Kuat Transfer Review

Kuat is well known for its quality, and often very expensive, bike racks. We were intrigued by the much more reasonably priced Transfer, a platform hitch model that costs less than half of their high-end models. With a price that much lower, we kept our expectations similarly low but were pleasantly surprised by a relatively user-friendly and good-looking rack, albeit in a much less refined package. It does not feel as rugged or high quality as its much higher-priced siblings, but the price is right, and the basics of how it holds your bikes are there. This is a fine entry-level platform bike rack, but those looking for high-end Kuat quality will still need to pay the high-end price to get it.

Performance Comparison

Kuat issued a recall of this rack last year for an issue that could cause it to lower unexpectedly while carrying bikes. The Transfer V2 has replaced the V1 we originally reviewed and has had some significant changes. The steel frame was replaced with Aluminum, the weight capacity increased from 40 pounds per bike to 60 pounds per bike, and there is a new universal hitch that can work in any sized receiver. The rack folds to a smaller size, can accommodate larger bikes, and now has an integrated cable lock.

Tested and Rated

Testing gear is something we're passionate about, and the integrity of our reviews is of utmost importance. This is why we do not accept free products in exchange for reviews. The internet is full of product reviews that are little more than paid advertisements. At GearLab, we buy all of the products that we test, and we're not afraid to tell you if they suck. That isn't the case with the Transfer rack, this is an innovative product with an attractive price tag. I didn't find the rack as aesthetically pleasing as some of Kuat's higher-priced racks, but it was incredibly functional.

Ease of Everyday Use

The Transfer is well suited to everyday use. You can attach this rack to your vehicle and leave it between uses so it's always ready when you need it. When not in use, you can position the rack vertically; press the convenient foot pedal tilt release to lower it to its horizontal position. Loading the bikes is very easy thanks to the low loading height and wheel clamp design. Fold the clamp arm out, place the bike's wheels in the wheel trays, then secure it by pulling down on the ratcheting front wheel clamp and the rear wheel ladder strap.

The Transfer has a small foot pedal located by the hinge that connects the receiver arm to the main support arm of the rack. This foot pedal is quite easy to press when the rack is in the vertical position, it is a bit out of the way, however, when the rack is in the horizontal position or when it's loaded with bikes. This design is better than the difficult-to-reach release knob on the Yakima HoldUp but not quite as convenient as the release handles found on the Thule T2 Pro XT or the RockyMounts MonoRail. The rack does articulate down at an angle, making it easier to open the rear door or tailgate of your vehicle even while bikes are on the rack.

One thing that testers noticed about the Transfer compared to other platform hitch mount racks is that it works better with backup cameras than most. The U-shaped support arm is open in the middle, while most other racks have a single main support arm that largely blocks the view of a backup camera. Testers found this to be true both when the rack was folded up and not in use, as well as when bikes were loaded on it.

Ease of Removal and Storage

The Transfer is relatively easy to remove and store, but like most platform hitch mount racks, it suffers a little in this metric due to its size and shape. Attaching and removing the rack is similar to most other racks with a threaded hitch pin and requires a wrench and bending down low to the ground. While tightening a threaded hitch pin with a wrench is quite easy, racks like the Thule T2 Pro XT make this process even easier with their tool-free stinger pin and tightening knob design.

At only 35lbs 8oz (V2 is 37lbs), it's among our test's lightest weight platform models. It's also a bit smaller than many of its competitors, with a width of only 47 inches, so once removed, it takes up a little less space in your storage space compared to other wider racks like the RockyMounts MonoRail, which is 56 inches wide. Like most similar racks, it's still quite sizeable and somewhat awkward to store compared to a trunk mount rack that can fold down nice and small for convenient storage.

