Thule Epos 2 rear-mounted bike rack – Universal rear-mounted bike carrier

With the Thule Epos 2, the Swedish brand offer a collapsible, hitch rack for 2 bikes, promising to accommodate frames of all shapes and sizes, and leave nothing to be desired. We put the € 1,099.95 Thule Epos 2 to the test to find out if it can deliver and really is the one for all.

Right from the get-go we can tell you that the Thule Epos 2 is the coolest hitch bike rack that we’ve ever had the pleasure of testing. In our group test of 5 hitch racks, we didn’t have a winner. Because we found at least one flaw on each of the 5 models we reviewed, we couldn’t recommend one of the hitch racks above all others. Not even Thule, as with the Thule EasyFold XT2, the arms weren’t compatible with all eMTBs. Back then, Thule promised that their next generation of bike racks would offer more flexible fastening systems. They delivered on this promise with the new Thule Epos. We’re thrilled!

If you’ve ever tried to put two eMTBs together on a hitch bike rack, you’ll know that either the frame tubes are too thick, so the clamp can’t grip it securely, or the arm is too short to reach the frame. In addition, the rails are often too narrow to accommodate wide mountain bike tires. Thule promise to put an end to this with the Epos.

Thule Epos 2 hitch bike carrier in review

Thanks to the innovative clamping system, you can transport bikes of all sizes, from a kid’s bike to your gravel racer, or a 30 kg eMTB. The extendable and pivoting arms with rubber straps can be attached to any point of the frame (top tube, down tube, or seat tube), or to the rear wheel, making them truly universal. Caution: Do not clamp it to the front wheel! On the predecessor model, the Thule EasyFold XT2, the arms were too short for some frames, but that’s not the case with the Thule Epos 2, regardless of the type and size of bike you’re hauling. The steel-reinforced straps on the end of the arms are quite long, secured with a lockable plastic ratchet. Despite the reinforcement, the material of the straps is very soft and pliable, allowing Thule to certify the carrier for use with sensitive carbon frames.

But first let’s look at the general handling. The Thule Epos 2 weighs just over 17 kg and can be folded down to a compact 69×27×73 cm, so it can be easily stowed in the boot or your garage. The carrying handle proves to be very convenient, allowing one person to carry the rack, place it on the tow hitch, and lock it in place. The tire rails are sufficiently long: Thule specify a maximum wheelbase of up to 1,350 mm. According to Thule, the rails should also play well with tires up to 3″ wide. We put it to the test and encountered no issues with common eMTB tires. The spacing between the rails is quite generous at 25 cm, putting it at the upper end of the hitch bike racks that we’ve tested to date, and almost excluding the possibility of the bikes colliding or rubbing. The wheel straps are long enough to secure even the widest and highest volume tires. The rack can be tipped by 50 degrees while attached to the tow hitch, which should be enough to open the rear hatch of a station wagon. The foot pedal to release the tipping mechanism of the carrier remains easy to use even when it’s loaded up with two bikes.

While we typically recommend taking a photo after loading your bikes so that you know how to configure the arms and the bikes the next time around, this isn’t necessary with the Thule Epos 2. No matter which bike you load up first and which way around you place it, the bikes always fit and can be clamped down very easily thanks to the widely adjustable arms.

Among the optional extras, Thule offer a Foldable Loading Ramp for € 69.95, the Thule Epos Bike Repair Holder for € 69.95, and an additional 150 cm Thule High-Grade Lock for € 59.95. If you want to transport 3 bicycles, Thule offer the Epos 3 for € 1,199.

With the Thule Epos 2, the Swedish brand have done a great job in every respect. The simple installation of the rack on the tow hitch and the cleverly designed, widely adjustable fastening system makes it quick and easy to load up any bike. It’s the best bike carrier we’ve tested to date.

You can find more about at thule.com

If you are interested, you are welcome to take a look at our rear carrier comparison test.

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Words: Manne Schmitt Photos: Mike Hunger Manne Schmitt