GripSport

What GripSport does

GripSport Pty Ltd is an Australian designer and manufacturer of bike racks, carriers, and trailers, founded in 1998 by Jon and Marian Weaving in Melbourne. The company operates from a purpose-built manufacturing facility in Campbellfield, Victoria (relocated and quadrupled in 2021), producing steel bike racks under proprietary technology including a vertical wheel-holding system using hoops and frame hooks that accommodates any bike frame type — including step-throughs, fat bikes, and e-bikes up to 30kg per bike. The product portfolio spans vehicle racks (GS-Adventure+, GS4+, GS-Urban+), the award-winning Versa vertical rack range, Van-Rack systems for caravans and campers, the Ability Series for adaptive cycling, custom bike trailers (6-24 bike configurations), and a full accessories line including conversion kits and loading ramps.

The business runs a hybrid direct-to-consumer and channel-partner model: sales are made via GripSport's Australian e-commerce site and Campbellfield showroom, augmented by 170+ Australian dealers and two New Zealand distributors (Drummond & Etheridge, Cycle-TraNZ). Pricing is one-time hardware sales in Australian dollars inclusive of GST, with Afterpay available on orders under $1,000. The Van-Rack, launched in 2015, has become the industry standard fitted by dozens of Australian caravan manufacturers, and the 2023 Versa range won the Australian Good Design Award in the Vehicle & Transport category.

GripSport is a privately held, bootstrapped company with no disclosed institutional investors or funding rounds. As of 2024 the company is operating under new management while the founders remain associated with the brand, and serves individual bike enthusiasts, caravan/RV owners, adaptive cyclists, and institutional buyers (schools, tour operators) across Australia and New Zealand.

Name

GripSport

Legal name

GripSport Pty Ltd

Website

https://gripsport.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GripSport Pty Ltd designs and manufactures bike racks, carriers, and trailers for vehicles, caravans, and adaptive cycling applications in Campbellfield, Australia. It sells through DTC e-commerce, a 170+ Australian dealer network, and two New Zealand distributors serving consumer and institutional customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bike Racks and Carriers

NAICS

Motorcycle, Bicycle, and Parts Manufacturing (336991)

SIC

Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714), Motorcycles, Bicycles & Parts (3751), Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013)

akta.pro primary industry

Bike Accessories Retail (Lights, Locks, Racks, Bags) (CRAMAHAD)

Keywords

• Vehicle bike racks
• Caravan bike racks
• Bike rack trailers
• Adaptive bike racks
• Cycling transport accessories

Headquarters

HQ city

Campbellfield

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Bike Rack Hardware Sales: One-time purchase of bike racks and carriers for vehicles, caravans, and trailers. Products include vehicle racks (GS-Adventure, GS4+, GS-Urban+), caravan racks (Van-Rack), adaptive bike racks, and bike trailers. Accessories include loading ramps, bike covers, hitch stabilisers, and mounting hardware.
2. Custom Bike Trailers: Custom-built bike rack trailers available in 6 to 24-bike configurations for schools, tour operators, and cycling groups. Pricing varies from $10,230 for 6-bike to $23,710 for 24-bike configurations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

GripSport designs, manufactures, and sells steel bike rack systems for cars, SUVs, 4WDs, caravans, camper trailers, and RVs, along with adaptive bike racks for riders with disabilities and custom bike rack trailers (6 to 24-bike configurations) for cycling groups, schools, and tour operators. Products include the GS-Adventure+, GS4+, GS-Urban+, GS-Trike+, Versa vertical rack, Van-Rack, and accessories such as loading ramps, conversion kits, and hitch stabilisers, all made at its Campbellfield, Victoria manufacturing facility.

