Yakima RidgeBack vs Allen Deluxe 522RR: Worth 2.5x?
Yakima vs Allen is the budget-versus-brand decision in hitch racks, and both of these are hanging-style two-bike carriers that fit 1.25-inch and 2-inch receivers. The Allen Sports Deluxe 522RR is $114 of powder-coated steel with tool-free install and folding carry arms. The Yakima RidgeBack is $279 and adds an UpperHand lever that tilts the rack away for trunk and hatch access, plus ZipStrips instead of bulky tie-down straps. Neither locks your bikes, and neither is a tray rack, so both risk frame contact on carbon or step-through frames.
Choose the Yakima RidgeBack if
You want to open the trunk or hatch with the rack mounted and will pay for the tilt-away lever and quicker strapping.
$279.00 · 4.2★ · 288 ratings
See the Yakima RidgeBack →Choose the Allen Deluxe 522RR if
You haul two everyday bikes a handful of weekends a year and want the cheapest rack that fits either receiver with no tools.
$114.00 · 4.5★ · 2,880 ratings
See the Allen Deluxe 522RR →Yakima RidgeBack vs Allen Deluxe 522RR: side by side
| Spec | Yakima RidgeBack | Allen Deluxe 522RR |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $279.00 | $114.00 |
| Rating | 4.2★ from 288 ratings | 4.5★ from 2,880 ratings |
| Category | Cycling Gear | Cycling Gear |
| Best for | Families and weekend riders who carry two bikes on a hitch rack and want trunk and hatch access without unloading — a tilt-away hanging rack that fits both 1.25-inch and 2-inch receivers | Best for families hauling two everyday bikes a handful of weekends a year - the cheapest rack that fits both 1.25-inch and 2-inch receivers with zero tools |
| One thing it does well | Dual-fit: works with both 1.25" and 2" receivers | Fits both 1.25-inch and 2-inch receivers — works on almost any car or truck |
| One thing to know | Hanging design risks frame contact — carbon and step-through frames need an adapter bar | No built-in lock — bikes and the rack itself need separate cable locks |
| Who should buy it | Families hauling two bikes to a trailhead or campground who also need to open the trunk for coolers and gear bags; SUV and crossover owners with a 1.25-inch receiver who want a rack that also works if they upgrade to 2-inch | Budget-first families with two aluminum or steel bikes who want a proven, no-tools rack under $120; Drivers with a 1.25-inch hitch who keep finding nicer racks require a 2-inch receiver |
Pros and cons, side by side
Yakima RidgeBack
Pros
- Dual-fit: works with both 1.25" and 2" receivers
- UpperHand lever tilts rack away for trunk access
- ZipStrips secure bikes quickly without bulky straps
- Folds flat for storage; ships fully assembled
Cons
- Hanging design risks frame contact — carbon and step-through frames need an adapter bar
- No tilt with bikes loaded
Allen Deluxe 522RR
Pros
- Fits both 1.25-inch and 2-inch receivers — works on almost any car or truck
- Tool-free install in minutes; folding carry arms drop away when not hauling bikes
- Tie-down cradles secure frames and wheels individually for rattle-free hauling
- Rugged powder-coated steel at a budget price — a decade of proven reliability
Cons
- No built-in lock — bikes and the rack itself need separate cable locks
- 35 lb per-bike limit rules out heavy e-bikes and fat bikes
- Hanging style can rub frame paint; frame pads recommended for carbon bikes
What the numbers say
The Yakima RidgeBack lists at $279.00 and the Allen Deluxe 522RR at $114.00 — Allen Deluxe 522RR is the cheaper of the two by $165.00. The Allen Deluxe 522RR carries the larger review base (2,880 ratings at 4.5★ vs 288 at 4.2★), which usually means the failure modes are better documented. Price and ratings are read from the TrailMapz catalog and refreshed on every deploy — check the product pages for today's numbers before you buy.
The verdict
Neither product wins outright — the trip decides. Pick the Yakima RidgeBack if this is your trip: You want to open the trunk or hatch with the rack mounted and will pay for the tilt-away lever and quicker strapping. Pick the Allen Deluxe 522RR instead if this is your trip: You haul two everyday bikes a handful of weekends a year and want the cheapest rack that fits either receiver with no tools. Read the two lists against the trip you are actually taking, not the one in the marketing photos, and the decision usually makes itself.
Shopping the whole category? best cycling gear guide put every pick in the category in context, and the side-by-side compare tool lets you put any two products in the catalog next to each other.
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