Review of Topeak Dual Touch Bike Storage Stand

Topeak Dual Touch Bike Storage Stand
By: Topeak Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 36
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Unbelievable quality and design with one fixable flaw.

On: 2010-02-25

Ok, I read all the reviews and obviously there is a design flaw, the rubber caps on the end cups do not hold. Kind of weird they would be so cheap when the rest of it is so well made. So I was going to do as another person suggested and just screw something to the ceiling to act as a retaining ring of some sort. NOT Necessary! I took off the terrible rubber cap on the top, or should I say it fell off. I went to the store to buy a bumper for a door knob, but instead bought for $1 at the dollar store those rubber grips to open tight jars. The pole holds 240 pounds or should I say me. I also have 2 more grips for another one I am going to buy. I would recommend this to anyone. Jay

sturdy rack, frustrating to install

On: 2010-02-16

I bought this rack to safely store mine and my husbands hybrid bicycles in our garage. This rack does a great job of freeing up space and giving the bikes a nice place to live instead of just having them leaned up against a wall.

The good parts: The rack is of a great quality, well constructed, and simple to assemble. The arms are padded which is a nice feature, and can be angled as well--I imagine that would be a great asset for storing a womans bike. The height of the arms can also be adjusted. After installing it in the garage, the rack seems very secure and sturdy.

The bad parts: its kind of a pain to install. I wanted to make sure the tension was very tight so the pole wouldnt slip when the bikes were, but its incredibly difficult to achieve this. The first step is adjusting the height of the pole, and the second step is depressing the foot locking mechanism to lock the pole in place. Seems simple, but it took entirely too long: the height seemed right, but then I couldnt depress the lock because it was too high. So Id lower the height, but then the tension didnt seem right. Or the pole would slip out of alignment as I tried to adjust it, making it crooked. After many attempts (and feeling a bit like Goldilocks), I got it just right.

Other than that, Im very happy with my purchase and still feel like I got the best storage rack thats out there.

Be very careful

On: 2010-02-03

I liked this stand very much, and installed it in my garage about 1.5 years ago. The stand and bicycles came crashing down a couple of months back, putting a sharp dent in a car. The basic problem with this stand is that it relies on friction between the floor and ceiling to work. Im guessing that as the seasons passed, changes in the weather caused the ceiling to move a little, perhaps even give a little (this is despite the stand being installed right where a truss is).

Regardless of the cause, the net result is that over time, this stand will work itself loose, with potentially disastrous consequences.

My conclusion? Get yourself a stand that is bolted to the wall/ceiling, or else find someway to secure this stand to the same---so nullifying the stands raison dÃªtre.

Love this Bike Stand, Highly Reccomend

On: 2009-08-25

After looking at any and all options for bike stands, I decided on the Topeak Dual Touch. I received the stand the day after I ordered it even though I opted for free super saver shipping (thanks Amazon!). The overall construction and choice of materials is excellent. I would highly recommend this stand to others looking for a compact and unique way to store/display their bikes, it has made a great contribution to the living room in my high rise apartment. I also recommend the handlebar stabilizers as they keep your tires from scuffing up the wall! After a month, I have not experienced any problems or concerns with this stands stability what so ever. Also, when installing, use a level to help insure that the pole is upright and not leaning to one side. The bottom line, buy this stand.

awesome product..... with a little attention.

On: 2009-06-21

The Topeak Dual Touch has worked out extremely well for me.. After reading the reviews and complaints I put in motion my own plan to stabilize. Ive read that some people have had the misfortune of a fall. Not good! My intention was to remedy this by simple means. Ive found my remedy is fool proof. It may not be for some, but for the handy it turns this product into a worry free product. And a not so difficult installation.. Ive simply added a 12 inch - 2 layer circular medallion on the top level. 2 plys of wood, each 3/4 inch. One layer uncut and one layer cut out for the top footing to set in. Fixed with only 3 drywall screws to the ceiling. This fixes the two issues Ive seen buyers fuss over. One - it allows for a snowshoe footing for the drywall ceiling - no punch thru or cracking. And two - it allows for the small but dangerous changes that occur in climate changes. Even if my Topeak loosens under full weight of 2 bikes It cannot break free.. Hope this helps..