Product overview

GripSport is an Australian manufacturer of bike racks and carriers offering a comprehensive portfolio of products. The core product lines include: (1) Vehicle bike racks for cars, SUVs, and 4WDs comprising the GS-Adventure+, GS4+, GS-Urban+, GS-Trike+, and GS-Quad+ ranges; (2) Versa vertical bike rack range including models 1.2, 1.4, 2.4 Fold, 2.2 Power, and 3.2 Power (the latter two being electric-powered); (3) Van-Rack systems for caravans and campers available in 1-4 bike configurations with tilting and non-tilting options; (4) Adaptive bike racks under the Ability Series including GS-Trike+ and Adaptive Hand Trike Rack for riders with disabilities; (5) Bike trailers including custom builds (6-24 bikes) and DIY rack kits; and (6) Comprehensive accessories and spare parts including loading ramps, hitch adapters, bike covers, and conversion kits. The company manufactures in Melbourne and serves both Australian and New Zealand markets through a dealer network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Versa Vertical Bike Rack Range Award-winning vertical bike rack series designed tough for Australian adventures, holding bikes by the wheels rather than by frame contact. Compatible with cars, SUVs, and 4WDs and accommodates road, MTB, e-bikes, fat bikes, and step-through frames. Includes electric-powered Power Rack variants.
• GS-Urban+ 2-Bike Tow Bar Rack

Quantifiable outcome

• Warranty: 5 years on most products, 2 years on trailers and custom systems
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Adaptive ConceptscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distributor of the Adaptive Hand Trike Rack, designed for riders with disabilities. GripSport collaborated with Mark & Bryce at Adaptive Concepts to develop this product. Distribution through melrosewheelchairs.com.au or contact at 0407 502 729.
• Australian Caravan ManufacturerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGripSport's Van-Rack is being fitted and/or recommended by dozens of Australia's top caravan and camper manufacturers, setting what is considered the 'industry standard' for caravan bike racks.
• Drummond & EtheridgeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew Zealand distributor based in Ashburton, 153 Moore Street, Ashburton 7700. Contact: 03 307 9557.
• Cycle-TraNZminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew Zealand distributor based in Hamilton, Waikato. RD2 Ohaupo, Hamilton, Waikato. Contact: 027 4555988.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Yakima: Yakima is a leading US-based bike rack and cargo carrier brand owned by a major outdoor products company. It offers tow-bar mounted racks comparable to GripSport's GS-Adventure+ and GS4+, and is a primary alternative for Australian consumers shopping for vehicle-mounted bike transport.
• Thule Group: Thule is the global market leader in bike racks, roof boxes, and active-lifestyle transport solutions, with extensive dealer distribution worldwide. It competes directly with GripSport in tow-bar mounted bike racks and represents the dominant premium brand that GripSport must differentiate against in the Australian market.

Regional players

• Reid Cycles: Reid Cycles is an Australian bicycle brand and retailer that sells bikes and related accessories across Australia and New Zealand. While primarily a bike brand rather than a rack manufacturer, it is a complementary Australian cycling peer with shared end-customers and channel overlap.
• Prorack (by Yakima/Whispbar): Prorack is the Australian and New Zealand distributor of Yakima/Whispbar roof and bike rack systems, with deep local retail penetration. It is the most direct incumbent distribution competitor to GripSport within the ANZ market for vehicle-mounted bike transport.

Direct peers

• Küat: Küat designs and manufactures premium tow-bar mounted bike racks (NV, Sherpa, Piston Pro X) for road, mountain, and e-bikes. It competes head-to-head with GripSport in the premium hitch rack category serving enthusiast cyclists.
• RockyMounts: RockyMounts designs and sells hitch-mounted and roof-mounted bike racks with a focus on versatility across bike types. Its MonoRail and BackStage product lines overlap directly with GripSport's modular tow-bar rack range.
• 1UP USA: 1UP USA makes premium, heavy-duty aluminum bike racks sold through enthusiast channels, often marketed for e-bike and mountain bike transport. Its position in the premium hitch rack segment overlaps directly with GripSport's GS4+ and GS-Urban+.
• Topeak: Topeak is an international bike accessories brand offering a wide range of racks, tools, and bags for cyclists, including tow-bar and trunk-mounted racks. It is a long-standing global competitor in the bike rack accessory category served by GripSport.
• Saris: Saris (owned by Saris Cycling Group) manufactures a wide range of bike racks, trainers, and indoor cycling equipment, including the MHS and SuperClamp hitch rack lines. It is a direct competitor in tow-bar mounted bike racks serving road, MTB, and e-bike customers.

Emerging players

• Spur Cycles: Spur Cycles is an emerging player in the adaptive and inclusive cycling accessories space, with product lines that overlap with GripSport's Ability Series. Both serve riders with disabilities through specialized bike transport solutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3bOao7ktz2C1muU88ezXCw
• Facebookfacebook.com/gripsport.real
• Instagraminstagram.com/gripsportbikeracks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gripsport

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GripSport