Rockymounts Gigawatt Review – Super Easy to Load for 80 lb Bikes

The RockyMounts Gigawatt bike rack is designed with versatility, ease of use, and compatibility in mind. The Gigawatt is the easiest to load rack we have tried and requires very little adjustment between bike sizes. It comes with features such as a ramp and heavy-duty chain lock. The only real downside is the weight of the rack itself.

Here’s everything you need to know about its features, benefits, and drawbacks.

Rockymounts Gigawatt

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What we liked:

Very easy to load and unload heavy bikes and adjust to different-sized bikes
Bikes have enough separation that they don’t interfere with each other during load and unload and while in transport
The rack works with almost any bike frame, wheel size, and carbon frames
The rack comes with a loading ramp and a heavy-duty chain lock

What we didn’t like:

The rack is very heavy at 64 lbs
A wrench is required to put the rack on a vehicle
The tilt mechanism is stiff and requires 2 people to tilt away from the vehicle to open the lift gate.

Specifications

Max Bike Weight – 80 lbs per tray
Max Bike Weight for RV use – 50 to 80 lbs depending on setup
Max Wheelbase – 55 inches
Tire Size – Up to 29 inch wheels and 4.5 inch width tires
Rack Weight – 64 lbs

Video Review

Key Features of the Rockymounts Gigawatt

I recently was looking for a new bike rack to use for our review ebikes. We get a lot of different sized bikes from folding bikes with 20 inch wheels up to electric fat tire bikes. We try to get step-thru frames as much as possible and most of the bikes have fenders.

I wanted the rack that was easiest to adjust for different style bikes and also had a high weight capacity. We chose the Rockymounts Gigwatt for our new ebike rack. The rack for this review was not in any way sponsored or discounted for us. It is what we bought for our use after looking at everything that is out there.

Let’s dig into the details of the Rockymounts Gigawatt hitch rack

1 – Weight capacity

The Gigawatt rack boasts an impressive 80-pound weight capacity per bike, making it ideal for heavy e-bikes and larger frames. It provides secure support for various bike types without compromising stability.

For RV usage, the weight capacity is between 50 to 80 lbs depending on the setup of the RV.

2 – Bike and tire size adaptability

One of the standout features of the Gigawatt is its ability to handle:

• Step-thru frames: Perfect for bikes with no top tube
• Bikes with fenders: The design accommodates these effortlessly, a feature many racks struggle to offer.
• Carbon frame bikes: The front-wheel holder system ensures that no part of the rack comes into contact with the delicate carbon frame, preventing potential damage.

You can use the front tire strap that would be used with fenders to hold the front wheel without touching the fork if you need to. If you have a bike with a carbon fork, this allows you to still use the bike with this rack.

3 – Easy Adjustability

This rack is very user friendly and very easy to adjust for different bike sizes. It took me less than 5 minutes to load 2 bikes onto it on my first try. This was with a fat tire ebike with step-thru frame and a 27.5 inch commuter ebike with fenders.

The front wheel holders work with a variety of wheel sizes from 20 inch to 29 inch diameter. They work with tires up to 4.5 inches wide. The front wheel hoops keep the wheel straight and don’t let it wobble.

The rear wheel is held with a strap. The straps slide under the trays. You can load the bike and get the front wheel clamped down and then slide the rear strap to the right location. You don’t need to unload the bike to make any adjustments. Everything is easy to adjust with the bike on the tray.

4 – Loading ramp

The rack includes a loading ramp. The rear wheel tray is long enough that the rear tire doesn’t interfere with getting the ramp on and off with the bike loaded. It’s well designed and though out. There is no where on the rack to store the ramp. You have to place it inside your vehicle.

4 – Chain lock

A massive chain lock is included that uses a second pin lock to attach to the rack frame. The lock is covered with a nylon fabric covering so it won’t scratch your bike frames. It is long enough to easily go through 2 ebike frames and back to the attachment point on the frame.

The chain weighs about 15 lbs. It is a massive chain that pictures don’t really do justice.

6 – Anti-wobble mechanism

The rack has an anti-wobble feature built in. This uses a bolt where the receiver pin would go. This gets tightened with a wrench (included) that reduces the play in the hitch receiver. They include a wrench. You have to align the hole in the rack with the hole in the receiver before you can put the bolt in. This is a bit challenging since everything is black colored and hard to see under the bumper.

I prefer the system that 1UP USA and a few other brands use, where you tighten a separate bolt for the anti-wobble feature and use a small pin to lock the rack to the vehicle.

7 – Rack tilt

The tilt mechanism is the other part of the rack I don’t care that much for. There is a knob under the rack for releasing the tilt. The pivot point is very tight and you need a lot of push to get the rack to tilt up.

The rack can tilt away from the vehicle so that you can open the liftgate while bikes are loaded. This is a 2 person operation with this rack. The bikes aren’t balanced about the pivot point. There is a lot of load on the trays and front wheel holders with 2 ebikes on the rack.

Using the rack

Loading and unloading

The rack is very user friendly for loading and unloading. It takes only a few minutes to load or unload 2 bikes, even if you have never set the rack up for them before.

The ramp makes loading and unloading 80 lb bikes very easy to do by yourself. The front wheel holders fold forward so they don’t interfere with either bike while you are rolling them on or off the rack.

