More Refined and Even Easier to Use: Thule Verse Hitch Bike Rack Review

The new Thule Verse is a top-tier hitch bike rack. While the much-loved and awarded Thule T2 Pro XTR is still available, the Verse offers greater bike compatibility, user friendliness, better ergonomics, and optional accessories.

The platform-style Verse shares many design elements with its predecessors, but adds a handful of new features. It can still support two bikes up to 60 pounds each and secures them with no frame contact. The updated wheel hook design, lateral tray adjustments, and cable lock enhance usability and bike security.

I’ve been testing the new Thule Verse ($950) for the past couple of months while transporting everything from heavy electric mountain bikes to featherweight gravel bikes. From weekend road trips to daily drives to local trailheads, gravel roads to highway miles, I’ve put this rack through its paces to see how it performs.

In short: The Thule Verse builds on the legacy of the T2 Pro XTR while improving on its user-friendliness, security, and bike compatibility. That correlates to an increase in price, putting the Verse firmly in premium hitch rack territory. Still, it’ll safely transport just about any bike you own while being exceptionally stable, versatile, and easy to use — if you can justify the price. 

Searching for a new hitch bike rack? Be sure to check out our comprehensive guide to the Best Hitch Bike Racks.

Thule Verse Review

Thule has enjoyed a long run as one of the leaders in the bike rack market. The Swedish brand has produced some of the most popular bike racks and carriers of all kinds for many years. 

For some time, the T2 Pro XTR and the Pro XT that preceded it have been the top models in Thule’s hitch rack lineup. The T2 Pro XTR is still an excellent bike rack, but hasn’t had a meaningful update in years. 

Some of the brand’s latest platform-style racks, like the EasyFold and the Epos, trump the T2 Pro XTR in terms of price, but they cater more toward the electric bike market. Those racks’ high weight limits, loading ramps, and quirky attachment systems aren’t quite as user-friendly for the everyday user. 

With the Verse, Thule reaffirms its commitment to making a highly versatile and dependable hitch rack that carries bikes with no frame contact.

Thule Verse Details

The Verse is a platform-style hitch rack that carries up to two bikes on parallel horizontal trays. Each tray has a front wheel cradle with an articulating and telescoping wheel hook that clamps down on the front tire. A ratcheting strap secures the rear wheel against the tray and a sliding wheel chock. 

A main support beam attached to the receiver arm with a beefy pivot supports those trays. A convenient tilt-release handle at the end of the support beam allows the rack to tilt vertically when not in use, flat for transporting bikes, or down to allow access to the vehicle’s rear. 

It comes in 2-inch and 1.25-inch receiver sizes, and the weight limits vary slightly depending on the size. The 2-inch size has a 60-pound per bike limit, while the 1.25-inch version tops out at 55 pounds. Either way, the Verse can handle most bikes with the exception of some heavyweight e-bikes. 

In terms of bike fit, the Verse is impressively versatile. The front wheel cradle, hook, and rear strap accept tires up to 5 inches wide. That means you can carry your fat bike in the winter and your road bike in the summer — no adapters or fit kits needed. The max wheelbase length of 1,350 mm (53 inches) covers all but the absolute longest of bikes.

The Verse also has tool-free lateral bike adjustability, should you need to shift them side-to-side to avoid bike-on-bike conflict. The front wheel cradle allows up to 6 inches of movement with the squeeze of a handle. The rear wheel chock and strap slide independently on the tray wherever they need to be.

Thule’s AutoAttach system tightens the anti-wobble cam in the receiver for stability and includes a locking feature to secure the rack to the vehicle. A rubber-coated 12mm braided steel cable locks the bikes to the rack. 

Thule states that the Verse is intended for use on paved surfaces and “off-roads,” including gravel roads, forest service roads, and access roads. It is approved for RV use with a 40% load reduction.

Thule Verse Accessories

Thule offers a handful of aftermarket accessories to add to the Verse rack. These include Transport wheels ($50) so you can roll the rack when it is off the vehicle. They also offer a bike repair holder ($100) that may be helpful for trailhead bike maintenance. Other options include a foldable loading ramp ($100) for heavy e-bikes and a light and license plate kit ($280).

A two-bike add-on is an option to expand the capacity of the Verse up to four bikes. However, the add-ons don’t appear to be available for purchase just yet.

Thule Verse Assembly

If you purchase the Verse from a brick-and-mortar retailer, it may be assembled for you. If you purchase it online, it will likely arrive at your house in a big box like my test rack. Like most hitch bike racks, assembling the Verse wasn’t difficult, but it took a bit of time. 

Given the Verse’s shipping weight of over 60 pounds and the awkward shape of the box, one of the biggest challenges was moving it around before assembly. I’d recommend having another person assist you if you need to move it a significant distance. 

My test rack was well-packed, and all of the pieces were protected from shipping damage. The environmentalist in me appreciated that Thule managed to avoid using any plastic packing materials. That was a pleasant surprise.

To complete the assembly, the steps include attaching both halves of the bike trays to the support arms and installing the front and rear wheel cradles on the trays. The process was generally straightforward and took me about half an hour to complete while following the instructions.

While comprehensive, I’ve always found Thule’s illustration-only instruction manuals to be almost comical compared to other brands. Apparently, I like it when words accompany pictures. Still, it was easy enough to follow along and finish the assembly.

