Press Release
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Versatile bicycle carrier systems for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars
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Optimal transport for various types of bicycles
Owners of a Mercedes-Benz passenger car can choose from five different original carrier systems for the safe and easy transport of bicycles. Depending on what's required, the bikes can be transported on the roof, on the rear, or even in the vehicle interior. Like all other genuine accessories from Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH, the bicycle carrier systems harmoniously combine elegant design with excellent functionality and the highest levels of safety.
Mercedes-Benz drivers appreciate products that unite form and function at the highest levels of quality - and the bicycle carrier systems conform precisely to this concept. For example, the clever material mixture of steel and aluminium ensures that high safety standards are met, while at the same time fulfilling the requirement of keeping weight down to a minimum. Plastic components in matt black offer an attractive contrast to the silver metal profiles of the roof and rear racks. What's more, the precise arrangement of the supplemental parts to the basic carrier serves to dampen vibrations and protect both the bicycles and body paint from damage. Just as important is the ease with which the bike racks can be mounted, whereby the low weight of the transport module reduces the amount of physical force necessary to fasten it to a minimum.
Mercedes-Benz engineers applied the brand's typical stringent safety standards to the bicycle racks as well. For example, the roof carrier system had to demonstrate its stability in extensive crash and stress load tests conducted with and without cargo mounted. The requirements for passing these tests are much stricter than those for comparable tests conducted by other automakers and institutions, and are also more stringent than legal requirements.
“Alustyle� bicycle rack: Safe and elegant
The Mercedes-Benz roof bicycle rack is based on the multi-functional “Alustyle� basic carrier, which displays sophisticated aerodynamics and a very high level of safety. Depending on the model series it's used with, and the width of the roof, the basic carrier can hold up to four bike racks, which can be individually mounted. Attaching the bicycles is very easy: First they are fastened to the bike rack rails on the ground with the help of flexible clamps, after which the bikes and the racks are mounted on the roof as one unit. No other automaker or supplier has a system that compares to the one from Mercedes - which offers a high level of stability combined with easy installation.
Cone-shaped tyre holders secure bicycle tyres with a width of 20 to 60 millimetres, and the swivel arms designed especially for Mercedes-Benz bikes are suitable for use with frame diameters of 20 to 98 millimetres (round tubes) and 110 x 70 millimetres (oval tubes)¹. Special spiral locks are also available upon request to protect against theft. When the bike rack is not being used, it is simply folded down in order to reduce wind resistance, and thus fuel consumption. When not needed, supports can be easily removed, folded together, and then stowed away without taking up much space.
“Alustyle� system for roadsters: Sporty and practical
Sport-minded Mercedes-Benz drivers view the SL- and SLK-Class as the epitomes of dynamic driving - and Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH supplements the sporty flair of the open top roadsters with specially developed genuine accessories that open up truly practical transport possibilities. The brand with the star accomplished this by developing carrier systems for the roadsters' innovative vario-roof. The variant of the “Alustyle� basic carrier created to this end required tremendous additional investment and a development time of nearly two years. In order to provide the high quality that Mercedes-Benz customers demand, and also meet the brand's stringent internal safety standards, only high-quality materials that have proved their effectiveness during careful testing in critical driving situations are used here.
The elegantly curved basic carrier follows the filigree lines of the Mercedes-Benz roadsters. The carrier module is mounted solely on the upper end of the A pillar and at the rear in a manner ensuring that the vehicle's sporty silhouette continues to stand out. While developing the module, Mercedes-Benz engineers placed great store in guaranteeing that normal operation of the roadster models would never be inhibited. To this end, the fastening points for the carrier are designed to ensure that access to the boot is not restricted and the boot lid can be opened easily. Installation of the basic carrier for the roadsters requires the optional "carrier system pre-installation module", which can be ordered ex-works.
The roadster carrier system can be used to transport up to two bicycles. The solution here also involves placing the bike onto the rail while on the ground and before mounting bike and rail as one unit securely onto the roof.
Transport on tow bars: Slipstream piggyback
The rear mounted bicycle carriers specially developed for Mercedes-Benz models are the preferred solution for vehicles equipped with tow bars. This option offers both greater cargo transport convenience and better aerodynamics than transport on the vehicle roof - and that translates into lower fuel consumption.
