Review of InStep Take 2 Bike Trailer

InStep Take 2 Bike Trailer
By: InStep Average Rating: 3.5 Total Reviews: 21
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it sucks

On: 2008-05-18

Sure its easy to assemble and attach, but the company probably spent all their energy figuring out a "quick and easy" assembly and abandoned any thought on a childs comfort. I bought this for my 15 month old son to ride with my 18 month old neice. she was okay for 2 minutes and then she just wanted out of it. My son wriggled in it and the straps got tangled. We can usually overlook small things, but it was impossible to try and make the seat work well. its just cheap material hanging from a bar with uncomfortable and difficult straps with no padding. Definitely not a "quick n easy" harness system. Theres no structure to the seat and it also lacked padding for back support. If you really want a trailer and a GOOD one, you should look at the more expensive ones (I saw several good ones at REI).

I finally decided Id rather get the iBert child seat for my bike, since Ive done my research on it and it has received 88 five star reviews, an award, and recognition on parenting magazine ^_^ .

Does the trick

On: 2008-05-09

I am absolutely loving this trailer. It is simple to use, simple to assemble and attach to the bike. There is a small space behind the seat where I put my bike pump and lock. There are a couple small pockets inside for the baby to put her ball or other little toy or small cup. I can fold down the cover on nice days so she can see out without a problem, or I can put up the cover and even the rain sheild. We are all over town now!

Still have not received this item...

On: 2008-04-27

I ordered this item April 3, 2008 and have still not received nor been charged for this item. Tried calling customer service, left two voicemails and no one has called me back letting me know the status of this item.

My dog loves it!

On: 2008-04-11

It is impressively easy to set up...seriously it takes less than 30 seconds. I tow it behind my mtorized bike to get my dog around and she loves it.

Very well designed

On: 2007-12-04

Very safe, easy collapse. Dont forget to inflate those tires. The only thing i was bummed about is that you have to bolt the mounting hub onto the bike, where as the cannondale design is just a clamp thats much quicker to move from one bike to another.

Falling Apart

On: 2007-10-12

We bought this trailer for Christmas, planning on using it for the ocassional bike ride. Weve probably used the trailer 15 to 2o times in the last 10 months. The other day I put my son in, attached the seat belts, started riding, and heard a loud pop. The nylon strap that holds the seat up off the fabric floor had snapped. Before I could even get a good look at it, the nylon seat belt in between my sons legs also snapped. Ive looked it over pretty well and dont think theres a way I can repair it. Were so disappointed. I would not recommend this product.

Exactly what I wanted!

On: 2007-09-26

This is exactly what my husband & I were looking for to take our daughter on bike rides. It is very safe, secure & well put together. Plus, it comes apart very easily for storage. She loves it too. I would feel really comfortable putting a second child in there with her as well, it is supposed to hold up to 100 lbs. I would definately reccomend this product to anyone who is interested, plus, the price is fantastic. You really have to seacrh several online stores to find the bike trailer & everyone is priced so differently, but this one is just like all the others I saw but alot better price wise for the same thing & qauality.

good product

On: 2007-09-22

Easy to assemble, we love our new bike trailer! My only complaint is that it comes only with one thingamajig (cant think of the name at this moment) with which to attach the trailer to your bike. It would be nice to have two, so my husband and I could easily switch pulling the trailer, rather than having to disassemble our bike wheels.

Great little trailer

On: 2007-09-21

I dont use it for hauling kids, just cargo, and it works great. Hardly know its there. Even when there is a lot of stuff in it.

NOT AS PICTURED!!!

On: 2007-08-05

I ordered this trailer in silver and blue, but green arrived instead. I was REALLY dissapointed... BUT seeing as how returning & purchasing a new color moght be costly & time consuming, I got over my initial dissapointment & kept the green. the overall quality is as I expected. I shopped around and dispite the other reviwers complaining about fabric quality, Ive never seen a better fabric on any trailer. I could be wrong, but I suspect complaints are due to unreasonable expectations, heavy use or poor care. the fabric feels like a nylon blend, excessive sunlight and skin oils will accelerate degradation. at the very least, you should never leave this iten to sit outside unprotected & unoccupied. with proper care, this trailer should last you at least a couple years, depending on the weight you put in it.
also, the seatbelts look strong enough but I wouldnt put too much trust in them. I like the side pockets and small trunk space behind the seat. installation will be easy if you have the right tools.
I didnt have the tools so I took the trailer to a nearby bike shop where they installed it free.
overall, Im happy with my purchase. Im only REALLY only dissapointed I didnt get the color I wanted.

Good value for the money

On: 2007-07-07

This bike trailer is a good value for the money. It is easy to assemble and attach to a bike. I would have liked to have seen a sturdier seat inside the trailer itself though. The spring assembly where the trailer attaches to the bike is very flexible, which makes it very nice for hauling. I was able to fold the bike down on top of the trailer with it still attached to the bike frame and still fit it in my Ranger.

Too small

On: 2007-06-09

This bike trailer is way too narrow to comfortably carry two larger children (35-50 pounds). It would be good for my 33 pound son alone, but I dont think the trailer would be usable if we had another child. I had to take it apart and return it after discovering this.

Too small

On: 2007-06-08

This bike trailer is way too narrow to comfortably carry two larger children (35-50 pounds). It would be good for my 33 pound son alone, but I dont think the trailer would be usable if we had another child. I had to take it apart and return it after discovering this.

