Very few racks can match this one for its versatility and ability to accommodate nearly any e-bike on the market.

Hollywood Racks Sportrider Hitch Rack Review

The ever-growing hitch rack market includes a number of new racks designed specifically for e-bikes. With models that include features such as ramps and special arms that can accommodate fenders or step-thru frames and even lights, there are some pretty fancy racks out there.

Unfortunately, as the features grow more elaborate, the prices go up. We love the Hollywood Racks Sportrider rack for a number of reasons, but our favorite reason is that it can carry almost any e-bike on the market, plus it is one of the most affordable racks out there. It’s a potent combination. At $499, there aren’t many hitch racks that can compete with it.

When we say the Hollywood Racks Sportrider hitch rack can carry almost any e-bike on the market, we really mean it. It can carry two e-bikes each weighing up to 80 lbs. Yes, we’ve reviewed some e-bikes that weigh more than 80 lbs. but of the hundreds of e-bikes we’ve reviewed, they comprise maybe one percent of our reviews. It’s next winning feature is that it can carry e-bikes with a wheelbase of up to 60 in.—long enough to carry longtail cargo e-bikes.

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Pros

Extremely versatile while still being a terrific value
Terrific for fat e-bikes
Tool-free system; assembly and installation is easier than most others
One key operates all locks
Can carry e-bikes with a wheelbase of up to 60 in., making it ideal for cargo e-bikes
Weight capacity of up to 80 lbs. per e-bike
With 10 in. of space between e-bikes, there is no interference between pedals

Cons

No ramp; you’ve got to pick the e-bike up
Requires an adapter for smaller (20 in.) wheels

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Hitch Size(s)	2 in. (no 1.25 in.)
Number of Bikes It Can Carry	2
Max Bike Weight Per Tray	80 lbs.
Total Max Weight Capacity	160 lbs.
Mechanism For Securing Bikes	Arm over frame
Max Wheel Base Length	60 in.
Rack Weight	Hitch
Vehicle Type	Any
Max Tire Width	5 in.
Max Tire Diameter	29 in.
Works With _____ Frames	Step-over frames, step-thru frames with an adapter
Key Features	Nearly unmatched in weight and wheelbase
Security Features	One key for all locks
Optional accessories	Trike adapter, step-thru frame adapter, small wheel adapter

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The Hollywood Racks Sport Rider is a tool free system. Insert the locking hitch pin through the no-wobble system’s loop, tighten it down by twisting, and you’re all set!

Hollywood Racks Sportrider Review: Functionality / Using the Rack

Securing the rack to the hitch

For people who want a rack that doesn’t require getting out a tool kit, the Hollywood Racks Sportrider is an ideal choice. One of the marketing points for the Sportrider is that it can be installed with no tools. Slide it into the hitch receiver and then simply turn the handle clockwise until the rack is snug.

As a bonus, that same key you use to lock the hitch pin will also be used to lock up your bikes once they’re on the rack. Yay for key management.

Loading bikes

Take a ‘one wheel at a time’ approach when loading the first slot, and make sure to start with the center mast down.

Due to the way an e-bike’s wheels sit in the wheel holders, a ramp won’t work; the e-bikes must be picked up and placed in the hitch rack. For owners of heavier e-bikes, this won’t be much fun, but this is the rack’s biggest drawback. To load an e-bike in the more inboard position the mast can be folded down into the storage position. Then do a four point maneuver to get the bike into position. One wheel on the outside slot, then the second, then cross over to the first slot position, and again with the second tire.

With the bike loaded, you can then hold the e-bike upright and fold the mast back up and bring the frame hook down on the e-bike. Once the first bike is secured, the second bike can be loaded. Each wheel holder comes with a ratcheting strap to help secure the e-bike.

For e-bikes with step-thru frames, Hollywood makes a telescoping adapter that functions like a top tube and can be mounted on an e-bike that clamps at the seatpost and steerer below the stem. The frame hook can then be brought down on it.

The wheel holders can be adjusted left-to-right to reduce interference between the handlebar of one e-bike and the saddle of another. Setting this up the first time can require a certain amount of patience, but once the wheel holders are properly positioned, you won’t have to move them again, provided you’re loading the same e-bikes each time.

Securing the bikes

The hook arms come down to fasten the bike securely via the top tube. An adapter for step-thrus might be required for some bikes.

There are two different sized hooks. I recommend the shorter hook on the lower top tube positioned bike. Simply slide down the hook and fasten securely to the top tube. If you over tighten it, you might have to push down on the hook when hitting the release lever to get it to come off.

