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Showroom: Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania
On a BMW X5 G05 we fitted the Menabo Antares Plus towbar bike rack, the foldable version for 3 bikes. The fitting was done in the SuportBicicleta.ro showroom, which you can now find at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania.
In brief
- Car: BMW X5 (G05) xDrive40i, pre-facelift version, 5-door SUV.
- Fitted: Menabo Antares Plus bike rack, foldable, attached to the towbar, for 3 bikes.
- Capacity: maximum 60 kg in total and 25 kg per bike, compatible with e-bikes and fat bikes.
- Fitting: Rapid-Lock mounting on the towbar, connected to the 13-pin or 7-pin socket for the rack's rear lights.
About the car: BMW X5 (G05), fourth generation
The car in the main photo is a BMW X5 G05 xDrive40i, pre-facelift. The G05 is the fourth generation of the X5, launched in 2018 as the successor to the F15, built since August 2018 on the CLAR platform, shared with the 7 Series G11 and 5 Series G30. The LCI version, with redesigned headlights and rear lights, has been built since March 2023. It is a 5-door, 5-seat SUV, with 7 seats when the optional third row is fitted.
For a towbar rack, what matters is the vertical load the towbar accepts, which BMW calls the towbar download. In the BMW technical data from 2018, the X5 G05 has a maximum towbar load of 140 kg on the xDrive40i, xDrive50i, xDrive30d and M50d. That is a generous reserve for a 3-bike rack, and the tilting function of the Antares Plus helps when you need access to the SUV's boot.
What we fitted on this BMW X5
We fitted the Menabo Antares Plus rack for 3 bikes, a foldable aluminium rack, with platform-type bike mounting and frame fixing. It carries a maximum of 60 kg and no more than 25 kg per bike, accepts e-bikes and fat bikes, locks both the rack and the bikes, and is extendable. It attaches to the towbar with the Rapid-Lock system, and has a rear light board and a 13/7-pin plug.
For two bikes there is also the Menabo Antares rack for 2 bikes, also foldable, with the same capacity of 60 kg and 25 kg per bike and a weight of 16 kg.
Video: The Menabo Antares rack on the towbar
Good to know about the Menabo Antares Plus on the BMW X5
- Three bikes, 60 kg: The Antares Plus has a 25 kg limit per bike but 60 kg in total, so with 3 bikes the average is no more than 20 kg per bike. Three e-bikes of 25 kg (75 kg) exceed the limit.
- X5 G05 towbar: with 60 kg of bikes plus the weight of the rack, you stay well below 140 kg, the maximum towbar load in the 2018 BMW data sheet.
- Rear lights and number plate: the rack has a rear light board powered from the towbar socket; check the lights and the visibility of the number plate before you leave.
- Plug: The Antares Plus has a 13/7-pin plug, so it suits the towbar's 13-pin or 7-pin wiring.
- Storage: towbar racks are bulkier than roof or tailgate racks, but both Antares models fold; the package measures 77.5 x 59 x 80 cm.
- Instructions: the Menabo Antares specifications are available as a PDF on the product pages.
Instructions and documents
Frequently asked questions
Which towbar bike rack fits the BMW X5 G05?
On the BMW X5 G05 we fitted the Menabo Antares Plus towbar rack for 3 bikes, foldable, with Rapid-Lock mounting and 60 kg capacity. For two bikes there is the Menabo Antares for 2 bikes, with the same capacity of 60 kg.
How much weight can the towbar of the BMW X5 G05 carry?
According to the BMW data sheet from 2018, the BMW X5 G05 accepts a 140 kg vertical load on the towbar (towbar download) on the xDrive40i, xDrive50i, xDrive30d and M50d. A Menabo Antares Plus with 60 kg of bikes stays well below this value.
Can I carry 3 e-bikes on the Menabo Antares Plus?
The Menabo Antares Plus accepts e-bikes of up to 25 kg each, but the total load is 60 kg. Three e-bikes can be carried only if together they do not exceed 60 kg, that is an average of 20 kg per bike. You will find more about towbar racks and e-bikes in the guide Bike racks: on roof bars or on the towbar.
What socket must the towbar have for the Menabo Antares Plus?
The Menabo Antares Plus has its own rear lights and a 13/7-pin plug, so it connects to the towbar's 7-pin or 13-pin wiring. Before fitting, check that the towbar's electrical wiring on the BMW X5 works.
We are waiting for you in the showroom
Do you want to see how a Menabo Antares towbar rack folds and attaches? We are waiting for you in the SuportBicicleta.ro showroom at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania, where we can try it on your car. You will find all towbar bike racks and the rest of the bike racks in the shop, and you can reach us through contact us through our contact page or at [email protected].
You can also message us on WhatsApp.
Sources: Wikipedia, BMW X5 (G05) · BMW Media Information 6/2018, The new BMW X5, technical data · SuportBicicleta.ro guide: Bike racks: on roof bars or on the towbar · SuportBicicleta.ro guide: The new cycling season, which type of bike rack should I choose · product pages on suportbicicleta.ro
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