7 Best Mini Cooper Bike Racks In 2024 (Everything You Need To Know)

Mini Coopers are a fun compact car to zip around in and take out for a road trip. Due to its size, you may think it is more difficult when looking at bike racks that will work on a Mini Cooper. And, you might be right. Fortunately, we’ve gone ahead and done the heavy lifting for you. After checking out all the bike racks that work for Mini Coopers, we’ve put together a list of the 7 best bike racks for Mini Coopers. Check it out below.

Our Top 3 Choices

The Saris Bones Trunk Bike Rack is our #1 pick Mini Cooper Bike Rack. The overall functionality of this bike rack puts it at the very top of our list as the best bike rack. Not only will the Saris Bones work for two bikes, making it perfect for you and your partner to go on an adventure, but it does so with ease. It is very light in weight, which makes it easy to take on and off as needed. The design also makes loading the bikes onto the rack easy to do. While we have a lot of great options for racks in our list, when evaluating the best bike racks out there, the Saris Bones is the best bike rack for the Mini Coopers.

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7 Best Mini Cooper Bike Racks

1. Saris Bones Bike Rack – Top Pick: Mini Cooper Bike Rack

The Saris Bones is our top pick as the best Mini Cooper bike rack. An easy to use bike rack, we really like the functionality this trunk rack offers. To start, we should point out that it’s a very lightweight rack at just 11 lbs. But just because it is light in weight doesn’t mean it isn’t a heavy duty bike rack. In fact, this rack can carry two bikes on the back of your Mini Cooper, up to 35 lbs. per bike. That should be more than adequate to haul around most bikes.

The design of this rack is an arc shape, which helps to separate the bikes on different levels. This unique design combined with the rubber feet help protect the paint on your bike frame. The loading and unloading of bikes onto this bike rack is also very easy to do. The Saris features rust-free injection-molded arms and legs that are built with 100% recyclable materials. This eco-friendly construction also means it will be a durable rack you can use for many years. The last big selling feature of this bike rack for a Mini Cooper is its affordability compared to other bike racks. It comes equipped with some really great features at an incredible value.

Features:

2 bike capacity up to 35 lbs. per bike, rust-free injection-molded arms and legs, arc shape

Pros

• Easy to install
• Durable
• Great value
• Lightweight

Cons

• Not easy trunk access since it attaches to trunk

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2. SeaSucker Talon Bike Rack – Best for 1 Bike

The SeaSucker Talon is our favorite single bike rack for Mini Coopers. If you only need to carry one bike, this has everything you will want and need in a bike rack. It’s a fork mount style rack that uses three heavy duty vacuum cups to hold it on the roof, trunk, or back glass of your Mini Cooper. We should point out that each vacuum cup has a 210 lb. pull strength rating, so you know this rack and your bike are not going anywhere. Though they are strong, the vacuum cups will not damage your car.

The bike rack has a rear wheel strap that secures the back tire onto the rack. And something we really like about this rack is that it is really light. At just 6 lbs., it is incredibly easy to take on and off, making it a great rack for travel since it can also fit into a backpack or carry on bag. All SeaSucker Talon bike racks are made in the USA, where their customer service is also located.

Features:

1 bike capacity, fork mount style, vacuum cups, made in USA, rear wheel strap

Pros

• Good for travel
• Lightweight
• Sturdy

Cons

• Expensive

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3. YAKIMA FrontLoader – Best Roof Mounted Rack

The Yakima FrontLoader is a simple to use, secure bike rack for your Mini Cooper. This roof mounted bike rack holds one bike upright by the bike’s front and rear wheel. The nice thing about this design is that there is no contact with the frame, so a carbon fiber bike or bike with a custom painted frame will not have any damage to it. Also, you don’t have to remove the front wheel since it carries your complete bike.

When you go to install the Yakima FrontLoader onto your Mini Cooper, you won’t have to assemble a thing or need any tools to install the bike rack. It has a universal built-in hardware that fits round, square, factory, and aerodynamic crossbars right out of the box. Most bikes will fit on the bike rack, including disc brakes, thru axles, and full suspension bikes. It fits 20″ to 29″ wheels and tires up to 3″. You will need to have a roof rack to use this bike rack with a crossbar spread between 16” and 48”. Two SKS locks can be used to lock your bike to the mount and the mount to the base rack, but you will have to purchase them separately.

