Piston SR vertical bike rack for Sandy Vans Starboard and Port racks, black tray with side arms, front view

Mountain bike hanging on the Piston SR vertical bike rack on the back of a Sandy Vans Sprinter

Piston SR vertical bike rack with arms extended and the tray lowered on a Sprinter rear door

Piston SR vertical bike rack folded flat against the rear door of a Sprinter next to the Port rack box

Rear view of a Sprinter with the Piston SR bike rack stowed vertically on the back door

Piston SR bike rack side view with its right strut raised and the tray retracted

Close-up of a Piston SR strut and tire hoop raised above the tray with a copper-colored accent

Detail of the Piston SR strut hinge and copper-colored Kashima-coated cylinder

Center hinge and mounting hardware of the Piston SR bike rack tray

Close-up of the Piston SR tray track with its central latch and locking mount

Underside detail of a Piston SR wheel tray with black powder coat and stainless screws

Rear three-quarter view of a gray Sprinter van in the desert with the Piston SR rack and bikes on the back

Gray Sprinter with side ladder, roof rack and the Piston SR vertical bike rack carrying bikes in the desert

Sprinter van in the desert with bikes loaded on the Piston SR vertical rack at the rear

Sprinter rear doors open with a Sandy Vans privacy curtain hung between them, bikes on the Piston SR rack

Mountain bike carried on the roof of a dark green wagon, illustrating bike hauling with the Piston SR

Sprinter with roof rack and chair, bikes loaded on the Piston SR vertical rack at an outdoor event

Kuat

Piston SR Van Bike Rack

Name: Piston SR Van Bike Rack
SKU: KUAT-PSR01B
Price: 598.0 USD

$598.00

Shop 5.0 Shop rating (174) on Google

Product variants

Pickup available at Sandy Vans HQ

Usually ready in 2-4 days

One bike, standing tall on the back of your van, ready for the trailhead.

The KUAT Piston SR is Kuat's all-metal, single-bike rack with OneTap hydro-pneumatic arms that grab the tires, never the frame. Kuat builds it as a roof rack. At Sandy Vans we also mount it vertically on our SV Port Rack and SV Starboard Rack, so your bike rides on the rear door, out of the way of everything else.

Kuat designs the Piston SR to be mounted horizontally and does not recommend vertical mounting. We've had good success running it vertically on our rear door racks with regular bikes, no e-bikes, and always with an extra ratchet strap.

Fits: SV Port Rack and SV Starboard Rack on the Mercedes Sprinter (vertical, our setup), or roof crossbars (horizontal, Kuat's setup). Not compatible: e-bikes when mounted vertically.

OneTap arms pop open with one tap and clamp the tires with no frame contact
FastFit wheel chocks adjust from 18 to 32 in wheels in seconds, tool-free
Integrated 10mm cable lock stows inside the rack
All-metal build with Kashima-coated struts and stainless hardware
Comes fully assembled from Kuat, backed by the Kuat No Worries Limited Warranty

Mounts to: SV Port Rack · SV Starboard Rack. Want bikes on the hitch instead? See the KUAT Piston Pro and Piston Pro X.

See it on your van. Add the Piston SR Van Bike Rack to your build in our 3D Van Builder and preview it on a real Sprinter before you buy.

Product Details

Why we carry the Piston SR

Hitch racks block the rear doors, and roof racks mean lifting a bike over your head on a high-roof Sprinter. We put the Piston SR on our rear door racks instead. The bike rides vertically on the door, swings with it, and leaves the hitch and roof free.

How we run it on the SV rear racks

Kuat builds the Piston SR to be mounted horizontally, and does not recommend vertical mounting. We've had good success running it vertically on the SV Port Rack and SV Starboard Rack with a few extra steps:

Regular bikes only. No e-bikes when it's mounted vertically.
An extra ratchet strap on every ride. Strap the bike into the rear rack's L-track or tie-down points. It takes load off the bottom arm when the bike bounces on rough roads and shuttle runs.
A safety stop bolt below the rack, so it can't slide down the rear rack if it ever loosens.

What makes it nice to live with

OneTap: press the levers and the tire arms open on their own. Set the bike in, push the arms down until they click, done.
FastFit: squeeze and slide the chocks to fit anything from 18 to 32 in wheels.
Built-in lock: the 10mm cable pulls out of the rack and locks back in.
Load handlebars up or down, whichever suits your bike.

Fitment & Compatibility

Fits: SV Port Rack or SV Starboard Rack on the Mercedes Sprinter (vertical, regular bikes only)

Not compatible with: E-bikes when mounted vertically; vertical mounting without an extra ratchet strap

Not sure your build qualifies? Reach out to our team.

Specifications

Brand	KUAT (Kuat Racks)
Model and SKU	Piston SR, PSR01B (Sandy Black)
Bike capacity	1 bike
Our mounting	Vertical on SV Port or Starboard Rack, regular bikes only, with an extra ratchet strap
Kuat's mounting	Horizontal on roof crossbars; Kuat does not recommend vertical mounting
Weight capacity	67 lb crossbar-mounted (Kuat rating); no e-bikes vertical
Wheel size	18 to 32 in
Max tire width	5 in (18 to 29 in wheels), 2.25 in (32 in wheels)
Max wheelbase	53 in (18 to 29 in wheels), 50 in (32 in wheels)
Crossbar fit	Round, square or aero; 25 to 51 in spread; up to 4.5 in wide
Lock	Integrated 10mm cable lock, 2 keys
Construction	All metal, Kashima-coated struts, stainless hardware
Finish	Sandy Black powder coat
Rack weight	22 lb (23 lb with mounts)
Shipping	26.8 lb, 62.4 x 9.8 x 6.2 in
Warranty	Kuat No Worries Limited Warranty

What's in the Box

KUAT Piston SR bike rack (fully assembled)
2 crossbar brackets
Crossbar mounting hardware and 4mm security hex key
2 keys
Keychain

Install Time30 min to 1 hour

DIY FriendlyYes, bolts to the SV rear rack

Drilling RequiredRecommended, one safety stop hole in the rear rack

On the SV Port or Starboard Rack, the Piston SR bolts into the rack's slots. Plan on about an hour, including the safety stop hole. Kuat's user guide covers the roof-crossbar install.