The basic version of the carrier module allows for the transport of two bicycles. However, the optional supplemental kit makes it possible to add a third rail to the rear bike rack. In order to do this, the vehicle must be equipped with a tow bar designed to handle tongue loads of up to 75 kilograms. A capacity of 50 kilograms is sufficient for transporting two bicycles. The extremely light basic variants of the rear-mounted bike racks are made mostly of aluminium and weigh only 15 kilograms; when used with the supplemental module, their total weight only increases to 18 kilograms. Working closely with the development departments for the various vehicle models, the Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH development department intentionally set the maximum load capacity at the high level of 35 kilograms (45 kilograms including the supplemental kit). As such, transporting exceptionally heavy bicycles is also possible.
The Mercedes-Benz rear-mounted carrier is quite easy to install. Thanks to the clever "Easy Lock" system, the racks can be mounted onto the tow bars without any need for tools or time-consuming preparation. The perfect alignment of the rear-mounted bicycle rack with the design and dimensions of the Mercedes-Benz models demonstrates how effective close cooperation between vehicle designers and accessory developers has been.
Because the rear rack hangs so low, the bike wheels can be easily placed in the rails. The frame fasteners can be locked to effectively protect against theft. The clamps hold frames with round-tube diameters of up to 80 millimetres, or frames with oval tubes measuring 80 x 45 millimetres, and are thus perfect for transporting Mercedes-Benz fitness bikes.
Another feature reflecting just how practical this carrier system is in everyday use is the fact that even with three bikes mounted on it, the carrier module can be folded down 90 degrees, thereby enabling the tailgate to be opened. If no bike is mounted, the same can be accomplished by simply pulling down the vertical bracket. When folded together, the rear bike rack can be space-savingly stowed away in the garage.
The range of equipment² includes additional rear lights and a licence plate holder, which are illuminated by electricity provided via a 13-pin standard DIN plug.
The additional rear lights help ensure that the vehicle will be seen even if the taillights are covered by the bikes. The rear bike rack is approved for use by the EU, which means it does not need to be entered into registration documents and can be used immediately after being purchased.
Tailgate rack: Greater convenience
Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH has developed an innovative tailgate bicycle rack especially for A- and B-Class models. The carrier can accommodate two bicycles and consists of two separate components, which makes it easy to mount and remove. The carrier frame, which is particularly resistant against deformation, is first mounted onto the rear of the vehicle. Plastic protective coverings whose dimensions are exactly aligned with those of the Mercedes-Benz A- and B-Class models are placed on the contact points in order to prevent damage to the body and body paint. The carrier's functional and attractively shaped light metal rails can accommodate tyre widths of 20 to 60 millimetres.
One advantage here over transporting bicycles on the vehicle roof is that the bikes are fastened at chest level, which means much less effort is required to mount them. In terms of safety, the slightly higher placement of the rack ensures that the taillights always remain visible to vehicles behind.
Transport in the interior: Perfect protection and greater vehicle agility
The customised internal bicycle racks from Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH for A-, B-, and M-Class models offer yet another elegant transport solution. Folding down the rear seat makes it possible to stow two Mercedes-Benz bikes (with frames up to 28 inches, depending on the vehicle model) or two conventional bikes from any other manufacturer (with frames up to 26 inches), whereby the bike forks are connected to the internal carrier. The variability of the fastening rails also allows the bikes to be positioned diagonally, thus ensuring that they take up the least amount of space possible.
The rail for the fork clamp is fixed to the back of the folded down seat, enabling bicycles to be easily mounted and removed. There are also crash-tested nylon belt systems that can be used to anchor the bikes to the standard metal rings in the boot. The internal carrier system is the best way to protect expensive bicycles from inclement weather and theft.
Only the front wheels need to be removed for transport - no problem for Mercedes-Benz high-end bikes, whose quick-release clamps enable the wheel to be taken off in just a few seconds. In addition, the low boot base and wide tailgate opening in A-, B-, and M-Class models make putting in and taking out the bikes very easy. Another benefit of the interior solution is that unlike the other methods, it has no noticeable negative effect on fuel consumption.
The robust transport bags that come as standard equipment are used to store the front wheels after they've been removed. A bootliner for protection against dirt and dampness is also available as an option.
¹ In products from other manufacturers, it is important to check that the bicycles are fimly secured to the support frame.
² The features vary for the US and Canadian markets.