Great for the price

On: 2007-04-18

My wife and I couldnt believe how expensive bike trailers can get, and since we are both college students our budget is limited. We bought this becuase of the price and I have been suprisingly happy with it. The setup is extremely easy and fast, no tools needed. and my daughter (16 months) seems very comfortable in it. One drawback is it doesnt work well with a helmet on her.

Decent for the price, however...

On: 2007-04-04

THE GOOD: Set up is simple (even right out of the box), built quality is good on the frame, wheels are smooth, enough room for my 2 and 4 year old boys along with cargo space in the back. Average weight based on competitors, the covers since tight with straps (avoiding fabric flap in the wind). The trailer pulls well, I notice a little bit of push-pull when riding at slow speeds, but nothing that will bother anyone IMO. At speeds above 15mph (less than 20mph), the trailer handles just fine. The only time I really felt it is going uphill. The point of connection is well thought out and works with disc brakes.

THE BAD: Fabric material is not good. In fact, I think it will begin to rip in the near future (less than 1 year). Ive owned this for a couple of months now, and am starting to see signs of wear in the foot area. Getting kids in/out means unsnapping half the canopy (no zippers). My major problem are the restraint straps. They are pretty bad, very thin and no padding. Both my kids get neck marks from the straps (chafing). I used automobile shoulder belt cushions to try and solve the problem, but the fit isnt quite there and they slide down, exposing the thin straps to their necks again.

Im considering a Burley or Chariot to make the kids more comfortable. Also, I can get rid of our jogger and have a "Do-it-all" carrier. As for the InSTEP Take 2, you really do get what you pay for. However, if youre on a budget and want to take the kids for a spin, this will get you started. Good luck.

Good for leisure bikers

On: 2007-01-12

Since we are not serious bikers, we were not willing to pay big $$ for the trailer. This one fits our budget. It is easy to toll and runs smoothly. The only issue I had was that once I put the trailer on, I cannot put the kickstand back. This is somewhat troublesome because we cannot just stop anywhere we want.

Good for leisure bikers

On: 2007-01-11

Since we are not serious bikers, we were not willing to pay big $$ for the trailer. This one fits our budget. It is easy to toll and runs smoothly. The only issue I had was that once I put the trailer on, I cannot put the kickstand back. This is somewhat troublesome because we cannot just stop anywhere we want.

Excellent Bike Trailer

On: 2006-11-14

Recieved this item and it was very easy to put together. It is very compact when folded and not in use. I love it! It is so easy to take the kids when biking, it rides very nice and you cant even tell its there.

Instep Take 2 Bike Trailer

On: 2006-11-10

Very good price. Easy to assemble and restore. Run very smooth and steable.

Horrible - Make sure your bike is compatible

On: 2006-11-02

Make sure that your bike is compatible with this trailer. It doesnt work with every bike, it didnt with mine. I called Allegro Medical several times to try and return it and they gave me a hard time about it saying I cant return it unless it is defective. So now I have a bike trailer and a bike that dont work together and Im out $85.00. Horrible

Horrible - Make sure your bike is compatible

On: 2006-11-01

Make sure that your bike is compatible with this trailer. It doesnt work with every bike, it didnt with mine. I called Allegro Medical several times to try and return it and they gave me a hard time about it saying I cant return it unless it is defective. So now I have a bike trailer and a bike that dont work together and Im out $85.00. Horrible

Decent design, terrible materials

On: 2006-10-17

This bike trailer seemed like a great deal. When I assembled it and tested it out it worked great, seemed very safe and comfortable. My daughter loved riding in it. Initially I was very happy with the product, especially for the price paid. Unfortunately after several weeks in the sun all of the white nylon straps - used for support and restraints - began detoriating and breaking. I would recommend spending a little more on a bike trailer that uses a better grade of materials.

Decent design, terrible materials

On: 2006-10-16

This bike trailer seemed like a great deal. When I assembled it and tested it out it worked great, seemed very safe and comfortable. My daughter loved riding in it. Initially I was very happy with the product, especially for the price paid. Unfortunately after several weeks in the sun all of the white nylon straps - used for support and restraints - began detoriating and breaking. I would recommend spending a little more on a bike trailer that uses a better grade of materials.

Great Trailer

On: 2006-10-10

I pulled this trailer on a 32 mile ride on a very remote part of the Great Allegheny Passage rail-trail. I had it loaded with camping gear (no kids in the trailer), and it worked very well. The trailer is not designed for hauling gear, but it did a fine job. I was not on a paved path at all, the tires were great, no problems going through a few bumpy areas and muddy areas. The trailer tracked well behind my bike, no problems. The trailer has a good sturdy welded frame.

Great Trailer

On: 2006-10-09

I pulled this trailer on a 32 mile ride on a very remote part of the Great Allegheny Passage rail-trail. I had it loaded with camping gear (no kids in the trailer), and it worked very well. The trailer is not designed for hauling gear, but it did a fine job. I was not on a paved path at all, the tires were great, no problems going through a few bumpy areas and muddy areas. The trailer tracked well behind my bike, no problems. The trailer has a good sturdy welded frame.

Worth every penny!!

On: 2006-07-31

I was a little hesitant to purchase the least expensive model, but Im glad I did!! Its wonderful. Installation was so easy- I had it done when my husband got home from work! The kids love riding in it. We have 2 kids, both around 30 lbs and they fit comfortably. Plus, there is a storage area in the back. We pack towels,snacks and juice and go t o the pool!! I highly reccommend this model rather than spending more money!!!