I've had my eye on this rear rack ever since it was featured on BIKEPACKING.COM on June 26, 2026.
The "SKLAR BIKES Lightweight Rear Rack" has finally arrived at Circles, so I bought and installed it right away!
"SKLAR BIKES Lightweight Rear Rack"
I installed it on the SKLAR PBJ, which I ride almost every day.
Many of you probably know the PBJ, but it's a playful yet practical steel ATB made by SKLAR Bikes, a handmade bike brand from California, USA.
It's so versatile that you can enjoy everything from touring to trail riding, so with this one bike, you can pretty much do anything bike-related, right!?
As a loyal PBJ rider, there was no way I could pass up installing a rear rack from SKLAR BIKES.
Why I Installed the “SKLAR BIKES Lightweight Rear Rack”
The reason I wanted to install a rack in the first place was that I was planning to go on a camp ride the other day and wanted to attach an OUTER SHELL Dropper Seatpack, which I had stuffed full of clothes...
It wouldn't fit...
Unfortunately, at my seat height, which isn't very high, the rear tire and seat bag interfered with each other. I had no choice but to take the luggage out of the seat bag and pack almost everything into my backpack to ride, and the result was...
Soaking wet with sweat💦
By the time I got home, I was exhausted and my shoulders hurt, and because the sweat had nowhere to go, my back was constantly hot and I was burning through energy, so I knew I had to install a rack! As soon as the SKLAR BIKES Lightweight Rear Rack arrived at the store, I bought and installed it.
I Installed It Right Away!
The PBJ I ride is a size S, and this is what it looks like installed.
The bracket that connects to the seat stay dropout is surprisingly angled on the size S, so I'm currently considering using a SALSA CYCLES Rack Lock 35.0mm to secure it directly to the seat clamp before cutting the bracket, so that it looks nice and parallel to the ground when viewed from the side.
PBJ owners riding size M or L bikes should probably be able to install it relatively parallel.
The unit itself weighs about 640g, which is fairly light, so it's great that you don't really feel it getting heavier when it's attached.
Features of the “SKLAR BIKES Lightweight Rear Rack”
This is what it looks like when you actually attach luggage.
Even without panniers, you can mount it directly to the rear rack using a SIMWORKS Thunder Strap or SIMWORKS Thunder Rack Strap. It seems like you can easily attach a 1L Nalgene bottle, as well as a sleeping bag and sleeping mat.
The maximum load capacity is about 13.6kg, so you can't carry as much large luggage as you would with a typical touring rack,but you can smartly carry the necessary luggage while taking advantage of the bike's naturally agile ride quality.Its modern, understated design accommodates everything from bikepacking to carrying everyday items, and its highly flexible luggage mounting options are quite different from those of conventional large racks, which is part of its appeal.
Also, I removed it once for a photo shoot, and I felt that once you adjust the mounting position, it's easy to attach and remove in a short amount of time, which is another good thing about this rear rack. Because the PBJ can do anything, I often change the suspension fork or handlebars depending on how I want to ride it at the time, so being able to attach and remove it without hassle is definitely a great point.
Who is it recommended for?
Thanks to its lightweight design, I feel that the SKLAR BIKES Lightweight Rear Rack is a rear rack that can meet a variety of needs, such as those who prioritize agility even when carrying luggage, those who want to complete their bikepacking setup by using it alongside bikepacking, and those who want to enjoy everything from everyday riding to light touring.
Personally, I think the interesting thing about this rack isn't simply that it's "lightweight,"but that it doesn't make the entire bike "overly bulky" for carrying luggage.It's also a lifesaver for people like me who ride smaller frame sizes, and its slim-tube design is understated, satisfying the needs of those who want a rack but also want to keep the bike's silhouette as clean as possible.
It's a product that pairs perfectly with an off-road touring-oriented bike like the SKLAR PBJ, using frame bags and handlebar bags as the foundation and supplementing the remaining carrying capacity with this rack.
Rather than carrying a huge amount of luggage like a conventional touring bike, you thoughtfully pack what you need and ride light.
I think it's a rear rack I can recommend to anyone who resonates with that way of thinking.
※For frames other than SKLAR, you need to check the position of the rear rack mounting points and the clearance from the tires. In particular, the distance from the bottom of the rack mount to the top of the tire must not exceed 325mm. If you're not sure whether it will fit your frame, please feel free to contact us. (Bringing your bike in, if possible, is best!)
Various SKLAR BIKES Handlebars Are Also in Stock!
This time, along with the SKLAR BIKES Lightweight Rear Rack, new SKLAR BIKES handlebars, including the SKLAR BIKES Trail Bar, are also in stock.
With a 28mm rise, 7° back sweep, and 5° up sweep, it's a handlebar designed to be highly versatile for everything from trail riding to everyday use, while providing a natural riding position.It also weighs only 285g.
I'm planning to review this handlebar soon as well, so please look forward to it!
And the SKLAR BIKES PBJ Handle Bar, which had been out of stock for a long time, is also back in stock!
While the Trail Bar prioritizes MTB-like handling, the PBJ Handlebar focuses more on comfort during long rides.
If you're riding singletrack or actively controlling the bike on descents, go with the Trail Bar.
If you're riding long distances from paved roads to forest roads and want to reduce strain on your wrists, the PBJ Handlebar is the way to go, so I hope you can choose based on how and in what style you ride!
RIDEALIVE2026 is also just around the corner! Let's enjoy this season when it's so easy to ride!
See you next time!
