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Showroom: Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania
On a first-generation (6Y) Skoda Fabia hatchback we fitted the Menabo Merak Rapid, mounted on the towbar, and we present the Merak Rapid Plus, Merak Eco and Merak Eco Plus variants alongside it. We did the fitting in the SuportBicicleta.ro showroom at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania.
In brief
- Car: Skoda Fabia hatchback, first generation, internal code 6Y, presented in 1999 and replaced in 2007.
- Fitted: Menabo Merak towbar bike rack; in the post you will find the Merak Rapid Plus (3 bikes), Merak Eco (2 bikes) and Merak Eco Plus (3 bikes).
- Capacity: maximum 25 kg per bike on all variants, suitable for e-bikes but not for fat bikes.
- Fitting: the Merak Rapid Plus fixes with the Rapid-Lock lever, the Merak Eco with a bolt; all have a 13/7-pin plug.
About the car: Skoda Fabia, first generation (6Y)
The first Skoda Fabia, with the internal code 6Y, was officially presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1999 and was the first model built on the Volkswagen Group A04 platform. At launch it was available in three body styles: hatchback, Fabia Combi and Fabia Saloon. In summer 2004 it received a facelift, with modified fog lights and grille, and in March 2007 the second generation, 5J, arrived.
On a compact hatchback like the Fabia, with no roof rails on the roof, a towbar rack saves you fitting roof bars and keeps the bikes low, where they are easy to load. What needs weighing up is access to the boot: the Merak Rapid Plus has a tilting function precisely so that you can open the boot with the rack fitted, while the Merak Eco does not tilt.
What we fitted on this Skoda Fabia
Menabo Merak Rapid Plus for 3 bikes is the Merak Rapid with the Menabo Merak extension kit. It fits on the towbar with a special lever and the Rapid-Lock system, has a tilting function and a lock for the rack, and carries one bike of up to 25 kg at each place. It is made in Italy, from aluminium, weighs 16 kg and is suitable for e-bikes.
The simpler version is Menabo Merak Eco for 2 bikes: bolt-on fitting, no tilting, 10.8 kg own weight, approved tail lights and TÜV approval. With the extension kit it becomes Menabo Merak Eco Plus for 3 bikes, with the same limit of 25 kg per bike. All three have a 13/7-pin plug and are not suitable for fat bikes or for a luggage box on the towbar.
Video: Menabo Merak Eco towbar bike rack – video
Video: Menabo Merak Rapid rack with Rapid-Lock fitting
Technical details and what to watch for
- Merak Rapid Plus: 3 bikes of up to 25 kg each, own weight 16 kg, tilting, lock for the rack, Rapid-Lock fitting.
- Merak Eco: 2 bikes of up to 25 kg each, own weight 10.8 kg, bolt-on fitting, no tilting.
- Dimensions from the sheets: 121 cm long, 35 cm wide and 18.5 cm high.
- Towbar calculation: the Merak Rapid Plus weighs 16 kg empty, and the weight of the bikes adds to that; compare the total with the Fabia's maximum tow ball load, given in the car's documents.
- Bikes at the back can cover the Fabia's lights and number plate, so plug in the 13/7-pin socket and check the rack's tail lights before you set off.
- The lock for the bikes is optional (art. 000026400000); the Menabo Merak and extension kit instructions are on the product sheets as PDFs.
Instructions and documents
- Fitting instructions Menabo Merak (PDF)
- Specifications Menabo Merak (PDF)
- Fitting instructions Menabo Merak extension kit (PDF)
Frequently asked questions
Which towbar bike rack fits the Skoda Fabia 1?
On a Skoda Fabia 6Y with a towbar and an electrical socket we fitted a Menabo Merak Rapid rack. For 3 bikes there is the Merak Rapid Plus, which tilts, and the bolt-on version is the Merak Eco for 2 bikes, both with a maximum of 25 kg per bike.
What is the difference between the Menabo Merak Rapid and the Merak Eco?
The Menabo Merak Rapid fixes to the towbar with the Rapid-Lock lever, has a tilting function and a lock for the rack. The Menabo Merak Eco is tightened with a bolt, does not tilt and has no lock for the rack. Both carry a maximum of 25 kg per bike and have a 13/7-pin plug.
Can I carry an e-bike on the Menabo Merak Rapid Plus?
Yes, the Menabo Merak Rapid Plus is suitable for e-bikes; the description states an e-bike, within the limit of 25 kg per bike. It is not suitable for fat bikes.
Do I need an electrical socket on the Skoda Fabia for the towbar rack?
Yes, the Menabo Merak Rapid Plus, Merak Eco and Merak Eco Plus have tail lights powered through the 13/7-pin socket, so the Fabia must have a towbar with a working socket. We explain the differences between towbar and roof racks in Bike racks: on roof bars or on the towbar?.
We are waiting for you in the showroom
Our SuportBicicleta.ro shop is in Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania , where we try the Rapid-Lock lever and the tilting of the rack together. All towbar bike racks are on the site, and if you still want a roof solution, start with roof bars. Contact us any time through our contact page or at [email protected]. contact us through our contact page or at [email protected].
You can also message us on WhatsApp.
Sources: Wikipedia: Skoda Fabia, first generation (6Y) · SuportBicicleta.ro guide: Bike racks on roof bars or on the towbar · product pages on suportbicicleta.ro
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