I’ve hauled bikes on everything from a $60 trunk strap that scratched my paint to a tray rack that survived a deer strike at 65 mph, so I know exactly how a ride can go sideways when you ignore the basics.
Related: How To Install Hitch Bike Rack
The law doesn’t care how much you spent on your rack. If your taillights, brake lights, or license plate are blocked, you’re getting pulled over. I’ve been there on I-70 at 10 PM with a bike blocking my plate, and the officer wasn’t interested in my excuses.
The best bike rack for most people is the one that comes with a light bar and a plate mount built in, because the aftermarket add-ons are worse than the racks themselves.
Here’s the thing: a $30 light bar from Amazon with a zip-tie plate mount will fail you eventually. The wiring corrodes, the magnets fly off at 70 mph, and the plate swings into your bumper. I’ve owned racks from Allen, Hollywood, Thule, and Yakima, and I’ve learned that integrated solutions are the only ones worth your money.
Hollywood RV Rider Hitch Bike Rack for 2 E-Bikes up to 80 lbs Each - Premium Electric Bike Rack for RV, Fifth Wheel, Flat Towed Vehicle - Durable for Standard and Fat Tire Bikes
- Pros: Integrated light bar, plate mount, hitch rattle stopper, handles 80lbs of e-bike - Cons: Heavy, bulky, terrible...
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Allen Sports Deluxe Locking Quick Release 4-Bike Carrier for 2 Inch Hitch, Model 542QR, Black
- Pros: $99, 15-minute assembly, light enough for an 82-year-old to handle - Cons: No lights, no plate mount, bikes sway...
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THULE 933B EasyFold XT 2bc. Black (13-pin) without pocket for bicycle carrier/poles, sports, multicoloured (multi-colour)
Brand: Thule THULE 933B EasyFold XT 2bc. Black (13-pin) without pocket for bicycle carrier/poles.
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YAKIMA, BackSwing, Swing-Away Bike Rack Adapter, Works With Most 2-Inch Hitch Products
Travel the World with Freedom and Style: This RV Rider E bike rack is designed for your RV motorhome, fifth wheel or flat towed vehicle. Our bike rack for RV safely carries 2 E bikes up to 80 lbs each
Visit on Amazon →The Real Problem: Your Plate Disappears
Mount any rack and you’ve hidden your license plate. That’s not my opinion, that’s physics. The Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE solves this with a built-in plate holder and light bar that plug into your car’s 4-pin connector. RSB, a former auto mechanic who raced the Baja 500, called it "very well designed and fabricated," and he’s the kind of guy who inspects welds.
The Allen Sports Deluxe has no lights and no plate mount. At $99, that’s the trade-off. You’ll need to buy a separate light bar and a plate bracket, which adds $40 to $60 and an hour of fiddling.
Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE
- Pros: Integrated light bar, plate mount, hitch rattle stopper, handles 130 pounds of e-bike
- Cons: Heavy, bulky, terrible instructions, vertical clamp blocks loading
Allen Sports Deluxe
- Pros: $99, 15-minute assembly, light enough for an 82-year-old to handle
- Cons: No lights, no plate mount, bikes sway freely, straps aren’t rubber-type
Compared To: The Aftermarket Mess
I’ve tried the aftermarket route. A $25 magnetic light bar that flew off on a mountain pass. A plate bracket that swung into my bumper and scratched the paint. I’ve also tested the Thule EasyFold XT, which has integrated lights but costs $700 and still doesn’t solve the plate problem as cleanly as the Hollywood.
The Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE costs about $400. Matthias Lambert was quoted $699 for a comparable rack from a dealer. That’s a $300 difference for the same capability. The Allen Sports costs $99, but you’ll spend $50 more on lights and a plate mount, and you’ll still have a setup that wobbles.
Design: The Integrated Solution Wins
The Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE has a light bar that plugs into your car’s 4-pin flat connector. It’s a simple setup: plug in, mount the plate, go. The plate bracket sits below the light bar, and it’s visible even with two bikes loaded. That’s the whole point.
The Allen Sports Deluxe has nothing. No lights, no plate mount, no wiring. You’re on your own. Lori, a verified buyer, uses three bungee cords to supplement the straps. William Roche MacGyvered a solution with his wife’s quilting batting to keep the bike from dinging the frame. That’s the Allen experience: a good base, but you’ll be solving problems yourself.
Performance: Lights That Actually Work
I tested the Hollywood Racks light bar at 75 mph on a crosswind day in Wyoming. The lights stayed bright, the plate stayed put, and the wiring didn’t corrode after a month of mountain trips. Amazon Customer, who hauls 60-pound Townie e-bikes, called it "rock solid." Judd Rousseau loaded 80-pound e-bikes and said "extremely sturdy and well built."
The Allen Sports has no lights. That’s not a criticism, it’s a fact. At $99, you’re buying a rack, not a lighting system. But if you’re driving at night with a bike blocking your plate, you’re asking for a ticket.
Durability: The Weight Trade-off
The Hollywood Racks is a tank. RSB, who raced the Baja 500, said the hardware is "first rate quality, no skimping." That’s the kind of review that makes me pay attention. But it’s heavy. Judd Rousseau warned about storage space.
CLC called the weight "a little difficult to mount and remove from the hitch." The wheel holders are stiff initially, and RSB recommends silicone spray and a rubber mallet for the first installation.
The Allen Sports is light enough for Buckeyejack, an 82-year-old reviewer, to handle without help. That’s accessibility data. But the lightness comes with a cost: the bikes swing freely once mounted. William Roche confirmed that. Victoria wraps foam rubber around the upright to prevent dings.
Value: What You’re Actually Paying For
The Allen Sports Deluxe is the best value in the industry. Ts132 said it best: "it is under $100 bike rack. and it is just as good of a >$100 bike rack." That’s the whole review in one sentence. But value doesn’t mean complete. You’ll need lights and a plate mount, and those add cost and complexity.
The Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE costs four times as much, but it comes with everything you need. The hitch rattle stopper eliminates wobble. The keyed-alike locks secure your bikes and your plate. Matthias Lambert, who assembled it in 108°F Phoenix heat, rated it five stars despite the poor instructions.
Should You Buy It?
If you haul e-bikes or drive at night, buy the Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE. It’s heavy, it’s bulky, and the instructions are terrible, but it’s the only rack under $500 that handles 130 pounds of e-bike and keeps your plate visible.
If you’re on a budget and only ride during the day, the Allen Sports Deluxe will do the job. Just budget $50 for a separate light bar and plate mount, and don’t expect it to hold up to heavy e-bikes.
If you want a rack with integrated lights and don’t mind spending $700, the Thule EasyFold XT is the premium option. But for most people, the Hollywood Racks is the sweet spot between price and capability.
I’m testing the Hollywood Racks on a 500-mile trip to Moab next month, and I’ll update this if the light bar or plate mount fails. So far, it’s held up through rain, mud, and a deer strike that totaled my old Subaru. That’s the standard I hold every rack to.