A review of the Burley Bee child trailer

In 1978, Alan Scholz started a business called Burley Bike Bags. Mr Scholz built a strong, durable, safe trailer to transport his young daughter and the Burley bags to the market where he sold his wares. Interest grew in his trailer and people were soon asking for one. In time, the name "Burley" became synonymous with bicycle trailers.

The Burley Bee trailer

The Bee trailer is marketed as a trailer for families on a budget who do not wish to sacrifice quality or safety. The trailer itself offers less features than some of the other models Burley make, suspension being one of them, but the tyres are air inflated and a hammock styled seat offers comfort to the child passengers. Size wise, this trailer can fit two children, but the harnesses do sit close together, so some children may be rubbing shoulders for the entire ride. The trailer can carry up to 100 lbs (45 kg) and the shell is designed so that the passengers can wear helmets in comfort a feature known as a helmet pocket. A few more features of the cockpit include an interior water bottle holder as well as a pocket for books or whatever the children decide to bring along, and a rear opening for easier access to the cargo. UV protected windows offer shelter from the sun and should the passengers feel too hot, the front window folds back leaving a mesh net or 'bug screen' allowing fresh into the trailer. When the wet weather comes, they are as equally well protected, as the shell is made form a zipless water proof material. The wheels have 'Wheel guards' which protect the trailer from damage after inevitably taking hits while navigating through obstacles. A bright flag comes as standard to alert car drivers or the public, should they neglect to notice the trailer. It also has a parking brake to prevent movement when getting in and out. Storage is a big issue for busy parents and Burley have addressed this by offering features such as ‘push button removable’ 20″ wheels and the ability to fold the entire trailer into a 12″ by 30″ by 35″ square. Assembly and disassembly take under three minutes. This Burley bike trailer comes with just one hitch, so if it is going to be used on more than one bicycle, it is advised to buy a second one.

Burley Bee specifications

-Suspended fabric seat. -Adjustable tow arm to suit different bike heights and angles. -Two 'five point' safety harnesses. -The weight of the trailer alone is 18.5 lb or 8.4 kg. -All Burley child trailers meet or exceed the ASTM F 1975-09 standards for bicycle child trailers.