Bikies know how important it is to go EVERYWHERE with your bike. No bike gets left behind on both short and long road trips. But it is not as simple as it seems to be. It seems like putting your basket in the trunk – but it is much more technical. No, you don’t need physics or calculations, but if you want to know how to fit a bike in a car, you need a proper guide, some tools, and the right information on the kinds of bikes that can enter your car. Note that not all bikes are built for the warm protection of the car. Some cars don’t have the luxury to accommodate even the smallest bikes. You might have kids too. All of these factors will determine whether your bike stays in or outside of the car.
Short answer – yes, you can. But there are other things involved. You have to ensure that the hinges of the bike do not scratch the leather of your car seat. Also, you won’t want to damage your bike by slamming your trunk on the tires repeatedly while driving.
So though it is true that you can fit any bike in your car when you take it apart, some bikes fit in cars without the need to dismantle them. But the question isn’t necessarily about if the bike will fit into the car but about if the car is spacious enough to contain the bike. Below are some specifications that will help you know if your car can fit a bike wholly.
You also need to consider the type of bike you plan to fit into your car. Some bikes can fit into any car because they are slim and compact. A good example is the Schwinn Loop Adult Folding Bike. Its portable design makes it versatile for transportation regardless of the kind of car you use.
| Type of Vehicle | Interior Length For Storage- Trunk and Rear Seat Area (Inches) | Interior width (Inches) | Can It Fit A Bike Without Having To Take It Apart? |
| Hatchback | 72 | 63 | No |
| Minivan/Station Wagon | 136 | 67 | Yes |
| Sedan | 139 | 65 | Yes |
| Mid Size SUV | 142 | 67 | Yes |
| Large SUV | 150 | 72 | Yes |
Everyone already knows what a bike is Trusted Source Bicycle Requirements Business Guidance | CPSC.gov The bicycle requirements cover two different types of bicycles. Those with a seat that is more than 25 inches above the ground when the seat is adjusted to its highest position must meet all of the requirements. www.cpsc.gov , so we can skip that and go into the step-by-step guide to fitting a bike in a car. These steps are for bikes that you have to dismantle. Don’t worry. If you are concerned about disassembling and putting back a bike successfully, we have your back. Our article on the best gravel bikes under $500 is filled with bikes that are made with such simple designs and manufacturing that even a newbie can dismantle and reassemble the bike in minutes. So if you have these kinds of bikes, then the rest of the steps would be easy peasy. If not, consider getting a bike with a simple mechanism and dedicate it to your trips. Without further ado, here are eight things to do if you want to know how to put a bike in a car.
The first thing to do is clean your bike. Riding a bike without getting it stained with mud, dirt, or even grass remains is almost impossible. The bikes ridden on the road could pick up litter, oil, or gravel stains. Having these stains dumped on your car seats can almost turn off the excitement of riding your bike when you have reached your location. So before you begin to fix anything, clean your bike.
Next, after cleaning the bike, it is time to know exactly how to put a bike in your car, and that is to remove the bike’s front wheel. The front wheel is the most moveable of the two bike wheels, so it tends to rip your seats apart or even reduce how much seating space there is.
The following are the steps to removing the front wheel of your bike before fitting it in:
The next thing to do is to remove the chain. This, unlike the previous step, is more straightforward. The main reason to remove the chain and put it on the smaller ring is so that you can prevent staining your car with grease that’s difficult to wash off. Though there are ways to clean your car and rid it of grease, it is just better to avoid it altogether.
If your car allows, put the back seat down for more space to allow your bike. If you are using a mountain bike, this option is crucial. However, some of the bikes in our best mountain bikes review are portable and easy to fit into any car, even if you cannot put the back seat down. However, if you can, please do.
From this step in our guide, how to fit a bicycle in a car, you can already tell the next thing to do. When you turn the handlebars, they become lined up straightforwardly – horizontal, if you may. That way, even if you put them in the back of the car, in-between seats, the handlebars won’t be poking anyone or anything.
Now that your back seat is down and the space to keep your bike has been created, it is a safe zone from here. Place the bike on the floor of your car (not on the seat). Ensure that the rear of the bike is facing the seat.
This is where many bikies make mistakes when they want to know how to fit a bike in a car trunk or vehicle. They think they are good to go after pushing the bike in – well, no. As you move, the fork dropout (where you removed the front wheel) can rip out your car seat’s fabric or scratch your car’s interior. You should carefully and securely tuck a piece of soft cloth under the fork dropout so that it acts as a barrier.
If you’re wondering, “will a bike fit in my car?” the answer is that it depends on your car’s size and your bike’s size. Fitting a bike for heavy riders into a small car is almost unrealistic. You would need an external rack like the WEIZE Hitch Bike Rack to hold your bike in place.
But what about if you have two bikes? What about if it is a partner trip, and the two of you want to take your bikes along? What can you do then? You would also need to follow a series of steps. These are six short and concise steps to follow if you want to know how to fit 2 bikes in a car. Let’s dive right in!
Before going too far into your car, remove the gears of the two bikes and put them in the small Everykchainring. That way, it would be easy to fit the bikes in the car and also assemble them later.
If you have wheel bags, using them is recommended. But if you don’t, you can place the wheels in the trunk as they are. Place the rear wheel at the bottom with the cog side facing down to prevent spokes from getting caught in the gears.
Take out the skewers while being careful not to hit the rim or spokes of the other wheel(s) to prevent scratches.
In European cycling parlance, “bidons” refer to water bottles. Place the bike frame upside down on the backseat, being mindful not to let the rear derailleur touch the headliner. This may seem to contradict Rule #49 (“Keep the rubber side down”), but these are special circumstances, as preventing grease stains on the seat is crucial, don’t you agree?
If you hit the brakes suddenly, it does not affect your bikes since they are fastened to the seat.
If you drive a wagon, you can create a stable base by bolting a few pieces of wood together, totaling around eight square inches. With this setup, you can position your bike upright in the back of the car with the front wheel detached. Remember, however, that if you plan on carrying two bikes, you’ll need to sacrifice the space for passengers. As such, this option may not be suitable if you regularly transport more than three people and multiple bikes. In that case, you may consider getting a midsize SUV or a pickup truck for more space.
You can fit three or four bikes in a car, but you will need a bike car rack. You can check out these tips on how to secure your bike to a car rack. But you need first to purchase a sturdy and secure bike rack.
With everything that has been mentioned, the answer is a big YES. You should use a bike rack, for instance, the Allen Sports rack, especially if you want to create space for more passengers to seat in the car. It is also easier to skip dismantling your bike before you fit it in the car.
A bicycle can fit in a Toyota Corolla, but it may require removing at least one of the tires. For added convenience, both tires can be taken off.
Yes, you can fit a bike into a Honda Civic, but it is not as straightforward. To fit your bike in, remove the bike’s front wheel and fold the car’s rear seat for extra room space.
Surely, you can. The Subaru Outback is one of the few vehicles that can fit a whole bike without the need to dismantle or disassemble anything.
It is almost difficult to leave your bike behind when going on a road trip. It is almost impossible to leave it behind if the bike is the reason for the trip in the first place. But taking your bike along must be done with absolute care if you don’t want to damage your car or bike in the process. That is why learning how to fit a bike in a car is essential.
The guide above includes a full list of the steps to follow when putting your bike in. It also includes a chart of the vehicle types that can fit a bike whole. But you have to ensure that the bike you want to take along is of good quality and is not dripping oil because that will be another big issue. Distributed within the text above are links that will lead you to some of our best bike collections for whatever reason. Make sure you check them out and have a fun ride.
