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New Kuat Piston Pro X Hitch Rack gets Kashima Coat, OneTap Hydro Arms & LED Lights!

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Genuine Kashima Coat is probably not something you thought your bike rack needed. But the new Kuat Piston Pro X is not your average hitch rack. Building off their incredibly successful line of hitch racks, Kuat just dropped what could be the most exiting rack yet — the new Piston Pro X.

Kuat Piston Pro X Hitch Rack with kashima coat

There’s a lot going on, but let’s start with why you would need Kashima Coat? When it comes to tray style hitch racks with uprights for both tires (aka 1up style), releasing the uprights with two hands while also trying to hold onto the bike can be a pain. To make a similar style rack that is easier to use, Kuat invented a OneTap Hydro-pneumatic tire arm which releases from the tire with one touch, automatically. That means your other hand is free to hold the bike as you press the OneTap levers which releases the bike.

Those OneTap Hydro-Pneumatic pistons are coated with Genuine Kashima Coat via an exclusive contract with Miyaki Co., for long term durability. You’ll also find Igus bushings at key pivots, “custom formulated Tiger Powder coating”, stainless steel hardware, and an “automotive grade 750-hour salt spray” on steel hardware for increased longevity.

Kuat Piston Pro X Hitch Rack wheel adjusters

Don’t want to have to carry around tools to change your tire size? Us either. Fortunately, the FastFit tire chocks are tool-free and can be moved with one hand to fit 18-29″ tires, up to 5″ wide.

The rack is compatible with wheelbases up to 53″ without adapters or tools, and can support bikes up to 67lbs per tray. It’s even RV approved — but only up to 42lbs per tray.

Kuat Piston Pro X Hitch Rack

The all-metal construction includes cast aluminum parts and a steel hitch. The Piston Pro X starts as a two bike rack, but 1 or 2 bike add-ons are available to carry up to four bikes. Not only that, but the QuickConnect system makes adding or subtracting trays super quick — Kuat claims the current record is 1m 27s.

hitch rack tilt to get into car

The Kuat Flatlock hitch cam keeps the rack tight in the hitch, and it’s lockable to keep it safe. If you want to tilt the rack up or down, the foot or hand actuated pivot makes it easy for the two bike model, and an end pull handle for the add-ons keeps the functionality.

Kuat Piston Pro X Hitch Rack lock

To keep the bikes safe, a semi-integrated 12mm cable lock is included which locks into the top of the rack. It seems like the cable will need to be stored inside the vehicle, but the lock stays on the rack itself.

Kuat Piston Pro X Hitch Rack on car

And since bikes tend to obscure the vehicle’s tail lights, Kuat has added rear LED lights with a magnetic quick plug.

unloading bike hitch rack

To be available Spring of 2022, the top end Piston Pro X model will sell for $1389. But Kuat will also offer pared down models starting at $989 with fewer features. The racks include a lifetime warranty and Kuat’s legendary customer service.

Capacity:
● Holds 18”- 29” wheels, up to a 5” wide tire and accommodates a 53” wheelbase out of the box with no tools needed
● Two 67 lb bikes
● RV approved (42 lb max per bike)
Features:
● All metal construction with aluminum casted parts throughout
● Genuine Kashima Coat struts
● OneTap™ hydro-pneumatic tire arms – patent pending
● Seamlessly integrated LED lights with magnetic quick plug – patent pending
● One hand FastFit™ wheel chock adjustment- patent pending
● Foot or hand actuated pivot on 2 bike and end pull handle on one and two bike racks
● Flatlock™ hitch cam with built-in lockable install tool – patent pending
● Hitch lock and tamper resistant hitch cam for double rack security
● Semi-integrated industry leading ultra-high strand 12mm cable lock
● Stadium tiered tire trays for added ground clearance
● QuickConnect™ one and two bike add-ons – patent pending
● 10 year, no fade powder coat
● Stainless Steel and Automotive grade 750 hour hardware
● Automotive-style raised logo
● Over center ratchet arms for selective unloading
● Optional E-bike ramp accessory
● Lifetime Warranty

kuat.com

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23 Comments
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Hexsense
Hexsense
3 years ago

Hold “two 67 lb bikes”. Hmm, you think people who buy $1389 bike rack would use 67 lb bike?

Red Snail
Red Snail
3 years ago
Reply to  Hexsense

E-bike

NastyBoi
NastyBoi
3 years ago
Reply to  Hexsense

E-bikes are heavy and the more weight it can hold the better. Still doesn’t justify the price or gimmick…

Gillis
Gillis
3 years ago

If you release the front wheel first it’s held up by the rear, and all you have to do is roll it out a few inches and lift out. This has been an easy and reliable process during my 10 years of 1up ownership.

