Review: Hollywood Destination E-Bike Rack easily carries 140lbs for 0

Review: Hollywood Destination E-Bike Rack easily carries 140lbs for $700

Published

2 years ago

November 3, 2022

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One thing I love about e-bikes is that you have to put them on bike racks less often. Since they propel you significantly faster and farther than an acoustic bike, you are more likely to just ride to the bike path rather than carry the bike there on your car.

That being said, there are definitely times when taking an e-bike on a car rack is needed, and the extra weight and different geometries of an e-bike make them impossible or dangerous to mount with traditional bike racks. That’s where a new breed of bike racks that blur the lines between bike carriers and motorcycle carriers come in. Today we are looking at the Hollywood Destination E-Bike Rack which comes in at a solid $699.99 price point.

First off, the Hollywood Destination E-Bike Rack comes almost completely assembled in the box and only requires a few minutes to tighten some screws and attach some belts. It fits into the 2-inch trailer hitch which I installed on my Tesla Model Y. While it doesn’t offer any pass-through lighting (nor is it legally obligated to) it does offer a myriad of safety features that will keep you from pinching off a finger.

The main thing I notice here is the quality, heavy duty parts, but it is also nice to see very eco-friendly packaging with only a few plastic zip-ties and baggies. With only a few parts to assemble, it becomes less daunting to put it together, and my teenage son and I had it attached to the car in 15 minutes.

You’ll really notice the extra heft vs. a traditional bike rack, even a four-slot acoustic bike rack. At 46lbs, it isn’t trivial to insert into the trailer hitch, but probably my favorite part about this hitch and the biggest upgrade vs. my previous bike rack is the patented “no wobble hitch system.” That is a fancy term for bolt tightener, and it made a big difference vs. my old bike rack, which would wobble when we drove.

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The kit also includes an easily storable ramp for getting heavy e-bikes off and on the rack. Below, I am putting the Luna X-2 (which weighs about 42 lbs) on the rack.

To be honest, I’m not going to use the telescoping ramp because I’m able to lift most e-bikes the three feet off the ground onto and off of the rack, but I imagine smaller folks could find this useful. It would also be useful to me with something like a Sur Ron, though technically the rack is only rated for two 70lb bikes. I unofficially tried with two 100lb Juiced e-bikes, and everything seemed fine. But I’d stick to the specifications on medium to long trips.

The tie downs are super easy to affix, but it was extremely tight getting them around those 20-inch, 4-inch wide fat tire ebikes. I don’t think the small radius of these tires was considered in the design, and I hope to see a future bike rack with either closer clamps or longer belts.

While the tie downs would easily keep the bikes on the rack, the Hollywood Destination e-bike Rack comes with two pole clamps that really keep the whole thing still. I particularly like these because they really allow just about any shape and size of bike to work. However, if you have a carbon bike, like the Luna X-2, you’ll want to affix the clamps to the seat post or some other non-carbon part of the bike.

Hollywood Rack – 180 mile trip NYC to Vermont

Like I said before, the “no wobble hitch system” came in clutch here. Together with the clamps, it really made the ride smooth, and it was easy to forget we were hauling heavy e-bikes. Knowing we’d lose some mileage, we drove slower than usual and only incurred about a 10-ish% range hit vs. our normal trip up there.

Hollywood also offers keyed-alike locking frame and seat post clamps locks that give extra peace of mind when stopping at a restaurant on a trip. When bikes aren’t being driven, the rack folds flat agains the back of the car and also folds out easily for access to the back of the car.

Of course, the Hollywood Destination Rack also works great with acoustic bikes, even XL 29-inchers like the Trek Session 8 downhill bike we use in Vermont. It only takes a minute to pop this thing on there and you are ready to hit the mountains.

Electrek’s Take

I know there are some sleeker bike racks out there from Thule and Yakima which cost up to $1000. But the Hollywood Destination 2 E-Bike Rack really inspires confidence at $699 and features a very sturdy, foldable system and smooth travel with the “no wobble”. If that’s too rich for your blood, they offer $599 and $499 models as well.

Hollywood Destination 2 E-Bike Rack specs:

Capacity: Two bikes (Max. 70 lbs. per bike)
Hitch size: 2” only (Do not use a 1 ¼” – 2” hitch adapter)
Includes a 46″ long ramp.
Maximum bike wheelbase: 50”
Maximum tire width: 4.5”
Includes keyed-alike locking hitch pin and locking frame clamps
“No-Wobble Hitch System” eliminates slack between the receiver and the rack without the use of tools.
Folds flat against car when not in use
Feature’s “Balanced Tilting” with the pivot point between the 2 bikes, making tilting down for cargo door access as easy as it gets
The frame grabbers on this rack can hold step through bikes by the seatpost, therefore Bike Adapters are not needed and should not be used.
Includes optional fixed Frame Grabber to use in place of quick release option
Space between bikes: 11″
Rack weight: 46 lbs.
Limited lifetime warranty
When using on a seat post requirements: Min. 1″ / Max 2″
For step-through bikes: Secure the bicycle by using the racks Frame Grabber around the bikes seat post.
4″ Strap Extension Kits sold separately: STPEXT
Not to be used on front hitches
Not to be used with any 1-1/4″ – 2″ Adapter
Not to be used with any hitch extension longer than 8″
Not to be used on any trailer, fifth wheel, or towed vehicle
CLASS B RV APPROVED ONLY (NOT APPROVED FOR CLASS A OR CLASS C RVS)

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Environment

What makes a Honda a Honda? Prologue engineers help us find out!

