Yakima OnRamp LX Hitch Rack Review | Read This BEFORE Buying
Aug 08, 2024
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Few hitch racks can come close to matching the weight rating and versatility of the newest design from one of the biggest names in bike racks.
When you consider the number of e-bikes that come with fenders you would think that most hitch racks would have a foolproof way to accommodate an e-bike with fenders that won’t damage the fenders. Alas, such carriers are few.
We’ve been fans of the Yakima OnRamp since its release, but it had one notable flaw: The OnRamp is limited to e-bikes weighing 60 lbs. or less, which leaves out the majority of e-bikes at the value end of the market. There’s a new option, though; Yakima has introduced the OnRamp LX. There’s a lot to it that we liked.
The Yakima OnRamp LX is a heavier-duty version of the OnRamp. It comes in two versions, for 1.25-in. hitch mounts and for 2-in. hitch mounts. The 1.25-in. version can carry e-bikes weighing up to 70 lbs. and the 2-in. version is even more stout, with the ability to carry e-bikes weighing up to 80 lbs., which covers the majority of the market.
What makes the Yakima OnRamp LX so different from other hitch racks is that once in the tray, the e-bike can be held by its top tube or seatpost, thereby completely avoiding the fenders. Few hitch racks grant riders the opportunity to secure an e-bike without bringing an arm down on the front wheel, just in front of the fork, a location which is often occupied by a fender.
Unlike most other hitch racks aimed at e-bike owners, the OnRamp LX includes the loading ramp rather than make it an add-on accessory. It also secures to the rack itself instead of occupying valuable trunk space.
The existing OnRamp can hold e-bikes with a wheelbase of up to 50 in., but the OnRamp LX increases the tray length so that it can now carry e-bikes with a wheelbase of up to 54 in., making it big enough to handle some cargo e-bikes.
RV owners have faced a challenge in terms of trying to find hitch racks that can be mounted on the front of their vehicle; most can’t be used that way and even when they can, they often suffer a reduced weight capacity. Not so with the Yakima OnRamp LX. The 1.25-in. and 2-in. versions preserve their full carrying capacity (70 and 80 lbs., respectively).
Off-road use is possible as well, though that results in a notable decrease in the weight capacity. The 1.25-in. version can carry bikes weighing up to 42 lbs. and the 2-in. version can carry 48 lb. bikes.
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Pros- Can carry e-bikes weighing up to 80 lbs., something few hitch racks can do
- Includes an integrated ramp to roll e-bikes into position
- 3-position tilt allows rack to be folded out for use, folded up when not in use and folded down when loaded to access rear hatch or trunk
- Accommodates tires as large as: 20 x 4.5 in., 26 x 5 in., 27.5 x 4.5 in., 29 x 3.25 in.
- Telescoping bike trays can accommodate a wheelbase as long as 54 in. That fits most cargo bikes
- Tiered “Stadium Seating” reduces interference between handlebars and saddles
Cons- Not the quickest and easiest to position, though it offers great adjustability
- No built-in locking system
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Yakima OnRamp LX Video Review
| Hitch Size(s) | 1.25, 2 in. |
| Number of Bikes It Can Carry | 2 |
| Max Bike Weight Per Tray | 70 lbs. (1.25 in.), 80 lbs. (2 in.) |
| Total Max Weight Capacity | 140 lbs. (1.25 in.), 160 lbs. (2 in.) |
| Mechanism For Securing Bikes | Frame clamp, front and rear wheel straps |
| Max Wheel Base Length | 54 in. |
| Rack Weight | 53.5 lbs. |
| Vehicle Type | Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, RVs |
| Max Tire Width | 5 in. |
| Max Tire Diameter | 29 in. |
| Works With _____ Frames | Any style of frame; can clamp to frame or seatpost |
| Key Features | Can carry two e-bikes, includes ramp |
| Security Features | Hitch lock secures rack to hitch receiver; Integrated lock loop |
| Optional accessories | Light kit for brake and turn lights, swing adapter, extender |
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The lobster claws can be adjusted to almost any angle in order to grab the frame or seatpost.
Even two heavier e-bikes are easy to manage witht he ramp.
The integrated ramps are indispensable for rolling heavy e-bikes (or any e-bike) into position. Nice that they are included.
Two wheel straps help to secure the e-bike to the tray.
