Bicycling is a popular mode of transportation and hobby. When cycling for pleasure, you'll often need to transport your bike in a car. It will be essential for you to know if your vehicle can hold your bike. If you already have a Chevrolet Malibu or are in the market for one, you're probably wondering if a bike will fit inside this vehicle. We've done the research and can tell you if a bike can or can't!
It is possible to fit a bicycle into a Chevy Malibu! You should be able to fit a regular bicycle into the back seat of your car. However, you'll have to take one or both of the wheels off.
You can also fit a bicycle into a Malibu by lowering the vehicle's rear seats. This will allow you to lay the bike on its side in the trunk.
High-quality bikes are expensive, so it's essential to treat them with care when transporting them. Keep reading to learn more about how to fit your bike into your Malibu, how to protect bikes when moving them, and if a bike rack can go on this vehicle.
Transporting Your Bicycle In Your Vehicle
The Chevrolet Malibu is a mid-size sedan that is capable of carrying a bicycle either inside the vehicle or via an attached bike rack. The 2019 through 2022 Malibu models all have a backseat that is 53.4 inches. A fully assembled bicycle is typically around 68 inches long.
As you can see, you wouldn't be able to fit your bicycle into your car if you tried to put it in now. However, an adult bike frame can measure between 18 inches and 25 inches. So, by removing one or both wheels, you can easily get your bicycle to fit into the back seat of your car.
Removing Wheels Without Tools
Certain bike wheels have a thru-axle. These axles are popular with mountain bikers because the wheel can't fall off accidentally.
To remove this type of wheel, you should first disconnect your brakes. Then, locate and open the lever. Make sure to align your lever with the recess under the pivot. This allows you to turn the axle.
Once your lever is open and aligned, you can rotate the lever. Turn the lever until it disengages from the fork. Then, you can pull the axle all the way out. Once your axle is removed, you can take the wheel off.
Check out this video to see it in action!
Quick Release Wheel Removal
If you have a wheel with a quick-release feature, you'll remove it similarly to a thru-axle. Double check that your brakes are disengaged, and then open the quick-release lever. Now you should hold the lever steady as you loosen the bolt on the opposite side. Once you're able to, remove the wheel from the frame.
Using Tools to Remove Your Wheel
If you don't have a quick-release or thru-axle, then you'll need to use a wrench to help you remove your wheels. First, make sure your bike's brakes are disconnected. Then, take a 15mm wrench and use it to loosen the axle nuts on your bike. Now you can gently remove the wheel from the rest of the cycle.
Loading Your Bike Into The Car
With one or both of your wheels removed, you're now ready to fit your car into the back seat. You may want to wipe your bike clean first to help minimize dirt in your vehicle. You should also move the chain onto the outer chainring. This protects the chain from damage.
Now you can transfer your bike to the floor of the backseat of your vehicle. Make sure to keep the side without gears facing the car's rear. You can use the wheel to help stabilize the bike on the seat. Use a soft cloth to protect your seats.
Ideally, you should be transporting your bike wheels in a wheel bag in the trunk of your car. You want to try to secure or protect the tires so they don't get damaged while you drive.
Check out this bike wheel bag on Amazon!
Transporting A Bike In The Trunk
Alternatively, you can also lower the rear seats to make more room for your bike. You can do this with or without removing your tires. However, removing the wheels will give you more room to maneuver your bike.
Before lowering the rear seats, you should ensure the seat belts are disconnected. Use a key in the mini buckle slot to release the seatbelt latch. Then, locate the release levers for the seats. These can be found in the trunk of the Malibu. Pull the release levers and then return to the back seat to lower the seats.
Once the seats are down, you should put a towel or blanket down to protect your car's interior. Then, you can lay your bike down into the vehicle's trunk. Always make sure to keep the gears facing up. This could cause the derailleurs to misalign or otherwise damage the cycle.
Check out this video to see how to do this!
How do you protect bikes when transporting them in a car?
You don't want to unload your bike and discover that it was damaged during transport. That's why it's imperative to transport it safely. One of the best things you can do for your bike is to protect the drivetrain. You can do this by laying your bike on the opposite side and not storing anything on top of your cycle.
You should also try to stabilize your bike to prevent it from moving around. When transporting your bike in the back seat, you should also stabilize the handlebars. If your bike moves unexpectedly in the back seat, it could accidentally break a window.
Can you put a bike rack on a Chevy Malibu?
Absolutely! One of the easiest ways for sedans to carry bikes is via a trunk-mounted bike rack.
Check out this trunk-mounted bike rack on Amazon!
However, that's not the only available option. You can install a hitch and then use a hitch-mounted rack. Another option is to install crossbars on the roof and then use a roof-mounted rack.
Remember, each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, roof-mounted racks can increase wind resistance and lower your gas efficiency. However, hitch-mounted and trunk-mounted racks severely limit your access to the trunk.
Check out this hitch-mounted bike rack on Amazon.
Check out this roof-mounted bike rack on Amazon.
How do you know if your rack will fit your bike?
For the most part, any bike rack should fit your bike. The most common frame design is the diamond frame, and bike racks are designed with that in mind.
Unfortunately, bikes for women or children are a little more challenging to get bike racks for. You may need an adapter bar to get it to fit your bike rack properly.
Check out this bike rack adapter bar on Amazon!
Do bike racks damage your car?
If you're not careful, bike racks can damage your car. This is most common for trunk-mounted racks. The straps and metal clips used to install the rack can easily damage your car's paint.
Roof-mounted racks can cause severe damage if you forget that your bike is up there. If you accidentally drive into an area with low clearance, you can damage your bike and car.
Whichever way you decide to mount your bike, it's vital that it's done correctly. An incorrectly installed bike rack can damage your car or potentially fall off. Always check your frame before putting your bicycle on it. You should also make sure your bike is secure to avoid potential damages.
In Closing
Transporting your bike is easy with your Chevy Malibu! You can fit most bikes into your back seat by removing the wheels of your cycle. You can also lay your rear seats down and put your bike on its side through the trunk. Using a bike rack on the outside of your Malibu is another option. However, traveling with your bike inside the vehicle gives it more protection during your drive.
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