CoPilot Limo Bicycle Child Seat
July 8, 2009 by Bicycle Seats
Filed under Bike Saddle Brands, Child Seats, CoPilot, Hers, His, Kids, and Baby Seats, Reviews
CoPilot Limo Bicycle Child Seat
3-point harness for outstanding security and fit. Adjustable footwell for increased comfort and the safety bar keeps the child securely in place. Quick release mechanism mounts frimly to the Blackburn EX-1+ rack which is included. Meets the ASTM standards.
User Ratings and Reviews
3 Stars Good seat, bad installation manual
I just installed this seat today and took my 3 year old out for a short test ride before it started raining. While I don’t have experience with day-to-day usage yet, I would like to comment on the instruction manual for those parents considering this product and hopefully the manufacturer will read this, too. In short, the manual is unclear from step 1 onwards. There’s no explanation of what a “seat stay” or a “braze-on” are, so if you’re unfamiliar with these terms, you may have difficulty with installing this seat. More and bigger illustrations would be appreciated. It took me about 2 hours, mainly because I had to take the rear wheel of the bike off because there’s not enough room between the smallest cog and the inside of the dropout. The manual also mentions a CG (Center of Gravity) hash mark that’s supposed to help with alignment, but I couldn’t find it.
One side note: I almost bought this seat from craigslist. “Almost” because the seller was honest enough to tell me that she doesn’t have the installation manual anymore, and warned me about the installation difficulty.
I went to various bicycle shops to check out 3 different child seats (Limo, Taxi and one whose name I don’t remember) and like this the most. Despite the comment above, which is just a one-time hassle, I still think this is among the best seat on the market. Time should tell whether it’s worth the price. I also considered the iBert Safe-T Front Mounted Child Bicycle Seat, which I couldn’t find in any local bike shop. One salesperson told me they don’t carry that product because they feel front mounted seats are just not safe for children. Most accidents are head-on collision and children are better protected when they sit behind an adult.
5 Stars copilot limo bike seat
I love this bike seat. The seat reclines so my son does not have to sit up so straight. I like that the seat has foot rests so he has a place to rest his feet, and has strap to tie his feet so he is not kicking me in the back. The armrest for him is also a nice feature. I did not have any problems with it going over his head even with his bike helmet on.
5 Stars satisfy
i got it for over 6 months now and it works fine. i had no problems so far with it. installation was easy. i would recommend it.
4 Stars Excellent product; only issue is shoddy screws
I was given a bike seat as a hand-me-down (another brand..). Didn’t like it due to safety reasons so I decided to research online the best child seat while also minding price as much as possible. I narrowed it down to this one seat.
PROS:
1. Very sturdy – seat mounts to a free mounting rack that is supplied. It fastens securely to the mount and is also tethered to the bicycle seat bar as well. Very smart idea.
2. Secures infant very well – your child is secured down by the ribbon that goes over their chest as well as the horizontal bar that further secures them in the seat. There are even velcro ties if you want to tie down their feet if need be.
3. Free bike rack!
4. Interior of seat is very well cushioned for easy riding for your child.
5. Literally seconds to remove the seat. Don’t be concerned it requires a few steps to accomplish this.
6. The seat is quite high – so as to keep your child safe while riding.
7. Middle of the road price.
CONS:
1. Shoddy supplied screws. They easily will strip if you are not careful. I actually discarded mine and used some other ones that I had that worked (same thread and length).
2. Instruction manual leaves a lot to be desired.
IN SUMMARY:
If you are looking for a seat that is safe and secure, not too costly and is great looking then I highly recommend this child bicycle seat.
