Next stop as we worked our way down the virtual concourse at Digital WorldBike was the Hungarian company, TreeFrog, makers of suction mounted racks for bikes, ski, snowboards, and other roof-mounted items. We chatted with Zoltan Tisza, President of European Distribution for TreeFrog, to learn more about the racks they have on offer.
Suction mounted racks are not new, but they are continuing to gain traction in the market. Not everyone wants to semi-permanently mount a rack on their roof (think of brands like Thule and Yakima). Even the most aerodynamic racks can cause a reduction of fuel efficiency, plus it changes the look of the vehicle. And not everyone wants or can add a hitch to their vehicle. It adds weight, can effect ground clearance, and even the best hitch rack still can get in the way of the trunk or rear hatch.
The suction cups that are used by TreeFrog are very different from the suction cup on the window of your car or around your house. Those suction cups rely on you to push them against a surface and expel the air. Even the best mounts I have found, like the GoPro suction cup mount or the RAM Mount that I use for my mobile phone in the car, eventually will fall off from the window. The suction cups that TreeFrog uses has a vacuum pump that they use to pull the air out and seal the suction cups to the surface. All they need is a smooth surface to mate with. And as long as the suction cup and the surface you are mounting it to are both clean, the TreeFrog suction cups should not damage the surface.
TreeFrog has two levels of racks, Elite and Pro. Besides the shape of the racks, the main difference is how much they are rated to carry. The Elite is rated for 16kg, while the Elite is 20kg. Both feature three suction cups, TreeFrog’s universal fork mount, and a rear-wheel holder that uses strong velcro straps to hold the wheel in place. The universal fork mount converts between 9mm QR and 15mm TA, but you can also customize the rack with a specific fork mount you need. The Elite is also available in a two bike mount, while the Pro also has a two and three mount version. Since you are taking the front wheel off, they also make front wheel holders in one, two, and three-wheel configurations. The one and two-wheel versions also include the same number of rear-wheel holders integrated into them.
Beyond bike racks, TreeFrog also offers suction cup mounted crossbars, along with ski and snowboard carriers
While I haven’t gotten my hands on a rack to review, my only real issue with the TreeFrog bike racks is that they are technically not compatible with 9mm QR/15×100 TA and 12×100 TA without having to swap out a separate mount. The Elite and Pro are available in 9mm QR/15×100, 12×100, 15×110 or 20×110. Swapping from one mount to another requires tools to unbolt it from the rack base and swap in the other mount. It is a similar issue that I have with the Rocky Mounts SwitchHitter fork mount roof rack. Rocky Mount’s solution is having multiple tubes that are held in place by a small set screw that you can swap out.
This might not be a big issue for most though. For me, it is a toss-up. The majority of the bikes I carry are 12×100 TA, but both my wife and I have road bikes that are QR, and she has an older Focus Mares with a 15mm TA, and I sometimes use a Lauf Grit that is 15mm TA.
TreeFrog is working on establishing a US distributor, but you can still buy from them directly on their website. Based on current exchange rates the Elite 1 starts at about $230 and the Pro 1 is about $310. The most expensive setup is about $615 for the Pro 2 with the L2 front wheel/rear-wheel combo mount. Pricing is pretty comparable to other suction cup mounts on the market, making them an interesting alternative if you are looking for options.
Based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Scott joined Bike World News as the Cyclocross Editor in 2012 before taking over as Tech Editor in 2016. He has also worked as a photographer for various pro teams and shoot races along the east coast of the US, including the 2012 US MTB National Championships, 2013 UCI Cyclocross World Championships, and 2016 UCI Road World Championships. Scott has a passion for performance and technology, with 35 years of riding and mechanic experience. He also enjoys soccer, running, teaching group fitness classes, and is the founder of Lancaster Beard Company.
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