Allen Sports Trunk Bike Rack Review | BikesRacks

Published by Bike Scientist on

Are you looking for a trunk bike rack? The Allen Sports Premier bike rack is a trunk mount rack that might suit your requirements. Before you purchase a rack, you should comprehend your requirements and the compatibility of your vehicle with the bike rack. This review analyses the Premier bike rack and rates based on rack score. We will also analyze which kind of user requires it.

In case you want to compare more racks, go through our list of 2022 hitchless bike racks for cars and SUVs

Allen Sports Bike Rack Model S102

Allen Sports Premier Bike Rack

Trunk bike rack

  • Maximum Bikes: 4
  • Rack weight: 11
  • Hitchless
  • Price: $110
  • Material: Alloy Steel

Pros of Premier trunk bike rack

  • Can be set up quickly 
  • Foldable 
  • Quick secure cradle straps
  • Feet are positioned wide enough to carry load stably 
  • Compatible with many vehicles
  • Individual tie-down cradles for each bike 
  • Tool-free installation
  • Lateral straps for increased stability
  • No need to remove the front tire 
  • Car hitch not required

Cons of Premier trunk bike rack

  • Installation can be tricky for some vehicles
  • No way to lock the rack or bikes
  • Straps get loose after some time 

Rack score 

The rack score (R score) is a rating score on a scale of 10 that we have formulated to compare different bike racks. We understand that selecting the perfect bike rack can be tricky. There are a lot of bike racks out there that meet different requirements. The R score will help you compare the different aspects of bike racks such as features, security, the value of money, aesthetics, and compatibility. We rate all these aspects on a scale of 10 and then come up with a total R score. Since we do all the research, these R scores can save you time and help you find the right bike rack. 

Brand value of Allen Sports

In 1967, Dick Allen founded Allen Sports in his garage after creating a prototype bike carrier in his spare time at his Lincoln, Massachusetts store. Since its inception, the firm has been dedicated to manufacturing the highest-quality, most user-friendly bike racks and bicycle-related items on the market. Allen quickly took his concept to market and, by 1971, had developed a major profile for his product. 

Today, the family-owned firm holds over a dozen patents, runs four warehouses around the country, and six factories overseas, and distributes items in nations such as the United States, Canada Mexico, and China. We give Allen an R score of 9. 

Features of Allen Premier Bike Rack 

The Premier rack is made for Sedans, Hatchbacks, minivans, and SUVs. It is made with alloy steel and the two-bike version weighs around 11 pounds. The rack is foldable which means you can store it easily. The rack can be set up quickly and is installed with the help of straps. The Allen Sports bike rack is completely constructed and its unique design enables for quick setup. When not in use, the rack clicks into place and maybe folded entirely flat by one hand.

Foldable rack
Foldable rack

It can accommodate 2 bikes on 12 inches long carry arms. The maximum load-carrying capacity is 70 pounds. It has individual dual compound tie-down cradles for each bike that secure bicycles, while two unique lower straps keep bottom hooks in place while in use. It also has extended automobile pads to aid in the distribution of bicycle loads and the protection of vehicles.  The vehicle is protected by a padded bottom frame, and there are straps on the left and right sides for lateral stability.

Individual Tie-down Cradles
Individual Tie-down Cradles

The rubber cradle straps are UV resistant and compatible with a variety of tube diameters swiftly holding your bike in place. The tie-downs come with a plush cradle bed to safeguard your bicycles during shipment. For these features, we give it an R score of 8. 

Aesthetics of Premier trunk mount rack

The aesthetics of a bike rack can enhance or ruin the overall look of the vehicle. This bike rack is available in black color and looks good on the back of cars. It is 23.62 inches long, 13.58 inches wide, and 4.72 inches high. The rack has an appealing overall look and for that, we give it an R score of 9.

Are the Customers of Allen Premier Satisfied? 

Customer satisfaction is very important when it comes to bike racks. Even if the rack has outstanding features, the real evaluation of a product is done by users. The Premier has been rated on Amazon with 4.4 out of 5 stars. This shows an overall good response from customers. From a total of 2,219 global ratings, 84% of people have liked the product and have rated it with 4 or 5 stars. For this response, we give it an R score of 8. 

Does the Allen Sports Bike Rack have Value for Money? 

While rating the price of a product we focus more on the value of money and see if the rack is worth the price. Paying more for a bike rack is not a waste if you are also getting high value out of the product. This bike rack from Allen costs around $110. The rack has the capacity for two bikes which brings the cost per bike down to around $55. The price is low but this model does not provide any locking system. (R score 8)

Is Premier Rack Secure?

The security feature of a bike rack is essential. If you spend good money on a rack it should come with a locking system for the rack and bikes. Because without security, you will not be comfortable while you’re on a trip. Thus we give high regard to this aspect of bike racks. Since there is no way to lock Premier on the vehicle or the bikes to the rack, we give it an R score of 6. 

Capacity and Compatibility

The Allen Premier rack comes in 2, 3, and 4-bike versions. It is compatible with most bikes but loading a few bikes can be a bit challenging because of the unique frame design. For instance, it can hold women’s bikes but they might not be very stable. In such a case you can get an adapter bar from Allen. The bar will attach to the bikes with dropped center tubes and secure them. 

The rack is also compatible with many vehicles including hatchbacks, sedans, minivans, and SUVs. The rack is highly adjustable. For this, we give it an R score of 8.

You can check the compatibility of your vehicle from the rack finder on Allen’s website. We have done the research for some latest car models to see if they are compatible with the Allen Sports bike rack model S102. The rack can fit on 

  • Audi A3 Quattro models of 2018, 2020, and 2022
  • 2018 Audi A4 Avant
  • 2018 Acura MDX, RDX, and TLX
  • 2020 Acura ILX, MDX, RLX, and TLX
  • 2022 Acura ILX and TLX
  • 2018 BMW 1-7 Series and Alpina B6 xDrive Gran Coupe
  • 2018 Cadillac ATS, CT6, and CTS
  • 2022 Cadillac CT4, CT5, XT4, and XT5
  • 2022 Ford Mustang and Puma
  • 2022 Honda Civic, Accord, and Odyssey
  • 2022 Maserati Ghibli and Quattroporte
  • 2022 Mercedes-Benz A and Mercedes-Benz CLA
  • 2022 Subaru Impreza and Subaru Legacy
  • 2022 Suzuki Baleno, Suzuki Celerio, Suzuki Vitara, and Suzuki S-Cross
  • 2022 Toyota 4Runner and Toyota Corolla
  • 2022 Hyundai Elantra and Hyundai Accent

There are also some cars that are not compatible with the Premier rack, these include

  • 2022 Nissan Titan and Nissan Rogue
  • 2022 Porche Macan 
  • Sabura Ascent
  • 2022 Toyota Highlander, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra, and Toyota Sienna

Premier trunk bike rack

Conclusion 

In short, if you want a bike rack for your hatchback, sedan, or SUV, and you want to carry two bikes on it, then the Allen Sports bike rack is a good choice. It also scores high as compared to other trunk bike racks with an R score of 8.05. You can get it at a reasonable price but keep in mind that you will have to compromise on security or use locking cables to protect your bikes.  

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Bike Scientist

S Chaudhry is the founder and the first writer for BikesRacks. He covers almost all the bike reviews after doing a lot of secondary and primary (hands on) research on the products. Apart from that he is the author of a number of how to do articles as well on the website. He is an avid road bike cyclists who is dealing in a lot of areas related to biking. Currently he has gained experience fixing bikes to retailing accessories related to them as well. His eventual goal is to build an authority site on cycling and also become a profession bike fitter.