The locking key system is nice. You can lock it and leave your vehicle unattended without too much concern for somebody running off with your bike.

Trunk / Tailgate access

The Sport Rider can tile lower its center mast to make vehicle access easier, and it does have forward tilt function as well.

Like other hitch racks, the Hollywood Racks Sportrider can be folded out, away from the vehicle so that you can open a vehicle’s trunk, hatch or tailgate.

There are safety pins and pulleys to navigate. It’s not the most fluid system I’ve used, but it works just fine once you get the hang of it all.

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Hollywood Racks Sportrider Review: Driving With the Rack

Stability

The Sport Rider will hold two bikes as advertised! Just make sure to stick within the weight limits and drop out batteries if you need to!

The Hollywood Racks Sportrider does a nice job of holding e-bikes securely without a lot of wiggle. Of course the amount of wiggle is determined by just how heavy your e-bikes are. There’s a notable reduction in movement with just one e-bike rather than two.

For anyone planning to drive on unpaved roads, we recommend slowing down, less because we are concerned about the durability of the rack than how the hook will treat the frame. It’s not a system designed for offroad use, so keep it on paved roads as much as possible.

Entry/Exit angles and ground clearance

The rack frame sits 6.5 in. higher than the hitch receiver, and the outermost portion of the rack sits 29.5 in. from the hitch receiver. That creates a fair amount of clearance between the rack and the ground.

Points to consider: The heavier the e-bikes, the lower the carrier will sit. Also, the farther the carrier is from the rear axle, the lower the carrier will sit. We found the Sportrider to scrape on steep driveways when loaded – especially if you didn’t position the tightener handle properly (it may have happened to me once… twice… a lot…).

Having a truck or SUV will reduce the chance of the carrier scraping. Woe be unto those with lowered vehicles, though.

Accessories

There aren’t many accessories made for the Sportrider. They don’t offer license plate holder or extra lights. However, what they do offer, which puts most other racks to shame, is an adapter for a trike, which is a terrific alternative to buying a pickup.

People looking for a rack that can be expanded to three or four bikes will need to look elsewhere; the Sportrider is not expandable.

Owners of e-bikes with 20-in. wheels can purchase the small wheel adapter. Don’t overlook this – if you try to load up 20-in wheels without it you’ll likely wreck your derailleur or brake rotor.

If, for some reason, the ratcheting frame hooks aren’t sufficiently secure to satisfy you, Hollywood makes what they call Precision Slide frame hooks. Rather than depending on a ratchet, it can be secured at any height you choose.

Finally, Hollywood Racks sells a light bar that will integrate with brake lights and turn signals. This can either fix to the rack itself, or you can use the included strep to bring the lights higher up by wrapping them around the frame and handlebars of your bike.

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Hollywood Racks Sportrider Review: Rack Storage

What it’s like carrying the rack around and storing it.

The trike adapter for the Sportrider is a terrific option, and one with little competition.

The rack weighs 58 lbs., less than many e-bikes, so it’s not super-heavy, but you may not enjoy carrying it from your garage to your vehicle. If you’re apt to remove the rack following each use, Hollywood makes what they call the Rack Valet, which is a rolling carrier for a rack.

Roll it out, position it behind your vehicle, lock the wheels and then slide the rack out of the receiver and pick it up the few inches necessary to position it in your vehicle’s receiver.

When folded, the rack is relatively compact and occupies about as much floor space as an e-bike.

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Hollywood Racks Sportrider Review: Our Recommendation

To maximize visibility, HWR also makes a light bar attachment that can hang off the rack, or be strapped over your bikes once they’re in place.

It our increasingly complicated world, it doesn’t often seem like there are products that can work for anyone, but where hitch racks are concerned, when someone asks us about a good hitch rack that won’t run the cost of an e-bike, the Hollywood Racks Sportrider is the first rack we mention.

When don’t we recommend the Sportrider? In exactly one situation: If you can’t lift your e-bike high enough to set it in the wheel holders. We’d hate for that to seem ableist, but that’s the price of admission with this hitch rack. It’s a bummer, but it seems a reasonable trade given the cost of this rack.

It’s rare to find a product that offers so much flexibility, but there are few hitch racks that can accommodate such a broad array of e-bikes. And with a retail price of $499, that you get so much for such a great price makes this one of our very favorites.

Happy Riding! Make sure to let us know if you have any questions or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Hollywood Racks Sportrider down in our comments section.

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Hollywood Racks Sport Rider Review | Fits Nearly Any E-Bike!

Very few racks can match this one for its versatility and ability to accommodate nearly any e-bike on the market.