If you happen to’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 simple sufficient to make use of, versatile, and seemingly indestructible. It was additionally obnoxiously heavy.
Right now, Wisconsin-based bike rack producer 1UP-USA launches a very 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 reinforce serviceability and restore. The brand new Recon can 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,” mentioned 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 contains 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 totally serviceable and swappable, guaranteeing each element might be changed or repaired, not tossed.
Wedge-Model 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 automobile, even when totally 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 Obtainable in 4, 5, and 6-Bike Choices: For the primary time, the Recon is obtainable in a 4-bike configuration, providing extra flexibility for households and shuttle crews alike.
APS Facet Panel Compatibility: The Recon works seamlessly with 1UP’s APS (Accent Panel System) Facet Panel, permitting customers to mount instruments, fuel, water, and different necessities proper to the rack — best for path builders and overlanders.
Of the highlights listed above, the load discount is the one I’m most enthusiastic about. The blended aluminum and metal development drops the load 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 elements and the totally bolt-together design additionally enhances its serviceability and will make it simpler to restore if/when wanted. For instance, the decrease crossbar, together with the tire cradles, on the earlier Recon was minimize 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 load discount, however it additionally seems to be a lot simpler to loop the rear tire strap round it.
The symmetrical design of the entrance wheel baskets can be new and considerably novel. Whereas most wheel baskets are angled to 1 aspect or the opposite, this open, symmetrical type allows you to select. Extra importantly, 1UP claims they’re appropriate with wheels from 24 to 29 inches and tires as much as 5 inches huge. This could remove the necessity for different-sized baskets for teenagers’ bikes or fats bikes.
1UP additionally did away with the “Clean Pivot Operation” and the outsized pivot carried over from the unique pre-1UP Recon Racks and changed it with what seems to be like a less complicated and lighter design. The lean mechanism’s “heavy-duty pin” and “quick access lever” look sturdy and comparatively simple to entry when wanted.
Like most vertical carry racks, the brand new Recon solely is available in a 2-inch receiver dimension, 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, totally loaded vertical carry racks might be liable 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 accordance with the product web page on 1UP’s web site, the help straps are beneficial when utilizing the Recon off-road. On that observe, the rack is rated for off-road use, and the 4-bike model can be rated to be used on RVs (with help straps).
Beforehand solely provided in 5 and six-bike configurations, the addition of the four-bike model provides customers extra choices. One factor that hasn’t modified, nevertheless, is the 45-pound per bike weight restrict. Whereas that’s a lot 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 value of the 4-bike Recon.
Like all 1UP-USA merchandise, the redesigned Recon is proudly made within the USA. The 2025 Recon is obtainable now and offered solely on 1UP-USA’s web site.
1up-usa.com