So far, so good

On: 2009-06-18

This is a solid, well built product. It was relatively easy to set up and get my bikes onto it. I have a hard wood floor and a 10 textured ceiling and the tension bar fits very well and seems to be very solid. Everything about it seems to be very solid, especially the hangers for your bikes. the only somewhat minor complaint I have is that, the handlebars of my bikes turn when they are put on the rack so that the bike ends up taking up more room that it would if they didnt. Topeak sells some accessory thing for this but I found that just using a very small bungee cord works fine.

Bicycle Rack Review

On: 2009-05-16

Was given this as a gift. The quality is excellent and it sets up very easily. The first one came damaged in shipping but we had no problem getting a new one sent right away even before we had returned the damaged one. Would highly recommend this rack.

Too scared to use anymore

On: 2009-01-17

I have had this rack set up for almost 3 years now. Functionally, it is exactly what I needed. In a small condo it only takes up a small footprint in an unused corner of the living room. I didnt have any problems at all until recently, save for not having one of the screws for the hanger brackets in the package, but Topeak sent one to me right away (their customer service used to be topnotch, not so much these days).

A month or so ago, the rack fell for the first time. It was right around when the temperatures first started dropping, and the rack is next to the sliding glass door and below a heating vent - so I chalked it up to temperature fluctuations and my lack of checking on the tightness over time. No harm was done, as the bikes landed safely on the chaise lounge cushions. I put it back up, and made a vow to check on the tension periodically. Unfortunately, my girlfriend insisted on moving the living room around, and the rack fell again, so the chaise lounge was no longer there to cushion the fall. It barely missed hitting my laptop. The shifter on my bike is now a little bent.

I am now too reluctant to put my $5000 Madone on the rack until I come up with a solution. I have an idea of putting some sort of metal collar around the top base and screwing it into the ceiling. Otherwise I will have to sell this, as theres no other good location in our apartment to put it.

My advice for a potential buyer would be to consider thermal expansion and contraction conditions where you intend to install. Most of the other reviewers that experienced tipping problems seem to have had them installed in garages and non-conditioned spaces. Mine was not such a case. I also have pergo flooring and textured plaster on the ceiling, which may have contributed to the problem. Id like to think that carpeting and a smooth ceiling would be more stable.

Needs the right conditions to work

On: 2008-12-17

I really wanted this product to work. Its very well made - german engineering. The concept is great - nothing to drill in the walls.
I read the other reviews, and understand why some like and some didnt like. I spent several hours over three days, and discovered that it depends on the surfaces you are installing it on (ceiling and floor). If you are putting this on carpet, with a textured ceiling - something for it to grab onto - it works. If you are putting it on a smooth concrete floor (in your garage, for example), or a smooth piece of wood (like in an unfinished ceiling in your garage), the stand doesnt grip tight enough and tends to move slightly. Under the weight of bikes, and with vibration from the garage door opener, it can fall over.

Perfect storage for tight spaces

On: 2008-11-13

We bought this stand to save space in our 400 sq foot studio apartment with two bikes. It was the best purchase we made for the apartment! It keeps both of our bikes out of our way and it has proven to be incredibly stable despite us banging our bikes in out on a daily basis.

It was very simple to install and the arms adjusted easily to fit our different sized and shaped bikes. (I would note that when you first install it you really have to use all your weight to get the locking mechanism to fully engage).

My only complaint about the stand is that my front wheel doesnt stay straight and always swings into the wall, creating a scuff mark. You can buy a separate attachment piece to stabilize the front wheel, but I never felt like spending another $10-15 bucks for it.

