Can a bike fit under a softopper?

I have a 5000 dollar bike and I was thinking about getting a softopper mainly as a way to conceal the bike. I am wondering if it would fit on something like a rocky mount or some other bed rail mounted bike fork, with the softopper cover over the top to cover it from thieves.

 

2 of em actually but sorta tight. Take of the front wheel and should be ok

 

If theft is that big of a concern, I would suggest a hard shell that can be locked. Softtoppers conceal well but they are easy to open up and can't be locked.

 

You could always just chain the bike to truck

 

I hAvE a $5000 bIKe

 

Find a nice Outboard Bike Mount like this. I have 2 of them. But if people want it bad enough nothing will stop them. I keep the front tire in the back seat. I'm not sure what or how @BadDNA secures his in the bed maybe he will chime in.

 

You Sir are a genius!

Do you know how many times I take that stupid rear bar off and then struggle to find a place where I won’t forget about it, trip over, or run over it.

OP- a bike will fit. It will fit better with a long bed.

 

I have 2 of these Outboard Bike Mounts.

 

I use a Saris track with fork mounts for my bed.
https://express.google.com/u/0/prod...k2890ScT5PHAkj02HMv4zQyAhwYnwHIgaAmiuEALw_wcB

 

Should.. fits under a fiberglass one (snugtop). I put ours with the rear wheel back, front wheel removed and strapped to the cleats on the side.

 

You need to be careful w/ that back bar.. I bought mine used and rolled it up that way several times. I just assumed that was how it was designed to be rolled up and never knew it came out and broke down to be stored - until it started to slide out while driving down the highway. I pulled over to slide it back in, that's when I pulled it out and realized it was meant to come out. I've seen video's where people put a wire clamp on each end to keep them in place, so I'll probably do that next summer.

 

Depends on the bike size. I have a hard snug top on my truck and can fit my size S Specialized Enduro in it with the wheels on, turning the bars weird to shut the tailgate. It would fit much easier with the front wheel off. I use a thule hitch rack around town and to travel and my bike is about 7k. If you are going in somewhere park so the rig is in sight, or plan accordingly.

If you plan on leaving it in a soft top while say staying in a hotel or something, I wouldn't personally. Traveling around daily, I think you are fine with it on a hitch rack. Why be concerned? Except if you get rear ended lol.

 

It would just be for storage while I loaded things into the bed. I’d never drive around like that.

How are you using that bar?

Its supposed to clip into the back window over the tailgate to help support the rails since the top is tight enough where it pulls in on that area.
It gets in the way if you need to load anything taller than the tailgate so it can be removed and popped back in. You shouldn’t need anything to hold it in place.

Unfortunately I don’t have a picture now, maybe someone else does to show where the bar needs to go.

There are plastic clips brackets on the rails in the back side of the truck with little semi circular holes that hold the bar in place. Its tight, it will not slip out.

 

Wish it was made out if steel or alluminum. Dread the day that snaps and i git to fund a replacement. Sometimes i got things i place inside the bed on the tailgate. Any metal guys that can replicate it? Id take a set

 

https://www.softopper.com/accessories-parts/replacement-parts/rear-plastic-clips-a-b

Softopper is great at having replacement parts available for virtually anything

 

My xl Smash (pretty damn big bike) fits while on a slide. It's tight, but if I can fit this thing, most bikes shouldn't be an issue:

 

I don't think we are on the same page.

I'm talking about when the rear panel is rolled up in the back and then clipped and cinched down - originally when I first started doing that, I would leave the bar in, but it can shift while driving and slide out. When I saw that happen while driving on a longer trip I pulled over and removed it, this is when I realized that it breaks down in half and can just be stored when not in use.

Only talking about when the back panel is rolled up, not rolled down and secured. I see what you are talking about when securing it down, also keep in mind that Softopper used 2 different styles of attachment points, one looks like a bulkier plastic piece on each side that the bar clips into and the other is 2 metal prongs on each side that the ends of the bar slide into and then stap on each end (this is the style I have).

Again, I bought mine used on Craigslist so I didn't do the initial assembly, or have instructions to go off of - I just checked out a couple of YouTube clips and saw some differences.

 

I looked up the install instructions on the 3rd Gen models (they are on the website) and I see the design change they made for the new models. I’m not really a fan of it since it makes removale and replacement longer. But at least it wont pop out while driving.

My bar was in two peices but its screwed together so the inside doesn’t come out.

 

I taped my halfs together so it stays the same size and just put a screw through it from the inside so it doesnt shift. Ive seem some use a garden hose clip as well

 

Not really sure what you mean by longer cuz i can get it folded in literally 1 minute. Taking off is a bit more, only being careful as to not scratch the truck. Have you seen the process for bestop? 5-10 minutes just to get it to fold