The bikes are spaced farther apart on this rack than other racks I have used. The pedals don’t get in the way of each other while rolling bikes during loading and unloading. There isn’t a post sticking up or anything else you need to get one of the bikes around.

Tip: slide the rear wheel strap to the back of the tray before loading and unloading so the rear wheel can roll over the plastic strap. After the bike is on the rack and held with the front wheel holder, you can slide the rear strap into position and tighten it down.

Tip: Leave the 2 straps on the wheel arms that you only need for fenders on there all the time. They take an extra second to strap around the front wheel. This allows you to use the rack with fenders, carbon forks, or a light or basket that gets in the way of the front wheel holder.

Locks

The hitch rack has a lock on the receiver pin that keeps someone from stealing it. The lock goes on after you wrench the pin in place. They give you a second lock to use with the chain lock that goes onto a pin on the rack. Both locks use the same key and are interchangeable.

On the highway

The 2 bikes are far enough apart that they have no chance of contacting each other or your car. The rack holds the bikes very securely with no wobble in the front wheels. I am confident that this rack will work well for a cross country road trip with a couple 80 pound ebikes on it.

Attaching and removing the rack from the vehicle

This is my other dislike for the rack. It’s heavy. It weighs 64 lbs if you don’t count the weight of the chain or ramp. It’s very large with the hoops sticking out. It is an awkwardly large rack to carry from where you are storing to the vehicle and back.

You need a wrench to attach the receiver bolt. They give you a tool for this. If you are going to remove and attach the rack a lot, I would just get a socket wrench with the correct size socket and leave it in the back of your vehicle.

Aligning the holes in the hitch receiver is a bit painful as well. All the parts are black. On my car, it is tucked under the rear bumper. It is hard to see if the holes are aligned while you are sliding the rack in and out.

Comparison with other racks

I have tried a few platform racks now. The 1UP USA Superduty rack is kind of the gold standard for heavy ebike racks. We also reviewed a Yakima OnRamp a few weeks ago. Yakima makes a lot of good racks and accessories but I was very disappointed with the OnRamp. The Gigawatt and 1UP USA racks are better in just about every way (the Onramp weighs 55 lbs and is a lot easier to carry) so I will focus my comparison there.

Both racks weigh 64-65 lbs and are equally awkward to carry around and store.

Things I like better about the Rockymounts Gigawatt over the 1UP USA Superduty.

• It is easier to load bikes by yourself. You don’t have to unattach one of the swing arms and reattach it after using the ramp. The bikes just roll up on without unattaching any parts. The bikes are spaced farther apart so the second bike doesn’t have to be wrestled past the first bike. The 1UP USA rack does not include the ramp.It’s another $100 option after you buy the rack.
• Gigawatt works better with bikes with fenders. The 1UP USA rack needs some foam pads for the swingarm that will clamp down on a fender. On several bikes we have tried this with, the swingarm still contacts the fender wires on the sides and prevents you from getting a good clamp on that wheel. It really doesn’t work great with bikes with fenders.
• Easier to use with bikes with different sized wheels. To go from smaller or bigger wheels on the Gigawatt, you just push down farther on the front wheel arm and slide the rear wheel strap to a different spot. On the 1UP USA Superduty rack you have to unbolt the fitting on the end of the swingarm and bolt it into a different set of holes for a smaller or larger wheel.

Things I like better about the 1UP USA Superduty rack.

• The anti-wobble system and receiver pin are much more user friendly. The rack has a long slot for the receiver pin so you don’t have to get any holes aligned. Then you tighten a bolt on the rack to remove the play and wobble.
• The tilt mechanism is slightly better on the 1UP USA rack. The rack pivots much easier. The bar to release the tilt mechanism is under the rack and binds a lot. They do sell a $100 add on that gives you a release lever at the back of the rack. It’s a very worthwhile upgrade. The 1UP USA wins for it’s tilt mechanism only because of this optional part.
• The latest version of the 1UP USA Superduty rack can hold up to 100 lbs bikes, where the Gigawatt can only hold up to 80 lbs.

Recommendation

The Rockymounts Gigawatt bike rack shines in its versatility, compatibility, and ease of use for loading and unloading bikes. Its ability to accommodate step-thru frames, bikes with fenders, and carbon frame bikes makes it a great choice for a wide range of users. The high weight capacity is a standout feature, ensuring it can handle heavy e-bikes and other larger bikes with ease.

Best For:

• E-bike riders who need a rack with a high weight capacity.
• Cyclists with unique frame styles, such as step-thru or fender-equipped bikes.
• Road trippers who value secure transport and integrated bike locks for peace of mind.

Not Ideal For:

• Solo users who need to frequently remove or attach the rack, given its heavy weight.
• Riders looking for a lightweight and easily foldable rack.

Overall, the RockyMounts Gigawatt bike rack is a solid, durable option for bikers who prioritize versatility and secure transport. While it has a few downsides, its robust construction and adaptability make it an excellent choice for serious cyclists and e-bike enthusiasts.

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Ryan Craig
Chief Editor

I am a total gear nerd and love learning how things work and thinking about how they could be improved. Nothing excites me more than trying out new gear. I’d rather spend 3 hours taking my bike apart and learning how to change something than go to a bike shop. These days, I reside in Michigan by the Great Lakes and go skiing, biking, and boating as much as possible. Visit our About Us page and learn more.

ryan@greatlakesbikeskiboat.com