Topeak Bike Rack

On: 2008-09-29

Received shipment in reasonable time. Item is somewhat complicated to install as you must get the right amount of tension but not so much that you damage your ceiling. A friend has the Sport Solutions tension mount rack which seems more secure. Time will tell how this one holds up. There is no way to secure it to the ceiling.

Excellent Storage

On: 2008-09-21

I purchased this rack three months ago for my apartment to provide indoor indoor bike storage for my road bike. It fits easily near the wall and adjusts to variable ceiling height. Set up is pretty easy, and it is very stable. I have had zero problems with it. I suggest getting the additional handlebar stabilizers to prevent your front tire from marking up the wall. Durable, I expect this rack to last a decade or more.

Solid!

On: 2008-09-17

Awesome quality and looks great even in my living room! Very well-made and worth the money!

Easy to set up, sturdy, and doesn't leave a mark.

On: 2008-07-27

This is the perfect storage solution for people who want/need to store their bikes up and out of the way indoors but cant attach something to the walls (i.e., renters). With additional hangers, it can support up to four bikes using both sides. Its very adjustable to support nearly any kind of bike and it only took a few tries to get it to fit my full suspension MTB just right. For a hardtail or road bike, its even easier.

Because this uses pressure between the floor and ceiling, make SURE you set it up directly below a joist or use an 18" section of 2x4 to span between two joists. Otherwise, the only support youll have is the drywall or plaster. If the drywall doesnt crack when you first put it up, youll likely have the rack falling over at some point since it wont have enough pressure to keep resisting gravity in the long run.

Space saver

On: 2008-05-26

Great product that holds my mountain and road bikes. I have a small condo with litte space but this has definitely made an improvement in my bike storage space. Need to buy the handlebar stabilizer but it works fine without it. It does say to secure against a solid ceiling in 2 places in the literature. Mine is attached to tile floor and concrete ceiling without incident.

still standing!

On: 2008-02-08

So I dont typically write reviews but I felt compelled to do so for this product as it works quite well and as the title states it is STILL STANDING! I advise you do a little work prior and simply identify where your ceiling joists are and make sure you place the stand directly below. If adjusted properly you will be placing significant pressure on the sheetrock - it is wise to be sure there is a joist directly above so you ensure the stand stays standing and you dont blow a hole in the sheetrock!

I installed (not much to it) the product in 30 minutes or less - I have 2 mountiain bikes on it, one of which is hanging up top about 8 high and the other sitting nicely at about waiste height. Other then the product holding the bikes with no issue there is very little bulk to the stand so it looks clean and the bikes actually display nicely in any room!

Sooooooo.. The bottom line is for the price and usability you cant go wrong with this stand - Unless of course you dont follow instructions and the stand AND bikes end up on top of your car in the garage - Sorry Eugene!

It works, and is easy to put together.

On: 2008-02-08

I know have bought 3 of these to tame all of my kids bikes during the off season. These things are solid, easy to assembly, and work perfectly.

There is no drilling or attaching to walls or ceiling with other than pressure, so it is easy to move them for whatever reason. They basically use easy to apply pressure on the floor and ceiling to keep in place. I have them in a garage, so I dont care about any issues with what the pressure that keeps these things standing might do to a ceiling. Not that I have any reason to expect problems, but I just dont know if it is an issue on a nice ceiling.

I only have two bikes per pole, so I dont know how it works if you try to do more, but I have road bikes, kids bikes, and cross-over bikes all happily stored on these stands without issue.

Unstable

On: 2008-02-03

Had this for 15 months and this is not very stable. Maybe due to the seasonal contraction and expansion in my garage, the spring tension in the pole has given way at least 3 times, twice the stand slipped off the ceiling joist stud on its own. But once it is installed, it is great but if you live in a zone where the temps in your garage varies greatly with the season, watch out!!!

Also fell on my car.

