19 Aug 2021
Suportbicicleta.ro
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Ford Focus 3 estate (C346) with Menabo Viper tailgate bike rack for 3 bikes

Showroom: Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania

On a third-generation Ford Focus estate (Mk3, code C346) we fitted the Menabo Viper rack for 3 bikes, attached to the tailgate. We did the fitting in the SuportBicicleta.ro showroom at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania.

In brief

Car: Ford Focus Turnier (estate), 3rd generation, code C346, sold in Europe between 2011 and 2018.
Fitted: the Menabo Viper rack for 3 bikes, attached to the tailgate or boot lid.
Capacity: 3 bikes and a maximum of 45 kg in total; compatible with fat bikes, but not with electric bikes.
Fitting: 6 straps attached at 6 points, with contact surfaces covered in rubber.

About the car: Ford Focus estate Mk3 (C346)

The 3rd-generation Ford Focus, known as the Focus Mk III and by the code C346, also had a 5-door estate version, presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 2010. Production for Europe started at Saarlouis, Germany, in December 2010, and the Mk 3.5 facelift, shown in Geneva in 2014, also brought small changes to the rear of the estate. The car in the fitting is a white Focus estate, without roof rails.

Without roof rails, a roof-mounted rack would first have needed a set of roof bars chosen for this roof, so a tailgate-mounted rack is a more direct solution. A tailgate-mounted rack sits directly on the bodywork, though, and the rear of the estate changed slightly at the facelift, which is why Menabo Viper compatibility is checked on the applicability list on the product page, for the exact version of the Focus.

What we fitted on this Ford Focus estate

Menabo Viper sits on the tailgate or the boot lid and is secured with 6 straps, attached at 6 points. The surfaces that touch the car are covered in rubber and rubberised paint, so that they do not scratch the bodywork. The rack is made of black steel, and is tested to ISO standards.

Viper carries 3 bikes, with a maximum load of 45 kg, and accepts any frame diameter, including fat bikes. The bikes are held by the frame, in the clamps of the rack, and they can touch each other, so it is worth protecting the places where they touch. It is not compatible with electric bikes and has no lock, and it folds when you are not using it; the dimensions on the data sheet are 60 x 13 x 100 cm.

White Ford Focus Mk3 estate with Menabo Viper tailgate rack for 3 bikes, photo 1

Why choose this?

including fat bikes.

White Ford Focus Mk3 estate with Menabo Viper tailgate rack for 3 bikes, photo 2

Technical details and what to watch for

Load: 45 kg for 3 bikes, which is 15 kg per bike on average; a heavier bike reduces what remains for the other two.
Compatibility: look for your Ford Focus in the Menabo applicability list on the product page, by body style and year of manufacture.
Before fitting, clean the tailgate, so that dust or sand under the pads does not scratch the paint; after tightening the straps, move the rack left and right and check that it sits firmly.
Arrange the bikes so that the handlebars and pedals do not touch the bodywork, and check before you set off that the number plate and rear lights of the Focus remain visible.
Dimensions: 60 x 13 x 100 cm; the rack is foldable, so you can store it easily in a garage or storeroom.
The fitting instructions and specifications of the Menabo Viper are on the product page as a PDF.

Instructions and documents

Frequently asked questions

Which tailgate bike rack fits the Ford Focus 3 estate?

On a Ford Focus estate Mk3 (C346) we fitted the Menabo Viper for 3 bikes, attached to the tailgate with 6 straps at 6 points. For your car, compatibility is confirmed on the Menabo applicability list on the product page, depending on year and version.

How many kilograms does the Menabo Viper rack carry?

The Menabo Viper has a maximum load of 45 kg and carries 3 bikes, which is 15 kg per bike on average. The bikes are held by the frame in the clamps of the rack.

Can I put a fat bike or an electric bike on the Menabo Viper?

The Menabo Viper is compatible with fat bikes and accepts any frame diameter, but it is not compatible with electric bikes. For an electric bike on a Ford Focus estate, we recommend contacting us through our contact page or at [email protected], so that we can choose a different type of rack.

Does the tailgate rack scratch the paint of the Ford Focus?

The Menabo Viper has its contact surfaces covered in rubber and rubberised paint, designed not to scratch the bodywork. What matters is that the tailgate is clean before fitting; we explain the steps in the guide Fitting steps for tailgate bike racks.