For those who’re into bike racks, then you definately would possibly bear in mind when 1UP-USA acquired Recon Racks a number of years in the past. Shortly after, 1UP began making its personal vertical carry hitch rack, which they creatively named the Recon. I examined the five-bike model of the outgoing Recon and liked it. It was straightforward sufficient to make use of, versatile, and seemingly indestructible. It was additionally obnoxiously heavy.
At this time, Wisconsin-based bike rack producer 1UP-USA launches a totally redesigned Recon Vertical Hitch Rack. 1UP says the brand new Recon Rack “represents a full overhaul from the hitch up.”
The brand new Recon was constructed across the firm’s ethos that gear must be repaired, not changed. As such, it has a extra modular design that goals to boost serviceability and restore. The brand new Recon can also be claimed to be 15% lighter and features a handful of user-friendly upgrades.
“We tasked our world-class engineers with reimagining the Recon to embody the sturdiness, serviceability, and flexibility that 1UP prospects count on,” stated Kurt Barclay, Advertising Director at 1UP-USA. “The result’s a rack that units a brand new benchmark for efficiency and longevity in vertical bike transport.”
2025 Recon Highlights
- 15% Weight Discount: The 2025 Recon incorporates a mixed aluminum and metal development that cuts pointless weight with out sacrificing ruggedness. The 4-bike configuration now weighs simply 72 kilos, whereas the 5- and 6-bike fashions are available at 80 kilos and 84 kilos, respectively.
- Totally Bolt-Collectively Design: Gone are the welds. The brand new modular body is absolutely serviceable and swappable, guaranteeing each part may be changed or repaired, not tossed.
- Wedge-Type Hitch Connection: The newly built-in wedge hitch locks the rack into place, eliminating sway and rattle for a rock-solid journey each time.
- Upgraded Pivot System: A redesigned tilt mechanism with a heavy-duty pin and easy-access lever makes it less complicated than ever to get into the again of your car, even when absolutely loaded.
- New Aluminum Baskets: The symmetrical baskets are lighter and appropriate with a wider vary of bikes, together with MTB, gravel, and fats tires, with out the necessity for adapters.
- Now Out there in 4, 5, and 6-Bike Choices: For the primary time, the Recon is out there in a 4-bike configuration, providing extra flexibility for households and shuttle crews alike.
- APS Aspect Panel Compatibility: The Recon works seamlessly with 1UP’s APS (Accent Panel System) Aspect Panel, permitting customers to mount instruments, fuel, water, and different necessities proper to the rack — supreme for path builders and overlanders.
Of the highlights listed above, the burden discount is the one I’m most enthusiastic about. The blended aluminum and metal development drops the burden by roughly 15%, which addresses my important grievance in regards to the earlier all-steel model. The 5-bike Recon I examined weighed 92 kilos on my scale, whereas the brand new model weighs a claimed 80 kilos. It’s nonetheless heavy, however that’s a big distinction.
The usage of aluminum components and the absolutely bolt-together design additionally enhances its serviceability and may make it simpler to restore if/when wanted. For instance, the decrease crossbar, together with the tire cradles, on the earlier Recon was lower from a single piece of metal. The brand new Recon makes use of replaceable machined aluminum tire cradles. Not solely does this contribute to the burden discount, but it surely additionally seems to be a lot simpler to loop the rear tire strap round it.
The symmetrical design of the entrance wheel baskets can also be new and considerably novel. Whereas most wheel baskets are angled to 1 facet or the opposite, this open, symmetrical type helps you to select. Extra importantly, 1UP claims they’re appropriate with wheels from 24 to 29 inches and tires as much as 5 inches extensive. This could get rid of the necessity for different-sized baskets for youths’ bikes or fats bikes.
1UP additionally did away with the “Easy Pivot Operation” and the outsized pivot carried over from the unique pre-1UP Recon Racks and changed it with what seems like an easier and lighter design. The lean mechanism’s “heavy-duty pin” and “easy accessibility lever” look sturdy and comparatively straightforward to entry when wanted.
Like most vertical carry racks, the brand new Recon solely is available in a 2-inch receiver measurement, and a welcome addition is the wedge-style hitch connection. Hopefully, this eliminates any play within the receiver and enhances the rack’s stability. Even with a stable anti-wobble system, absolutely loaded vertical carry racks may be susceptible to some side-to-side motion. So, 1UP added attachment factors for stabilizing straps to the 2025 Recon, and it comes with a set.
In line with the product web page on 1UP’s web site, the assist straps are beneficial when utilizing the Recon off-road. On that notice, the rack is rated for off-road use, and the 4-bike model can also be rated to be used on RVs (with assist straps).
Beforehand solely provided in 5 and six-bike configurations, the addition of the four-bike model offers shoppers extra choices. One factor that hasn’t modified, nevertheless, is the 45-pound per bike weight restrict. Whereas that’s lots for many non-electric mountain, gravel, and light-weight eMTBs, the full-power eMTB crowd will nonetheless need to look elsewhere.
The brand new Recon racks, in 4, 5, and 6-bike variations, promote for $1,100, $1,300, and $1,500, respectively. That’s not low-cost, however in case you do the maths, they’re among the many most reasonably priced methods to move 4 to 6 bikes at a time on a rack. Tray-style hitch bike racks with add-ons max out at 4 bikes and infrequently exceed the worth of the 4-bike Recon.
Like all 1UP-USA merchandise, the redesigned Recon is proudly made within the USA. The 2025 Recon is out there now and bought solely on 1UP-USA’s web site.
