Gladiator GarageWorks GACUXXCAVK Claw Advanced Bike Storage, v1.0, Aluminum
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Gladiator GarageWorks GACUXXCAVK Claw Advanced Bike Storage, v1.0, Aluminum
Customer Review: A Better Bike Hook.
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This is a great device. It mounts on the ceiling of your garage (or bachelor pad) and holds a bike suspended. Sounds pretty simple, and of course there are plenty of bike hooks on the market already. But this hook is different. Instead of having to maneuver your bike over the hook and catch it in the right spot, you just push the wheel and the hook does the rest. It's great. Plus it looks really cool. It is solidly built and I imagine this device will be in operation for many years without fail.
Sure, it's more expensive than a standard hook, but - if you've invested hundreds or even thousands of dollar into your bicycle, $50 isn't going to break the bank. I recommend the Gladiator GarageWorks claw.
Customer Review: A New Hook on, well, a Hook
Summary: 3 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I remember seeing this on the defunct TV show American Inventor. On the show, the college student inventors had a hard time getting the mechanism to open and close properly. This GarageWorks version has taken care of that. The mechanism works with a soft touch, no problems opening and closing as required. I remember the inventors saying the reason they needed this product was because it was so hard to hang their bikes in their apartments. But even though it looks pretty cool, the end functionality is not much different than a plain old hook. The only thing the Claw does is eliminate the need to move the bike a few inches forward and back when you take it off and on a plain hook. The Claw is really just a moveable hook that swings in and out of position when you hit the big button on the top. The wheel of the bike actually rests on just one hook. Yes, it's nicely padded, but my rubber coated hook doesn't scratch, either. And it does form a closed loop, but I think gravity does a pretty good job keeping the bike in place when on a big hook. To be honest, I think this is a solution in search of a problem.
It should have been easy to install except for the incomprehensible positioning of 2 screw holes aligned with the hooks. You cannot position a screw driver or drill to screw the screws in straight. The only way to do it is to angle the screws, but the instructions do not say that. I ruined 4 screws before I got it right. While it has 4 holes and only requires 2 screws, the base was too wide for my ceiling beam and I had to use the inconvenient screw holes. All they need to do is move the screw holes to get a straight shot.
So, in the end, this is a fancy hook that works fine and looks cool on your garage ceiling. If you have $60 and a need for your garage to look cool, this is the bike hook for you.
Follow up note: I have been using this for my bike for a while now. It does make it * a bit* easier to hang your bike, however, I also found I have to make sure to lift directly up to hit the button because anyplace on either side of the wheel spins the wheel off the button and you have to try again. I suppose a better button design could fix this.
Follow up follow up note: I accidentally hit the open hook the wrong way a couple of times now, and it closed without my wheel in it. I had to put the bike down and find a stick or something to open it up again. A real pain.
Customer Review: A Perfect Meld of Form and Function
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
The Gladiator GarageWorks Claw is an ingenious contraption that will, without question, help you hang up or take down a bike with much more ease than a plain ol' J hook. Here's how it works better than a J hook:
(Note: The picture in the product page shows its claws in the closed position, which is the position the device is in when a bike is hung from it.)
To hang up a bike (assume the claws are open):
Bring the bike wheel straight up towards the "button" (the component directly above the claws) to depress it. This will trigger the mechanism for closing and securing the claws around the rim of the wheel. Simply let your bike back down and you're done. The rim comes in contact only with the rubberized part of the claws so it is protected from damage.
To take down a bike:
Bring the bike wheel straight up towards the "button" to depress it. This will trigger the mechanism for bringing the claws wide open. Now, you're free to let your bike down. The claws will stay open, ready for the next time you hang the bike up.
You see, all the movements that are necessary to either hang up or take down a bike is up, then down - simple as that. There's even no need to "aim" the wheel so the claw clasps between the spokes. There's a gap between the claws to allow for a spoke being sandwiched between the claws.
Aesthetically, the Gladiator Claw looks every bit as cool as it does in the picture on the product page. The rubber on the claws and button are more of a bright orange. The aluminum has a shiny, not brushed, finish. With its orange color and relatively large size (especially when the claws are open), it will look conspicuous in any room. The Gladiator Claw looks like a sturdy and sophisticated piece of equipment and will make a handsome addition to a garage or any other room.
The only downside I can come up with is the price. If you can afford to get it, by all means get it - I'm sure you'll be very pleased with it.
Customer Review: A fancy hook...but still a hook
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I have to admit it. I think that this thing is cool. Granted, I'm an engineer and like mechanical gadgets, but the Claw is pretty neat. It is very lightweight, and the mechanism that changes the claw from closed to open and locks it in place is simple. It looks nice, and it does what it is supposed to do - hold a bike in place when suspended from above.
So, I'll give it four stars for that. Now, here's the reality that has already been written about on here. One thing that I like about the Claw is that it is simple. However, it is not as simple as it could be. Namely, an inexpensive rubberized hook that you can buy at just about any hardware store. People have used those for years, and it's for a reason. They also do exactly what you'd want to do - hold a bike in place when suspended from above.
The Claw uses a lot of plastic parts, and it's activated by having someone push a bike tire against it. If you're considering buying this because it's difficult for you to hold the bike up high and get it on a hook, then it's more likely that you'll probably be banging against the Claw's activator pad with the wheel because you'll be in a hurry to get the weight of the bike suspended. I have doubts about how well these plastic parts will hold up under repeated use.
So, the hardware hooks are cheaper, simpler, and (I believe) more robust - so from a practical standpoint, they win in my book. That said, if you don't mind spending the extra money for the Claw, want something a little more flashy than a regular hook, like gadgets, and are okay with the thought of maybe having to replace it after a couple of years - then it should fit the bill for you.
Customer Review: A great - OVERPRICED - bike hook
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This is crazy... a $60 bike hook.
On the other hand, it's totally worth it. The ease of getting a bike hooked up to the ceiling has just become so simple with this hook. It has created space in our garage and I'm ready to get 4 more to get our bikes up and out of the way during the winter months. In Colorado we really do have about 300 sunny days (chilly in the winter) but we still ride our bikes if the weather is permitting and this makes it worth putting the bikes up and down to use them only when needed.
The first few times was difficult since our garage ceilings are higher than a standard garage but my husband has had little difficulty since he's much taller than me.