Features:

1 bike capacity, roof mount, universal built-in hardware

Pros

• No frame contact
• Fully assembled
• Fits most bikes

Cons

• Have to purchase locks separately

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4. Thule T2 Bike Rack – Best Hitch Rack

If you are looking for a hitch mounted bike rack, the Thule T2 Pro XT is great for Mini Coopers. As a platform style bike rack, you can easily load and unload bikes onto this bike rack. And because the bikes are secured without frame contact with the frame-free ratcheting arm, you are safe to carry carbon frames or any bike frame that you just don’t want to take the chance of having the paint chipped. You can carry two bikes on this bike rack, up to 60 lbs. per bike. Pretty much any bike will work on this bike rack, including mountain bikes, electric bikes and fat bikes since it fits 20-29” wheels and up to 5” tires without adapters.

This hitch mount rack uses a tool free auto attach system, so the installation is a breeze with this bike rack. For a simple way to get trunk access to your vehicle, the rack tilts down so it’s easy to do. And, when you aren’t using it, just fold it up. It’s that simple. There is also an integrated 24” cable lock to secure your bikes to the rack. When you aren’t using it, the lock retracts into the ratcheting arm. The only real drawback with this hitch mounted rack is that it weighs 51 lbs., substantially more than the others in our list. But if that’s not a concern for you, then this is really a great choice out of the options we have listed in our guide.

Features:

2 bike capacity up to 60 lbs. per bike, hitch mount, auto attach system, integrated cable lock

Pros

• Easy trunk access
• No frame contact
• Works with most bikes

Cons

• Heavy

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5. YAKIMA HalfBack – Best Trunk Mount Rack

Another good bike carrier from Yakima, the HalfBack is a durable, easy to use trunk mounted bike rack. You can easily carry two bikes on your Mini Cooper with this rack, and it also comes in an option to carry three bikes. The installation of this bike rack is quick and simple with its interlocking HUB that aligns key adjustment points and the four strap attachment. Since this rack is a hanging style, you will want to make sure that your bike frames will work with this rack style.

The frame is a sturdy, high quality design with a high-gloss finish. The bikes are secured with ZipStrips that are completely removable, and are protected with soft padding. This bike rack weighs 21 lbs., so it’s on the lighter side, making it easy enough to remove. A fun feature of this bike rack is the built-in bottle opener, for the moments when you need it after a long, fun ride. If you want to lock up your bikes, you will need to purchase a lock separately since there is no security that comes with it or is built in.

Features:

Carries 2 bikes, interlocking HUB, four strap attachment, hanging style, ZipStrips, built in bottle opener

Pros

• Easy to install
• Durable
• Option to carry 3 bikes

Cons

• Have to purchase lock separately

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6. Hollywood Bike Rack – Best for 3 Bikes

The Hollywood Racks Over-The-Top Trunk Mounted Bike Rack does exactly as the name suggests. The frame is adjustable with 3 different types of attachment straps that go over the top of the vehicle to accommodate a variety of vehicle types, including Mini Coopers. We like this option for carrying three bikes with a maximum capacity of 35 lbs. per bike.

It’s nice that this bike rack comes out of the box fully assembled so you don’t have to do much work to get this installed and the bikes loaded for an adventure. With its design, you will want to keep in mind that kids bikes, ladies from bikes, and some mountain bikes may require a top tube adapter to fit them on this bike rack. Once you have your bikes on the rack, they are secured with rubber anti-sway bike cradles and EPDM rubber straps. The anti-sway cradles will keep your bikes separated and the integrated tie-down strap provides additional security. When you aren’t using this bike rack, it folds flat for convenient storage.

Features:

Carries three bikes up to 35 lbs. per bike, anti-sway cradles, EPDM rubber straps

Pros

• Fully assembled
• Folds flat
• Adjustable frame

Cons

• May require top tube adapter for kids and ladies bikes

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7. Allen Sports Bike Rack – Best Budget Option

The Allen Sports Premier Trunk Mounted Bike Rack is a sturdy rack that is very budget friendly. Apart from its appealing price, it’s also very user friendly. It comes fully assembled and can be set up on your vehicle in mere seconds. This bike rack has 12 inch long carry arms that can hold up to 2 bikes, with a maximum capacity of 70 lbs. The arms can accommodate a variety of bicycle frames and sizes, including most adult and kids bikes.

