A few months ago I picked up a cheap Mk1 MX5 for a friend. It was soon fixed for MOT (bit of welding, brake pads/discs, 2x tyres), fresh hood from the scrapers as the old one was splitting With classic ins' cover and only used for her one drive to work a week (she cycles the rest of the time) it was cheap transport.

Then when a cycling club trip to the Alps came on the horizon it seemed obvious to turn the drive down into a "road trip" and use the MX5. So then a (loud) stainless exhaust, de-cat and K+N kit was fitted... well it had to be done!

Having done a few Euro trips in the Fury and a lot of cycle touring with just small panniers I know how to fit the luggage in, but how to carry the bikes? There's no rack available but strap on racke have been used but I'm not a fan and it'd be difficult to get both bikes on. Mates were happy to take a couple of extra bags but didn't have room for bikes. So the locostbuilders option was the only way...

Mounting brackets bolted behind the lashing eye plates. These are left on the car and the rack slides into the square tube and held with a bolt through a captive nut.



The rack in the open position allowing boot access.



In the closed position it clamps to 2 brackets bolted to the hard top mounting plates, via quick release levers converted from mountain bike seat-pin clamps.



The ally bits just happened to be on the back of the scrap mans transit last week and the front fork clamps came off an old rack.



In use on the way down.

Couldn't you have fitted a tow bar, then a carrier to that?

i'm sure, but that looks very nice. good job!

Yes, but that carries the bikes across the rear of the car...
So requires a lighting board.
The bikes get covered in sh1t.
They are vulnerable in a rear end shunt (the bikes are worth a LOT more than the car) and on an MX5 stick out each side.
Fully loaded I didn't want the weight any further back than I needed.
Would have required the purchase of a tow bar kit and rack. This just needed some tube and the fitting (that I already had).

So I did it this way... and because I could

Very neat solution, I like it Looks like it was manufactured for the MX5 too. Bikes don't look like they weigh much though.......

Phil

i reckon you could sell a few of those to mx5 folk

Like it, very ingenious!

Quality work Adi, I like it!