InStep Quick N Lite Bike Trailer (Red/Gold/Grey)
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List Price: Category: Sports See more product details |
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Description of InStep Quick N Lite Bike Trailer (Red/Gold/Grey)
InSTEP Quick N Lite Bike Trailer and Stroller The InSTEP Quick N Lite Bike Trailer and Stroller is great for active parents. The light design of the baby bike trailer is perfect because it doesn't require much effort for mom or dad to take it on vacations. The easy fold of the InSTEP bike trailer also allows it to work on vacations. Not only does the light weight allow for easy transportation, but it also works as a stroller. It is the perfect baby bike trailer for vacation. InSTEP makes tInStep's Quick N Lite bike trailer offers a comfortable and safe ride for children while tagging along on family bike rides. The trailer features a lightweight aluminum frame, 16-inch alloy wheels with a quick-release design, and also folds flat for easy transport and storage. This trailer attaches quickly and easily to most bikes and it also quickly converts to a stroller. A built-in weather shield provides extra protection from the elements and will keep your child dry from the rain and out of the direct sunlight. The Quick N Light will support two children and up to 100 pounds.
 The Quick N Lite trailer can hold two children and up to 100 pounds. |
- Maximum Weight Limit: 100 pounds
- Folded Dimensions: 31.5 x 30 x 16 inches
- Assembled Dimensions: 55 x 32 x 33 inches
- Assembled Weight: 24 pounds
Key Features:
- Sling seat with five-point safety harness
- Easy conversion to stroller in just minutes
- Lightweight aluminum frame is easy to tow and to transport
- 16" quick-release wheels are ideal for paved roads and sidewalks
- Assembles in minutes without tools
- Rugged canopy and base are stylish and water resistant
- Canopy offers transparent, drop-down weather shield for light rain protection
- Seats two children
- Folds flat for convenient transport and storage
- Universal coupler attaches to bikes quickly and easily
- Roomy storage area behind child seat holds baby gear or a picnic lunch
Sports reviews of InStep Quick N Lite Bike Trailer (Red/Gold/Grey)
Customer Review: great item
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
We love this. It's the lightest one we've found out there. It's easy to attach/detach, and does its job.Customer Review: Just Right
Sport shop rating: 4 Stars
I researched this purchase alot and I found the reviews to be helpful so I will add my insights.
I have many years of biking experience and am a former bike mechanic. I would have recomended this trailer to my old customers.
The trailer is well made. The welds are very good and the canopy fits tightly. You do need to adjust some straps to get it to fit spot-on but that's to be expected.
This trailer is light and easy to fold up and store as well as unfold and get ready. The process to go from folded to ready to roll is about 4 minutes. The trailer is self explanitory so you don't need to haul the directions around to get it set up.
The bike hook up is easy, however you need to balance the bike upright to do the hook up. Not a big deal and once the coupling is complete you can lay the bike down.
I have two kids who will use the trailer. They are a tight fit inside as I expected. They are comfortable; they have good leg room and a spot for each of them to have cups etc. There is ample room behind them for storage too. The saftey straps are a real bugger. They are not a fastex buckle as you would expect. They are a snap-hook and a "D" ring hook for the shoulder straps. This is ok going on and a pain getting off. Not horrid but really annoying.
The trailer tracks the bike very well. It does change the geometry of the bike though; so it will take some getting used to. The added weight really is a good workout. I have kept the speed down. I don't want to really be moving and need to do a quick manuver with it. You do need to be careful about clearance though. Keep in mind your footprint is three times larger than without the trailer.
I have been sticking to pavement for now. I want to get my daughters comfortable with it before I go to dirt roads. I will have to do some adjusting of the tire pressure for off road so they don't bounce to death.
Over all for the price you are getting more than your moneys worth. I will add to this review if I have an issue down the road.
Update 7/18/07. We have around 200 miles on the trailer. So far there have been two issues. The first is with the front wheel you use when using the trailer as a stroller. My wife used it twice and noticed one of the wheels was tilted.-The amazon picture shows one front wheel, there are actually two side-by-side- It ended up being more than tilted the axle was bent badly. I called InStep and they shipped a replacment out very quickly. I would really caution you not to load this up and use it as a stroller...the front wheel just can't handle it.