The dual compound tie down cradles individually secure the bikes, and the 2 sure strap lower straps keep the bottom hooks in place. Your bike and vehicle paint will be protected with the extra large car pads.

Features:

2 bike capacity up to 70 lbs., trunk mount, 12 inch carry arms, dual compound tie down cradles, extra large car pads

Pros

• Fully assembled
• Works with most adult and kids bikes
• User friendly

Cons

• Bikes sit close together

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Mini Cooper Bike Rack Buyer’s Guide

When you are evaluating the best rack for your car, there are several things we think you should consider, including the type of racks, weight, durability, and security.

Type of Racks

When it comes to the best Mini Cooper bike rack, the two most common types of racks are roof racks and trunk racks, but if your Mini Cooper has a hitch, then a hitch rack is also a good choice.

Roof Racks

Roof Racks are a popular choice for a lot of people since they are so versatile. Roof racks can carry your bikes on top of Mini Coopers, as well as other things like kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, and more. It’s also very convenient since it utilizes the roof of the car, not blocking any access to the rear of the vehicle. The disadvantage to roof racks is that because they are on the roof of your Mini Cooper, you will have to lift your bikes up on the top of your car. Check out our post on the best roof mounted bike racks here.

Trunk Racks

Trunk racks attach like it sounds, to the trunk of the vehicle. It is secured with hooks and straps to the car and usually holds the bikes on with arms. While they are lower than a roof rack, making them easier to get to, they do block your vehicle trunk so accessing it will be more challenging.

Hitch Racks

Hitch racks are great to use if your Mini Cooper has a hitch receiver, since hitch racks attach to the hitch receiver. If your vehicle doesn’t have a hitch, you could also have one installed. You may want to read our post on the best bike hitch racks. 

Weight

It’s important to think about the weight of bike racks as well as the bikes you are carrying on your car. Mini Coopers are compact cars so you certainly don’t want to choose a bike rack that is going to be really heavy and exceed the load capacity. The good news is that there are a lot of lightweight bike racks out there, including the ones on our list. Any of the ones we have featured will be light enough to work on your Mini Cooper with no problem.

Durability

When it comes to bike racks, you want to make sure that you select one that is durable and sturdy enough to last a long time, particularly if you spend a lot of money on it. A high quality construction is important to make sure that your Mini Cooper bike rack will be one that keeps your bikes secure and safe while on the road.

Security

Not only do you want to make sure that your bikes will stay secure to your bike rack, but you also want to make sure that the bike rack stays secure to your Mini Cooper. Some bike racks come with locking mechanisms like cable straps that allow you to lock up your bikes when you leave your car. If the bike rack you choose to purchase doesn’t, then we suggest you purchase one to keep your bikes secure.

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FAQs

Can you put a bike rack on a Mini Cooper?

Yes, you can put a bike rack on a Mini Cooper. The best bike rack to consider for a Mini is a roof rack or trunk rack, but if you have a hitch on your vehicle, then a hitch rack will work great, too.

Can you put a bike rack on a small car?

Absolutely! You just need to make sure that your vehicle can handle the weight and size of the rack you are going to purchase.

What is the easiest bike rack to use?

Due to its design, the Saris Bones Trunk Bike Rack Carrier is the easiest to use. It is lightweight so you can get it on and off your car easily, as well as load bikes onto it with no problem.

Are trunk bike racks safe?

Yes, they are safe. A trunk mounted rack is usually secured with hooks and straps.

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Final Thoughts

Our list is comprised of a lot of great bike racks, but overall, the Saris Bones Trunk Bike Rack has the durability and design that will last you a long time and make you want to get out and ride as often as possible. It is the best bike rack for Mini Coopers. We like the idea of being able to haul not just your bike, but a friend’s bike as well. This is easy to do with the Saris Bones rack. And with such a light weight, you will have no trouble taking it off and even packing it to travel with if you are headed out for a serious adventure. At a great price, we think it offers a lot of value.