Richard Allen did not invent the automobile bike rack – his 1967 patent application makes it clear that others had come before. But after selling popular and ingenious mechanical bike carriers for nearly sixty years, his company Allen Sports now offers a line of – yes – Bluetooth-monitored suction cups for affixing bikes to your car.
If you feel stressed just watch Seeing these photos of the new $299 Smart Suction Go, you’re not alone! This is the first thing my colleague Andrew Liszewski said, and I completely agree. But apparently some people already swear by the ease and portability of suction-cup bike mounts — SeaSucker is the big name in that area.
Now, Allen is trying to ease that worry with a smart pressure sensor, so you’ll (hopefully) know if the suction is failing long before your precious bike hits the asphalt. It connects via Bluetooth with a smartphone app. And, the company is also using the same technology in mounts to stick your DSLR or mirrorless cameras on vehicles.
We many questions. Here are some answers:
Has anyone tested this independently?
Technically, Allen introduced a more expensive $599 version last year, but I don’t see many reviews. is here bikerumor. is here Canadian Cycling Magazine. It seems like the two haven’t actually stress-tested it, so we don’t know how well it works during a suction failure.
how long do you have to pull up Once the suction starts failing?
“Because of the redundant design, users have several minutes to try and resolve any issues. Suction is proactively checked every 5 seconds,” explains Alex Allen, founder’s son and new owner. The Verge by email.
How do you know you have enough suction to start?
Each cup has a small push-button pump on the side, which has a color-changing indicator when there is enough vacuum as well as tracking in the app. But also, the company advertises it only for bikes weighing 35 pounds or less, which are mounted straight forward.
How many suction cups are monitored?
With the new $299 version, “the front three cups are actively monitored. The cups are actually so strong that only one will keep the bike in place, but it is designed for redundancy and optimal stability.”
How do you know when it’s failing?
Smartphone notification, an alert in the app, and you can even connect it to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to monitor your dash. It doesn’t seem like you can monitor exact pressure, the images we’ve seen show either “good suction” or a warning.
How will it be in hot and cold weather? The suction cups can each fail.
Allen claims, “It is extremely reliable due to the genuine rubber blend material used for these cups.” “This material has been specially selected to withstand a wide range of temperatures and has UV resistant additives to extend life even in the harshest conditions. Smart Suction Go has been tested in the real world in Dubai, where temperatures often exceed 40C.” He writes that the tested operating range is “-15C to +60C”.
Doesn’t rubber break down over time?
“In terms of lifespan, the cups are typically expected to provide approximately 7-10 years of service with normal consumer use. Additionally, if the need arises over time, for example due to damage, the cups themselves can be completely replaced.”
What stops a bike from being stolen so quickly? I see the basic version comes with a safety strap…
Allen writes, “The Smart Suction Go SB05 does not include the safety tether of the first version. It is designed primarily for transporting the bike only, not for storing the bike on the vehicle.” They also say that removing the suction cup will trigger a notification in the app.
According to Allen, both of the company’s mounts take four standard AA batteries with “6-8 hours of total active use.” “Can probably drive from SF to LA – but if you get stuck in traffic on the way, you may need to put in some new batteries. (If you don’t have spares, most gas stations still carry AA, no need for special CR2032 or anything,” he says.)
Did Allen cut any other corners with the $299 version compared to the original $599 version?
The rear suction cups are not monitored, and the company says some users may like how the basic aluminum bar can keep the cups the same distance from each other every time. Additionally, Allen says the company has remaining inventory of originals that still needs to be sold.
Did you say something about the camera mount?
Yes. $70 for a six-inch suction cup with Bluetooth monitoring, standard threaded screw mount, double ball-head for angling, cameras up to 6.6 pounds, lenses and accessories. Could a little worry go away when you’re taking fancy shots for your next film?
Image: Allen Sports
Correction, April 2: The full name of the company is Allen Sports, not Allen Bikes.
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