Using the Thule Verse

I’ve been testing bike racks for years and have used virtually every high-end rack on the market. I always thought the Thule T2 Pro XTR was a solid performer, so I had similarly high expectations for the Verse. I wasn’t disappointed. The Verse is just as versatile but even easier to use.

One thing that Thule has typically impressed me with is ergonomics, and I feel it stepped it up with the Verse. The tilt-release handle is one of the best in the business. Its position at the end of the main support was super easy to reach, whether the rack was up, flat, or tilted down.

The large handle was easy to grab and squeeze when moving the rack through its three tilt positions. The one-handed operation meant that I had a hand free to balance my bike while lowering the rack for use.

While many people might not think twice about it, the design of the front wheel hook was also a highlight for me. The handle and release lever were easy to grab and squeeze while also being more comfortable on my hand. I also appreciated the flat spot on the top of the wheel arm for pushing it tightly down on the front tire. These details made the bike loading and unloading process quicker and easier than ever. 

The new wheel hook is shaped to reduce the chances of it rubbing on your fork, although it is still a possibility. While it was easier to avoid, I still needed to be conscious about the placement of the hook on the tire to prevent unwanted fork contact.

I loaded gravel bikes, mountain bikes, and electric mountain bikes on the Verse, and I was impressed by its wide range of bike fit. It fit the various wheel and tire sizes with no adjustments necessary or extra fiddling about. The front wheel cradle was easy to shift laterally if needed, and the rear wheel chock and strap slid easily along the tray to account for different wheelbase lengths. 

The stability of the bikes in the rack and the rack itself were also top-notch. The anti-wobble system worked effectively to keep the rack from bouncing around in the receiver. I drove down some bumpy gravel roads and was impressed by how steady the rack remained. I wouldn’t take it rock-crawling or anything, but I wouldn’t do any four-wheelin’ with my bikes on any other rack, either.

Likewise, when attached properly, my bikes never shifted around at all. Even when transporting the 52-pound Specialized Turbo Levo 4, the front wheel hook and rear strap held it securely, and the bike didn’t budge.

The 11.4-inch distance between bikes was ample, and I never had any bike-on-bike conflict. Dropper posts eliminate most seat and handlebar interference, but I appreciated having the ability to adjust the bikes’ positions side to side when loading drop-bar bikes.

I drive a pickup truck, and most hitch racks interfere with the tailgate when I lower it. The Verse extends just far enough away from the back of my truck that I can lower the tailgate, even with bikes loaded. This was great when using my truck camper on a couple of weekend road trips. The tailgate functions like a mini-porch for the camper, and it was nice to be able to leave it on the truck while using the rack. 

Compared to the short cable locks that extend out of the wheel hooks on the T2 Pro XTR, the cable lock included with the Verse was a significant improvement. This rubber-coated 12mm-thick braided steel cable is significantly more robust and easier to deal with.

The cable isn’t that long, however, so while I could loop through both frames, I couldn’t lock any of the wheels. And, like any cable lock, I would only consider it a theft deterrent. I would add a beefy aftermarket chain lock to keep thieves at bay.

Room for Improvement

I’ve enjoyed using the Verse, given its versatile bike fit and extremely user-friendly design. I think this rack is nearly perfect, but I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t point out its potential shortcomings. 

Not that long ago, a 60-pound per bike weight limit was class-leading. The fast-growing electric bike market changed the game, however, and now, 60 pounds is on the lower end and may be a limiting factor for many users. Don’t get me wrong, the Verse will still handle the majority of bikes, but there are plenty of electric bikes that exceed that limit. 

The Verse has quite a few other plastic parts that could be prone to damage. It doesn’t feel quite as robust as all- or mostly metal racks like the 1Up-USA Super Duty or the Kuat Piston Pro X. To be clear, I’ve had no durability issues with the Verse whatsoever, but this was far from a long-term test.

In my somewhat brief test period, this rack appears to be very well made and sturdy. Plus, previous Thule racks have used similar amounts of plastic and provided many years of faithful service for countless users.

I appreciated the tool-free installation and integrated lock of the AutoAttach system, but it was somewhat awkward to use. While the folding lever design makes it low-profile, it felt over-complicated and a bit fiddly to me. I much preferred the large knob that Thule used on some of its previous racks. This part’s position also seems susceptible to damage should the rack scrape on the ground. I had plenty of ground clearance, but lower vehicles might not.

Thule Verse: Who’s It For?

Frankly, I think the Thule Verse would be an excellent choice for just about anyone. Outside of extra-heavy electric bikes over 60 pounds, this rack can carry any bike you own and is about as easy to live with as they come. It seamlessly adjusts to bikes of different sizes and is intuitive and incredibly user-friendly. 

From daily trips to weekend adventures, highway miles to gravel roads, I’ve been thoroughly impressed by the Verse. It’s stable and holds bikes securely in transit, and the included cable lock provides a welcome layer of bike security. The Verse has served me well, and among the five bike racks I currently own, it has become my new go-to. 

The premium price of the Verse puts it in line with the top-tier models from other brands. And while there is no lack of quality hitch racks on the market, the Verse is right up there with the best of them. This rack easily surpasses its predecessors and is the most refined Thule rack I’ve ever used.