ProView – Thule Verse Review

As trails have dried out and the snow has melted here in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, I’ve had the pleasure of testing the Thule Verse 2-person bike rack. It’s been a wet and chilly spring here in Colorado, but the rocky roads have provided no shortage of opportunities to test the stability and strength of this bike rack. I’ve been a lifelong bicyclist, and have owned and extensively used bike racks from Yakima, 1up, and Kuat.

During testing, I was particularly interested in testing out the folding mechanism, the ratcheting arms, the stability of the bike rack and bikes while fully loaded and driving on bumpy roads, and the strength of the plastic pieces on this rack. 

Fit/Comfort

The Verse comes with both standard hitch size options so it will fit your vehicle regardless of hitch connection. One area that the Thule Verse shines when compared to my 1Up is the folding mechanism. The 1Up folding mechanism is horrible, full stop. It’s hard to actuate, usually requires two hands, and you must reach way down under the rack to access the handle. The Verse handle is always easy to reach, effortless to actuate, and never requires two hands. 

Look/Style

The Thule Verse looks pretty run-of-the-mill for a modern bike rack. It’s a majority black matte plastic with subtle silver highlights along the extendable arms. 

Features

This rack has plenty of built-in features, including a tilt feature that allows the trunk to open when bikes are on the rack, oversized bike trays that accommodate bike tires up to 5” in width and bikes up to 60 lbs, and a Thule limited lifetime warranty that covers manufacturer defects.

Weight/Packability

The Thule Verse 2” weighs 58 lbs and accommodates two bikes up to 60 lbs each (120 lbs total). By comparison, the 1Up Heavy Duty weighs 47 lbs, and accommodates 2 bikes up to 65 lbs each (130 lbs total). 

Function/Performance

The Thule Verse performs incredibly well. It’s the most stable bike rack I’ve ever used. I was shocked at how little movement there was, even when loaded up with two bikes and driving on a bumpy road.

Additionally, the ratcheting mechanism performs really well. This is another area that the Thule Verse is superior to the 1Up bike rack system. 1Up’s ratcheting mechanism always requires two hands and some significant force to undo. The Thule system requires one hand and no significant force. Thule does use a lot of plastic parts in their ratcheting system, which I’m not a fan of, but the ease of use differences are undeniable. Additionally, I love that Thule built this bike rack to be e-bike compatible, but not specific. Each bike tray can accommodate a bike weighing up to 60 lbs and with 5” wide tires – very impressive! However, the Verse can just as easily accommodate a road bike with 32mm wide tires. 

Durability/Construction

Durability and construction is the one category where the Thule Verse didn’t meet my expectations. While the core of this bike rack is metal, almost every single exterior piece is made of plastic. Plastic breaks down over time, especially with UV exposure. Thule does offer a comprehensive parts diagram and the ability to buy spare parts, which I love. However, I would love to see Thule consider building the Verse out of more metal and less plastic. 

What sets the product apart?

With the introduction of the Verse bike rack, Thule has once again proven that they are a force to be reckoned with in the bike rack and car accessory sphere. The Verse is a sturdy, secure, no-frills bike rack that can accommodate just about any bike on the market today. It’s quick to assemble, simple to use on a daily basis, and stores easily. For nearly $1000 you should expect a premium product, and Thule has delivered just that. 

Who is the product for?

If you’re a bicyclist who owns (or in the future may own) an e-bike or two, I would absolutely buy this bike rack. Bottom line: it’s a fantastic bike rack that’s easy to use, provides secure bike transport, and will last for many years. 

Friendliness to the Earth

Thule’s commitment to sustainable manufacturing, responsible sourcing, and efficient logistics is impressive. Thule appears to be following a framework for sustainable development developed by the United Nations. From material choice, to material sourcing, to working conditions, to shipping emissions, Thule seems to be taking a very broad approach to their climate and sustainability initiatives.

On Thule’s website, they mention an ambitious goal to have 100% of electricity on their factories come from renewable sources by 2020. However, 2020 was five years ago, and there seems to be no follow-up on that goal. 

The Final Word

The Thule Verse is a fantastic bike rack that combines sturdiness, security, and simplicity. It follows the same design as many modern bike racks, with one ratcheting arm in the front and a strap over the rear wheel. Despite the same design as many others, this Thule rack is by far the most secure bike rack I’ve ever used. The Verse has a great tilt-down feature that allows trunk access while bikes are still mounted to the rack. The tool-free installation and e-bike compatibility are other great features! If an all-metal construction is important to you, this is not the rack for you. A large number of external parts are made of plastic. 

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