On: 2008-01-20

This fell on my car...twice. The first time not much damage was done to the car probably because two bikes were mounted and the lower bike helped slow the fall. The 2nd time, after remounting in what I thought was a more secure way, it was a couple months later and there was only the top bike mounted...much more damage was done to the car. Thanks Topeak for making a product that is probably going to cost me over $1000 easy.

Great Rack!

On: 2007-11-15

This rack works very well in my small NY apartment. Setup is straight forward and takes about 15 minutes. A couple of things that worked for me on setup.... I made sure my wood floor was clean to ensure no dust would make the bottom slide (just to play it safe). Also, I probably added a little more tension than what the directions called for. It seems very stable. I only use one of the two racks for my mountain bike. The rack that I use is pushed towards the top of the pole to keep the bike up and out of the way in the hallway. To maximize space, I actually take off the quick release front wheel and twist the handle bars so that my bike is flush against the wall. Great space saver.

Fell on me (luckily, my cats escaped in time)

On: 2007-11-07

THE SHORT: Its hard to secure the bike stand tightly, and the risk of it falling makes me uneasy. However, if you must absolutely have it, buy at a physical store and not from Amazon. Amazon doesnt pack bulky, non-book items well before shipping, and the stand can arrive in a bad shape and/or with missing parts.

THE LONG: The idea behind this bike stand is excellent, but the product itself could have been designed better. First of all, installing the stand is intuitively simple: [1] erect it, [2] adjust the extension tubes so the pole fits the height of the room, and [3] step on the locking stepper to secure the pole in place. However, getting it installed the way you want it is rather annoying; its hard to secure the bike stand tightly between the floor and ceiling. After I erected the stand, extended the tubes, and made sure that the pole was perfectly perpendicular to the floor and ceiling, I stepped on the locking stepper. However, because its so hard to to get the locking stepper into its locking position, I had to apply a lot of force. Doing that ended up moving the pole around, and when I finally got it into the locking position, the pole was tilted, no longer perpendicular to the floor and ceiling. (For safety reason, you do need to make sure its perpendicular (thats common sense, I think). By the time I got it to work, I must have sweared at Topeak a zillion times. Getting the bikes on the hooks was also a pain for me because I have mountain bikes. I guess if you have light road bikes, this shouldnt be a problem for you.

The part that made me give this product one star was that it fell on me and my cats. Luckily, they were fast and escaped safely. I wasnt injured, but all three of us could have been. I followed all the instructions when installing and made sure that both my floor and ceiling were solid. I think the extension tubes slid down over time. After all, the mechanism that keeps the tubes extended seems to rely only on simple clamping tension; theres no foolproof locking mechanism in place. The locking stepper doesnt help either. I know that if I just kick the bike stand lightly, it will fall. That really worries me because as my cats get bigger and bigger, they can knock it over if they bump into it fast enough. If Topeak could fix the extension tubes and somehow make the locking stepper a "locking pumP" (i.e., pump the mechanism with your foot to gradually tighten the pole into place, perhaps by incorporating a hydraulic system?), instead of a push-really-hard-once-to-lock mechanism, I think it would be a much safer product.

Last but not least, Amazon didnt pack the item well when shipping. The package arrived in a bad shape with holes all over the box. And guess what, one of the screws went missing; it must have fallen off from one of the holes. I tried to contact Topeak to buy a replacement part from the company, but I got no response whatsoever. Fortunately (if you call it that), it wasnt a critical part. If you think the bike stand is safe enough for you and will buy it regardless of anyones review, I think you will do yourself a favor if you buy at a physical store, not Amazon.

