IB15: Seasucker Hoggs your skewer to hold the front wheel…next to a dragon

Written by Tyler Benedict Sep 26, 2015 9:14 p.m. ET

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Seasucker’s super expensive, super sharp Komodo rack had but one downside: there was no where to put your front wheel.

So, they turned their milling machines to a bit more metal and created the Hogg, a screw-on axle capturing device that lets your wheels hold hands while you hustle down the highway at 70+ mph.

Grab the details below…

The Hogg replaces your rear wheel’s quick release skewer’s threaded nut (when the bike is on the rack, not while riding!). Just thread it on snug and lock it on by closing the skewer like normal. Then just slot the front wheel’s skewer end into the opening and clamp that one shut and youre good to go.

At first, it’ll ship only with their high end single-bike carrier, the Komodo, which retails for $1,395. Why so expensive? Because each one takes about six hours of machining work. Word is Boonen ordered one for his Ferrari.

Eventually, they’ll offer it separately for use with any tray style mount that clamps the fork dropouts and leaves your front wheel with no where to go, including all their own regular suction cup racks, too.

Seasucker.com

Tyler Benedict

11,198 articles

Tyler Benedict is the Founder of Bikerumor.com. He has been writing about the latest bikes, components, and cycling technology for almost two decades. Prior to that, Tyler launched and built multiple sports nutrition brands and consumer goods companies, mostly as an excuse to travel to killer riding locations throughout North America.

Based in North Carolina, Tyler loves family adventure travel and is always on the lookout for the next shiny new part to make his bikes faster and lighter.

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Veganpotter

8 years ago

It would be much easier to keep for front wheel in your car, or simply buy a different rack. If it were advertised as a usable skewer, I’d maybe bite.

Kyle

8 years ago

I’ll be in if it’s cheaper than a rack mounted wheel holder.

Fabricio

8 years ago

I love the seasucker rack, I has using it for more of 2 years and has been the best rack that I owned for place my bike in the roof, but the downside is I can’t buy the vacuum valves only when broke, there are the magic of the rack but when I broke 2 in two different times my option was buy a new suction cup, no way to buy the simple valve that is the small part which fail, if I could find just the valve the rack will be a 10/10 point.

Aaron

8 years ago

Veganpotter: A lot of drivers of exotics use these, so keeping a wheel inside their car isn’t always an option.

Stravarious

8 years ago

@Fabricio, The down side would be that you even need to replace a broken vacuum valve.

Greg

8 years ago

I live in a bike-centric environment where every other car has a bike transport system. Never seen one of these though, that tells me something.

PsiSquared

8 years ago

@Greg Kopecky: It tells you that not many people in your area have bought them. That’s the only valid conclusion from your observation. Anything else is just guessing.

DrT

8 years ago

Fabricio, you can get the suction system here:
http://www.allvacindustries.com/pages/pump_style_suction_cup_lifters/66.php

Or McMaster-Carr

I think Allvac may have spares.

YMMV. 🙂

christobevii3

8 years ago

Yeah, avoid seasucker, the pumps break constantly. I got a refund from mine failing so many times. Do not trust it after bike going off the side of the car while driving.

Chader09

8 years ago

Or you can get better vacuum pumps from Wood’s Powr-Grip, the company Seasucker stole their vacuum part designs from in the first place.

http://www.wpg.com/catalog/parts/vacuum-cup-parts/lj45-and-lj6-handi-grip-vacuum-cups/90111

xc-fr

8 years ago

with this solution you destroy the small spring at the opposite side from the front skewer.

Colorado munk

8 years ago

What bike is that and who makes those wheels?

No rear brake?

Chader

8 years ago

@ Colorado munk,

The bike is a Felt (one of their aero models), and the rear brake is located under the chainstays.

Gregg

8 years ago

Thanks for some interesting feedback; we take the quality and safety of our products seriously. DrT and Chader, we do sell replacement pumps on our website (https://www.seasucker.com/shop/replacement-vacuum-pump-blac/), but if the pump is actually broken in some way, please let us know so we can cover it under warranty.

