Best Front Bike Racks [Top 6 for Commuting]
If you’re commuting to work by bicycle, chances are you’ll need some kind of bike rack to help you carry your belongings to and from the office.
There are lots of different kinds of bike racks on the market, suitable for a range of needs, but one of the most common kinds is the front bike rack, which sits over or next to the bike’s front wheel.
Front bike racks and baskets are great for commuters, because they’re best suited to lighter loads (your laptop and lunch box will be fine) and are great for carrying small items around the city.
On this page, we’ll tell you about the different kinds of front bike racks available so you can decide which type is best for your needs, and show you the top six front bike racks for commuting.
Types of Front Racks for Bicycles
There are several different kinds of front bike racks available, each catering to a particular type of rider and load. The most common are flat racks, low rider racks and, of course, bike baskets.
Flat front bike racks sit over the front wheel and offer a kind of shelf for your bags. You can secure your bag or basket with straps to keep it in place on your journey, and it’s easy to grab your bag and go when you get to your destination.
Low rider racks are common on touring bikes, but are useful for commuters who need to carry a heavier load, too. As the name suggests, they sit low on the front wheel keeping the weight low to the ground which helps with stability.
Baskets are great if you carry smaller items, or if you want to make sure your work bag is kept secure in an enclosed carrier, rather than just strapped to a flat rack. They can be attached to the handlebars or sit on top of a flat rack, and come in a range of styles and materials.
Front Bike Rack [PROS + CONS]
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Great for rough terrain | Rear racks can hold more weight |
| Easy to access items on the go | Tend to be smaller than rear racks |
| Can use alone or with basket | Can affect handling |
How to Attach a Front Bike Rack
The way that you attach a front bike rack to your bike varies on the type, style and model of bike rack you choose. It’s always best to consult the instruction manual that comes with your particular bike rack, as different racks are attached in different ways.
Front bike baskets tend to be very easy to attach, as you can often simply secure them with zip ties, bungee cords, belts or rope to your bike’s handlebars, or use attachments that come with your basket.
Some bike racks require you to replace the wheel axle, so that your rack can be secured to it, and others are fixed to the frame or forks.
Generally, front bike racks are simple to install, and only require regular household tools, so you’ll be back on the road in no time.
Are Front Bike Racks Universal?
No, front bike racks are not universal. The type of front bike rack that is suitable for your bike depends on the model (and size) of the bicycle, as differences in the bike’s components can affect the way the rack fits.
For example, forks and brakes can affect the fit of a bike rack, as their configuration can vary from bike to bike, and wheel size can also have an impact. You should, of course, make sure to do your research when shopping for your bike rack to make sure it will properly fit your model and size of bicycle.
That said, there are plenty of bike racks on the market that can be attached to most bikes, particularly baskets which often are simply strapped to the handlebars, so it is possible to find relatively universal bike racks.
Best Front Bike Racks [Top 7]
- Origin8 Rush Messenger Flat Rack [REVIEW]
- Topeak TetraRack M1 [REVIEW]
- Nitto M18 Front Rack [REVIEW]
- Public Bikes Porteur Front Rack 2.0 [REVIEW]
- Basil Metal Front Bike Rack [REVIEW]
- Elops 500 Front Bike Rack [REVIEW]
1. Origin8 Rush Messenger Flat Rack
Weight: 3.63 kg
Material(s): Alloy
Price (approximate):
- 🇬🇧 £118
- 🇺🇸 $144
- 🇪🇺 €137
✅ Can carry heavy loads
✅ Versatile design
✅ Perfect for commuting and leisure rides
This flat rack is perfect for wide and oddly shaped cargo, is adjustable to fit several different sizes of bicycle, and is designed to protect your head tube and cables from the cargo you’re carrying. Its heavy duty alloy construction can support up to 25kg, which should be more than enough for your work bag, and the flat rack design means it has lots of different uses, from commuting to carrying groceries to longer weekend rides.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Versatile design | Quite pricey |
| Supports up to 25kg | |
| Easy installation |
2. Topeak TetraRack M1
Weight: 0.7kg
Material(s): Aluminium
Price (approximate):
- 🇬🇧 £85
- 🇺🇸 $104
- 🇪🇺 €99
✅ Very light
✅ Carries up to 10kg
✅ Quick release system
This quick-mount front rack fits onto the bike’s forks in a one-size-fits all design, adjustable to perfectly fit your MTB. It carries up to 10kg, and itself weighs just 0.68kg. The rack has an integrated QuickTrack system, which allows compatible trunk bags from Topeak to easily slide and lock into place and release with the push of a button, so it couldn’t be easier to load up and unload.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Carries up to 10kg | Only for MTBs |
| One size fits all | |
| Quick release cargo system |
3. Nitto M18 Front Rack
Weight: 0.3kg
Material(s): Steel
Price (approximate):
- 🇬🇧 £99
- 🇺🇸 $121
- 🇪🇺 €115
✅ Sleek design
✅ Ideal for commuters
✅ Can mount to most bikes
This steel rack is beautifully finished and made in Japan, with a sleek design that can mount to most bikes. It’s designed for light loads or to support a handlebar bag, which makes it perfect for commuters, and it looks nice, neat and clean over the front wheel either with a basket or without. Plus, it is extremely light, so won’t add much weight to your ride.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Extremely light | Can’t carry heavy loads |
| Perfect for work bags | |
| Use with basket or without |
4. Public Bikes Porteur Front Rack 2.0
Weight: 0.9kg
Material(s): Aluminium
Price (approximate):
- 🇬🇧 £51
- 🇺🇸 $63
- 🇪🇺 €59
✅ Stylish and practical
✅ Multiple colours available
✅ Carries up to 11.3kg
Available in silver or black, this porteur rack is stylish and practical – which makes sense, given that its design was inspired by Parisian delivery cycles. It’s suitable for all sorts of cargo up to 11.3kg from wine to groceries to commuter bags, and you can easily tie everything down with bungee straps or a cargo net through the tie-down loops.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Versatile and stylish | Designed to fit PUBLIC bikes |
| Carries all sorts of cargo | |
| Light |
5. Basil Metal Front Bike Rack
Weight: 1.0kg
Material(s): Aluminium
Price (approximate):
- 🇬🇧 £70
- 🇺🇸 $86
- 🇪🇺 €81
✅ Built-in strap
✅ Carries up to 10kg
✅ Can install lights
This sleek aluminium front rack has raised sides and a built-in strap for maximum security on the road, and can carry up to 10kg of cargo which makes it ideal for commuters. You can install lights to the rack so it won’t impact visibility, and it is suitable for 26- and 28-inch wheeled bikes.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Raised sides for security | Not suitable for all bikes |
| Suitable for most bikes | |
| Lightweight |
Best Budget Front Bike Rack
6. Elops 500 Front Bike Rack
Weight: 0.66kg
Material(s): Aluminium and steel
Price (approximate):
- 🇬🇧 £30
- 🇺🇸 $37
- 🇪🇺 €35
✅ Lightweight
✅ Affordable
✅ Sleek and stylish
This Decathlon rack is a bargain and a great place to store your bags on the go. Light and adaptable, it can hold up to 5kg and is easy to fix to the forks and axles of your bike’s front wheel. However, the rack has been specifically designed to fit a handful of bikes sold by Decathlon – it may be usable on other bikes, but could be tricky to assemble.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| 2 year warranty | Only for certain Decathlon bikes |
| Carries up to 5kg | |
| Lightweight |
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