Versatility

The Transfer scores quite well for its versatility. It has a convertible system that makes it compatible with 1.25" and 2" receivers. The wheel trays are well designed and can hold everything from skinny road tires all the way up to 4.5" fat bike tires, although you'll need to purchase the Phat Bike Kit to secure the latter. It can also clamp down on wheel sizes from small 20" BMX bikes up to 29" plus-sized mountain bike tires, thanks to the large range of adjustments in the clamp arms. It secures the bikes with no frame contact, so there is no fear of damaging expensive carbon frames or compatibility issues with oddly shaped tubing. It has a 40lb maximum weight per bike, so it'll be fine for all but the heaviest downhill or e-bikes.

Ease of Assembly

The Transfer lost some ground to the competition for its time-consuming and relatively involved assembly process. This rack comes completely disassembled, so prepare yourself for a solid 30-45 minutes putting it together before you can start using it. It does come with easy-to-follow instructions and all of the tools you'll need to complete the process; it's just a bit more involved than bolting a couple of trays to a support arm.

Testers felt that assembling the Transfer was reminiscent of putting together a piece of furniture from IKEA. It isn't especially difficult, it just takes a bit of time and making sure you follow the instructions. The assembly is quite different from but similar in scope to that of the Kuat NV 2.0. Racks like the RockyMounts MonoRail and the Kuat Sherpa 2.0 also require some assembly but it is much easier and less involved than the Transfer.

Security

Unlike many of the platform bike racks in this review, the Transfer doesn't come with locks included. There's not much in the way of security for either the rack itself or your bikes unless you purchase the lock kit or some sort of aftermarket cable lock. Considering the relatively low price of this rack it isn't exactly a surprise that it isn't equipped with locks, but we generally prefer the added value and convenience of locks coming preinstalled and integrated into the design of a rack.

Kuat's Transfer V2 includes a locking cable, and the two-bike model with universal hitch mount is now priced at $489 and can be upgraded to hold 3 or 4 bikes.

Durability

During testing, we didn't experience any durability issues with the Transfer, but one of our tester's biggest complaints about it is that it feels a little cheap. The main receiver tube, support arm, and clamp arms are made from lightweight aluminum tubing, which looks and feels highly durable. The wheel trays and wheel clamps themselves are made from plastic which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the way they interface feels poorly designed. The main hinge of the rack also feels a bit loose and has some play in the system. It never caused any issues, but it doesn't feel nearly as solid as some of the competition. We also noticed that the end caps of the support arms don't line up perfectly, making that a place where water could possibly get in and do some damage over time.

Best Applications

The Transfer is a highly versatile platform hitch mount rack that can carry just about any type of bike and can accommodate wheel sizes ranging from 20" kids bikes up to 29" plus-sized mountain bike tires. It has a low loading height, and it secures the bikes by the wheel with no frame contact, making it easy to load. It also fits both 1.25" and 2" receivers with a unique convertible design. It has a 40lb weight limit per bike, so it'll work fine for most bikes but isn't a great option for heavyweight e-bikes. There are no locks included with the Transfer, so those hoping to secure their bikes will need to buy an aftermarket lock kit or check out a different model.

Value

We feel the Transfer is a relatively good value. It's far less expensive than Kuat's other platform hitch mount racks and it works well with a simple and intuitive design. If you're looking to get a platform hitch mount rack and don't want to pay premium prices, then this is probably the way to go. That said, testers found it to feel a bit cheap and less refined compared to most of the more expensive models in this review, but it works far better than marginally less expensive competitors like the Swagman Chinook, which makes bike frame contact.

Conclusion

The Transfer is a reasonably priced entry-level platform hitch mount rack from Kuat. It lacks the refinement, sturdiness, and security features of models that cost twice as much, but this is a convenient and relatively user-friendly option that won't completely break the bank. If you're looking for a platform bike rack that doesn't make any frame contact and you don't have piles of money to spend, then we feel this is your best option.

Other Versions and Accessories

In addition to the 2-bike model of the Transfer we tested they also make it in 1-bike and 3-bike configurations. They also make a 1-bike add-on that can be used with the 1-bike version to expand its capacity to 2 bikes.

The Pivot, $295, is a fold-out receiver arm that allows you to swing the entire rack to provide better access to the back of your vehicle.