Published

3 hours ago

November 16, 2024

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What makes a Honda a Honda? Prologue engineers help us find out!

On today’s informative episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got Honda engineers Jason Hwang and Emilio Sanchez to talk us through some of the things that make the GM Ultium-based Honda Prologue EV feel like a real Honda, and why that matters.

Jason and Emilio talk about some of the choices they made to make the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX feel different from its GM-branded cousins, and explain why this was much more than a case of badge-engineering. Give it a listen, then let us know what you think of the Prologue and ZDX in the comments.

Today’s episode is sponsored by BLUETTI, a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 52% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday sale, now through November 28, and be sure to use promo code BLUETTI5OFF for 5% off all power stations site wide. Learn more by clicking here.

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Environment

The Eastern US’s first CFI-funded EV charging hub comes online

Published

6 hours ago

November 15, 2024

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The Eastern US's first CFI-funded EV charging hub comes online

CF EV charging — Photo: Joint Office of Energy and Transportation

The first EV charging hub funded by the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Program in the Eastern US is now online in Deerfield, Massachusetts.

The town installed the region’s first DC fast chargers (four ports), along with four Level 2 chargers, at 59 North Main Street in South Deerfield.

These new charging stations, funded with $2.46 million from the CFI program, are conveniently located near Interstate 91 in Franklin County, the most rural county in Massachusetts, which serves drivers from Connecticut up to the Canadian border.

The hub also features local and regional bus stops and designated bike lanes with secure onsite bike racks. The chargers are meant to cater to everyone: from local residents and visitors to municipal EVs and commercial vehicles that service the region’s businesses, like those in food and beverage manufacturing.

Gabe Klein, executive director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, sees this as a model for future projects:

Multi-modal charging hubs in communities are key to giving more people the choice to ride and drive electric. The Town of Deerfield is showing leadership in building out convenient charging infrastructure that brings new transportation choices to rural and disadvantaged communities while supporting local commerce.

In recent years, Deerfield has experienced increased climate change-driven flooding from nearby rivers, including the Deerfield River, the Connecticut River, and the Bloody Brook. The project incorporates environmental engineering designed to mitigate and adapt to the effects of flooding and climate, including the installation of permeable asphalt and rain gardens, planting of native trees, grasses, and shrubs, and the creation of new greenspace in the center of Deerfield.

The Biden-Harris administration’s CFI Grant Program is expanding EV infrastructure nationwide. It offers grants for projects that complement and expand upon the initiatives of the NEVI program in urban, rural, and disadvantaged and low-income communities. So far, the CFI Grant Program has allocated over $1 billion to nearly 100 projects across the US, encouraging private investments and expanding the EV charging network to make EV ownership more practical and convenient.

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Environment

Kia’s new low-cost EV4 was just spotted in the US for the first time

Published

6 hours ago

November 15, 2024

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Kia's new low-cost EV4 was just spotted in the US for the first time

Kia’s upcoming EV4 electric sedan was just spotted testing in the US for the first time. The low-cost EV is expected to make its big debut by the end of the year. Here’s a look at the new model.

The EV4 will round out Kia’s new “EVs for all” master plan launched last year. Kia showcased three new models, the EV3, EV4, and EV5, during its first annual EV Day in October 2023.

During the event, Kia outlined its new global strategy to “lead and accelerate the EV revolution” with a wide range of models priced from $30,000 to $80,000.

Kia plans to rapidly expand its lineup with a series of smaller, lower-priced models. It launched the EV9, its first three-row electric SUV, which is already proving to be a hot seller in the US. Starting at under $55,000, the EV9 is still a great deal compared to others in its class, but Kia plans to go even lower.

The EV3 and EV4 are expected to be among the most affordable electric vehicles when they arrive in the US.

Kia’s new EV4 is now testing in the US

Ahead of its official debut, Kia’s new EV4 sedan was recently caught driving on US streets for the first time.

The latest image from KindelAuto doesn’t reveal much more than what’s been shown in the past, but the fact that it’s now testing in the US is significant.

Kia EV4 caught on US streets for the first time (Source: KindelAuto)

Kia’s EV3 is already on sale in Korea, starting at around $30,000 (42.08 million won). Earlier this week, the company said its new compact SUV is now available across Europe, starting at around $38,000 (36,000 euros) with a “segment-leading range” of up to 375 miles (WLTP).

Next up will be the EV4. Kia is expected to officially reveal the new EV by the end of the year, with deliveries starting in 2025. It could be as soon as next week at the 2024 LA Auto Show.

The interior will feature Kia’s advanced new ccNC infotainment system with dual 12.3″ navigation and driver display screens. An otherwise minalimalistic design is expected inside.

Kia’s EV4 will also be available in a hatchback variant. Although the hatch is likely aimed at European buyers, it was also recently spotted testing in the US for the first time.