Bell Cocoon Rack Mounted Bicycle Child Carrier
July 8, 2009 by Bicycle Seats
Filed under Baby Seats, Bell, Bike Saddle Brands, Child Seats, Hers, His, Kids, and Baby Seats, Reviews
Bell Cocoon Rack Mounted Bicycle Child Carrier
Take along your child on a biking adventure using Bell’s protective and comfortable rack-mounted child carrier. The Cocoon will carry your 40-pound-or-less child in safety, comfort and style, as it features a thick seat pad, high back for added protection, a five-point harness, molded spoke guard, and adjustable foot rests (which also allows the seat to grow with your child). Easy to attach to most 26- and 27-inch bikes (without rear suspension), this carrier can also be removed easily for solo rides. A rear reflector is included.
About Bell
More world champions have worn Bell Helmets than all other helmet brands combined. From Grand Prix racing through the Indy 500 to Olympic cycling, Bell helmets have played a vital role in protecting sportsmen and women for nearly 50 years. Bell began as a small auto parts store in a suburb of Los Angeles. Growing under the leadership of Roy Richter, Bell became a leader in safety equipment for auto racing, motorcycling, and then bicycling. His commitment to creating great product through a close connection with the sport, along with his trust of and care for the people who worked for him, turned Bell from a one-man operation into a multi-million dollar enterprise. His legacy lives on today in Bell’s commitment to racing, quality and innovation.
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars Bell Cocoon Fits Electra Townie
This seat will fit the Electra Townie. It took a little coaxing but I installed the seat in about an hour and it looks great on the bike. The bike was expensive and I didn’t want to bugger the nice paint job up, but the protective plastic frame guards that are included seem to protect the paint. My local bike shops said that no seat would fit the Electra Townie, even seats costing more than twice the price of this one. I wasn’t giving up until I had at least tried to install one myself and I’m glad I did. The plastic seat is a little flexible but the rack it’s mounted on is very secure. The three bolts that secure the seat onto the rack seem sufficient. There is a teather strap for peace of mind. If your being told the only option for your expensive Townie is a trailer, this is your choice. Check out my customer photo.
5 Stars BELL COCOON CHILD CARRIER
INSTALLATION TOOK LONGER THAN EXPECTED BUT ONLY BECAUSE THIS CARRIER IS REALLY ATTACHED TO THE BIKE WELL AND WON’T FALL OFF IF INSTALLED RIGHT! 18 MONTH OLD REALLY LIKED HIS FIRST RIDE. BE WATCHFUL THOUGH, WHEN HE FELL ASLEEP AND HIS HEAD WENT DOWN, THE HELMET STRAP SEEMED TO BE TIGHT ON HIS THROAT-COULD BE CHOKING HIM. CARRIER IS A GOOD VALUE- WE ARE HAPPY
5 Stars Nice seat, sturdy, lightweight, and does not act as a sail
My daughter is one year old and she loves this seat. When fitted properly and the lockbolts tightened all the way, the mounting frame is rock solid. The seat itself is made of a sturdy but slightly flexible plastic which I have no concerns about. When the seat is fastened correctly on to the mounting frame, by screwing down the fasteners all the way until you hear the locks clicking, the whole thing then becomes a very sturdy and safe child carrier. I cycle to work daily and take my daughter out for rides on the weekends and evenings, and I have not had any problems from frequently removing and re-fastening the seat.
This seat is great value. I originally bought it because it seemed to be lighter weight than some of the others and also because I thought it would not act like a “sail”. My daughter only weighs 23lbs at the moment, and I can see how it might seem a little wobbly with a child at the higher end of the weight recommendation. However, when the seat is fastened on correctly it will not fall off. Those with different experiences are doing it wrong!
