INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
How to Properly (and SAFELY) Install Your BikeBuckle™:
WARNING: FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS COULD CAUSE YOUR BIKE TO BECOME UNSTABLE WHILE YOUR VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LEADING TO SEVERE INJURY, VEHICULAR ACCIDENT OR EVEN DEATH. THE BIKEBUCKLE IS ONLY INTENDED FOR USE ON THE INTERIOR OF A VEHICLE AND SHOULD NEVER BE STRAPPED TO YOUR ROOF OR OUTSIDE OF YOUR VEHICLE. DO NOT DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH YOUR HANDLEBARS STICKING OUT OF THE WINDOWS. DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT WITHOUT THE PROVIDED STRAP TO SECURE THE BIKEBUCKLE™ MOUNT OR THE HARDWARE REQUIRED TO SECURE YOUR BIKE TO THE MOUNT. DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO PROPERLY IMMOBOLIZE YOUR REAR TIRE AS OUTLINED BELOW. Thebikebuckle IS NOT LIABLE FOR THE USERS FAILURE TO PROPERLY FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS OR USE OF THE BIKEBUCKLE™ FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN AS INTENDED.
There is an instructional video on how to install the BikeBuckle™ correctly on the bottom of the main page of this website.
Step #1
Measure the length of your bike from the front “dropout” (i.e. the slot in a frame or fork where the axle of the front wheel is attached) to the farthest point of the rear tire.
Step #2
Using the measurement obtained in step 1, place the BikeBuckle™ on the rear of the seatback that you will use to secure the BikeBuckle™ in the vehicle. The side of the BikeBuckle™ skewer that has the lever should be facing you, making it easier for you to tighten down on the bike’s fork. Confirm that the distance from the locking mechanism on the BikeBuckle™ to the tailgate door is approximately the same distance.
NOTE: When installing the BikeBuckle™, you must insure that the mount is placed far enough away from the vehicle’s rear side windows such that the handlebars will not stick out of the window when the door is closed. Keep this in mind when determining which seat (i.e. left or right) to use for installation of your BikeBuckle™.Step #3
Wrap the strap of the BikeBuckle™ around the seatback and tighten loosely.
Noting the distance where the BikeBuckle™ needs to be positioned (distance wise) on the seatback as mentioned in STEP 2.
Step #4
Slide your bike into your vehicle through the rear tailgate. You may need a second person to assist you with this step. You may also need to remove or lower the bike’s seatpost if you do not have proper clearance with the roof of your vehicle.
Step #5
Tighten the strap around the seatback very securely and as tight as possible.
Then secure the front fork of the bike to the BikeBuckle™ and tighten it using the nut and lever on the skewer. (This should be a very tight connection as if you were attaching your front wheel to your bike’s fork dropouts to ride.)
Confirm that the bike is completely inside the vehicle.
Step #6
Gently lower and close the tailgate. If the rear wheel is prohibiting the door from closing, then slide the bike further into the vehicle and try again.
You may need to remove the bike’s fork from the BikeBuckle™ loosen, and re-position the bikebuckle to do so.
Step #7
With the tailgate closed and latched, the rear wheel should be snug, and touching against the inside of the tailgate door.
If not, you may need to temporarily remove the bike’s fork, lift the BikeBuckle™ off the seat back so that velcro backing is not holding the mount in place, and re-position the BikeBuckle™.
Before transport, The BikeBuckle™ strap needs to be tightly secured around the seatback and the skewer completely secured.
Alternative Installation (The “tie-down” Method):
Per the instructions above, we recommend installing your BikeBuckle™ such that the bike’s rear tire will rest against the tailgate. Installing the bike in this fashion will make it difficult for the rear tire to move while the car is in motion. However, if you do NOT wish to use your tailgate to stabilize your bike, then use the instructions below.
Follow Steps Number 1-5 above.
Step #6
Confirm that your vehicle has “tie-down rings” in the rear storage area. If you cannot locate tie-down rings, then you must use the traditional method to install the BikeBuckle™.
Step #7
Slide your bike closer to the front of your vehicle so that the rear tire is completely inside the vehicle.
Step #8
You will need a ratchet type cord (available for purchase at thebikebuckle.com) for this step. Place the cord over the top of the rear tire, at a slight angle from the tie-down rings. Use the cord and the tie-down rings to hold the rear tire securely to the floor of your vehicle so that the rear of the bike cannot move laterally at all.
Step #9
Close the rear tailgate securely.
Installation Notes:
The BikeBuckle™ will attach to the back of one of the rear seats of an SUV. Which seat you use will depend on how wide your handlebars are. If you use the smaller of the two seats, then wider handlebars may stick out of the window. If they are narrower and do NOT stickout of the window upon installation, then the small seat is a more ideal choice because the strap of the BikeBuckle™ will be shorter, providing a more stable and secure fit.
However if your handlebars too wide to use the narrow seat, you must use the wider seatback, allowing you to position the BikeBuckle™ further away from the passenger window so that your handlebars will fit inside the vehicle completely.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU ATTEMPT TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WHILE YOUR HANDLEBARS ARE STICKING OUT OF THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW (OR ANY WINDOW FOR THAT MATTER).
Safe use of the BikeBuckle™ requires three separate elements.
- The front of the BikeBuckle™ must be strapped tightly to the seatback;
- The skewer fastening your bike to the BikeBuckle™ must be tightened properly, holding the front of the bike in place; AND
- The rear tire must be rendered immobile by either securing it against the rear tailgate or using straps/cords to anchor it to your vehicle using your vehicle tie-downs.
WARNING: FAILURE TO PROPERLY INSTALL THE BIKEBUCKLE™ AS EXPLAINED IN THESE INSTRUCTIONS COULD CAUSE YOUR BIKE TO BECOME UNSTABLE DURING TRANSPORTATION, LEADING TO SEVERE INJURY, VEHICLE ACCIDENTS OR DEATH.
The BikeBuckle™ is meant for ONLY for road bikes, children’s bikes, and mountain bikes weighing less than 40lbs. It is NOT recommended for use with heavy E-Bikes, gasoline powered mopeds or any other form of self-propelled vehicle, regardless of size or weight.