FROM GARAGE BUILT TO TRAILHEAD STANDARD

The best ideas are born from necessity. And the original Recon rack was no different. 

Born in a garage in Blaine, Washington, fabricator and rider Cody Fuks built the first one for himself, using a vertical design inspired by transit bike racks but engineered for the abuse of mountain roads. Fully welded steel, overbuilt for strength, and holding bikes by the wheels only. It solved the problems he and many other PNW riders faced when hauling multiple bikes up the tight dirt roads around their hometown playgrounds. They needed a tough, durable rack that was quick to load/unload and didn’t put unnecessary wear-and-tear on their frames and forks.

Word spread fast in the Pacific Northwest riding scene. Trail crews, shuttle vans, and mountain bike families noticed these stout, vertical racks showing up at trailheads. They loaded quick, held steady, and didn’t flinch at the sight of rough two-track roads.

One of the first customers was Brandon Weekley, another local rider in search of a better way to haul bikes up and down burly Washington roads. He loved the design and inlisted his friends to push Cody into business, even stashing cash deposits in his glove box while he was out riding. For years, Recon racks were handmade in small batches and sold faster than they could build them.

By 2019, Recon’s reputation had grown far beyond Washington. When the chance came to bring it into the 1UP lineup, we knew it was the perfect fit. The design matched our values: American-made, rider-focused, built to last.

We kept building the welded steel racks, but we were also working behind the scenes on a complete redesign, something that kept the soul of the original but added the serviceability and modularity 1UP is known for.

The new Recon Rack keeps its vertical layout and wheel-only contact but upgrades everything else:

• Bolt-together aluminum + steel construction for lighter weight and full serviceability

• Symmetrical wheel baskets that fit 20” wheels (with kids basket) to 29” wheels, up to 5” wide tires

• Wedge-style anti-wobble hitch for rock-solid stability

• Refined tilt system for easy access, even fully loaded

• 4-, 5-, and 6-bike options so you get exactly the capacity you need

• APS Side Panel compatibility for tools, jerry cans, and more

The redesigned Recon is lighter, easier to own, and built for decades of use. Every part can be replaced so you can keep it running like new for years to come. And it’s still ready for the same punishing conditions that earned Recon its reputation in the first place.

From Cody’s first weld in Blaine to the all-new lighter, bolt-together design, Recon has always been about one thing: getting you, your crew, and your bikes to the ride without compromise.

Explore the full lineup and dial in a setup for your crew.