Black Widow Hitch-Mounted Aluminum Motorcycle Carrier - 400 lb. Capacity

TL; DR Worked great with a 250 pound bike, and once the hardware is upgraded, it'll be a great rack. It had a lot of scratches due to the poor padding in the box. The bolts that come with the package are of the lowest quality. Replace them with higher grade for a low cost, and make sure the bike front end and ramp are oriented correctly when putting it together. If you're walking around it, keep an eye out for sharp edges. While the rack served me well, if I hadn't been in such a rush, I would have bought the harbor freight ramp, which is normally less expensive and is currently on sale for $100. At the cost of a shorter ramp, it allows for easier ramp storage. br>br>I needed this quickly so I could transport a Yamaha YZ450F on the back of a Honda CRV. The two-day shipping was a big selling point for me. Plastic ties and tape were used to seal all seams of the box. It appeared to be in good condition. Upon opening, however, this was not the case. The Styrofoam was mostly ruined. Because the aluminum had so many scratches, I assumed it had been returned before. However, all of the necessary hardware was present, and there were no visible signs of installation. As a result, I'm assuming it was brand new when it arrived. br>br>Installation went very smoothly. Make sure you don't overdo it. So that the aluminum doesn't get messed up, tighten the bolts that hold the rack to the support bracket. ****WARNING**** The bolts that come with it are class 4. The lowest grade available is an 8, which is pretty much the lowest you can get. Those bolts would never make me feel safe. I strongly advise you to go to your local auto parts store and get at least a class 8 battery. For all of the bolts, there are 8 equivalents. br>br>I purchased all of class 10 for less than $15. 9 hex bolts with yellow zinc flanges. Dimensions and quantities are as follows:
4 - M8x1. 8 - 25x40br>25x40br>25x40br>25x40br> M8x1. 25x20 (If using lock washers, increase the length from 20 to 30 to accommodate the washer)br>br>Mine came with nylon lock nuts, so I didn't have to use lock washers. If you have regular nuts, I recommend getting some lock washers or replacing them with nylon locking nuts. br>br>When assembling, keep the rack orientation in mind. The front wheel is inserted into the large opening. The ramp must be installed between the car and the rack if the large gap is on the driver's side. The ramp mounts on the opposite side farthest away from the car if the large gap is on the passenger side. I chose the driver's side to hide the ramp and to allow the most visibility out the back window. br>br>The ramp was not bolted on according to the instructions. I ended up threading the bolt through the rack and securing it with a nut on the other end, leaving the bolt permanently installed in the rack with exposed threads. After that, I align the ramp holes with the bolts and secure the ramp with the wingnuts. So far, it's worked out perfectly. Using the wingnuts isn't difficult for me, but screwing them on and off takes a long time. I'm also concerned that the threads will wear out quickly due to the weak steel of the bolt and its constant insertion into the ramp holes. There was undoubtedly a better way to accomplish this. br>br>I used four non-stretch ropes to secure the bike. tie that ratchets 2 short rubber bungee cords and 2 tie-downs Two of the tie downs will be placed on the handlebars, one on each side, as close to the center as possible. The other two went from about 8 inches above the foot peg, where the frame piece that runs along the airbox from the rear fender meets the main frame. I tightened my grip on the bike as I pushed down on it to ensure it didn't move. To be extra safe, I put a short bungie through each tire and around the rack to prevent them from picking up. The bike was solid as a rock. For a 300-mile round trip with about 8 miles of off-roading, it was no problem. I was driving in the desert with complete confidence that everything would hold together. br>br>The anti-anti-anti-anti-anti-anti-anti-anti-anti-anti-anti-anti I was afraid it would come loose and lose a bolt while driving because the tilt bracket was flimsy, but it worked perfectly. But it stayed put for the duration of the journey. br>br>At the end of the day, this carrier served me well. I'm pleased with it, but it required a little more effort and cost a little more than some of the competitors.

Trace Morales

| Jul 26, 2021

Standing on it (I'm 186 pounds) where the motorcycle would be, it appears to be sturdy and should easily support a Yamaha TW200 (278 pounds). br>br> The only thing I'd change is a better way to attach the ramp for transport, because the little wingnuts are a pain to work with. It takes a lot of strength in the fingers to keep the ramp from wobbling up and down. I'd pay an extra $25 for a better, faster, and painless solution. IN ADDITION, THE PRO- The wobble attachment is a low-cost option that loosens up! Every ten miles or so, make sure to check! Those 17mm bolts aren't going to stay in place. br>br>UPDATE: br>br> I bought some lockwashers and nuts, and I'm currently tightening the anti-theft device. Use the nuts to LOCK the bolts so they don't back off (as they will when traveling!). The issue of safety has been resolved. I also mounted a trailer light kit on the rack that plugs into my trailer socket, allowing cars following me to see my brakes. My motorcycle significantly obstructs the visibility of my SUV's headlights. br>br> I also noticed that the very last few inches of the hitch tube's tail end had been welded on, as if the tube had been cut too short and needed to be repaired. It appears that he is a moron. I'm confident it'll hold up in a tie-dye situation. a downstrap EDIT: br>br> The carrier will be outfitted with a trailer light kit. My turn signals and brake lights are completely blocked by the motorcycle on the back. At night, this isn't exactly safe.

Jayla Sexton

| May 09, 2021

a hardware set that isn't fully functional - Make plans to visit your local home-based business. a home improvement store This is a fantastic dirt bike carrier, just missing out on a 5-star rating. For the following reasons, I've given it five stars. 1. br>br> For the 12 bolts that hold everything together, they don't include any lock washers. They're required because otherwise, as the unit vibrates, the bolts will loosen on their own. The carrier's parts list does not specify the size of the bolts (only the quantity), so I can't tell you what sizes you'll need. I believe I bought ten 5/16" lock washers and two or four 1/4" lock washers. 2. br>br>1. br>br>br>br>br>br I needed two wing nuts, according to the parts list (to attach the ramp to the carrier while driving). I went nuts, not "wing" nuts, which isn't a big deal, but I didn't realize it until I returned home. a home improvement store I simply threw the ramp into the back of my pickup truck. It's more convenient than removing it each time. br>br>3. Some of the welds were not as clean as they should have been, and some of the aluminum had arc welding burn marks. It's not a major issue. br>br>I'm using it to transport a 110cc dirt bike, and it comes with a bolt to make the space where the front wheel goes smaller. I didn't use it because my front tire was large enough to keep the bike upright while I strapped it down. br>br>The tie-in is a great idea. The down spots are 12" to the left of center. to the right of the center This was enough to keep my bike secure, but I also strapped it down from the front. for additional stability at the carrier's back ends This carrier comes highly recommended by me.

Kobe Holder

| Nov 22, 2021

It fits my 2011 Kawasaki 450f without issue. Check the tongue weight of your vehicle's tow hitch. Mine had a maximum weight of 350 pounds, my bike was 250 pounds, and this carrier was 32 pounds. As a result, you've done your homework. To help with sway, I attach a strap from the handlebars to the roof rack. The hitch weight distributor clamp that comes with it helps as long as it's on correctly; I had to do some grinding work on my hitch side, but that's not the product's fault; the bike will most likely block your tail lights, so plan ahead. I also installed Air Lift, or air bags, in my rear springs to keep my soft suspension stable (around 80 dollars, but a pain to install yourself). I chose this one because it's light weight, as it's the second black widow product I've owned for my dirt bike, and while they're not the most hardcore and rugged, they're both working fine and are great for the price.

Jeffery Stephenson

| Feb 11, 2021