8 years ago

Ive used these to put a 29r full suspension on a Ferrari

speedraceratl

8 years ago

i have broken valves before and SeaSucker has covered them all under warranty no questions asked. Thanks Greg for the excellent support. I have had mine for about 4 years.

wontgetthuledagain

8 years ago

Odd comments here,

#1 : How do you fit a wheel inside a 2 seat car?

#2: a link provided sends me to a company that sells the “same” vacuum cup to lift giant pieces of glass, marble etc. That company has been in business since the 60’s

#3 all racks fail, 25 years in the business I have seen every rack fail. Yes even hitch racks… they forgot to put the pin in.

#4: 98% of rack failure is due to operator error

#5 Seasucker is a forward thinking rack company, out of box thinking, that cares most people.

Chader

8 years ago

Practical answers here,

#1: Any car will have a trunk that should fit a single front wheel.

#2: Wood’s Powr-Grip actually created the original vacuum lifting product designs (vacuum pump, vacuum pad, etc.) that Seasucker stole for their products.

#3: ANY product can fail. Sources vary from poor design, manufacturer defect, operator error.

#4: Data source requested (I am sure you aren’t just making up stats.)

#5: Agreed that they have unique products. They solve some rack problems, but yield their own distinct problems too. (Locking bike and/or rack to the vehicle for security)

Also, “…that cares most people”. What exactly is that supposed mean?

wontgetthuledagain

8 years ago

#1 won’t fit in this trunk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC2X6ZJFUoU

Doesn’t have a trunk http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/oneyear/coupe/1506_30_day_huracan_one_month_with_mt_new_lamborghini/viewall.html

want me to continue to find cares that will not fit a wheel?

#2 ” vacuum ” has been around since the 1600’s did wood’s powr grip steal the concept from the 1600’s ?

#3 a product will fail from one of 3 reasons, Man – Method – Machine vacuum cups are a proven design… woods powr grip has been selling the idea since 1969… that stuff must work
so if failure happens it must be man.. or method…

#4 https://www.seasucker.com/product-category/bike-racks/

Well I be darned, they have a solution for locking the bike, not to mention the rack installs in seconds, so if not in use, why would it be on the car?

#5 ” that cares most people ” simple typo, SCARES most people

Chader

8 years ago

#1: I clearly said “should”. I know some cars won’t fit a wheel.

#2: Howard Wood created and patented the first vacuum power devices for lifting and mounting purposes. Look them up if you doubt it. He simply employed the use of vacuum force to do a job that had not been done before. Therefore, it was the original use of the concept that was documented, marketed and sold.

On the other hand; Seasucker bought Wood’s parts, reverse engineered them and made their own versions. There is a reason that all of their vacuum pads and pumps are all interchangeable with the Wood’s versions. They copied the original Wood’s designs, just like many other copy-cat companies that offer vacuum lifting and mounting products. It’s nothing new unforunately. However, Seasucker’s use of these parts for a bike rack is original as far as I know, but the vacuum parts used are not their original design.

#3: Vacuum is generally reliable. But like any product, there are points of possible failure. The pump parts and seals, the vacuum pad sealing edge, and the surface of attachment can all be damaged or contaminated. The source can be a manufacturing defect, user error or environmental.

#4: You still didn’t provide a source for your “98% of rack failure is due to operator error” claim. I will continue to assume that you pulled that from some dark place rather than a real source of information based on fact.
(Note: you put your lock answer under the wrong number.)

#5: Yes, I know about their locking option. I find it a bit of a cobbled design to be honest. It is just a different solution compared to a hard mounted rack. That is fine for some people, but not my preference.

Their design still has some unique issues:
A) They require more care and maintenance (to protect the vacuum pads and pumps) than a typical rack design. You likely need to remove the rack and store it between usage unless you want to leave it on the car with their lock option.
B) You need a clean surface each time or you risk a leak at the pad/surface interface.
C) You need to keep an eye on the pumps vacuum level during usage. As mentioned, the system can develop leaks. The pump allows function without removing it, but it’s something that could lead to vacuum loss during a longer road trip. This is a step that is not needed for traditional racks.

None of these are deal breakers, but they do require a different approach when compared to hard mounted rack design. Not good or bad, just different.

I think they are a great option for plenty of people and uses. They just don’t work for my needs.