When you think about it, this basket is really just made for storage. When you've got some extra space in your garage to park your bike, a simple wire basket will work. But once you're storing your bike in a tight spot and you want to bring the basket into your home (maybe into the kitchen to get groceries), then a permanent basket will be nothing but an obstruction (something you'll trip over daily).
That's why the Relwears folding rear bike basket is so important , it folds completely flat so that you can hide it behind a door, or hang it on a hook, etc. , basically anywhere.
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It's not going to be the least expensive wire basket available. The folding part of the basket and the cargo strap contribute to the higher cost. however, these two features alone make this basket worthwhile if you don't have enough space for a stationary bike storage area. That is exactly what this review explains.
Specifications and Build Quality
The Relwears folding basket is essentially a wire mesh basket attached to a collapsible frame. The basket attaches to most rear racks using a quick release plate rather than bolts. There also is a cargo strap that comes packaged with the basket. And last there is a reflective tail light component that you can attach to the back of the basket. Relwears lists it as suitable for use on mountain bikes, road bikes, cruisers, and pedal assist bicycles. although, ultimately the suitability of the basket to your particular bicycle will depend upon how closely your rack is spaced.
In terms of build quality the wire mesh construction is identical to all the other folding baskets available. Essentially, the wire mesh consists of straight-welded rods forming a rectangular shape. The rust protection offered by the wire mesh is due to a protective coating applied after welding. Therefore, if you scratch the wire, the extent to which it will eventually develop rust is directly related to those scratches around the weld seams. A little bit of touch-up paint to protect scratched spots will add many years to the lifespan of the basket.
The quick-release mechanism is a steel plate that clamps underneath your rack. To detach the basket simply open the lever and lift it off. The drawback here is that you now have a mechanical link that could fail whereas you did not with a bolt. On paper i believe the lever design looks solid. however, i was unable to determine whether it would survive prolonged heavy usage.
Folding Design and Storage
If you fold up the basket, it reduces to a flat profile that allows you to slide it behind doors, hang it from hooks or wedge it in narrow hallways. This flat-profile is the only reason you'd purchase a folding basket instead of a less expensive fixed-wire basket. You never have to deal with fixed baskets again. Instead of being useful for carrying stuff, fixed baskets are merely obstructions throughout your house or office or dorm room. Ultimately, you'll leave your bike parked outside in the rain because the basket blocks the doorway.
The removable basket piece is the other aspect of the foldable design. Once the basket is removed from the rack, you can carry it inside as a separate container. You can load the contents at the door, carry it inside a store, and reload it onto the rack on your way out. In essence, this transforms the basket into your true shopping cart instead of having to transfer bags each time you go.
The reflective tail light attachment is a passive reflector. As long as light reflects off of it (i.e., someone else shines their headlight at it), it will show up as a reflection on either side of your vehicle. It does not provide illumination. It does not blink. It is not meant to be used as an alternative for a battery-powered rear light. Consider it as additional visibility that requires zero maintenance and functions whenever lighting conditions allow.
Cargo Security: Don’t Forget About Your Cargo Strap!
Most riders ignore this critical aspect of their rear-mounted basket. However, regardless of whether you’re carrying fresh groceries or cans that roll over when you hit bumps, your cargo can cause your steering to feel light, your rear-end to become unstable and compromise your overall balance. By tightening the cargo strap over your cargo load (even if it’s just a loaf of bread and/or a few water bottles), you’ll prevent any sort of cargo “creep” caused by shifting loads that result in sloppy handling of your bike.
That’s when you start thinking about the causal chain of events , you load the basket. You hit a bump. Your unsecured items shift backwards. Your basket begins to tip upwards. Your quick release plate receives more torque than it was engineered for. The lever begins to loosen. One week later, your basket starts rattling. Had you secured everything with your cargo strap from day one, that rattling would never have begun. Although this might seem elementary, most cyclists do not utilize their cargo straps for transporting their cargo loads.