Yakima OnRamp LX Review: Functionality / Using the Rack
Securing the rack to the hitch
Assembling and mounting the rack doesn’t take long. I assembled the rack itself in about 20 minutes; there are only a few parts to bolt together. The 24mm threaded bolt that attaches the hitch rack to the receiver offers a more secure fit than the models with the expansion bolts. All racks have a bit of sway once mounted, but my sense was that the Yakima OnRamp LX had less than most.
Loading bikes
Thanks to the ramps integrated in the trays, it’s easy to roll an e-bike into position. The bigger issue here is making sure that the trays are positioned properly so that the two e-bikes don’t interfere with each other. Once that is dialed, the e-bikes roll into position with ease.
While many hitch racks mount both trays on a central arm that comes off the mount, the OnRamp LX is different in that there is a large, square-shaped frame to which the trays are mounted. What this does is give a more stable platform for the trays, which cuts down on sway and wiggle. That’s good.
However, the trays are bolted into position on one side, while a hand-tightened knob is on the other. The side that is bolted in determines, in part, both how wide and how far to the left or right the tray will sit. We would like this rack a little better if there were knobs on both sides, though, so that it would be easier to slide the whole tray side-to-side more easily as well as adjusting width simultaneously.
The reason why is that the e-bikes have to be positioned left-to-right so that the lobster claws can reach the frame or seatpost; because it can’t be moved, the bikes must be shifted into position relative to the arm.
After rolling an e-bike up the ramp, the tray must be adjusted to the correct width, which is wide enough for the wheel straps to secure each wheel. If the lobster claw can’t reach the frame or seatpost, then the e-bike must be removed and the tray position must be adjusted. When adjusting the outer tray, you have to make sure that it is in position to prevent interference between the handlebars, saddles and pedals.
Once the e-bikes are secured, the ramp can be removed and then attached to the rack so that you’ve got easy access to it when you arrive at your destination.
We can’t emphasize enough how helpful it is that Yakima gave the OnRamp LX trays that expand to a maximum width of 54 in. With many of the cargo e-bikes on the market, there are no hitch racks that can accommodate them. The OnRamp LX may be the only option for some cargo e-bikes.
Securing the bikes
The center mast is pretty easy to adjust, but there are a couple different knobs that must be tightened in order to secure an e-bike. Because the lobster claws that secure the e-bikes can move in three dimensions, getting them set up the first time may require a bit of effort, but once you do it the first time you won’t have to start from scratch with repeated use.
There is an order to adjusting the e-bikes in the trays. Roll the e-bike up the ramp and make sure that the tray is adjusted to the proper width for the e-bike’s wheelbase. Next, secure the wheels using the ratcheting wheel straps; again, the tray width may need to be adjusted to fit the e-bike. Once the wheels are secured, then the lobster claws can be positioned to grab the frame or seatpost.
The lobster claws adjust in three different ways: Their height can be adjusted. The rotation around the arm can be adjusted, though it’s best if the lobster claw is as perpendicular to the e-bike as possible. Finally, the twist of the clamp can be adjusted so that you can match the angle of the claw to the angle of the top tube or seatpost. While it may be possible to clamp your e-bike in other locations, those two will offer the greatest stability.
For many people, clamping the lobster claw to the top tube will be the easiest way to secure the e-bike. That said, some people may be concerned about the possibility that the clamp may marr the finish of their e-bike (this is especially true if there are decals on the top tube and there is no clearcoat of paint over them).
If you count yourself among those folks, we recommend clamping the lobster claw to the seatpost. Most seatposts have either a silver or black anodized finish that’s difficult to damage and it provides a stable place to secure the e-bike.
Trunk / Tailgate access
The Yakima OnRamp LX features a lever that will allow the rack to be positioned at three different angles. When not in use, it folds up flat, against the back of the vehicle. Pull the lever and it folds out, ready for you to load bikes. The lever can be pulled yet again to fold the rack down, so that when bikes are loaded, it swings them away from the rear of the vehicle so that the vehicle’s tailgate, rear hatch or trunk can be accessed.
Some care needs to be taken when folding the rack down for vehicle access; you will want to support the weight of the e-bikes on the rack before pulling the lever; we recommend holding the rack itself.
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The rack folds away from the vehicle to make hatch, tailgate or trunk access easy.
It’s a good idea to hold the rack with one hand before folding the rack down.
Once adjusted into position, it’s quick and easy to clamp the frame to the rack.
The OnRamp LX’s ramp is long enough to make rolling an e-bike up it easy.
