1/4" receiver, but it really doesn't seem stable enough on long drives with a DH bike on it.
I'm currently using a Thule T2 with the 1 1/4" receiver, but it really doesn't seem stable enough on long drives with a DH bike on it.
I have the nrs 2 bike on a 2009 toyota matrix hatchback, and it works on the second adjustment setting. so you still have another setting left to go if you have a straight up and down hatch, or even a van. Plus you just pull the bottom pin out and lower the bikes down and can open your hatch with the bikes on. really easy.
nice review. I have had my NRS-4 for about 6 months now and love it as well. It works well for shuttles where the bikes are on and off many times during the day and it works well for long drives on the highway.
Absolutely love mine.
They have not put a single scratch on my bikes. Like some one said you have to put something in the wheels to keep them from spinning. But its such a solid, quality rack.
more than a few friends have these, they are the best
Hey Doug, I meant to ask how you didn't go with the 6 instead of the 4, since both of your rigs will accomodate the 6? I just noticed the 6 is for sale again. Also, didn't you mod something on yours?
Oh, and I fondled Doug's rack while he looked on. Damn nice piece of equipment So simple you feel stupid for not having thought of it.
Oh, and I fondled Doug's rack while he looked on. Damn nice piece of equipment So simple you feel stupid for not having thought of it.
They have numerous pictures of different vehicles with the racks on their website to see the options of how they fit. The bikes fit very secure on the racks, no movement, no scratching whatsoever. The prongs where the headtube/fork sit are covered in a thick rubber, so there are no issues. My only issue with the rack after a year of use is the nylon cord that secures the bottom wheel requires a little bit more effort to stay put in the friction slot than it used to, and the plastic clips on the end that you connect around the wheel to the cord again have softened at the tip, making it a little more difficult to take off when unloading the bikes. But these are minor details, and overall it has been very good. I get approached all the time by people that are very interested in the simple design.
It was out of stock and I needed a rack sooner rather than later.
I love mine, the NS6, no pics of it with 6 bikes in it, I keep forgetting. No complaints. It lets us do 6-7 people shuttles in my crewmax tundra. AWESOME company too. The people who run it are really cool and dedicated. I had to ask them a question about something one time and she gave me her personal cell number and talked to me while she was at her kids soccer game on a Saturday. That thing is STURDY too. No flexing or worrisome creaking even with 6 ~40lb DH bikes on it even on BOMBED out fireroads.
Some people complain that the pedals will sometimes hit frames and such, but those are the people i like to call f*gbags. If you're worried about a pedal scratch on your downtube or swingarm you're in the wrong sport.
Also, if you've got a pickup without a cap, this thing definitely hurts your mileage. Probably drops me down from 18-19 to 15-16 with 6 bikes on at highway speeds. But the effect on mileage on lower speed shuttle roads isn't as pronounced. Still trying to find a cheap cap to experiment with.
Some people complain that the pedals will sometimes hit frames and such, but those are the people i like to call f*gbags. If you're worried about a pedal scratch on your downtube or swingarm you're in the wrong sport.
Also, if you've got a pickup without a cap, this thing definitely hurts your mileage. Probably drops me down from 18-19 to 15-16 with 6 bikes on at highway speeds. But the effect on mileage on lower speed shuttle roads isn't as pronounced. Still trying to find a cheap cap to experiment with.
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As far as I know you can only buy it through them. At least, that's what I did.
I purchased an NS4 and it is hands down the most sturdy, simple and easiest rack to use. A wise investment for anyone who takes good care of their bikes. It has adjustability to fit almost any vehicle and it allows me to open the back hatch of my van without taking anything off! A very helpful feature when you are shuttling with a full rig.
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My only compaint with the NSR is the bikes are too close together. They need to be spaced out about another 1"-2". The pedals will hit on the bike next to it. We must all be "f*gbags" 
because we dont like shuttle scratches and dents. We like scratches and dents from riding our bikes instead. 
because we dont like shuttle scratches and dents. We like scratches and dents from riding our bikes instead. 
If you have a demo (at least in XS or SM) watch out! The NS rack won't work due to the short headtube and extremely steep downtube. The frame hits the crosspiece and the rear wheel won't come close to bars at the bottom to secure.
Did Troy's bike not fit?
luckily I'm not a midget, nor do I ride a demo....hope to pick up my 4 bike nsr this week!
Tippie seems to be enjoying his Tuf Rack. I haven't actually seen one in person. I don't get what actually holds the bikes down. Just straps through the wheels like a Thule? Also not sure if they retract.
They're certainly hard to miss with their yellow paint job...
They're certainly hard to miss with their yellow paint job...
There are few bikes we've found that won't fit. Neither of my one friends Mondraker or Session 88 (2010 I think?) will fit. The OD on the headtube is freakishly big.
The 4 bike version is $1500. The 5 bike version in $1800.
A strap over the top tube holds the bikes down.
I have an XS and Troy has a small now. Neither will fit on a NS rack unfortunately.
The Session will fit, you just need to spread the prongs open a wee bit. I've opened up one set of prongs on my rack to accommodate a buddies Session.
Pricing on those Tuff racks is freaking crazy. Going to be tuff to compete with the NS4 costing 1g more.
Yeah... They're not cheap. I guess they're manufacturing process is pretty $$$. Lots of cutting by the looks of it.
2011 Demo is, so far, a no-go in any size with either a boxxer or a 40. Rumor has it a medium with a 888 has been made to work with some bending of prongs...
Ya I thought about doing that, I don't care enough about his bikes though
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I run an NSR-4 and it is superb. I have not had a problem with any bike - including a 2011 Demo (small). The Scott Gambler was a bit of a hassle, but once you spread out the prongs a bit it all works. I got mine right from them (drove to their house). Good people and a great product.
NSR-6 showed yesterday. What a sweet piece of kit... Time will tell if it holds up but so far it looks promising compared to my last rack. Loading up 6 bikes tomorrow morning and headed to Blackrock and Post Canyon. That's more than 20 hours on the highway and a bunch of dirt road shuttling. Should be a good first test.
As others have mentioned, the prongs are made of mild steel and can be adjusted to fit problem frames. I have a couple of Knolly Podiums on mine right now though and it was no issue getting them to fit despite the short, 1.5" head tubes and DC forks. I do wonder if a DHR would fit without some adjustment...
As others have mentioned, the prongs are made of mild steel and can be adjusted to fit problem frames. I have a couple of Knolly Podiums on mine right now though and it was no issue getting them to fit despite the short, 1.5" head tubes and DC forks. I do wonder if a DHR would fit without some adjustment...
hows the weight of the 4bike rack and the release mechanism to lift/drop the rack?
i had a T2 4-bike setup for a day and its friggen heavy and the release latch can be a PITA sometimes.
i had a T2 4-bike setup for a day and its friggen heavy and the release latch can be a PITA sometimes.
The release is much easier with the NSR. With the T2, it's really a 2-man job to release when loaded. With the NSR, the weight of the rack is not resting on the release pin so it's simple as balancing the load (not lifting the load) with 1 hand while you pull out the pin. As the bikes fold down, you have better leverage and an easier position to get power to control the tilt. Same applies when you lift it back up.
First caveat of the NSR that I've noticed is that when loading SC and DC forks, the SC's need to be on the left side, DC's on the right. SC's sit at a slight different angle and cause interference when they're to the right of DC forks. Minor issue.