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I never thought I would spend $750 on a bike trailer, but the safety and versatility of Burley's high-end buggy make me glad I didhttps://www.businessinsider.in/insider-picks/news/i-never-thought-i-would-spend-750-on-a-bike-trailer-but-the-safety-and-versatility-of-burleyaposs-high-end-buggy-make-me-glad-i-did/slidelist/84707175.cms2021-07-24T18:05:43+05:30

I never thought I would spend $750 on a bike trailer, but the safety and versatility of Burley's high-end buggy make me glad I did

Dominick ReuterJul 24, 2021, 18:05 IST

My wife and I have a 9-month-old daughter. She's still too small for bike rides, so I borrowed her teddy bear for this test ride of the Burley D'Lite X.

The D'Lite X looks like a normal bike trailer.

The first advantage is the trailer easily converts to a stroller by lowering the front wheel and retracting the tow bar.

But if you don't like the bar, you can quickly change it out using the optional stroller wheel accessory. There's also an attachment for a jogger wheel. All attachments are sold separately.

A large, sturdy clip secures attachments in place...

... and a safety pin adds additional security.

In trailer mode, the push bar serves as additional rollover protection.

The roll bar easily flips to become a push bar, and the height is quickly adjustable for short or tall people.

My wife and I are both tall, so the higher handle practically sold us on this trailer as an alternative to the normal stroller that causes us to hunch over when walking.

We use the stroller every day for walks around the neighborhood, and our daughter loves the comfortably padded seat.

There are mesh pockets on both sides for snacks, toys, or bottles.

The rubber floor mat is removable for easily cleaning out Cheerios and Goldfish.

The bench seat is firm but padded - far more supportive than the saggy seat I recall riding around in when I was a kid. The seat can also be removed to turn the D'Lite X into a cargo trailer.

The front panel folds away for easier entry (when the child is able to climb in on their own).

The wheels are easily removed with the push of a button, and can be swapped out for more rugged ones or outfitted with skis for wintertime.

The D'Lite X features shocks, which you can adjust depending on the terrain or the weight of the passenger or cargo.

The shocks make for an incredibly smooth ride, and the hub-brake mechanism fully locks up the wheels.

The hub brake is easily engaged by sliding the foot lever at the back.

A clear rain cover zips over the mesh windows on both the front and back of the passenger area...

... and a sun shade pulls down for the passenger.

The seat is reclinable with a button accessed through the rear compartment.

The seat leans back pretty far, and on two-seater models they are independently adjustable.

The interior is spacious with tinted side windows.

The trailer quickly folds down by releasing two catches above the seat...

... then pushing the seat forward.

The whole thing folds relatively flat...

... especially when the wheels are removed.

The rear compartment easily fits several grocery bags, though it can get a little unbalanced with heavier loads.

The tow bar connects with a bracket that stays attached to your bike. If your bike uses a through-axle, you'll need a special one to connect the bracket.

The tow bar is connected to the bracket with a pin...

... and the stroller wheel folds out of the way.

As always, there are backups - for this model, a safety tether in case the hitch comes loose while riding.

The first thing I noticed was how smooth and quiet the ride was.

The single-seat trailer isn't exactly centered, but I realized that allows me to hug the right shoulder more closely without worrying about clipping the curb.

A visibility flag is included, and there are several spots to attach safety lights on the back.

I was surprised by the trailer's light weight and maneuverability on pavement...

... and off.

The shocks really smoothed out the bumps...

... and making a tight turn was no problem.

The hitch is flexible enough to just lay the bike down when you need to take a break.

Considering the fact that some high-end strollers easily top the price of the Burley D'Lite X, I think having something this versatile is actually a pretty good deal.

I'm looking forward to many long rides with my daughter - I just have to wait until she grows into her helmet.

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