Bike frame adapter bars are undoubtedly the best way to transport your bike, especially if it doesn’t have a traditional frame and you can’t mount it on your car’s bike rack.
Whichever bike rack you go with requires a lot of faith (since your bike’s life is essentially in its hands!), so while they’re very useful, it can be stressful to know which ones to trust. So, which one should you choose?
The following guide will outline five bike frame adapters, including their benefits and drawbacks. There’s also a buyer’s guide so you know exactly what to look for when looking to buy a bike frame adapter bar, as well as frequently asked questions regarding this topic.
This adapter was designed with step-through bikes in mind (step-through bikes lack the top tube of traditional bikes, which is the tube that connects the seat of the bike to the front of the bike, meaning the front of the bike instead slopes downward).
Installation of this rack is about as easy as it could be, with no tools or assembly required. The rack’s built-in internal springs mean that your bike will be perfectly secure during travel. Its durable plastic coated hooks allow for prolonged use without your bike frame suffering any scuffs or scratches.
Pros
Universal fit: While it was designed for step-through bikes, this adapter bar fits any bike frame (excluding E-Bikes), so it’s a safe bet regardless of what you’re riding.
No assembly required: You’ll have no trouble setting it up.
Cons
Not recommended for E-Bikes: if you use an E-Bike, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
Not foldable: you can’t fold this bike bar, so it’s a little less compact than it could be, especially if you’re bringing it with you on your cycle once you arrive at your destination.
This adapter was designed with step-through bikes in mind (step-through bikes lack the top tube of traditional bikes, which is the tube that connects the seat of the bike to the front of the bike, meaning the front of the bike instead slopes downward).
Installation of this rack is about as easy as it could be, with no tools or assembly required. The rack’s built-in internal springs mean that your bike will be perfectly secure during travel. Its durable plastic coated hooks allow for prolonged use without your bike frame suffering any scuffs or scratches.
Pros
Universal fit: While it was designed for step-through bikes, this adapter bar fits any bike frame (excluding E-Bikes), so it’s a safe bet regardless of what you’re riding.
No assembly required: You’ll have no trouble setting it up.
Cons
Not recommended for E-Bikes: if you use an E-Bike, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
Not foldable: you can’t fold this bike bar, so it’s a little less compact than it could be, especially if you’re bringing it with you on your cycle once you arrive at your destination.
Designed for non-conventional bike frames, this adapter is a top tube equivalent with no assembly required. Its internal spring mechanism means it’ll have no problem staying in place, and the plastic coated hooks protect the bike’s finish.
This bar is made for bikes with a distance of between 18 and 27 inches between the seat post and the handlebar stem. As well as non-conventional frames like step-through frames, BMX frames, kid’s frames, and women’s frames, it also works with traditional suspension frames.
Pros
Lifetime guarantee: If at any point in the product’s life-span the product fails due to a technical fault, you’ll be entitled to a replacement, free of charge. This is only available to those who buy the bike from the manufacturer, and not from a third party seller.
Easy installation: You’ll have no trouble getting the bar mounted.
Cons
No lock mechanism: The spring mechanism is perfectly safe, but some prefer to have a lock.
The Saris Beam bike adapter is ideal for mounting your bike either to a car rack or a home storage unit, and it could not be easier to install, thanks to its secure snapping feature.
It’s designed to act as a top tube for any kind of bike, regardless of frame.
Pros
Easy to install: There should be no issues getting this adapter set up.
Cons
Pricier than alternatives: There’s not a whole lot to justify its price.
This bar features a push-to-operate pin with an interlocking gate that keeps each clamp shut tight. Its weight is about standard at 35 pounds, and the coats are plastic coated to prevent the bike frame getting any scratches.
Pros
Reliable locks: The adapter is guaranteed to stay in place.
Cons
Doesn’t fit kids bikes with wheels smaller than 20 inches: There are other bar adapters that are more versatile.
Buyer’s Guide
There are a number of factors to consider when in the market for a bike frame adapter bar. The following will outline the most important of these factors, in order to help you decide which adapter bar is for you.
Size
The first factor to consider is the size of your bike. Luckily, many bike frame adapters are adjustable, meaning that even if they’re not the right length for your bike, you can amend this. Some adapters on the market feature a telescoping tube, which you can adjust using a spring-loaded button.