4 Stars Solid body, cumbersome mounting
The chair comes with a heavy and cumbersome mount that must replace your back rack. Well, turns out, it does not fit a fairly regular mountain bike with hydroform alluminum alloy tubes – the brackets that are supposed to clamp around rear triangle legs are too small and narrow. They can only fit a steel or street bike, which are not as common today. Wish they’d come up with a seat that can mount onto a regular rear rack.
iBert Safe T Front Mounted Child Bicycle Seat
July 6, 2009 by Bicycle Seats
Filed under Baby Seats, Bike Saddle Brands, Child Seats, Hers, His, Kids, and Baby Seats, Reviews, iBert
iBert Safe T Front Mounted Child Bicycle Seat
The iBert safe-T-seat was designed with quality and safety first. The safe-T-seat places the child up front, safely between the parent’s protective arms. This evenly distributes weight over the bike giving a stable, safe ride. Kids enjoy the close interaction and the unobstructed view of the fun ahead. Mounted conveniently on the handlebar stem; the high, forward position allows you to pedal in comfort without banging your knees on the seat.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Fantastic
I got this for my daughter at 10 months. It was easy to put on my mountain bike. She is now 3.5 years old and we still use it (even though we are trying to get her on her own bike!). She loves it. It was a great investment for us – I can talk to her while we ride, I can point to things and she can hear me (and I can hear her), and it is super stable. The only part that is not so comfortable anymore is that now that she’s getting taller (37″), the top of her head is starting to get too close to the bottom of my chin. But if I had a smaller/younger kid or if my handle bars were higher (if the grips were higher instead of all flat), it wouldn’t be an issue. My knees barely touch the bottom of the seat (I’m 5′10″), but it’s not a big deal and I can always just move my knees so they are slightly out if it starts to bug me. I really like the seat and much prefer it over the ones that sit on the back of the bike. Much easier to travel with than the big chariots/burley’s also.
4 Stars Love it
Our 18 month old daughter loves this. It feels totally safe and fits our bike perfectly. The only thing about front bike seats in general is if your a short person, seeing over the helmet might be hard. or a tall person might have to open knees wider to keep from hitting them on the seat. Im 5′5 and it was perfect though. i would and do recommend this product
4 Stars Digging it
I bought this over a year ago. And we use it about three times a week. Only thing I wish I could change is the harness. Many times I had to stop biking to slide it back on his shoulders. So it took me a while to get it right but now I don’t have a problem. Still think the harness could be better. Other then that I love it and so does my son. I have never had any problems like other revewiers with my knees hitting the seat but my husband has. He said it didn’t bother him. It has also fit our bikes… Cross Sprinter SE, Python Striker.
5 Stars A Great Investment! Saved my baby’s life!
My husband and I just recently bought bikes and I thought we’d take our new baby seat out for a spin. Although I was excited for our first family ride together, I was also nervous. “What if the baby bike seat falls off?” I’ve heard some horror stories. Also, my baby is only 7 months old, so another fear occured. “What if she’s too small for the seat to properly protect her?” After a bit of practice, I put my doubts aside and headed on down the road with my baby. Sure enough, i came to a rough path in the road once we had ran out of sidewalk. Somehow, my foot didn’t stay on the ground and we toubled down after i attempted to stop. Because this seat is in front of you, not behind, I was able to keep hold of the handlebars and hold her up, away from the ground, and the straps held her securely in her seat until my husband helped us up. This is an awesome and very safe seat, and in my opinion, it saved my girl’s life 
Bell Classic Bicycle Child Carrier
July 5, 2009 by Bicycle Seats
Filed under Baby Seats, Bell, Bike Saddle Brands, Child Seats, Hers, His, Kids, and Baby Seats, Reviews
Bell Classic Bicycle Child Carrier
Classic Child Carrier, Much Easier To Install On A Wider Range Of Bikes, Design Offers Easier No Tools Assembly, Fits A Wider Range Of Adult Bicycles With New Hardware, Safely Carries 1 Child Up To 40 LB, Improved Comfort With New Seat Pad, Child Rides Secure In New 5 Point Harness System, Foot Rests Keep Legs Comfy & Feet From Wheel.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Good value
In addition to the positive reviews, I read a lot of the less-complimentary reviews and disagree. I thought the seat was relatively easy to put together. My 14-month old enjoys the ride and the price was excellent.