A fully happy customer after resolution with Jamie in customer service

On: 2007-09-24

The Topeak product is more than I had imagined. Living in confined space in Manhattan, this product lifts the bike up out of the way. No hard labor is neccessary to put it up (actually, its really easy). The item came in the time it said. It is of the highest quality. I have my bike secured in front of a glass table. This is how confident I am in the product. My only challenge was a missing bolt.
I called Amazon and spoke with Jamie. She was polite and friendly and efficient in giving me two options of satisfaction. I highly recommend the product and in giving Jamie a promotion.Topeak Dual Touch Bike Storage Stand

Needs a bolt

On: 2007-08-16

This is a great product, but its missing a bolt and I cant get Amazon to send it to me. Customer service rep said someone would call me to arrange shipping of bolt but it never happened. Then Amazon emailed me to tell me they would send me $20. Would like the $20, but really need the bolt. Cmon, Amazon. Just send me the M6 x 1.00mm x 10L Bolt, and this will be a 5 star item.

Needs a bolt

On: 2007-08-15

This is a great product, but its missing a bolt and I cant get Amazon to send it to me. Customer service rep said someone would call me to arrange shipping of bolt but it never happened. Then Amazon emailed me to tell me they would send me $20. Would like the $20, but really need the bolt. Cmon, Amazon. Just send me the M6 x 1.00mm x 10L Bolt, and this will be a 5 star item.

Well Built, Aesthetic and easy to assemble

On: 2007-07-27

I bought the Topeak Dual Touch bike storage stand based on a recommendation from a friend who has two of them for their family. I was very impressed by the quality of construction, the design which is extremely functional, the ease of assembly and the strength of it once installed. I would highly recommend this product (which I normally dont do).

Topeak Dual Touch Bike Storage Stand

On: 2007-06-28

Excellent product, nicely constructed, and easy to install. I have two in my garage and the space savings is awesome! As a bonus, the product qualified for free shipping to Hawaii!

A couple of suggestions in the installation:
1. Make sure to place header directly under ceiling beam, stud, rafter (whatever they are called) to ensure a solid foundation to support the weight of your bicycles; drywall alone wont cut it.
2. You can microadjust the tightness of the quickrelease lever that adjusts the height of the stand, this will prevent slipping and decrease the chances of the stand falling.

Excellent

On: 2007-06-15

This stand is an excellent value especially considering the free shipping from Amazon. I was surprised and impressed by the high quality of the fittings and hardware on this stand.

To avoid any damage to the ceiling should I happen to install in an unsupported area, I took a piece of scrap hardwood of about 18" x 12" and used it as a pad for the top support to press against.

The people who had a problem with the stand falling over probably did not have the quick-release clamp tightened sufficiently. The instructions call for 6-8NM, I used a torque wrench to tighten this clamp, and it is much tighter than the quick-release on a bicycle hub. If the quick release is tightened correctly this stand should not fall over, ever.

Overall, Im very pleased with this stand.

Excellent

On: 2007-06-14

This stand is an excellent value especially considering the free shipping from Amazon. I was surprised and impressed by the high quality of the fittings and hardware on this stand.

To avoid any damage to the ceiling should I happen to install in an unsupported area, I took a piece of scrap hardwood of about 18" x 12" and used it as a pad for the top support to press against.

The people who had a problem with the stand falling over probably did not have the quick-release clamp tightened sufficiently. The instructions call for 6-8NM, I used a torque wrench to tighten this clamp, and it is much tighter than the quick-release on a bicycle hub. If the quick release is tightened correctly this stand should not fall over, ever.

Overall, Im very pleased with this stand.

So good we bought a second one!

On: 2007-06-09

This product has worked great in our apartment--so great, in fact, that we bought a second one to fit all of our 4 bikes in our studio apartment. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone who needs to get some space by getting their bikes off the floor and out of the way.

Beware of twisting

On: 2007-03-28

The construction of the rack is quite nice considering it cost only $100. Unfortunately roughly a month after assembling it, the rack did fall over with both of my bikes still on it. I think the reason it did fall was because during the many times Id mount and dismount the bikes I was twisting the stand varying amounts (the arms for holding the bikes have a mechanical advantage over the quick release securing the top-inner-metal-tube) and this twisting in conjunction with pressure from the kick lever on the bottom of the stand caused slipping of the top tube into the bottom tube and thus the unwanted falling... Im looking to drilling and pegging it sometime soon to prevent the twisting. If you arent riding everyday and youre more careful with it you probably wont have any problems.

