Burley D’Lite X kids' bike trailer review

Burley has a long history of producing trailers for carrying children and luggage, and the Burley D’Lite X is the latest in this line.

The D’Lite X double trailer has full suspension, sun and rain protection, and enough room for two passengers.

There’s also adjustable seating, five-point harnesses and ample room for luggage.

It provides reliable protection from the weather and is lightweight and sturdy, making it one of the best bike trailers for transporting your kids.

Only some minor difficulties in construction and operation, and suspension that's a little firm, prevent a perfect rating.

Burley D’Lite X kids' bike trailer details and specifications

The robust-feeling tubes of the roll-cage capsule are heat-treated 6061-T6 aluminum, with bowed-out sides for extra shoulder and elbow room.

They’re American Society for Testing and Materials certified, putting the mind at ease as you fit your precious cargo into the trailer.

The five-point harness system feels cosseting, with soft and breathable pads that are ergonomically placed. They're easily adjusted, as is the angle of the reclining seats, which are independently adjustable.

Full suspension with adjustable leverage ratio and 20-inch wheels show this trailer is designed for off-road and gravel riding, not just on-road duties.

Versatility is the name of the game here, with the trailer able to convert to a pushchair once removed from the bike.

A total of 45kg of cargo can be carried. Luggage capacity is 50l.

Burley D’Lite X kids' bike trailer performance

Having taken delivery of both the trailer and a new family member recently, my wife and I were keen to get back into the swing of some gentle cycle-path action and gravel riding.

Burley says babies can use the pushchair from six months. At 12 months, they can enjoy the trailer behind a bike, making it a good option in the years before you teach your child to ride a bike.

Unfolding the trailer, the lack of weight for something so large is immediately apparent.

Building is technically easy: pull the top of the roll-hoop upwards and it should click into place using two large yellow clips.

However, the tension in the windows is so great that it’s difficult to get the bar all the way up. It took some straining to wrestle into place.

Thankfully, that’s the only gripe with assembly – you simply pop on the wheels and move the uni-wheeled towbar to the ‘bike’ setting.

Fitting to the bike means releasing the rear axle and fitting the chunky steel fixing, which goes over a 9mm quick-release or a 12mm thru-axle. Sliding the rubber fastener into the fixing is a little fiddly but once it’s in, the pin and safety strap are easy to attach.

The hitch is well designed, with almost no noise from the trailer once rolling, and the small amount of flex allowed by the rubber absorbs vibration well.

When riding, the trailer follows the bike smoothly with no bangs or clattering. It feels reassuringly sturdy despite its feather-weight.

Of course, there is a weight and aero penalty, but it’s possible to cruise along flat cycle paths without any discomfort.

Cornering is a doddle and never felt sketchy, with passengers and luggage set low down in the trailer around axle height, keeping the centre of gravity low.

If you want to leave the bike behind and use the D’Lite X as a pushchair, the process is straightforward.

You simply unfold the handlebar, unhitch the trailer from the bike, flip down the towbar wheel and put the towbar in the ‘walk’ setting.

A foot-activated brake lever bar moves sideways across the base of the trailer and is reassuringly chunky. This binary on/off ‘handbrake’ is ultra-secure, although a handlebar-mounted friction brake is not available.

For more serious off-road running and hiking, Burley’s Jogger Kit includes a pair of front forks with a 16in wheel attached via quick-release.

These slot into the two holes either side of the front of the trailer. More focused running buggies feature a handlebar-mounted brake lever.

Although it might look huge, the trailer is simple to pack down: simply flip the yellow connectors at the top of the trailer and the roll bar folds down, collapsing the trailer into a flattish rectangle.

You remove the wheels by pushing a button on the towbar with a tug of the yellow handles after you’ve removed the safety pin.

My test unit weighed 15.44kg (13.8kg claimed) and was compact enough (94x79.4x36.2cm folded) to fit into the boot of my car. The single version is slightly smaller (91.4x69.9x38.1cm folded).

You can also get a dedicated Burley Trailer Storage Bag to stow your folded trailer and ancillary components.

There are compatible thru-axles available from Burley in five different widths to accommodate its hitch system, in case your standard axle isn’t long enough.

You can also buy a spare Burley steel hitch plate to minimise hassle when swapping the trailer from bike to bike.

The 20in back wheels are grippy, wide and capable of eating up most lumps and bumps you might find on a green trail, although it gets rough if there are roots or larger rocks.

The adjustable suspension is a great feature and enables you to tune the leverage ratio to soften the ride on bumpy terrain.

The suspension was a little firm, even in the softest setting, which meant the trailer provided a more comfortable ride when fully loaded.

Elasticated, mesh side pockets are handy for storing your children's things, because the footwell is out of reach once their seatbelts are cinched up.

The storage behind the child seats is cavernous. Burley guarantees the trailer for up to 45kg capacity (children and luggage).

On the trail

Shoulder space balloons out over the top of the wheels, providing maximum wiggle room for the two occupants, but minimum width for navigating tight gates.

The whole trailer is claimed to be rain-proof without the need to stop and put on an external rain cover, and I found weather protection to be excellent.

The windows are said to offer UPF50 sun protection and there's an easily adjustable sun visor.

The bug/roost cover lives underneath the waterproof cover, so if it gets warm simply unzip the waterproof cover and fold it back, leaving the bug cover in place.

It lets a lot of roost through though, so if riding on loose surfaces, it’s worth leaving the waterproof cover down.

In the footwell is a fully enclosed rubber matt, so any dropped or stowed items are safe and weather-protected.

Hitch flexibility is great, because the bike can be laid down while still attached to the trailer. It’s great if (like me) you don’t run a side stand.

The hitch also offers enough vibration isolation between bike and trailer, but not so much as to create a harmonic bouncing where the bike and trailer ‘kangaroo’ each other.

Seat reclination adjustment of 100, 110 or 120 degrees is a quick one-handed affair.

Burley D'Lite X kids' bike trailer bottom line

If you’re looking for a bike trailer for your children, this could be a great choice. It’s lightweight, robust and offers excellent ride comfort for the occupants thanks to the suspension and weather-proofing.

Storage is generous and well-designed, as is the ergonomic seating and no-fuss bike attachment. Only minor gripes prevent a full five-star review.