Q: Why pick the Boa over the other bike mounts?
A: The Boa is the most economical bike mount that we produce. If you have the correct distance between the crossbars then it is a very good choice.
Q: I already have a Boa, but how can I make it work on my new smaller car? (crossbars less than 81.3 cm (32”) apart)
A: The Boa can be converted in a Copperhead simply by adding a longer wheeltray and a new Rattle wheel strap. Then the bike mount will work on crossbar spreads as little as 40.6 cm (16”). Check out the page for the Copperhead for more information about the wheeltray replacement part. You will also need a new Rattler strap.
Q: What maintenance do I need to do?
A: Maintenance is important to keep it working properly and to help it last longer. Apply grease to nuts, screws, and bolts. Lubricate locks with graphite. Remove the rack when not in use. Clean the rack periodically, especially in marine environments and where road salt is used.
Q: I need to carry several bikes. Can I place bikes on the car backwards to get more space?
A: Yes, just remember to turn the bike around before riding it.
Q: Does it carry all bikes?
A: The Boa carries just about any bike with a quick release wheel skewer. However, there are a few exceptions where one of our other mounts should be used instead. These exceptions include, but are not limited to, bikes with triple clamp forks or forks with dropout spacing (the distance between the forks at the tips) other than 100mm.
Q: How much space does it need?
A: In general, you will need about 12 inches of crossbar per bike when mounting them alternately front and rear facing. Barring any other restriction the practical limit is usually 4 bikes.
Q: How many can I carry?
A: That depends on the bikes and vehicle. First check the Fit List to see if there are any specific limitations for your vehicle (using the online Fit List bike mounts may not be offered or a load limit will be stated in the notes at the end of the process).
Q: Can I us this bike mount with a factory rack?
A: Fork style mounts will not mount directly to factory crossbars. The bike mount gets its side to side stability from the crossbar. Fork mounts stress crossbars more than upright styles because of their narrowness. Through testing we have that factory rack crossbars are not strong enough to handle the stress generated by fork mounts.
Q: What crossbar spread do I need for the Boa to work?
A: The Boa’s unique wheel tray pivots around the bar to allow its use on crossbar spreads from 81.3 cm (32”) - 127 cm (50”).
Q: Can I use the Boa on a loadwarrior or megawarrior?
A: Yes, you will need to use the tube sleeve included with the product…see instructions.