Roof Rack with a Fairing

[IanCH]

The oem roof rack is wayyy taller than whispbars

Sent from my Galaxy S7 Edge

 

[Civilized_Hatch]

Sorry for the delay, I have been tied up. I went with the Thule Aerobars on my 2015 Golf R for several reasons including: Thule makes the OEM bars, They are highly regarded in the industry, Thule is the only manufacturer that makes the bars to fit the car-there are thousands of feet options (rather than one option that tries to fit many cars), and also the reviews of the bars. I can tell you with the design that I use for my bike (as pictured below) they are quieter than the side windows, I have no impact on gas mileage, and they lock very securely. With an easy feet change, it will fit thousands of vehicles. This rack was actually on my MKVI GTI first. The roof is completely different on the MKVII, but I only had to change the feet.

To answer your question on the fairing, it is absolutely not necessary and I am not sure they are made to fit the Aerobars. However, if you like the look, I am sure you can adapt it to fit.

Here is the same rack on my 2013 MKVI GTI

thank you for the pictures. These bars would be my potential close second setup. Good to know it doesn't 'need' a fairing because of any noise issues. What did you mean by it's quieter than the side window?

Do you leave yours on 24/7? any issues with leaks in the weather channels where the feet mount onto the car?

 

[Civilized_Hatch]

If your carrying bikes I strongly recommend the rear hitch mount option.


2016 R

I read somewhere a rear hitch is strictly a no-no with the R, whether for bikes or towing of anything

 

[Civilized_Hatch]

I used to have a Yakima rack with a fairing on a previous vehicle. I like the look with a fairing too. The rack seems a bit bare without it. I don't have experience using a fairing with a cargo box as I used the rack for bikes and kayaks. You could always remove the thing if you don't like the noise or drag while used with your cargo box. They go on and off easy enough.

Whispbars look too low profile for my liking. I'm in the market for a rack on my R as well but haven't decided yet. It's a good thread for those interested in discussing various makes and options. Nobody can tell me my opinion is wrong and I'm not trying to say the Whispbars are a bad choice either. I just prefer the bars to rest a touch higher on the roof as it's more pleasing to my eye. It's a fine line from having the bars too high vs too low IMO. The OEM rack (I think it's made by Thule?) has a slightly higher profile than Whispbars. I acknowledge this may be a touch louder or even have more drag, not sure about the weight comparisons either. Wow, we could go on and on and on and on ............. It all boils down to selecting your own personal order of importance: looks, security, noise, weight (my current order).

what kind of fairing did you have and do you have any pics? I'm wondering if Yakima = Whispbar, that fairing would probably work (at least for day to day) driving. Did you notice much of a difference noise-wise with and without the fairing?

what did you mean by weight comparisons? the weight of the rack system itself or what weight it can support?

 

[jason.bourne1]

NICE!

 

[Doth1]

thank you for the pictures. These bars would be my potential close second setup. Good to know it doesn't 'need' a fairing because of any noise issues. What did you mean by it's quieter than the side window?

Do you leave yours on 24/7? any issues with leaks in the weather channels where the feet mount onto the car?

I am sorry, I meant it is quieter than the side mirrors. I hear more wind noise from the mirrors than I do from the rack (unless my bike is on it). When I decided on a Thule, one of the factors was the ease of install and removal. It's less than five minutes. I thought I would only put it on when I was carrying my bike. However, the rack is so quiet, I never took it off.

Another factor I liked about the Thule is that it has the same "tooth" that fits into the door sill on the front doors. There is a little black button that screws out and the tooth helps locate the rack and also keeps it secure. This is also on the OEM rack (which is made by Thule). The other brands did not utilize this tooth as they are not very car specific.

 

[Golf R1]

what kind of fairing did you have and do you have any pics? I'm wondering if Yakima = Whispbar, that fairing would probably work (at least for day to day) driving. Did you notice much of a difference noise-wise with and without the fairing?

what did you mean by weight comparisons? the weight of the rack system itself or what weight it can support?

No pics, that car is long gone although you can google it and see (it was the old 43" large fairing). Yakima stopped making it and all the manufacturers have trended towards smaller designs. Noticed a big difference on sound reduction. I meant weight of the rack. Just thought with such an emphasis on speed in this forum many might want to compare overall weight of each solution. I plan to keep my rack on all the time and those who will do the same may want a lighter rack; however I'm less concerned with weight than other factors (looks, security, noise, etc..).

I read somewhere a rear hitch is strictly a no-no with the R, whether for bikes or towing of anything

Never been a fan of this style. I've always liked the look of a fork mount bike on the roof, even better with two bikes mounted.

Another factor I liked about the Thule is that it has the same "tooth" that fits into the door sill on the front doors. There is a little black button that screws out and the tooth helps locate the rack and also keeps it secure. This is also on the OEM rack (which is made by Thule). The other brands did not utilize this tooth as they are not very car specific.

Excellent point.

