INNO has been bringing innovatively designed car racks to the market since 2003. It has been competing with other car rack manufacturers by producing high-quality products that can benefit sports enthusiasts. Throughout these years, it has brought premium car and truck bed bike racks one after the other adding to the convenience of users.

The INNO Velo gripper is a type of truck bed bike rack that is available in two models. The INNO RT201 is made for standard pickup trucks while INNO RT202 is designed to fit a pickup truck equipped with a C-channel track system. It comes in 2 sets of three parts that can be easily installed to hold one bike.

Inno Velo Gripper Summary

If you have come this far, you might be wondering if it is a perfect bike rack choice for you. We have rated the features, compatibility, security aesthetics, and other factors by using the Rack score. Read the review below to decide if you should get the INNO Velo gripper truck bed bike rack for your bike(s).

Comparison of INNO Velo gripper models

	INNO RT201	INNO RT202
Type	Truck Bed Bike Rack	Truck Bed Bike Rack
Maximum Bikes	1	1
Rack lock	No	No
Bike lock	No	No
Bike rack weight	4 lb	1 lb
Hitch required	No hitch	No Hitch
Customer Satisfaction	86%	82%
Price	Around $115	Around $95
Rack Score (Overall)	8.35	8.00

Features of INNO Velo gripper truck bed mount rack

When you purchase the Velo gripper, it will come as two main units, two bike rods, two plates, and one hex wrench.  The bike rods and plates attach to the two main units and make two brackets that can grip the bike from two positions. That being said, the bike rack does not need any additional tools for installation. You can use one bracket for a bike but that is not recommended. For stable and upright mounting of the bike, two brackets should be installed.

The only difference between the two models, RT201 and RT202, is the installation mechanism. RT201 fits over the truck bed rail while RT202 slides into the C-channel rail. This makes the RT201 suitable for standard truck beds having truck bed rails. On the other hand, RT202 can only be used for vehicles with a C-channel on the side of the truck bed.

Both models accommodate one bike. Since it only attaches to the sides of the truck bed, you can use a maximum of two Velo grippers at once. The INNO Velo gripper truck bed bike rack can be adjusted according to the height of the bike. You will have to remove the cap on the main unit, place the bike ride according to the bike and attach the cap back. You can lift the bike and place it on the truck bed, strap down the front fork to the first bracket and the seat stay on the other bracket. After adjusting, you will have to tighten the eye bolt to ensure complete installation.

Installation takes a few minutes and you won’t even have to climb up the truck bed. Moreover, you do not have to release the wheel of the bike ensuring hassle-free mounting of the bike. No extra tools or drilling will be required which makes it simple and easy to use. This rack also leaves plenty of free space on the truck bed so you can carry additional cargo on the truck. It also does not interfere with towing through the hitch trailer, which means if you have to carry more than two bikes, you can always go for an additional hitch bike rack. With these features, the INNO Velo gripper earns an R score of 8.

How pleased are the current buyers of the INNO Velo gripper truck bed bike rack?

We believe that customer satisfaction must be reviewed before buying a product. The RT201 has an Amazon rating of 4.4 out of 5. This accounts for a total of 724 global ratings from which, 86% of users have shown satisfaction with the product. This model is also among Amazon’s choices. It gets an R score of 9.

However, the RT202 has a rating of 4.2 out of 5 with 309 global ratings. Of all the users, 82% have expressed their satisfaction with the product. This earns it an R score of 8. 

Is the INNO Velo gripper available at a good price?

Both products have a list price of around $200 but from Amazon, you can get RT201 and RT202 for around $115 and $95 respectively. Both models are a bit expensive considering they only hold a single bike. But if it meets all your requirements, like saving space on the truck bed, for which there is no better alternative, the rack is cost-effective. For the value of money, we give it an R score of 8.

Aesthetics of the INNO Velo gripper

INNO Velo gripper truck bed bike rack is the smallest and probably the lightest bike rack. The compact design gives it an attractive look, unlike other hefty bike racks. This outclass design gives it an R score of 10.

Is INNO a good brand for bike racks?

INNO is a market leader in the roof rack business in Japan. The brand value is high since INNO only brings high-quality tested products to market. Every product is scrutinized for resistance to extreme weather conditions to ensure the safety of your bikes and vehicle. For good brand value, it earns a score of 8.

Capacity and Compatibility

Both models can hold only one bike. Since these bike racks are installed on the sides of the truck bed, only two INNO Velo gripper truck bed bike racks can be installed at once in a pickup truck. But the good thing about it is that it has compatibility with most types of bikes. It can hold beach cruisers, mountain bikes, carbon frames, fat, urban, road, and comfort bikes. It can also hold e-bikes such as Townie and RadCity.

The compatibility with the pick-up truck largely depends on the type of truck you own. If it has a C-channel rail mounted to the sides of the truck bed, you should go for RT202. But a problem with this model is that it does not fit on vehicles without C-channels and even if some vehicles have them, the main unit of RT202 does not fit into their C-channels. It is mostly compatible with:

• Toyota Tacoma models from 2005 onwards
• Silverado 1500
• 2017 Tundra
• 2013 Nissan Titan Pro4x
• 2021 Jeep Gladiator

RT202 is not compatible with:

• Nissan Frontier
• Dodge Dakota truck
• Honda Ridgeline
• 2017 ram 2500

Whereas, RT201 is built as a universal truck bed bike rack, and can be installed on most truck side rails. Such as

• Dodge ram bike rack
• Chevrolet Colorado
• 2008 Ford F-250

RT201 is compatible with most pick-up trucks with which RT202 is not compatible. This gives it an edge and earns it an R score of 8. Whereas RT202 gets an R score of 7. 

How safe are the rack and the bike once mounted?

The biggest downside of using this bike rack is that it does not come with an in-built locking system. You cannot lock the bike because the Velo gripper lacks a lock of its own. We recommend that you find a way to secure the rack and bike on the truck because unmounting the bike and INNO Velo gripper truck bed bike racks is an easy and fast process. This increases the chance of theft. One way to prevent it is to strap the wheels down to the D ring in the truck bed by using a bungee cord or bike lock. Due to this insufficient security system, we give both models an R score of 7.

R Score 

R score or rack score is a rating system we have devised to make your life easier. If you are a cyclist and have to select the best bike rack, you can go through our rating system for features, aesthetics, compatibility, value for money, brand value, and security. We rate these factors for you on a scale of 10 to make the decision-making process easier. The RT201 rack gets an overall R score of 8.35 whereas the RT202 rack scored 8.00. 

Conclusion

So if you enjoy traveling with a friend or partner and do not want your bikes hanging down the tailgate, the INNO Velo gripper truck bed bike rack might be the best choice for you. You can also carry additional stuff on your truck bed thanks to the compact design of this bike rack. 

FAQs for INNO Velo gripper truck bed bike rack 

For whom is the bike rack best suited? 

INNO Velo gripper is best suited for people who own a pick-up truck and have to carry one or two bikes on it. You can take a long road trip with one of your friends or family and have a carefree journey because the Velo gripper keeps the bike firm and upright.

What is the difference between INNO RT201 and INNO RT202?

The only difference between the two models is the method of installation. If you own a truck with C-channel rails, you can slide in the RT202, otherwise, you can get the RT201 and easily install it over the side rails of your truck. 

What bike rack to use for RAM 1500 short box

For a RAM 1500, the Inno Velo gripper truck bed bike rack is recommended and perhaps one of the best bike racks to use with it.

What type of bike rack best for ram 1500

The truck bed bike rack is best for Ram1500 because of the compatibility, security, and economy of these racks compared to hitch roof, trunk, and roof bike racks.