The KTOP Bike Rack has two separate holders that ratchet-strap the bicycle's wheels, which are slid along an aluminum rail and then locked into place to match the bike's wheelbase. The bike's top tube is grasped by an adjustable-height holder on a separate parallel rail. By laying the bicycle horizontally, the bike's height is lowered by about three feet (0.9 m), making it less likely to hit garage doors and other obstacles.
Moreover, the bike's stability is enhanced while traveling rough roads or taking sharp corners as it does not sway back and forth as it would if mounted vertically. The wheel holders and their straps can be locked up with a key while leaving the bike unattended on the rack, and a cable lock can be pulled out of the wheel-holder rail and looped through the bike's frame.
The KTOP Bike Rack is designed to carry one bike at a time, but buyers can carry two bikes in a more traditional vertical orientation with a couple of fork-mount adapters. Additionally, the bicycle's handlebars have to be loosened off and turned sideways before mounting it on the rack, and the car-side pedal appears to be covered in some sort of padded sock to keep it from scratching the vehicle's roof.
The KTOP Bike Rack would be particularly useful for cycling enthusiasts who often transport their bikes using car-top bike racks and want to avoid the risk of accidents.
Sources: Kickstarter, KTOP
