Everyone loves bike trips but not many enjoy packing for one. Transporting bikes can be especially tricky. The British, family-run company BikeStow offers a sleek solution with its Fork Mount Set, allowing you to load your bikes into the car effortlessly and hassle-free. But is it worth spending nearly €500?
All mountain bikers dream of having the best trails in the world right on their doorstep. However, most of us have to carry their bike in a car on a regular basis to reach a nice riding spot – whether it’s for a weekend trip to the mountains or a visit to the bike park. On longer journeys, storing the bikes inside the car is the most sensible option, because here they are protected from the elements and more secure than on an external bike rack.
But how do you transport a bike in the car without it sliding around, getting scratched, or even damaged? This is exactly the problem the Laight family from Birmingham faced over and over. Originally, they were simply looking for a practical solution for themselves and built a system to securely store their bikes inside their vehicle. In 2018, they presented their first prototypes at the Cycle Show, where their creation was an overwhelming success. Encouraged by the positive feedback, they went all in, patented their design, and launched their first product: a stylish plywood bike rack designed for van mounting.
Five years later, their product range has expanded to include several racks in different sizes and designs, all still handmade by the Laight family near Birmingham. Now, they’ve introduced the Fork Mount Set, a particularly flexible solution that allows you to quickly and elegantly secure the bikes inside your car by clamping the fork via the thru-axle mount. However, the full set for three bikes comes with a hefty price tag of €475.
The Bikestow Fork Mount Set in Detail
The BikeStow Fork Mount Set consists of two main components: a narrow plywood base plate, on which the bike mounts can be freely positioned, and the aluminum fork mounts themselves. The components are sold separately, meaning that the price varies depending on the configuration. The entry-level price for a small plate with a single bike mount starts at €175. The version we tested– the VW Bus Kit in the Triple configuration with a 1,130 mm width – includes a base plate for €142, with each of the three fork mounts costing an additional €111, bringing the total price for three bikes to €475.
The base plate impresses with a clean, elegant look, consistent with other BikeStow products. The Hexa plywood is high-quality, featuring smoothly sanded edges and a pleasant feel. It attaches to the existing anchor points in the trunk. BikeStow offers tailored sizes for various vehicles, including the VW T5 and T6, Citroën Berlingo, Peugeot Partner, and Opel Combo. In these vehicles, the 1,130 mm width is fixed, ensuring a perfect fit for the trunk space.
For more flexibility, the set is also available as a DIY kit, allowing you to mount the rail individually. There are three width options: 600 mm, 850 mm, and 1,130 mm. Additionally, you can choose between two or three rails. The fork mounts attach to these rails, with position and angle freely adjustable. This allows you to decide whether the bikes are positioned in a parallel configuration or slightly offset to make the best use of available space. The VW Bus Kit we tested is the most expensive option, with the base plate alone priced at €142.
The fork mounts themselves are sleek, CNC-machined aluminum parts that are not only sturdy but also well-designed. Once you’ve removed the front wheel, you simply slide the thru-axle through the mount to securely fix the bike in place. The clever part: the fork mounts are angle-adjustable. If mounted at an angle on the base plate, the handlebars can be turned slightly inward. Since the thru-axle tilts when the front wheel is turned, the adjustable angle on the fork mount ensures the bikes remain upright.
Prices vary depending on the mounting option, ranging between €98 and €111. In the configuration we tested, which includes hand screws and washers to prevent loosening, each fork mount costs €111.
Additionally, you’ll have to select the correct thru-axle for your fork, as width and diameter vary depending on the bike type. The available options are 12 × 100 mm for road and gravel bikes, 15 × 100 mm for older mountain bikes without a Boost hub, 15 × 110 mm for modern mountain bikes with Boost standard, 20 × 110 mm for downhill bikes, and 15 × 150 mm for fat bikes. Regardless of the hub standard, the price remains the same across all variants.
The Bikestow Fork Mount Set in Test
In practical use, the BikeStow Fork Mount Set impresses not only with its functionality but also with its high-quality build quality. The dark Hexa-plywood base plate is precisely milled and sanded, boasting an elegant, premium look. The CNC-machined aluminum components also blend in well with the overall design. The workmanship is consistently excellent, and the entire set leaves a very high-quality impression.
Assembly is incredibly straightforward, and a multitool is all you to fully install the set. What impressed us the most is the system’s outstanding adaptability. The bikes can be arranged parallelly, with the handlebars turned to one side, or staggered front to rear. The version with three rails, in particular, offers almost limitless combinations to make the best use of available space. Once secured, the bikes remain completely stable without the need for additional straps or holders. Fixation is as simple as bolting the thru-axle into the fork mount– no wobbling, no sliding around. Even with three bikes side by side, they remain securely in place without touching during transport.
A small drawback is that there is no integrated solution for storing the front wheels. Although there’s actually enough space between the bikes, there’s no mount to securely hold them in place. Without a separate solution, the wheel can roll around in the trunk during transport. We usually secured it to the bike with an additional strap, which is also available from the online shop, but for such a well-thought-out and high-quality system, we would have liked a complete solution.
Apart from that, loading and unloading the bikes is extremely quick and easy. Simply place the bike in position, bolt in the thru-axle, and you’re done – secure and worry-free. When you’re not using the mount, you can still use it in different ways, for example as a bike stand in the garage. The system is sturdy enough to hold bikes even when mounted in an upright position.
Conclusions about the Bikestow Fork Mount Set
The BikeStow Fork Mount Set offers a clever and elegant solution for securely transporting bikes in the car. The high-quality craftsmanship, well-thought-out design, and flexible adjustment options are impressive across the board. Assembly is incredibly simple, and loading and unloading the bikes is quick and easy. The only minor drawbacks is the lack of a dedicated storage system for the front wheels – and the relatively high price might be a dealbreaker for many. However, if you’re looking for a stylish, stable, and hassle-free transport solution, this set is a great choice.
Tops
- Secure and stable transport solution
- Highly flexible bike positioning
- High-quality craftsmanship
Flops
- No integrated storage for the front wheel
- High price
For more info head to bikestow.com.
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Words & Photos: Simon Kohler