Although it isn’t high-quality cargo netting, the provided cargo strap serves its purpose well enough for everyday loads (grocery bags, gym kits, dog carriers, etc.).
What Do Other Cyclists Say?
As mentioned earlier in my article regarding this subject, Relwears’ folding rear bike basket received an average rating of 4.4 stars among 71 reviews on amazon. While this rating exceeds averages in this category (folding baskets), and while it doesn’t appear too large for the number of reviews, a few negative reviews can drop ratings quickly.
Positive comments center around three primary aspects:
- folding mechanism: reviewers stated repeatedly that the basket folded flat as indicated and worked flawlessly with respect to opening/closing via the quick release lever.
- quick release lever: reviewers praised repeatedly that they were able to easily snap the basket on/off without needing any tools whatsoever. Specifically commutes appreciated being able to take off the basket during lunch runs and put it back on when returning.
- fitment: unfortunately, reviewers complained about fitment issues. Namely that the quick release plate needs to sit flat against your rack deck in order to function properly.
Some bikes have curved decks or very spread apart railings. These designs make it difficult for the plate to function properly. There are no reports of structural failure of the wire frame itself. Additionally, none of reviewers noted poor weld quality or corrosion issues with respect to the coated material. Minor cosmetic issues were identified with respect to scratches on the lever after 6 - 8 months of daily use. however, this didn’t negatively impact functionality.
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Which Rider Will Benefit From Purchasing the Relwears Bike basket?
Any rider living in an Apartment building without adequate bike storage area. If you reside in an upstairs walk-up or an Apartment unit where a fixed basket obstructs a narrow hallway , the ability to fold flat is not merely beneficial , it is necessary. This basket earns its money by allowing you to keep your cargo away from inside stores or preventing you from walking back empty handed.
Cyclists who perform seasonal bike storage. If you store your bike indoors during the winter or transport your bike on trains for summer rides , folding the basket and storing it in closets save valuable storage space.
Cargo baskets are suitable for grocery runs and lightweight cargo. If you frequently haul loads greater than 25 pounds or require a basket capable of supporting panniers , consider purchasing a bolt-on fixed basket or install a complete rack & panier setup. This basket is primarily intended as a lightweight cargo utility item, not as a shipping vessel.
To compare prices and features of Relwears vs fixed mount and other folding options , refer to our basket/cargo comparison table. For background information relating to design history , visit Wikipedia’s bicycle baskets.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to Questions that relate to future considerations.
Does it Fit All Rear Racks?
While the quick release plate fits most standard rear racks with flat deck surfaces , certain racks possess unique designs (curved mounting surfaces, widely spaced rails, etc.). If your rack deck does not meet these standards , do not expect compatibility. Consult compatibility statements contained within the Relwears product description prior to making your purchase.
How Flat Does it Fold?
Once folded , the basket collapses into a relatively flat profile (you can slide it behind doors or hang it on hooks). Flatness will vary depending upon the wire diameter utilized for manufacturing your specific Relwears basket model , but it should be thin enough so that you can squeeze it into spaces behind doors or on hooks.
Is This Reflective Tail Light Really a Light?
No!! It is simply a reflective surface. As long as someone shines their headlights on it , it will provide reflections on both sides of your vehicle. It will not provide any illumination!!! It will not blink!!! Use it as additional visibility that costs nothing to maintain and works whenever lighting conditions permit!!!
Can I Exceed 25 Lbs?
Relwears states no maximum load specifications. however, for practical purposes most rear racks support loads ranging from approximately 25 - 50 pounds. Thus for typical use cases (carrying ~15-20 pounds through your rear-mounted basket) i’d say that with your cargo strap tightened securely you shouldn’t experience any issues.
Will it Remain Reliable Over Extended Periods?
Unfortunately i wasn’t able to evaluate long term performance of the quick-release lever mechanism myself , although from looking at pictures and reading 4+ star review history i’m confident that this mechanism appears strong enough. Over time grime and/or loose fasteners may weaken performance of levers found on similar models , regular cleaning and checking torque levels on levers should help ensure continued reliability.
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