Volkswagen Golf 7 Variant with Menabo Mistral tailgate bike rack for 3 bikes

On a Volkswagen Golf 7 Variant we fitted the bike rack Menabo Mistral, fixed directly to the tailgate with straps. The fitting was done in the SuportBicicleta.ro showroom at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania.

About the car: Volkswagen Golf 7 Variant (Mk7, estate)

The Volkswagen Golf 7 Variant is the 5-door estate version of the Golf 7 (Mk7) generation. It was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2013, uses the MQB platform, and its production ended in mid-2020. In November 2016 the whole Golf 7 range received the Golf 7.5 facelift, with LED rear lights as standard.

The Golf 7 Variant has raised roof rails, like the black ones on our car, so it could take roof bars and roof accessories at any time. Here, though, we chose a tailgate rack, which needs neither bars nor a towbar: it rests on the back of the estate and is fixed with straps. This way, the bikes do not have to be lifted onto the roof of a long estate.

What we fitted on this Golf 7 Variant

Menabo Mistral is a steel rack for 3 bikes, with a maximum load of 45 kg. It fits on the tailgate or boot lid of the car and is secured with the straps in the box, at six fixing points on the body. The bikes hang by the frame and are held with the clamps of the rack; they touch each other, so it is worth positioning them carefully.

The contact points with the car are rubber with rubberised paint, designed not to scratch the body, and the rack is certified and ISO tested. It takes frames of any diameter and fat bikes, but not electric bikes, and it has no lock. It folds, and on the product page you will find a presentation clip, the fitting instructions and the specification sheet as a PDF.

Video: Menabo Mistral tailgate bike rack

Technical details and what to watch for

• 3 bikes, maximum 45 kg in total: with a full rack, the average allowed is 15 kg per bike.
• Fat bike: yes; e-bike: no. Frame diameter: any. Clamps for holding the bikes: yes.
• 6 fixing points on the body, rubber contact with rubberised paint, steel rack, foldable, no lock.
• After loading, check from behind the car that the bikes do not cover the number plate and the rear lights of the Golf.
• Before fitting, clean the tailgate so that dust does not scratch the paint under the pads, and after tightening check that the rack does not move. The steps are in the guide Fitting steps for tailgate bike racks.
• The fitting instructions and specifications for the Menabo Mistral are available as PDFs on the product page, along with the car compatibility list.

Instructions and documents

• Menabo compatibility list for bike racks (PDF)
• Fitting instructions - Menabo Mistral (PDF)
• Specifications - Menabo Mistral (PDF)

Frequently asked questions

Which bike rack fits the tailgate of a Volkswagen Golf 7 Variant?

On a Volkswagen Golf 7 Variant we fitted the Menabo Mistral tailgate rack, for 3 bikes and a maximum of 45 kg, fixed with straps at 6 points. Compatibility for each model is checked in the car list on the product page.

How many bikes does the Menabo Mistral carry, and what weight does it take?

The Menabo Mistral rack carries a maximum of 3 bikes, with a total load of 45 kg, which is 15 kg per bike on average when full. It takes fat bikes, but not electric bikes.

Does the Menabo Mistral bike rack scratch the car body?

The Menabo Mistral has rubber contact points with rubberised paint, made not to scratch the body. For the protection to work, clean the tailgate before fitting, so that sand or dust does not stay under the pads.

Tailgate bike rack or roof-mounted bike rack for the Golf Variant?

On a Volkswagen Golf 7 Variant both are possible, because the car has roof rails on which roof bars can be fitted. A tailgate rack like the Menabo Mistral needs no bars and is easy to store, while a rack on roof bars leaves room for other roof accessories. We compare them in the guide Bike rack on roof bars vs. tailgate bike rack.

We are waiting for you in the showroom

Have an estate and want to take your bikes with you at the weekend? We are waiting for you in the SuportBicicleta.ro showroom at Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania, so we can try the rack on your car. Choose from tailgate bike racks or, if you prefer the roof, from roof bars. You can also contact us here: contact us through our contact page or at [email protected].

You can also message us on WhatsApp.

Sources: Wikipedia: Volkswagen Golf Mk7 (Variant presented at Geneva 2013, production until 2020, MQB, 2016 facelift) · Fitting photo: Golf 7 Variant with raised roof rails and Menabo tailgate rack · Guide: Fitting steps for tailgate bike racks · Guide: Bike rack on roof bars vs tailgate bike rack · product pages on suportbicicleta.ro