Yakima OnRamp LX Review: Driving With the Rack
Stability
All hitch racks have a bit of sway and bounce as you drive with e-bikes mounted. Some have more than others, but the Yakima OnRamp LX proved to minimize the shake we’ve seen with some racks. The more you can adjust the lobster claws so that they grab the e-bike perpendicular to the orientation of the tray (a right angle to the e-bike), the more stable the e-bikes will be as you drive.
Entry/Exit angles and ground clearance
Yakima staggers the height of the two trays in what they refer to as “Stadium Seating,” which paints a pretty accurate picture of the arrangement of the e-bikes in the trays. One issue that some hitch racks face, especially when loaded with heavier e-bikes, is that the bottom of the hitch rack may drag on the ground when pulling into driveways or driving up a steep hill. Thanks to Yakima’s stadium seating the tray farthest from the vehicle sits highest, so when pulling into driveways, etc., there is better clearance than usual between the rack and the ground. Kudos to them for this little design feature; it would be helpful for any rack, but it is crucial with a rack that may be carrying two nearly 80-lb. e-bikes.
Turn signals, license plate mounts, etc.
Police have been known to pull over drivers if their bikes and/or hitch rack obscure the license plate. To alleviate this concern, Yakima makes an accessory called the PlateMate that allows you to mount your license plate on the hitch rack so that it can be easily read.
The Yakima EXO LitKit mounts two lights plus a license plate holder to the rack, allowing drivers a better view of the vehicle’s brake lights and turn signals.
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Yakima OnRamp LX Review: Rack Storage
What it’s like carrying the rack around and storing it
Removing the Yakima OnRamp LX is a relatively quick operation. Once you remove the lock and the 24mm bolt securing the rack to the hitch receiver, the OnRamp LX slides right out of the receiver.
However, before removing it we would recommend you follow a couple of steps. First, make sure that the trays have been adjusted to their shortest possible length. The narrower the rack is, the easier it will be to manage. If you need it to be as light as possible—the rack weighs 53.5 lbs—you might also remove the ramp. Also, folding the rack up can help make the weight more compact and manageable when removing it.
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Once released from the lobster claw and wheel straps, an e-bike can be rolled down the ramp, ready to go for a ride.
Yakima OnRamp LX Review: Our Recommendation
When we think about what we want from a hitch rack to carry e-bikes, the Yakima OnRamp LX ticks more boxes covering our needs than most other hitch racks. The most important single detail about this hitch rack is that it can carry two e-bikes weighing up to 80 lbs. each. That alone makes it unusual, and more capable than most.
The included ramp is a no-brainer because most of us who want a workout from lifting 80 lbs. would rather do it in a gym. This makes positioning the e-bike much easier. The lobster claw clamping system is not the easiest method of securing an e-bike that we’ve used, but it is one of the only systems that can be used with e-bikes wearing fenders, which, again, puts it on a very short list of hitch racks.
The one aspect of the OnRamp LX design that we find challenging—the positioning of the lobster claw to secure the e-bike—isn’t a big deal if you’re transporting the same e-bikes with each trip. If, however, the rack must carry different rides (say a regular mountain bike on Saturday and an eMTB on Sunday), the repositioning of the lobster claw can be a little time consuming.
We’d like this rack just a little better if Yakima offered an integrated locking system so that riders don’t need to add a chain or cable lock, but the product designers at Yakima are super inventive so the lack of one indicates they didn’t think they could offer a sufficient amount of security, so they chose not to offer it and we can’t fault them for that.
The EXO LitKit is a smart addition considering that if a driver behind you fails to see your brake lights you could wind up needing a new hitch rack and maybe an e-bike (or two). Also, having the police pull you over for an obscured license plate is a shot of adrenalin no one needs added to their day.
For anyone who doesn’t already have a hitch receiver mounted to their vehicle, we recommend getting the 2-in. size, but you will need to check that you can purchase a 2-in. hitch receiver for your car first; not all cars allow for a 2-in. hitch receiver.
Until Yakima launched the OnRamp LX, any time friends or family asked us about a hitch rack for their e-bike, we always had to ask questions: Does it have fenders? How heavy is it? How long is the wheelbase? With the Yakima OnRamp LX, there are very few e-bikes that it can’t carry, which is maybe the best recommendation of all.
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 Yakima OnRamp LX down in our comments section. Or, you can check out some of the other top hitch racks for e-bikes.
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