Our install on the SV rear racks

Measure where each bolt needs to sit on the rear rack, set the bolts, and hold each one in place with a small piece of painter's tape (don't press it on hard).
Mount the rack with the locking cable toward the top. The rack is directional. Upside down, it slides right out.
Thread on the washers and nuts loosely, pull the tape off downward, set your height, then tighten.
Drill one safety stop hole just below the rack and install a bolt there, so the rack can't slide down if it ever loosens.

Mistakes to avoid

Carrying an e-bike vertically. We don't run e-bikes on the Piston SR in the vertical position.
Skipping the ratchet strap. Strap every bike to the rear rack. Snug is enough; don't crank it tight.
Mounting it upside down. Locking cable goes to the top.
Skipping the safety stop bolt. It's a simple backstop if the rack ever loosens.

Questions? Reach out to our team at products@sandyvans.com or (619) 812-1903.

Tools You'll Need

9/16 in socket with ratchet, or a wrench
Measuring tape
Painter's tape
Thread locker (optional)
Drill for the safety stop hole
Ratchet strap for each ride

Download the install instructions (PDF)▶ Watch the install video

See all Sandy Vans install videos & manuals →

How to choose a bike rack for your Sprinter

1. Where do you want the bike to ride?

Roof, hitch or rear door. Each one gives up something: roof means lifting overhead, hitch blocks the rear doors, rear door works best for one or two bikes.

How to choose: If you want the hitch and roof free, go rear door. If you carry heavy e-bikes or more than two bikes, go hitch.

2. What kind of bike?

Weight matters most. E-bikes need a rack rated for the load and a mounting position the maker approves.

How to choose: Regular bikes work on the Piston SR on our rear racks. E-bikes belong on a hitch rack like the Piston Pro or Piston Pro X, rated to 67 lb per bike.

3. What wheel size and tire width?

How to choose: The Piston SR fits 18 to 32 in wheels, tires up to 5 in on 18 to 29 in wheels, and wheelbases up to 53 in.

4. Does it need to lock?

How to choose: Pick a rack with a built-in cable lock so the bike stays put when you're away from the van.

Before you order

SV Port or Starboard Rack on the van (or on the order)
Regular bike, not an e-bike, for vertical mounting
Ratchet strap for every ride
Wheel size between 18 and 32 in

How the Piston SR stacks up

Position: rides vertically on the SV Port Rack or SV Starboard Rack, keeping the hitch and roof free.
Bike type: regular bikes when vertical. E-bikes go on the Piston Pro or Piston Pro X.
Fit: 18 to 32 in wheels, no frame contact.
Security: integrated 10mm cable lock.

Can the Piston SR mount vertically on my van?

Kuat designs it to be mounted horizontally and does not recommend vertical mounting. We've had good success running it vertically on our SV Port and Starboard Racks with regular bikes, no e-bikes, and always with an extra ratchet strap.

Can I carry an e-bike on it?

Not vertically. We only run regular bikes on the Piston SR on our rear racks. For e-bikes, use a hitch rack like the KUAT Piston Pro or Piston Pro X, rated to 67 lb per bike.

Which SV racks does it fit?

The SV Port Rack and SV Starboard Rack on the Mercedes Sprinter. It bolts into the rack's slots with the locking cable at the top.

Why do you recommend a ratchet strap?

On rough roads the bike bounces, and that load all sits on the bottom arm. A snug ratchet strap from the bike to the rear rack takes that load off and keeps the bike pulled into the rack.

Do I need to drill anything?

We recommend one safety stop hole just below the rack with a bolt in it. If the rack ever loosens, it stops on that bolt instead of sliding down the rear rack.

What size bikes fit?

Wheels from 18 to 32 in, tires up to 5 in wide on 18 to 29 in wheels, and wheelbases up to 53 in. The FastFit chocks adjust without tools.

Does it lock?

Yes. A 10mm cable lock stores inside the rack. Pull it out, run it through the bike, and lock it back in.

Can I put it on my roof instead?

Yes. That's how Kuat designs it. It mounts to round, square and aero crossbars spaced 25 to 51 in apart, and Kuat rates it to 67 lb on the roof.

Do you install products for customers?

Yes. Many SV products can be professionally installed at our San Diego shop. Reach out to our team to schedule. Email products@sandyvans.com or call 619-812-1903.

What is your shipping and return policy?

Most SV products ship free. For returns, see our Returns & Refunds policy or reach out to our team at products@sandyvans.com.

Can I reach a real person with questions?

Always. We are a small team in San Diego. Email products@sandyvans.com or call 619-812-1903 and you'll get a real answer, not a chatbot.

Where are you located?

9393 Trade Pl, San Diego, CA. Come visit the shop, we'd love to show you around.

Does Sandy Vans offer financing?

Yes. Many financing options are available. Set up a call with a sales associate to learn more.

Still have a question? Email the team and you'll get a real answer.