Kuat NV 2.0 Base 2-Bike Tray Hitch Rack [Rider Review]

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Kuat Racks are the industry standard when it comes to transporting bikes. Our customer, Aaron, got their hands on a new Kuat. Check out their review on the Kuat NV 2.0 Base 2-Bike Tray Hitch Rack.

Overview

Having formerly had the original NV, the bar was set really high (with a few room for improvements I was hoping to see). I didn't find myself using the bike stand equipped on the original NV, so I opted for the Base NV 2.0 this time. If anything requires a bike stand at the trailhead, chances are I would rather take the bike home and have my full tool setup to fix it anyways.

The matte black finish of the rack is stellar, they have vastly improved the durability of the finish and the matte black is a lot more subtle and clean than the previous version.

The rack accommodates a wide range of bikes with ease. I can throw my road bike on and the tires will nestle nicely into the small groove on the tire tray. Mountain bikes slide on great. Fat Bike with 4.8" tires? No problem. With the included Phat Bike Kit, I can throw my Fatboy on and head up to the snowy trails with confidence it will not come flying off like it did with my last rack.

The original NV was a solid rack, but the NV 2.0 is lightyears better - no question.

The improvements Kuat have made to the 2.0 line are very nice. First, the ratchet button on the tire arm is much easier to push in and more reliable. The previous generation would stick and be hard to push. Second, the lock is a much more simple clean system now - there is a lock on each end of the trailer, one for each bike. The cable now slides in and out smoothly and does not get stuck like the original NV. Third, there is now a soft piece of rubber on the rear wheel strap to help minimize the strap scratching the wheel. And lastly, the handle to fold the rack has been improved dramatically. You can now use it with your foot - a much needed feature when you are holding your bike or a load of gear and need to fold the rack down.

Final Thoughts

The price is high to buy into the Kuat family, but with the slightly lower priced Base model, it is well worth it and will be the last rack you buy for a very, very long time.