Blackburn TRX-1 Ultimate Touring Rear Rack 2013

Nice alternative

Couldn't justify Tubus, and I prefer aluminum for this sort of thing. Blackburn has been on my bikes since 1976, so I guess they trip my trigger. Still, I did my due diligence with all the newbies.

This rack mounts in a flash on a Fargo seat stays, and the end product very sturdy - consistent with Blackburn other racks. The eyelet catches work great. The lower mounts nice for a smaller (front) pannier.

My Lone Peak 10mm clips fit like a glove on the upper rack tubing. Really makes for a secure and compact rear pannier load.

I run 47mm (1 3/4") tires, and it's an appropriate clearance and appearance, 'cause looks matter, too.

A solid value if you can avoid MSRP.

Pros: Stainless hardware

Cons: Limited 700c tire clearance.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: January 24, 2013
Reviewed by: LOU

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A very durable rack

May wife used this rack on a recent gravel road tour. The weather has been hot and dry and her Salsa Vaya travelled over many a washboard and rocky road. The Blackburn TRX-1 was remarkable in that she did not even notice it was there. No rattling or shifting of panniers was noted. Ortlieb panniers will fit on either the upper or the lower bars. She rode with them on the lower, no extra straps were needed. The racks' top platform is narrower than some others, but her sleeping bag roll strapped on just fine. Mounts are very high quality. She used a 26"X 2.1 inch wide tire, without fenders, and I think this is about the maximum for this rack. If you are a 29er type you might have to use skinnier tires. Rack seems to be made for standard touring tires but works fantastically with the 26 inch MTB tires.

Pros: Very well built
Upper and lower load bars
Works with 26" MTB tires.
Attachment hardware is very high quality

Cons: May not work with wide 29er MTB tires
Top platform is narrower than others I have used.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: July 10, 2012
Reviewed by: Josh K., Washington

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my new favorite rack

looks like something out of batman. the tubes are angled, not round. welds are big and beefy and the matte finish is rather attractive.

i had a barebones blackburn ex-1 which really took a beating and had started to warp at the place where the seat stay attachment arms connect to the rack. i like this new model much better. the pannier drops are a huge improvement, as are the bungee hooks below and the reinforced dropout mounts.

my favorite part about this rack is how eagerly it mounts to the brake bridge. very few serious racks seem to have this capability (maybe for a reason, but for now it seems much sturdier and less frame-stressful than the time honored p-clamp method). If your frame does have built in seat stay rack mount eyelets, the rack comes with an elegant mounting solution for that too.

I find it interesting that this rack is rated for the same weight carrying capacity as my old ex-1. I don't disbelieve that the trx-1 tops out around 20kg, although I would imagine that rating the ex-1 to that same carrying capacity is a bit of an overstatement

Pros: sturdy, light, easy mounting, pannier friendly, works well on bikes without rack eyelets

Cons: we'll have to see how it holds up to abuse.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: January 10, 2012
Reviewed by: Adams Carroll, Tennessee

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