Cycling UK Forum

We are considering changing cars and the Honda Jazz is on our shortlist. However at a visit to a main dealer we were given a printout from a Honda website that explicitly said "To avoid roof deformation, no bicycles can be carried on the roof". Since returning home I have been unable to find this specific web page. I have asked the dealer to investigate further but have had no reply yet.

We regularly carry two hybrid bikes on the roof of our elderly Fiat Punto as we have done on all previous cars, including the original design of the Mini, so we have a real problem here.

Has anyone else come across this specific restriction, not just a general weight limit, elsewhere?

Alan

Certainly if you look one the accessories page the only bike carrier listed is for towbar fitting even though they list several roof rack options including for skis - though it's hard to imagine the typical, geriatric jizz owner having much interest in skiing.

http://www.honda.co.uk/cars/jazz/accessories/travel/

I've got an 04 one and I've carried way more than the weight of a bike on the roof using Halfords roof bars. Can't speak for the newer model.

pete75 wrote:Certainly if you look one the accessories page the only bike carrier listed is for towbar fitting even though they list several roof rack options including for skis - though it's hard to imagine the typical, geriatric jizz owner having much interest in skiing.

A friend of mine I met through skiing was 80 last May. He skis 4 or 5 weeks every year. I don't know what sort of car he has though but in any case I wouldn't speculate based on outmoded pre-conceptions

Similar discussion on clubjazz.org

If Honda really don't recommend bikes on a roof rack, then it is simple; don't do it. Not if you want to keep your warranty, anyway.

Seems to me that there are two issues here;

1) what do Honda really say? (best ask them directly, and not delete any e-mails etc that you receive back from Honda..)

2) Why should it not be a good idea anyway?

On the latter point, it is unlikely that the weight of the bikes is the issue here. Bikes are not that heavy per se. What they do have is a very poor aerodynamic drag coefficient. They also wobble and flap about. When you blat down the motorway at 80mph, most likely your bikes will merrily be trying to tear the roof off the car, much worse than most other loads of similar weight.

A car roof is an excellent place for the designer to save weight these days; I don't think there is any test for penetration of the skin, and the rollover strength is in the other panels. So I think that most cars have very thin steel roof panels and some have (composite even) panels that are just glued on. Where the roof rack attaches to a mounting in a gutter that is set in about 3" from the edge of the roof, all the roof rack loads may go into the roof panel, rather than into the rest of the car per se.

cheers

I'd vote for following the manufacturer's official advice.

If you want to fit roof bars on any car, I'd recommend Thule and roofrack.co.uk as a stockist.

Here's a link to their guide

https://roofracks.co.uk/Thule-Fit-Guide ... version=Mk. III&type=5-door-Hatchback&modelYear=2014plus&id=47

You can fit various accessories including bike carriers to Thule bars.

skicat wrote:

pete75 wrote:Certainly if you look one the accessories page the only bike carrier listed is for towbar fitting even though they list several roof rack options including for skis - though it's hard to imagine the typical, geriatric jizz owner having much interest in skiing.

A friend of mine I met through skiing was 80 last May. He skis 4 or 5 weeks every year. I don't know what sort of car he has though but in any case I wouldn't speculate based on outmoded pre-conceptions

And I wouldn't speculate based on a sample of one.

pete75 wrote:

skicat wrote:

pete75 wrote:Certainly if you look one the accessories page the only bike carrier listed is for towbar fitting even though they list several roof rack options including for skis - though it's hard to imagine the typical, geriatric jizz owner having much interest in skiing.

A friend of mine I met through skiing was 80 last May. He skis 4 or 5 weeks every year. I don't know what sort of car he has though but in any case I wouldn't speculate based on outmoded pre-conceptions

And I wouldn't speculate based on a sample of one.

