Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE2 Review

Whether you’re hitting the trail that’s 2 miles away, or 2 days’ drive away, you’re going to need a way to keep your bikes secure for the trip. For vehicles with a trailer hitch, the Sport Rider SE2 rack from Hollywood Racks provides a stable, secure platform for your precious 2-wheeled cargo. Ease of installation and quality construction are the hallmarks of this mid-range priced bike rack.

Standard Bike Rack vs E-Bike Rack

The Sport Rider SE2 is a heavy-duty 2-bike rack for regular bikes (it is NOT suited for e-bikes) that fits onto a 2-inch trailer hitch (it will not fit smaller hitches). Almost any kind of bike – mountain, road, gravel, city bikes – with any standard wheel diameter or tire size will fit the Sport Rider SE2.

This versatility comes courtesy of the adjustable wheel holders – open steel hoops that cradle the wheels and prevent movement or rattling as tray holders sometimes allow. The attachment is secured by a ratcheting and locking hook that holds on to the frame to prevent vertical jostling.

The emphasis on secure attachment extends to the rack’s attachment to your vehicle’s trailer hitch. It features Hollywood’s patented “No Wobble-No Tools” hitch tightening system, a locking hitch pin, and security cable. The rack can be tilted for access to your vehicle’s cargo area, and it will fold flat against the back bumper area when not in use

Specs and Options

• Capacity: Two Bikes (Max. 50 lbs per bike)
• Hitch Size: 2” only (Do not use a 1 ¼” -2” hitch adapter)
• Maximum bike wheelbase: 60” (72” long wheel base kits available)
• Minimum bike wheelbase: 34″
• Maximum tire width: 3” (5″ Fat Tire Wheel Holders available)
• Rack Weight: 54.01 lbs.

Hollywood also offers the ability to add an additional two bike mounts (sold separately) for a 4-bike capacity. They warn against using the rack on a front hitch, or on a tow-behind trailer or vehicle. The rack comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE2 Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Secure attachment to vehicle’s trailer hitch
• Versatile for all types of bikes
• Easy installation and quality construction

Cons:

• Not suitable for e-bikes
• Only fits 2-inch trailer hitch
• Cannot be used with smaller hitches

Overall Impression

The Sport Rider SE2 looks solid and secure, and it is. As its name alludes to, Hollywood is an American company started in West Hollywood, CA back in the early 1970s. The rack looks “American”, and by that we mean that it’s overbuilt, tough and strong. This is a very good feature for bike racks – all the weight savings that we seek on our bikes have no place when it comes to securely transporting them.

Also, as an American company, Hollywood has an excellent customer service department that quickly handles any questions or issues with their products. And in the rare event that anything on your Sport Rider SE2 fails, Hollywood stands by their products and honors their warranties without hassle. They also offer replacement parts and a variety of accessories to increase the capacity or compatibility of their racks.

Finally, Hollywood makes bike (and specialty e-bike) racks, and only bike racks. Their singular focus has allowed for durable and well-designed products that are sold through an extensive dealer network, and the company’s product development attention is not diverted to carriers for other equipment that don’t have any relevance to transporting bikes securely and easily.

The Sport Rider SE2 ($449.99) is the perfect rack for anyone who doesn’t like to think about their bike rack. It covers all the bases of secure and locking attachments, versatility and ease of use. What this means is that your mind can stay focused on the ride ahead, and not wander off in worry about your beloved two-wheeled cargo.

Related Bike Racks

1. Saris MHS2 Bike Rack
2. Yakima OnRamp 2 Bike Rack
3. Thule EasyFold XT Bike Rack