Vanessa Parks
Vanessa Parks
3 years ago

Will this accommodate a bike with fenders? Also, a step-through (without having to add adapter bar)?

fbhidy
3 years ago
Reply to  Vanessa Parks

Step through: yes (all other limitations met)
Fenders: depends (most front fenders – likely yes, rear full coverage fender – likely no, short fenders not extending beyond the very top of the tire – maybe?)

Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot
3 years ago

Cool set up, regarding the lights, are they powered by trailer wiring or battery powered?

bmx
bmx
3 years ago

tis illegal to drive with registration plate obscured, better racks have a second plate fixing point and lights. this can’t be used on public roads

whatever
whatever
3 years ago
Reply to  bmx

It is legal to drive with a bike rack that can obstruct plates in Arkansas. You don’t have to have a bike on the rack either. This is a recently passed law.

tech9
tech9
3 years ago
Reply to  whatever

You can thank your Waltons for those really nice bike laws there in AR. You guys also don’t have to stop at stop signs anymore (aka they can yield) and a host of other nice friendly bike laws. The rest of the nation does not have such influential people to build up such nice trails and influence politics/laws/zoning/real estate (mostly NWA) such as the Waltons do for you guys there.

whatever
whatever
3 years ago
Reply to  tech9

I’m well aware of how this and other laws came to be. Also you can legally ride an ebiike anywhere bicycle is legal. So all mtb trails are ebike legal. And for those that will claim trail destruction from an ebike, that has not been the case. BY a LOOOONNNNGGGG shot, the most trail destruction comes from weather, tourist who ride in unsuitable conditions (remove closed trail signs among other things),, and locals who have it’s all about me attitude. This
happens all the time combined with excessive rain/freeze/thaw etc.. .

Collin S
Collin S
3 years ago
Reply to  bmx

Technically it was illegal in Michigan but after a few high profile cases, bike law Michigan lobbied to get bike racks excluded including using one of my pictures of a local police car with a bike rack on it.

The problem in Michigan, I could not figure out anyway to get a second plate to actually put it on my rack

Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot
3 years ago
Reply to  bmx

I think the second plate thing is more of a European thing. Pretty sure you can’t display two rear license plates in the US.

Sandy Keith
Sandy Keith
3 years ago

Wow! Do want. Also, it’s “pared down” if you mean lessened.

Chris Milliband (@CMilliband)

wow -1st time im tempted to cheat on my trusty 1up ! – esp the quick adapt to different wheel sizes is sweet –
drives me nuts to have to bust out a wrench each time i go ridding w kids

Leticia Montanez
Leticia Montanez
3 years ago

I wonder how much the rack weights its self, I have the older Kuat and it is way too have for me to install by myself on my car. I would jump at this if I can put it on my car myself.

David L
David L
2 years ago

I had this on preorder, but then the weight is what got in the way. This seems so heavy that I think it will be a barrier to using it at times. (not as big of a deal if you keep your racks on the car all season). 63 pounds for the base rack, and then when 2 bike add on makes it 111 pounds!!! I had the kuat nv 2, and the weight was around 50 pounds, and that I felt was a pain to lug from one corner in the garage to the car everytime I went out for a ride. Personally, I instead ordered the quirkstuff mach 2. The #1 feature being it’s modularity, where 99% of the time I just need 1 bike on the car, and so easy to add without tools add on trays up to 4 total bikes. For me a 30 pound base, then 20 pound add on rack piece is much easier to navigate.

eDub
eDub
2 years ago
Reply to  David L

I’ve had an NV 2 (1.25″ receiver) for more than 10 years and part of the attraction was its lighter weight compared to 1 UP, Thule and others.

The Quik Rack Mach2 appears to be an improvement over 1 UP in every way however I still like the Kuat features better and have a Piston Pro X on order.

eDub
eDub
2 years ago
Reply to  Zach Overholt

98% correct- Kuat outdid themselves in addition to what is available from other manufacturers!

Two items were not what I expected at this price level:

  1. The hitch lock pin is quite loose/floppy and I’m not so sure how durable the lock itself is either. I had an old NV 2″ custom hitch lock kit. The pin just barely fit through my 1.25″ receiver. At this price level I’d expect something more durable and form fitting.
  2. The hitch cam tool rattles in its locked location (I added a small piece of rubber under it that stays put when locked).
Marco Nozicka
Marco Nozicka
2 years ago

anybody else getting hassled by cops because Kuwat racks obstruct view of rear pates?

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