Cargo Carrier/Roof Box on Roof Crossbars

Anything related to the Kizashi can go here, but please look at the other headings first. Your topic may fit better under something else.
User avatar
KuroNekko
Posts: 5264
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:08 pm
Location: California, USA

jadeng97 wrote:
KuroNekko wrote:
jadeng97 wrote:Unfortunately I can't answer your question because I have never mounted a box on mine. Although I do have Suzuki Crossbars, what bike module do you have for them? I enjoy mountain biking and i need to get one for the crossbars instead of trying to put one on the trunk (which i hate to do)
I have the Suzuki accessory bike module which is a Mont Blanc Barracuda. I like it because it doesn't require you to remove any wheels to mount the bike onto it and is compatible with both mountain and road bikes. I have noticed that VW sells the exact same bike module as an accessory.

Image
Where did you get your bike carrier. Found it on Amazon for $135 but don't see it for sale anywhere else really. Just wanted to see if that was a good price.
I found it years ago on a Suzuki dealer's parts site back when the dealer still sold Suzukis. The site has been long defunct since given the dealer no longer deals in Suzukis or their parts. I recall paying considerably less than $135 for it. Probably less than half of that but I don't recall specifically. I just recall parts getting really cheap as these sites liquidated their inventory following Suzuki's pullout. It made sense as these dealers were dumping the Suzuki brand so they were selling off all these Suzuki accessories for a good discount. This was back in 2012 or early 2013.

While it may be hard to find the same thing for a good price now, you can really get any bike rack that's compatible that has the features you like. It's not like this is the only one that works with the Suzuki crossbars.
2025 Mazda CX-50 Preferred Hybrid
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
cobymark
Posts: 29
Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2017 7:45 am

I like the style of steel roof cargo basket like the Curt brand, though not sure if anyone here has this kind of roof basket.
User avatar
KuroNekko
Posts: 5264
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:08 pm
Location: California, USA

cobymark wrote:I like the style of steel roof cargo basket like the Curt brand, though not sure if anyone here has this kind of roof basket.
Kconklin33 does.
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3527
2025 Mazda CX-50 Preferred Hybrid
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
User avatar
KuroNekko
Posts: 5264
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:08 pm
Location: California, USA

Update:
I purchased the Thule Force Alpine. After considering the selection from Yakima and Thule available from REI, I decided that the Thule Force Alpine fit my needs the best while also having higher ratings than comparable Yakima roof boxes. The main deciding factor was that I wanted to be able to haul my bike module next to the roof box. This meant that width was important. The Force Alpine is about 25 inches wide and 6 feet 9 inches long which is ideal for my case. In terms of gear capacity, at 340 liters, it's rather comparable to wider but shorter roof boxes. I didn't want to get one that's narrower but longer because these can cause rear hatch clearance issues in future vehicles I may own.

The main issue to consider now is the weight load. The Kizashi is rated to have a maximum roof load weight of 110 lbs. Considering that the cross bars themselves seem to weigh 10 lbs together, a working load of 100 lbs. The Thule Force Alpine itself is 36 lbs. The Mont Blanc bike module is about 7 lbs. If I carry my bike (35 lbs), I won't be able to carry much in the roof box. Hence, I'll be hauling my bike for my move in a separate vehicle (I'm making two trips due to various logistical and scheduling issues). This will then free up considerable weight I can carry in the roof box. While it may seem like I should have purchased a wider box due to these weight issues that rule out simultaneously carrying a bike, in uses other than moving, I think the roof box will have a lighter load and I'll be carrying my bike on the roof alongside it. Items like tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads can be bulky, but are generally lightweight.

As for the roof box itself, the build quality is quite good and it's not very noisy at speed. I've had it on for about a week empty. Only at speeds above 65 MPH is there wind noise that's noticeable beyond the norm. Even then, it's not disruptive. As for fuel economy, I haven't been able to measure a difference yet, especially given my commutes are often in heavy traffic. Despite the heavy rains, there have been no water leaks inside in the times I've checked. The cross bar latch mechanism is very easy to use and consists of circular knobs you rotate to tighten or release the latches from around the cross bars. They work very well with the Kizashi's accessory cross bars which are Suzuki-branded Whispbar Flush cross bars.
Lastly, garage clearance is good. My work parking garage is a low clearance garage with many overhead signs, pipes, and tubing. The Kizashi with the Force Alpine clears everything so max height is under 6 feet 8 inches.
IMG_3952[1].JPG
IMG_3952[1].JPG (247.42 KiB) Viewed 4443 times
2025 Mazda CX-50 Preferred Hybrid
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
Post Reply