Review of Blackburn EX-1 Bicycle Rack

Blackburn EX-1 Bicycle Rack
By: Blackburn Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 8
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a must!

On: 2008-05-03

if your spouse/partner rides too, this is a must! EASY to install and a snap when putting the seat on! Love it! When the whole family rides, we just switch the seat to my husbands bike in a matter of seconds.

Bogus product -- did not work.

On: 2007-08-25

I was too hasty in handing this package over to my bike shop (was getting a new bike and wanted this mounted during assembly). It appears that my product was bogus (albeit very well constructed). Unfortunately, my CoPilot child seat would not slide onto the rack (rails were too thick). By the time I realized this, my 30 days for return had expired. It was then that I studied the design carefully and realized that it was not a true Blackburn EX-1. My neighbors Blackburn actually has "Blackburn" embossed in the metal.

If you order this, study it carefully and, especially if you plan to use it for a child seat, make sure it works before you mount it and throw away the package.

awesome bike rack

On: 2007-07-20

this rack are easy to install, all equipment is complete. the shipping was also right on time. were happy especially my son.

A quick review and how-to

On: 2007-06-15

10 years ago I started working as a bicycle mechanic at a local shop throughout high school and summers while in college. Fast forward to today and Im putting together a bicycle to commute to the train station.

I honestly cant tell you how many racks Ive installed on bikes...maybe hundreds. The Blackburn racks were consistently the most stable, easy to put on, and provided the best fit on a wide range of bikes. Also, the rack is compatible with most child seats and this is the model that Rhode Gear includes with their products. This particular model is also really good with panniers as there are 3 vertical supports per side.

Before you purchase the rack check to see if your bicycle has brazons for it. Brazons are the little hex bolts and threads that are welded onto the frame. You will see brazons with bolts right by the rear brakes. You also want to check for mounts just above the rear axle of the bicycle. These will be small "threaded holes" that the rack also attaches to. If you have all of these, feel free to purchase the rack and install it yourself. If not, go to your local bike shop and purchase a rack there and have them install it. They will be able to find a rack for you and attach it with the appropriate hardware. In some cases we had to use some custom kits that were ordered from the manufacturer to fit a funky bike. It happens.

To install the rack first lightly bolt the silver supports to the top of the rack. It should be tight enough to not wobble, but loose enough so that the length can be adjusted. Now bolt the bottom of the rack to the bike. Start with the drive side first (the one with the gears) and then bolt the other side on. Swing the rack into position and bolt the other supports to the brazons. Note, these supports are meant to flex, but do NOT bend them. Flexing is good, bending is bad. Finally adjust the rack so that it is level and then tighten all the bolts and youre good to go.

If you get stuck I recommend checking out a video on Expert Village where Michael Novelli shows you how to install the rack. He pretty much did everything that I said... note the supports were pre-installed on his video:

http://www.expertvillage.com/videos/rear-rack-bicycle.htm

Excellent Bike Rack

On: 2007-05-14

Much higher quality than all others weve seen. The adjustment brackets and mounts looks like they could fit any brand bicyle.

Great all around rack

On: 2007-03-14

I use this rack for panniers and with a child seat for my one year old. The rack is built rock solid or I wouldnt trust my daughter riding on it. Installation is easy with or without rack mounts on the frame as the rack comes with vinyl coating clamps.

I liked it so much that I bought a second one for my wifes bike.

Used in conjuction with Co-Pilot Bicycle Seat

On: 2007-01-16

I had earlier purchased a Co-Pilot Bicycle Seat for my child which uses this rack. The rack works great for holding the seat so I purchased another so other bicycles in my family can use the seat.

The rack is sturdy and after assembling for the first time, is a cinch to take off and assemble onto another bike. Seems to be a universal rack to fit most bikes.

Used in conjuction with Co-Pilot Bicycle Seat

On: 2007-01-15

I had earlier purchased a Co-Pilot Bicycle Seat for my child which uses this rack. The rack works great for holding the seat so I purchased another so other bicycles in my family can use the seat.

The rack is sturdy and after assembling for the first time, is a cinch to take off and assemble onto another bike. Seems to be a universal rack to fit most bikes.

Blackburn carriers

On: 2007-01-11

Blackburn racks are excellent for old-style bike frames, but they are not designed for the newer-type, thicker, aluminum frames, and will not fit without considerable modifications. In some cases, they will not fit at all without drilling holes in the bikes seat supports (not recommended). This fact should be stated in the items description. I had to return the rack.