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Thule Helium Platform XT hitch rack review

The light, 2-bike system will let you transport your road, gravel or mountain bikes with ease

Thule Helium Platform XT Photo by: Matt Stetson

The strength of the Thule Helium Platform XT is not only in its construction—made with steel and aluminum—but in the hitch mount rack’s simplicity as well. It can carry two bikes. Each is secured by two arms that ratchet into place over the tires. The advantage of this system is that the arms don’t come in contact with your bike’s frame; they merely press down on the tires. To put a bike on and secure it takes a matter of seconds.

Apart from the arms, another design feature that speeds up mounting is the long trays on which the bikes rest. With some hitch mount racks, each tire has its own tray. The drawback of the one-tray-per-wheel design is that you have to adjust the trays according to the wheelbase of your bike. Then, you have to make sure the trays are arranged in such a way so that, up above, one bike’s bars aren’t bumping the other bike’s saddle. With Helium Platform XT, this bike Tetris is less of an issue. You can roll each bike easily into position within a tray’s long channel, which can accommodate tires as wide as 3”. The ratcheting arms let you set each bike a little farther to the right or left, depending on the machines you need to carry.

Thule Helium Platform XT
Tilt the Thule Helium Platform XT for better access to the trunk. Long mountain bike handlebars may still be in the path of the trunk door. Image: Matt Stetson

The installation of the hitch rack was pretty simple. The instructions are clear and straightforward, however, I did consult YouTube about assembly (but who doesn’t these days). Connecting the rack’s stinger to my hitch receiver took a matter of seconds. In fact, it went together so quickly that I was certain I had made an error. In all, from box to insertion in the hitch receiver took about 30 minutes.

Thule Helium Platform XT
One arm holding a bike in place. Image: Matt Stetson

The unit comes with a hitch adapter so it will fit both a 1 1/4” receiver and a 2” one. During the course of my testing period, I did change my hitch size, so it was handy to have the adaptor. Once the rack is in the hitch receiver, you tighten a knob that takes the wobble out of the rack. I am a fan of this feature. The previous rack I had would sway a lot—so much so that other motorists would comment. Not the case with the Helium Platform XT. After you tighten the knob, you take the provided key and “lock” it. When you turn the key, you actually disengage the knob, so would-be thieves can’t loosen it. To provide extra security, the rack comes with a cable lock for each bike. The cables store neatly within the trays when you don’t need them. Use these cables when you are popping into a store or grabbing a bite on the way to the trails. I’d say a determined thief could get through the cables, so don’t treat them as a long-term storage option.

Thule Helium Platform XT
A security cable stowed away nicely. Image: Matt Stetson

Once the rack is attached properly to your vehicle, it’s snap to get the bikes on and secure. It’s perfect for road, gravel, mountain and time trial bikes. Since the rack relies on those arms that apply pressure to the tires, you can’t mount bikes with fenders or racks for panniers. Also, the arms are designed for 26” to 29” wheels. Your kids’ bikes aren’t mounting up. Remember the 3” maximum tire width? That rules out fat bikes.

Each of the Helium Platform XT’s trays can handle a bike as heavy as 20.5 kg or 45 lb. In total, the rack’s maximum weight capacity is 41 kg (90 lb.). For most of us, this limit is no problem. However, ebikes could tilt the scales over that limit, as could a few downhill bikes.

Thule Helium Platform XT
Arms up. Image: Matt Stetson

When you’re deciding on a new rack, do look into how it might affect licence plate and taillight visibility. If I put my Helium Platform XT 2 up, it obscures my licence plate. While this is a minor issue, I do have friends who have received tickets for such an infraction. As for the rear lights on my Volkswagen Tiguan, they are fully visible with the rack up.

For me, the light (19.6 kg) Helium Platform XT is perfect. It lets me haul mountain, gravel, TT and road bikes with ease. ($1,050, thule.com)

Thule Helium Platform XT
Image: Matt Stetson
Thule Helium Platform XT
Image: Matt Stetson
Thule Helium Platform XT
Image: Matt Stetson