If you don’t get an adapter bar that’s adjustable, you need to make sure that it’s the right length for your bike- meaning the right length for the distance between your headset and your seat.
Ease Of Use
If you’re going to be taking it off and on a lot throughout the day, it’s important that your bike frame adapter bar is easy to install. The most ideal kinds of adapters have a clamp or locking mechanism.
Naturally, it’s very important that your bike is firmly in place, so you should be picking a bike frame adapter with the correct hole size in order to ensure this.
Durability
Another thing to look out for is durability. The bike frame adapter bars that are made with steel, aluminum, or carbon fiber tend to be the most durable.
An adapter bar is essentially doing the job of a traditional bike’s top tube, so it makes sense that they’re designed to be as durable as possible.
Coating
It’s ideal to get a bike frame adapter with anti-rust coating, because the coating won’t come off easily, and thus your bike will be at less risk of getting scratched. You should also be looking for a bar that has vinyl or plastic coated hooks, which will further protect your bike’s finish.
Capacity
Adapter bars can have varying capacities (some even hold more than one bike), so it’s important to be sure whether your bike will fit before buying one.
This is possibly the most important factor to consider, because if your bike’s too heavy for an adapter, it could end up falling off while in transit.
Versatility
Most adapters are designed to work with all frames of bikes, but it’s something to look out for regardless.
Warranty
Some bike frame adapter bars feature lifetime warranties, like the Allen tension bar. This tends to be a strong indicator of the adapter’s quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use A Bike Frame Adapter Bar With An E-Bike?
It depends on the adapter, but most E-Bikes weigh more than 45 pounds, meaning they’ll be too heavy for a bike frame adapter bar to do its job.
Generally you should be using a tray rack, rather than an arm style rack, for E-Bikes. Tray racks hold the weight of the bike by the wheels, meaning the bike will be far more secure than if you’re using a bike frame adapter bar.
Can I Ride My Bike With The Bike Frame Adapter Bar Still Attached?
It depends on the manufacturer’s advice, but you should assume that leaving the adapter bar attached while riding the bike will impede your ability to steer.
Even if this wouldn’t be the case, most bike frame adapter bars are very quick and easy to detach, so there’s not really any benefit to leaving it attached, especially considering that if it does impede your steering even a little, you could be putting your safety at risk.
It’s recommended that you take the bar off before riding.
What’s The Difference Between A Step-through Bike And A Step-over Bike?
Step-through bikes, originally designed to help women ride bikes while wearing dresses, consist of a lower frame than traditional bikes, rather than the tube connecting the bike seat to the front of the seat.
The stepping pad is also lower. Step-through bikes are most recommended for general every-day activities, but if you’re going to be riding on terrain any more bumpy than a street, you’d be better with a traditional, step-over bike.
The fragile frame wouldn’t fare well on hilly terrain, and could prove dangerous for the rider.
Step-through bikes are known for their maneuverability; you can hop on and off the bike with minimal effort. They’re also far more comfortable than traditional bikes, which is another reason they’re so ideal for everyday routine.
Their main downside is that, compared to step-over bikes, they tend to be quite a bit heavier. This is because they’re made of more durable components, in order to compensate for the lack of the top bar that step-over bikes have.
They’re also far less capable of high speeds than step-over bikes- unless, of course, they’re electric, and many step-through bikes are. Another downside to step-through bikes is their lack of customization opportunities.
Due to the structure of their frames, there’s very little room for accessories, unlike with step-over frames.
Conclusion
Bike adapters tend to be ideal for any type of frame, no matter how non-conventional.
Our list of adapter bars should feature something for you- although while there are a lot of factors to consider when in the market for one, there don’t tend to be a vast amount of differences between different brands.
Hi, my name is Andrew Daniels, and I have been cycling as a hobby for the last 10 years. I love all types of cycling, and it is one of my biggest passions. The Monster Cycle will be an extension of my passion for cycling, and everything related to it.
I will be focusing on the best accessories to purchase, and the best bikes. In addition to this, I will be providing informational content to answer any questions or queries surrounding cycling that you may have.
