How do TMK bike carriers work?
TMK FLY is a unique, patented modular bike rack designed for absolutely anyone to use.
Its unmatched compact storage and effortless installation—without having to lift or handle 20–30 kg—make it the most user-friendly towbar-mounted bike rack on the market.
Use in 4 easy steps
#1 Attach the main body to the tow ball
Simply unlock the mechanism, slide it onto the tow ball, and push it firmly downward.
Once correctly fitted, the carrier body should sit at approximately a 5-degree upward angle. If the angle is steeper, remove the body and refit it, checking the installation again.
#2 Attach the first segment and first bike
Snap the first segment into the counterpart in the carrier body and secure the wheel. The grooved locking system prevents the segment from rotating unintentionally.See how to use the bike carrier correctly!
#3 Attach the second segment and second bike
The procedure is identical to the first segment. The only difference is that this segment includes the lights and electrical wiring.
#4 Fit the license plate, connect the plug, and go
Once both bikes are properly fixed, attach the license plate, plug in the 13-pin connector, and you're ready to drive.A strong spring presses against the license plate holder, so you don’t need to worry about stability.
You can also use our quick-release license plate holder for even greater convenience.
How about locking?
We include a sturdy 10 mm steel cable with rubber coating as basic protection. Perfect for quick stops – like when you grab a coffee at a gas station.
With this cable, you can lock both the carrier to the tow ball and the bikes to the carrier.
The ultimate protection against theft is simply putting the carrier in your trunk. That’s why we designed the TMK FLY to be extremely quick and easy to disassemble.
If you need to leave the bikes locked on the carrier for a longer time, we strongly recommend our premium 160 cm TMK FLY security cable. It is manufactured for us by the German company Tex-lock.
This high-end cable features a multi-layer steel-textile construction with a 24 mm diameter. It is highly resistant to saws, cutting tools, and fire.
DCan I still open the trunk with the bikes on the carrier?
All TMK FLY bike carriers are fully tiltable, so you can easily access your trunk even with the bikes mounted.
What if my car has deep-opening door? In this case, it depends on the width of your bike’s handlebars.
How do you remove the carrier from the tow ball?
You can completely disassemble the carrier in about 15 seconds and store it in your trunk. No more worrying about someone damaging or stealing your carrier while parked.
It’s so simple you can do it almost with one hand.
ALWAYS HOLD THE HANDLE DURING DISASSEMBLY!
User-friendlier license plate holder
From 2026, we offer our customers a significantly more user-friendly quick-release license plate holder.
Things to keep in mind for the best experience
#1 Tighten the quick-release clamps properly
Firmly tightening the quick-release levers is absolutely essential for the stability of the entire system. Make sure not to skip this step!
We often hear from customers that their bikes are wobbling slightly on the carrier. In almost every case, the simple fix is to tighten the quick-releases properly — and the problem is instantly solved!
#2 Mount the bike in the correct position
Positioning each bike correctly makes a big difference, especially with heavier e-bikes. The ideal attachment point for heavy e-bikes is roughly 10 cm (about 4 inches) above the motor, around the seat tube — exactly as shown in the first and second images.
Recommended mounting locations:
-
Lower frame tube – road bikes, touring/gravel bikes, MTBs, and e-bikes with narrow frames
-
Seat tube – e-bikes heavier than 20 kg
-
Top tube – lighter e-bikes (under 20 kg), road bikes, touring/gravel bikes, and MTBs
#3 Adjust the wheel cradles when needed
When mounting a heavy e-bike by the seat tube, it can sometimes tilt a little to one side.
To make it easier to center and secure the tire comfortably, simply slide the wheel cradles into the perfect position. The standard version requires two 10 mm wrenches (for the bolt and locking nut).
For quicker and more convenient adjustment, we recommend using our dedicated tyre holder adjustment set.
#4 Ease the bikes before folding the carrier
1) Before stepping on the pedal to fold the carrier down. Hold the handlebars of the first bike with one hand and the handlebars of the second bike with the other.
2) Gently push them slightly toward the car
3) Press the pedal and guide the bikes smoothly downward as you fold
4) When raising the carrier back up to the driving position, push upward until you hear a clear click — confirming that it has locked securely in place
FAQ about using TMK FLY
We’re currently preparing a dedicated loading ramp for the TMK FLY. The mold is in production right now, and we’ll add it to our range in April 2026.
No, they won’t. The quick-release clamps are simply a secondary safety lock — they work exactly like the quick-release clamp on your seat post. They only come into play if you hit a big obstacle at speed (such as a speed bump or railway crossing). In normal use, the system stays rock-solid.
No, they don’t rotate at all. The notched system inside the tube, combined with the welded counterpart in the central profile, makes rotation physically impossible.
Yes, absolutely. You can slide the tire holders into the perfect position either by using two 10 mm wrenches (for the bolt and locking nut) or — much more conveniently — with our easy-adjustment kit, which is available in the accessories section.
Grabbing the bike in the right spot is the key to perfect stability. The ideal attachment points are shown in the images and explained in detail in the “Pro Tips” section above.
It’s 100 % suitable for carbon frames. The holder uses soft rubber, so it’s gentle on even the most delicate frames — no reducer needed.
Yes, you can! We’ll simply send you two toothed straps joined together so you can securely fix the fatbike tire. Just get in touch and we’ll ship them right away.
Yes — simply bend the buckle slightly away from the tire when inserting the strap. The buckle is mounted on a sturdy plate, so there’s no risk of it breaking.
It depends on the frame size, shape, and tire width. The good news is you can try the carrier risk-free — you have 14 days to return it if the bike doesn’t fit perfectly after you receive it.
Yes! See the modification guide here to learn exactly what small adjustment is needed so you can transport both bikes and scooters on your TMK FLY.