09 May 2024
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Suzuki Vitara LY (2015+) with Menabo Alcor 3 towbar bike rack for 3 bikes

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

On the towbar of a Suzuki Vitara of the LY generation we fitted the Menabo Alcor 3 bike rack, designed for 3 bikes. The fitting was done in the SuportBicicleta.ro showroom at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania.

In brief

Car: Suzuki Vitara 4th generation (LY), 5-door SUV, built since 2015, with a towbar.
Fitted: Menabo Alcor 3 bike rack, with Rapid-Lock fitting to the towbar and platforms for 3 bikes.
Capacity: maximum 60 kg in total and 25 kg per bike, compatible with e-bikes and fat bikes.
Fitting: fitted in our showroom in Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania.

About the car: Suzuki Vitara LY (2015-present)

The fourth-generation Suzuki Vitara has the code LY and is a 5-door SUV on the Global C platform, built from March 2015 to the present. The car is assembled in Hungary, at Magyar Suzuki in Esztergom. The model received a facelift presented in Paris in 2018 and a new one in April 2024, and since March 2020 the European versions use 48V mild hybrid technology with the 1.4-litre K14D Boosterjet engine.

For a towbar bike rack, the roof does not matter, only the rear of the car and the towbar. The Vitara manual (edition 54P00-01E) gives a maximum trailer of 1,200 kg braked and 400 kg unbraked for the M16A petrol engine, and 1,500 kg and 600 kg for the D16AA diesel, but it does not give the nose weight of the towbar. For a bike rack, this nose weight is exactly what matters, so look for it in the documents of the towbar fitted to your car.

What we fitted on this Suzuki Vitara

We chose the Menabo Alcor 3 towbar-mounted bike rack, a platform model made of aluminium and steel. It attaches to the towbar with a special clamping lever, the Rapid-Lock system, and has a tilting function, so you can open the Vitara's boot even with the rack on the car. The locks protect both the rack and the bikes.

The Alcor 3 carries bikes of up to 25 kg each, 60 kg in total, and also accepts e-bikes or fat bikes. It has a light board and a 13/7-pin electrical plug, and its product sheet lists it as compatible with the Menabo Mizar towbar cargo box too, for when you want to carry luggage instead of bikes.

Suzuki Vitara LY seen from behind, with the Menabo Alcor 3 bike rack fitted on the towbar, photo 1

Suzuki Vitara LY seen from behind, with the Menabo Alcor 3 bike rack fitted on the towbar, photo 2

Suzuki Vitara LY seen from behind, with the Menabo Alcor 3 bike rack fitted on the towbar, photo 3

Suzuki Vitara LY seen from behind, with the Menabo Alcor 3 bike rack fitted on the towbar, photo 4

Technical details and what to watch for

Menabo Alcor 3 capacity: 3 bikes, maximum 25 kg per bike and 60 kg in total.
The rack weighs 22 kg. With 60 kg of bikes, the towbar takes up to 82 kg, so check the maximum permitted nose weight of the towbar on your Vitara, which the car's manual does not give.
The rack has its own rear lights and a 13/7-pin plug. Before setting off, check the indicators, the rear lights and the visibility of the number plate with the bikes loaded.
The tilting function lets you open the tailgate without taking the rack off.
Packaging dimensions: 120 x 21.5 x 79 cm, useful to know when you store it in the garage.
The Menabo Alcor fitting instructions and specifications are available as PDFs on the product sheet.

Instructions and documents

Frequently asked questions

Which towbar bike rack fits the Suzuki Vitara LY?

On a Suzuki Vitara LY (2015+) with a towbar we fitted the Menabo Alcor 3 rack, which attaches to the towbar with the Rapid-Lock system and carries 3 bikes, maximum 60 kg. You can find other models in the category towbar-mounted bike racks.

How much weight does the Menabo Alcor 3 carry?

The Menabo Alcor 3 bike rack carries a maximum of 60 kg in total, with no more than 25 kg on each of the 3 bikes. The manufacturer recommends strictly respecting these limits, and the rack itself weighs 22 kg.

Does the Menabo Alcor 3 fit any towbar?

Tow balls generally follow the 94/20/EC standard, but there are differences between cars: some are chromed, painted or more worn. That is why the lever of the Menabo Alcor 3 rack has a tension adjustment, done without special tools. Details in our guide The Alcor 3 bike rack.

Can I carry e-bikes on a Suzuki Vitara with the Menabo Alcor 3?

Yes, the Menabo Alcor 3 is compatible with e-bikes and fat bikes, as long as each bike weighs no more than 25 kg and the total does not exceed 60 kg. On the Suzuki Vitara, also check the maximum permitted nose weight of the towbar.