Yakima DrTray Bike Rack

The DrTray bike rack comes in 1.25 and 2” hitch compatible models which weigh in at 34 and 32lbs respectively. This is a huge reduction in the weight of tray bike racks especially when you compared these numbers with the weights of the Kuat NV 2.0 which is 15lbs heavier and the Thule T2 Pro which is a further 22 pounds heavier. Even though the DrTray rack is relatively light weight it’s still sturdy and built to last. The built in handle who’s main purpose is to tilt the rack up 90° so it sits flat against your vehicle when not in use can also be used as a carry handle when you need to mount or dismount the rack from your vehicle. This same handle can also tilt the DrTray rack down and out of the way of your car’s hatch or trunk, even when it’s fully loaded with bikes. The handle itself is very large and positioned at the end of the rack so it’s easy to access wether the rack is loaded or free of bikes.

Security is not an issue with the DrTray rack as your bikes can be secured to the rack and the the rack is in turn secured to the vehicle. A built in two piece metal cable is found directly behind each of the front tire holders. These cables are long enough to thread through their respective bike tires and frames and the lock on the end of the cables affix to the bolt that is found just in front of the rear tire holder. The rack itself is attached the your vehicle’s hitch by a small pin that is held in place when you tighten the SpeedKnob. Tightening the SpeedKnob engages a cam which is built into the DrTray hitch. This cam eliminates any play in the hitch system so that the common metal on metal grinding sounds are no longer a problem. The SpeedKnob is then locked in place with the same key that is used for the built in bike locks. Yakima calls this their SKS system for short, it stands for “Same Key System” which makes perfect sense as does the functionality of this well thought out feature.

If the DrTray two bike system doesn’t have enough capacity then you can purchase the Yakima EZ+1 add-on in order to upgrade the DrTray to a three bike rack. This third bike tray sits at the end of the existing rack's spine and is elevated to ensure adequate clearance between the additional bike and the existing one. The EZ+1 weighs 6.4kg / 14lb and can carry an additional 40lb / 18.1k bike. Priced at $229 US it’s an economical way to expand the DrTray’s capacity by 33%.

• Carries 1-2 bikes 
• Max bike weight: 18.1kg / 40lbs per bike
• Lightest rack in its class
• Exceptional clearance between bikes minimizes potential damage - up to 18” between each bike
• Securely carries road bikes, mountain bikes, and up to 5" fat bikes
• Remote tilt lever is easy to get to and intuitive to use
• Locking SpeedKnob for easy, tools-free attachment
• SKS (Same Key System) cable lock system secures both wheels and frame to help prevent theft
• Folds for easy storage and has built-in handle for transport
• Add the EZ+1 and carry a third bike (sold separately)

Nice touch Yakima!

The big differentiator with the Yakima DrTray Bike Rack is that it's adjustable, but it’s also incredibly light weight. At just 34lbs it’s easily one of the lightest tray racks on the market and substantially lighter than the Kuat NV 2.0 and Thule T2 Pro. Yakima obviously prioritized weight savings as one of their objectives for the DrTray Rack and I’m glad they did as anything over 40 pounds is just too heavy to muscle around when installing and removing it from your vehicle. As I’m not one of those people that keeps their bike rack on all year long, so this is a big plus for me personally. One way Yakima saved some weight on the DrTray was to shorten the rear tire stays. These stays don’t go all the way under (and past) the rear tire as they do on most racks, but rather the DrTray rack incorporates a pivoting rear tire basket that can attach more forward on the tire so that less metal is required for the tire tray. It’s an innovative design that works well even on my XL bike frame.

DrTray’s adjustability is the big news with this rack as I know of no other bike rack which lets you adjust the distance between bikes so easily. With the flip of the locking mechanisms, you’re able to get a full 18” between bike frames and also adjust the bikes lateral position relative to each other. You can be assured any bike will fit easily on this rack and that they’ll have the space needed to avoid any damage. Since the fit of the actual bike trays is very snug through the rack frame (as you’ll see when you assemble the rack) there is no worry of the locking mechanisms coming loose and allowing the bikes to shift while in transit. Even if this were to happen I’m confident things would remain stationary.

The third huge plus for Yakima’s DrTray Bike Rack is that is can be assembled in under 5 minutes. There are only five parts to assemble if you don’t count the two bolts, lock washers and keys. Every other rack we’ve reviewed has upwards of 10 pieces to fit and bolt together, which is time confusing and mentally challenging at times. I built my DrTray rack just before a ride, I initially thought I’d have to miss the ride as the rack was still in the box, however as it turns out, I was early for the ride as the assembly went to quick and easy.

Bottom line is, Yamika has done phenomenal job creating a rack that’s not only light weight, secure and solid but also adjustable—what more could you want? For more bike products and rack reviews, click on over here to our bike review section.