Excellent Solution for Bike Storage

On: 2007-03-26

Its true that as long as you take the extra five minutes or so to check out your ceiling and find a sturdy spot, the stands going nowhere. Living in a duplex with only a carport, I have the stand in an extra bedroom where our we have a computer desk and a sleeper sofa -- but I have no fears whatsoever that the stand will fall over. I use it for two mountain bikes, one of which is not light by any means. Great product!

Easy to Install & Use

On: 2007-03-08

Id done a little research before I bought. There are quite a few stands out there and I decided to buy something from another company, but before I actually made the purchase I came across the Topeak. Ive been riding, racing and doing triathlons for awhile and Topeak generally designs very good products, so I went with the Topeak instead. It was a few dollars more, but Id rather have something that works than something thats going to fall and break my TV or something.

I took the thing out of the box, and grabbed my Allen Wrench/Hex Key and it was installed in about 12 minutes. You need to be sure to fasten the top part of the stand to a sturdy/solid section of your ceiling, but other than that, installation is easy as pie. After that, all you need to do is adjust the bike hooks, and set your bike.

The stand is extremely light, so I was worried that it wouldnt be strong to hold my road bike. Completely wrong. If the thing is installed correctly, it could easily hold 4 bikes.

Its fantastic. I use it for one high end road bike. Its slim, easy to install, doesnt require you to screw anything to the walls, floor or ceiling, it looks great and it saves a ton of space in my NYC apartment.

I would highly recommend it for your bike storage needs.

Perfect indoor bike stand !!

On: 2007-01-02

Ive kept 2 mountain bikes on this stand in my garage for over 2 months and the stand is SECURE. Before installing, I used a stud sensor to identify garage beams that would hold the pressure stand without giving out which may have caused bad experiences for the other reviewers. The stand has a great smooth simple look unlike the aluminum-type paneling of other bike stand competitors. The bike holders are well-padded and havent scratched either bike. I checked the stand every week for signs of loosening and the stand has not budged and is as secure as when I first installed it. I have no worries parking 2 luxury cars in the same garage. Hope you find this helpful.

Stand fell on my car too...

On: 2006-10-18

I installed this in my garage. It was mounted under a stud and secure at the time of installation. After 12 days it fell on my car and left dents and scratches. It caused $2,100 in damage to my car. I believe the vibration of the garage door opening and closing allowed the stand to become loose. I would not recommend this stand to anyone.

Amazonian Error

On: 2006-08-08

Received product from Amazon without the critical suction cups that allow the pole to adhere to floor and ceiling. Without these cups, the rack will surely fall over. Ive seen the product in stores, so I know it works. Just make sure you get a complete product before installing.

The rack fell on my car

On: 2006-08-01

This rack is highly unstable. It was holding two bikes in my garage, and fell down while I was away on vacation. Both bikes and the rack landed on the hood of my car, causing several dents and scratches.

the bestest bike pole around

On: 2006-07-22

How can you not love pole that telescopes to span from floor to ceiling and then, in a very space-efficient manner, holds two bikes at once? It makes for a fantastic conversation piece and does what its designed to do. We also have Topeak bike bags that snap on - the products and well-designed and stylish, too.

Bike stand is easy to set up, and really does save space.

On: 2005-11-15

Unlike the leaning type of bike stands, this unit really does save a TON of space. I now have my road bike and my mountain bike in the bedroom of my small apartment, tucked behind the door. It is great. The nicest feature is the adjustability of the hooks, so you can hang just about any bike geometry. The padded hooks are kind to bike frames, too. And it took me about 10 minutes to set up, and was easy to move when I moved some furniture.

Fantastic for indoor use

On: 2005-02-04

This unit works like a charm. Its sturdy for up to four bikes, and takes up a very small foot print. Makes it so you can store your bikes off the floor in an easy manner.