Recommendation for Roof Rack and Roof Mounted Bike Rack on a 2016 Mazda CX-5 with a Naked Roof

Question:

Im looking for a rack system for a 2016 Mazda CX-5 naked roof. Yakima is unclear if Q Towers will work. You folks dont list the Landing Pads, only the Rhino hard point mount. Which style, clamp or hard point, would you recommend? Would the Yakima or Inno wheel mount rack work better have carbon frames? Looking at the track test video, the Frontloader mounting bracket seems to move more side-to-side than other mounts.

asked by: Drew

Expert Reply:

I can help you get a roof rack system and bike rack for your 2015 Mazda CX-5.

The Yakima rack that I would recommend for you is made up of the following parts: # Y00422 - 60 inch Corebar Crossbars # Y00146 - BaseLine Towers # Y06130 - BaseClip fit kit # Y06132 - BaseClip fit kit
Since your roof is a naked style you will need the use of the fit kit clamps featured in the above listed setup.

One of the reasons Yakima may have been unclear about if the Qtower would work or not is because they have released an entire new line of products and may start to phase out the Qtower fits going into the new model years.

If it were me, I would go with the Inno Tire Hold Roof Bike Rack # INA389. I like this wheel mounted bike rack because it holds the rear wheel on your bike like it does the front wheel, which will help protect your bike's wheels as well as the carbon frame. I have linked a video of the bike rack being mounted on a Mazada as well as the test course video for your convenience.