It beats a speculation of non!

pete75 wrote:

skicat wrote:

pete75 wrote:Certainly if you look one the accessories page the only bike carrier listed is for towbar fitting even though they list several roof rack options including for skis - though it's hard to imagine the typical, geriatric jizz owner having much interest in skiing.

A friend of mine I met through skiing was 80 last May. He skis 4 or 5 weeks every year. I don't know what sort of car he has though but in any case I wouldn't speculate based on outmoded pre-conceptions

And I wouldn't speculate based on a sample of one.

If you go ski touring in Norway you find 60/70 year olds are the dominant age group, with plenty older than that. Like cycling and swimming, but unlike running, freeheel skiing is kind to the joints, and many keep going as long as they can walk: especially with auto bindings which now allow you to clip in without bending down. The oldest skiers just slow up a little, but not much.....

ChrisButch wrote:

skicat wrote:

pete75 wrote:Certainly if you look one the accessories page the only bike carrier listed is for towbar fitting even though they list several roof rack options including for skis - though it's hard to imagine the typical, geriatric jizz owner having much interest in skiing.

A friend of mine I met through skiing was 80 last May. He skis 4 or 5 weeks every year. I don't know what sort of car he has though but in any case I wouldn't speculate based on outmoded pre-conceptions

If you go ski touring in Norway you find 60/70 year olds are the dominant age group, with plenty older than that. Like cycling and swimming, but unlike running, freeheel skiing is kind to the joints, and many keep going as long as they can walk: especially with auto bindings which now allow you to clip in without bending down. The oldest skiers just slow up a little, but not much.....

I don't doubt it but I bet they're a different sort of person to those who buy cars like the JIzz in this country. That was my point. The Jizz seems to attract a particular type of elderly person.....

awparker wrote:We are considering changing cars and the Honda Jazz is on our shortlist. However at a visit to a main dealer we were given a printout from a Honda website that explicitly said "To avoid roof deformation, no bicycles can be carried on the roof". Since returning home I have been unable to find this specific web page. I have asked the dealer to investigate further but have had no reply yet.

We regularly carry two hybrid bikes on the roof of our elderly Fiat Punto as we have done on all previous cars, including the original design of the Mini, so we have a real problem here.

Has anyone else come across this specific restriction, not just a general weight limit, elsewhere?

Alan

My brother has a Honda Jazz and recently had a problem with the roof leaking! Not so unusual you might think if it had a sun roof, but it doesn't. It turns out the Jazz roof has two seams which have failed in the past. I think if you search for "honda Jazz roof leaking" you will get plenty of hits. Honda have had to re-seal many roofs under warranty.

I suspect this design feature is the reason for Honda not recommending roof racks. You could fit one and get away with it biut it could cause a leak that Honda wouldn't be under any obligation to repair.

I've had two Honda Jazzes both outside warranty. It seems that the reason they leak is because the body shell parts are so rigid that when the flexible sealer dries out it cracks. The problem area is usually the right hand rear because it will leak into the spare wheel cavity (left side drains outwards so is ok). Resealing is a pig to do and not very successful. The answer is to drill holes in the spare wheel cavity to let it drain. Back on subject - my machines go inside which is partly why I bought a Jazz - the seats fold absolutely flat.

Hi
Consider either a Kia Venga or the similar Hyundai ix20
Kia have a 7 year manufacturer's warranty, 5 years paint warranty and that's all over unlimited mileage. And they start around £1000 cheaper

I've never enquired about a roof carrier, Kia offer a roofbar set but I don't know if it's suitable for bikes. Mine stand upright inside
Regards
tim-b

Thanks for all the replies with some helpful comments.

I have now heard back from the Honda dealers who confirm that carrying bikes on the roof will void their warranty, so for us the Honda Jazz is off the list. I have a plan B but that currently depends on our elderly Fiat Punto getting through its MOT at the end of the month.

In the past I have generally used Thule roof bars and cycle carriers and found them very good so whatever car is bought will probably continue to do so.

Thanks again

Alan