The second issue is a trivial one yet it is an area that a design change could be made. The floor of the trailer is fabric. When rolling your child needs to keep their feet on the front frame bar. If they do not they can push the fabric down so it rubs along the ground. My daughter did this for a short trip and one area is now very worn. It would not take long to get a hole. A plastic tray or a rub pad on the bottom could solve this. So far asking them to keep their feet on the bar has sufficed....just keep it in mind.
I would rate this as my best buy of the year and one I wish I done three years ago. I'll update this again if an issue crops up.
Customer Review: Exactly what we wanted!
Sport shop rating: 4 Stars
I did a lot of research before buying a bike trailer, and I am very happy with my purchase. I have two very active children, ages 3 and 1, who ride in this together. There is plenty of room for both of them, including ample leg room, a place to put their cups, and additional storage behind them if needed. The assembly was very straight-forward and simple (even for someone like me, who is NOT so mechanically inclined). It is quite simple and easy to attach and remove it from my bike, either when it is empty or with the kids inside it. The quality is perfect for our purpose, which is biking on streets and towpaths, and it is very sturdy. The trailer rides so smoothly and quietly that I hardly know it is there behind me except when I am starting off or going uphill, and even then it is much less drag for me than I expected. It folds down for storage quite handily.
My only complaint is that the seat belts are a little bit difficult to get open, but once you get the knack of the clips it's a bit easier. (Besides, if they were too easy to open the kids would be able to do it, which is the last thing you want.) Also, my one-year-old was a bit uncomfortable when I got the straps secure enough so that he couldn't wriggle out of them or slump over - but the solution was to put a pillow or folded blanket under his feet, and now he is so comfortable in there that he often falls asleep.
Overall this was a great purchase for us. We needed something comfortable and of decent quality that was easy to use, and that's exactly what we got. And the best recommendation is from the kids - every time we ask them if they want to go for a bike ride, the answer is a resounding "yes!" We can't ask for better than that!
Customer Review: Works as a dog trailer, and a grocery hauler too!
Sport shop rating: 4 Stars
I bought this trailer to tote around my dog, who is about 40 lbs. It was by far cheaper than the Burleys I saw elsewhere, but a side-by-side comparison with a coworker's didn't reveal any obvious differences that would account for the prices.
To make it work for my pooch, I had to add a floor (corrugated plastic) with a cushion, held on by zip ties to the frame. I just connect the leash to one of the straps inside to keep him from running off, but that hasn't been an issue because he loves riding in it. And everyone we pass gets a kick out of seeing him in there!
The trailer folds up very compactly. It fits into a compact car trunk well. I ended up using the little attachment strap for the stroller to hold the whole thing closed when folded up, since if you don't carry it right it can unfold on you.
The best part about the trailer is that it has tons of room in the back for stuff. I use it around town to carry groceries and things. You wouldn't believe how much you can tote in this thing, and you hardly notice it.
One issue, and the reason I took off a star: the mounting hardware did not fit on my bicycle since my bike (a Giant OCR1, 2005ish) had a very narrow area near the dropout. This is pretty unusual--my bike is more of a sports/low-end racing bike, not a neighborhood commuter. I contacted InStep about this and never heard back from them. So what I did was to make a little adapter block out of aluminum and buy a Bob tandem skewer from REI. Not a problem for me, since I'm a mechanical engineer with access to a machine shop, but it might be a deal-killer for other people.
Customer Review: Mark C
Sport shop rating: 4 Stars
We really like this trailer! Assembly was straight-forward, it opens up and folds down quickly, and our son seems to enjoy cruising around in it. I was a little skeptical when I ordered it, but it has turned out to fit our needs well.
The pros: economical, opening up and attaching to my bike or breaking it down takes about 3 minutes (I store mine folded down), our son loves it (he climbs aboard before I'm even finished setting it up and attaching it to my bike), its light weight (if you're in decent shape, you won't notice it behind you much on hills; I'm definitely not the model of athleticism), and plenty of storage space for all of the "toddler logistical support" when heading to the park or beach.
Some cons: I have to use a rubber mallet if I want to get the wheels on and off, its soft-bottomed so you really only get about 3-4 inches of clearance between your child's feet and the ground, there isn't any padding on the restraint straps, and if you're riding around noon, your child is sitting in full sun (it would be nice if there was a canvas flap up there to provide shade).
If you plan on using your trailer riding fire-break trails or any other off-road trail riding, do your kid a favor and get one of the high end models like Chariot of Burley. This trailer doesn't have the clearance, suspension, or restraint system for off-road use. If you're mainly using it on paved surfaces, it's a great option to the $500 + models out there.