3 Stars Connectons in bad spots
We liked this product, but haven’t been able to get it to connect very well with our bike styles. We’ve had to modify it a bit as far as getting a new bolt and we had to be creative with getting it to mount to the bike without being in the way of the brake lines.
3 Stars Needed a little work
The classic Child Carrier Seat is an ok seat for the price. I wouldn’t expect it to last over a couple children. One child, as fast as they grow it it acceptable. I had to modify the carrier by extending the attachment arm to the seat. The provided attachemnt was too short, putting the carrier almost against my seat. I couuldn’t even attach the bar assembly.
3 Stars Wouldn’t attach
I bought this as a cheap option that would let me try out riding with my kid. I have a Specialized Hard Rock that has a quick-release seat post that is incompatible with the seat.
The instructions call for a bolt attachment on the rear part of the seat post, so if you don’t have that it won’t work out. The bottom brackets attach via friction/clamping onto the lower diagonal wheel legs that should work on any bike, but the seat post is the deal breaker. Hope it works better for you.
CoPilot Taxi Bicycle Child Seat
July 4, 2009 by Bicycle Seats
Filed under Baby Seats, Bike Saddle Brands, Child Seats, CoPilot, Hers, His, Kids, and Baby Seats, Reviews
CoPilot Taxi Bicycle Child Seat
Treat your child to spin around your neighborhood or a trek through the city by bike with this CoPilot Taxi bicycle seat. This comfortable seat holds a child (up to 40 pounds) securely with a high seat-back design, quick-release grab bar, and three-point harness. The gel-filled, washable seat padding makes it comfortable for long rides. It comes with the Blackburn EX-1 bike rack, which fits securely on most bikes and offers a quick-release mounting system that makes it easy to swap the seat between bikes with the addition of a second rack. Once the rack is attached, the seat can be installed or removed in less than 30 seconds.
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Star Locking-in mechanism too good
This seat is OK. My only complaint is the locking mechanism, which requires you disengage two levers in both the front and the back. While this certainly reduces the chance that the seat will fall off, there is also makes it very difficult to remove. I actually fractured a finger while trying to remove it, lodging it between the provided rear rack and the front latch of the seat (and I am NOT a clumsy person). had to have surgery, a pin, PT, etc…
To bypass this problem now, I use a flathead screwdriver to press down on the lever so my hands are nowhere near that connection!
3 Stars The boy likes to ride!
The Good: The harness will definitely keep your child safely in place. This seat will allow you to safely ride with your child.
THe Bad: First of all the seat (mine anyway) does not come off without a wrestling match. I doubt the wife could take it off. Maybe as it is taken on/off over time it will not be sooo tight?
Second, the blackburn rack that comes with this unit costs $50+, so plan for it if you think you might want the ability to move it between bikes. My wife was initially too scared to ride with the boy on the back, but now wishes we had a rack on her bike so she could take him out without me. I let her try to take the rack off…and she said no thanks to a 2nd rack anyway.
Third, kind of a small thing, but there are velcro straps to keep the feet safely in the seat. The velcro straps are mounted so low that the strap wraps around the toe portion of his shoe. He seems to find this uncomfortable and can work his feet free. A simple solution would have been to mount the straps up a couple of inches so that the strap limits the lower leg from getting out but still allowing for free foot movement.
4 Stars good seat,feet straps could use some improvement
It is a good seat. My 2 year old seems to like it. The straps for the feet are awkward to use, but otherwise we like it.
4 Stars Great seat, love it!
I love the seat! My daughter is 12 months and we went for our first ride a few days ago. She LOVED it and cried when we got home. She is a bit fascinated by bikes and motorcycles though.
The seat is really tough to get onto the rack, although I plan to just leave it in place for the most part. Maybe after taking it off/on a few times it would loosen a little? But I am glad it feels secure. I agree the foot straps are a little weird, but I just strapped them over the front (toe) of her shoe and that worked OK.
As for the rack, I took my bike for a tune-up and brought the rack so the bike shop installed it for free. Love it!