 

[Civilized_Hatch]

I am sorry, I meant it is quieter than the side mirrors. I hear more wind noise from the mirrors than I do from the rack (unless my bike is on it). When I decided on a Thule, one of the factors was the ease of install and removal. It's less than five minutes. I thought I would only put it on when I was carrying my bike. However, the rack is so quiet, I never took it off.

Another factor I liked about the Thule is that it has the same "tooth" that fits into the door sill on the front doors. There is a little black button that screws out and the tooth helps locate the rack and also keeps it secure. This is also on the OEM rack (which is made by Thule). The other brands did not utilize this tooth as they are not very car specific.

Thule does make OEM rack, but different style: (borrowed image of RoaR's car). I like the look with the fairing obviously, but those bars from what I've read are inferior to the whispbar's or even the aeroblades you have. I'm wondering if the height of the bars on the OEM are higher than the aeroblades? or does that depend on the feet you get?

 

[Civilized_Hatch]

No pics, that car is long gone although you can google it and see (it was the old 43" large fairing). Yakima stopped making it and all the manufacturers have trended towards smaller designs. Noticed a big difference on sound reduction. I meant weight of the rack. Just thought with such an emphasis on speed in this forum many might want to compare overall weight of each solution. I plan to keep my rack on all the time and those who will do the same may want a lighter rack; however I'm less concerned with weight than other factors (looks, security, noise, etc..).
Never been a fan of this style. I've always liked the look of a fork mount bike on the roof, even better with two bikes mounted.

Excellent point.

weight is not a consideration for me. If I were to race the car, it'd be on a track, and I'd take off the whole system completely anyway. Looks like no one has a setup of the Thule Aeroblade's or Whispbar's WITH a fairing on here

that being said, if fairings are easy to take off and on (like a 5 min job), then I'd prob just go with a fairing on either of those setups and take it off when I put a cargo box on

 

[Golf R1]

Thule does make OEM rack, but different style: (borrowed image of RoaR's car). I like the look with the fairing obviously, but those bars from what I've read are inferior to the whispbar's or even the aeroblades you have. I'm wondering if the height of the bars on the OEM are higher than the aeroblades? or does that depend on the feet you get?

Much prefer a fork mount for a bike as it doesn't extend past the front bar and the bike is easier to mount. Like having a fairing too. That's a definite add on for me regardless of rack choice. Leaning towards the oem with fork mounts and a fairing though I'm in no hurry and will keep looking at all options. I have been know to change my mind.

 

[Civilized_Hatch]

So I went into a local roof rack shop (Rack Attack), and they told me they don't have a system through Whispbar that's 'compatible' with the 2016 R, and if they sold me that system, it wouldn't be covered under warranty. So to confirm, I want to make sure these would be the parts I need for the basic whispbar system:
- S25 Flush Bar
- K692W Fit Kit

I used a 2016 GTI as the parameters in their own Fit Guide screen. Are they saying this just in case that fit kit causes damage or something to the car as it's not SPECIFIC to the car? All 5-door MK7's have the same roof/mounting point setups no?

They also said that the Thule (Aeroblade) setup sits just as low as the Whispbar's. Meaning the feet are the same height. I guess the appearance of the Whispbar's seem to sit lower because of the lower profile bars?

 

[Doth1]

They also said that the Thule (Aeroblade) setup sits just as low as the Whispbar's. Meaning the feet are the same height. I guess the appearance of the Whispbar's seem to sit lower because of the lower profile bars?

Here are a few things to consider:
* The systems are about the same height, the fact that the whispbars end at the tower make them appear lower
* The Whispbar cross bars end at the tower, your load zone is limited, and you have to reach over farther to access it.
* The Whispbar cross bars end exactly at the tower, probably can't move the system to any other cars like I easily did unless the width of the vehicle is *exactly* the same (they weren't for the mkvi and mkvii)


Hope that helps.

 

[nikhsub1]

So I went into a local roof rack shop (Rack Attack), and they told me they don't have a system through Whispbar that's 'compatible' with the 2016 R, and if they sold me that system, it wouldn't be covered under warranty. So to confirm, I want to make sure these would be the parts I need for the basic whispbar system:
- S25 Flush Bar
- K692W Fit Kit

I used a 2016 GTI as the parameters in their own Fit Guide screen. Are they saying this just in case that fit kit causes damage or something to the car as it's not SPECIFIC to the car? All 5-door MK7's have the same roof/mounting point setups no?

They also said that the Thule (Aeroblade) setup sits just as low as the Whispbar's. Meaning the feet are the same height. I guess the appearance of the Whispbar's seem to sit lower because of the lower profile bars?

A 5 door MK7 Golf is a 5 door MK7 golf...

 

[IanCH]

You have the right kit information above. I bought my feet from rack attack and the bars from another source.

Sent from my S7 Edge

 

[Taotao]

Hitch Rack

this...

Get those bikes out of the wind..