Having a solid bike rack mounted on your truck is important. Otherwise, your bike can get damaged or even fall out of the bed. However, at the same time, it’s important to consider form factor, and many truck bike racks take up much of the bed space.
Thus, one may want to strike a balance between the two and have secure storage in a small space. That’s where the Inno Velo Gripper bike rack comes in.
It’s really an ingenious device: it simply attaches to the side of your truck with an adjustable claw and then ties around any portion of your bike. It can be attached anywhere on the bicycle, and any part of the side of the truck.
Due to its double gripping mechanism, it is very secure in its construction, and won’t fail you even under duress. While it is only good for storing one bike at a time, the Inno Velo Gripper may be just the truck bike rack that you need.
First and foremost among the advantages of this bike rack is its ease of use. It is very simple to install, and even simpler to attach your bike to. It’s just a matter of tightening a few clamps, no tools or manhandling necessary.
It can literally be set up within a minute or two of its unboxing, and barely needs instruction in its setup. Its usage is intuitive and easy to figure out, and easy enough for perhaps even children.
Thus, the Gripper is perhaps one of the easiest to set up truck bike racks on the market.
Along with installations, adjustments to the Gripper are a breeze. It is designed to be easily adjusted, and it typically takes just seconds to adjust to a new bike.
If you have multiple bikes and cycle between them, you’ll find the Gripper to be of great help, and one of the best truck bike racks for the task. Of course, the system isn’t perfect, and some bikes may have to be positioned in an unusual orientation.
This, however, shouldn’t be more than a trivial grievance.
Perhaps most important among its advantages is its safety. The Inno Velo Gripper has a very snug fit, and, quite simply, will keep your equipment safe. As the bike is attached by its body rather than wheels, and in two places, this bike rack is designed for off-roading and will handle whatever terrain you can throw at it.
Bumps and turns aren’t an issue when the bike moves with the truck, after all. This makes the Gripper a great truck bike rack choice for outdoors-men, or anyone going through rough terrain in their routine.
The Gripper also has good protection against road vibration. Although not explicitly mentioned in the product details, its design is in such a way that vibration would not be an issue.
By being firmly attached to the side of the truck itself, its mass is factored into that of the truck and does not perform as a separate entity. Thus, it is one with the truck and has significantly reduced vibration because of it.
As previously mentioned, however, the Gripper is only good for storing one bike. You’ll need a second set for another bike, and a typical truck will only be able to accommodate two at most.
This is worthy of note, especially considering each rack costs upwards of $80. So, if you typically bike in groups and only bring one vehicle, this truck bike rack may not be right for you.
One of the most appealing features of the Gripper is its flexibility. Its design and functionality are centered around clamps and constraints, meaning that it is able to hold many different sizes, shapes, and types of bikes. Is your bike too big, or perhaps too small for a traditional rack? The Gripper is the perfect solution and will hold your bike as if it were tailored to it. It’s also good for bikes with unusual form factors or sizes, such as child-sized bikes.
The clamps are simple, yet effective in their design: they are simply strips of ribbed plastic, to be looped and locked around any size item. As a side note, when it’s not in use, the Gripper may be able to function in other capacities; perhaps a unique beverage holder!
The Gripper also has many smaller benefits to its name. For one, it does not require the user to get inside the truck’s bed to mount the bike. It can all be done, for the most part, with relative ease from the outside.
Another bonus is its D-rings. These allow for easy cable attachment, making this a great multipurpose tool, and not just a simple truck bike rack. Plus, the rack is designed to be tool-free, so you can install and use it with your bare hands.
One potential drawback is the Gripper’s apparent lack of security measures. It has little in the way of theft protection, leaving your expensive bike vulnerable to thieves. To get proper security, an external lock or jerry-rigged security device may be necessary.
So, for those concerned about theft security, it may be best to look for another truck bike rack. However, if you live in a relatively secluded or secure area, you shouldn’t have to worry about this.
Overall, the Inno Velo Gripper is a great bike rack, but really fits a niche market.
If your activities consist of heavy off-roading, with only yourself and perhaps one other, then this bike rack is a must buy. Or, if you’re looking for the maximum damage prevention possible, the Gripper may be the truck bike rack for you.
However, its limitations and price mean that it can’t effectively eliminate competitors entirely, and may not be a suitable option for everyone. If you need what the Gripper offers, then it is a sound purchase.
Otherwise, you may want to consider other products. Whatever your choice, the Gripper is undoubtedly a high quality and extremely functional device and should provide maximum security for your bike.
Whatever your use, the Inno Velo Gripper truck bike rack will accompany you with it.
