Burley Travoy Bike Commuter Trailer

by Burley Design

Product Features

• Lightweight bike trailer with easy to use seat post hitch; comes with basic cargo/storage bag, tie-down straps, and hitch assembly included
• Carries up to 60-pounds of cargo with a 45-degree angled design for even weight distribution
• Folds down into a compact, briefcase sized tote
• Trailer converts into a rolling cart to wheel separately from the bike
• Three-year warranty for original owner

Product Description

Amazon.com

The Travoy from Burley is a folding commuter bike trailer that provides a safe and easy way to haul and transport bulky goods behind your bike. The Travoy hitches to the seat post of any bike with a universal coupler and rides at a 45-degree angle--redistributing the weight for easier riding. Load the Travoy up with just about anything--with a 60-pound carry capacity, the Travoy can handle groceries, travel bags, and other unwieldy cargo.

Designed for easy loading and unloading, the Travoy comes with a basic tote that doubles as a carry bag for Travoy when folded, as well as tie-down straps for bulky items. Customize the Travoy with an array of interchangeable bags offered by Burley to fit your lifestyle. Once you've arrived at your destination, the Travoy detaches easily from your bike and with a twist of the wrist, converts into rolling cart that can wheel along with you. Easy to store and transport, the Travoy folds down to fit inside its carry tote when not in use.

The Travoy attaches and detaches from your bike in seconds, thanks to the simple and secure hitch assembly.

Features:

• 60 pound carry capacity
• Folds to briefcase size
• Sets up quickly
• Attaches and detaches in seconds
• Converts into a rolling cart when away from the bike
• Provides greater stability than standard panniers or backpacks
• 12.5-inch black push-button wheels
• Recommended Use: bike commuting, errands
• Full line of accessories includes: shoulder strap, tie down straps, rain cover, and multiple bags including duffel, tote, dry bag, market bags, and transit bags (all sold separately)

Specifications

• Carry capacity: 60 pounds/27.3 kilograms
• Weight: 9.8 pounds/ 4.4 kilograms
• Track width: 16.5 inches/ 41.9 centimeters
• Wheel size: 12.5 inches/ 31.7 centimeters
• Tow bar height: 32 to 38 inches/80 to 96 centimeters
• Folded dimensions: 21 by 18 by 8 inches/53.3 by 46.7 by 20.3 centimeters(LxWxH)
• Material: aluminum

What's in the Box?
Travoy Trailer, basic cargo/storage bag, tie-down straps, hitch assembly

Product Description

The Travoy is a revolutionary new commuter product.  It hitches to the seat post of any bike, and detaches easily when you reach your destination.  As a stand-alone, you can wheel the trailer around the aisles of a store, onto the bus or right into the office.  The Travoy has a very light (but sturdy) aluminum frame and weighs less than 10 pounds and can carry up to 60 pounds. We've introduced a series of integrated bags to store everything under the sun.  The trailer itself folds down to a tiny size to stash in its carrying tote which is small enough to fit in an airliner's overhead bin.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 23 x 9 x 8 inches ; 13 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0038LPO5Y
• Item model number: 951301
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ride Your Bike, Use Less Gasoline, June 30, 2010

By 

M. Hill (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Burley Travoy Bike Commuter Trailer (Sports)

(What's this?)

I love to ride my bike, but am not a serious cyclist, and the fact that I don't ride as much as I'd like to is what made the Burley Travoy Bike Commuter Trailer appealing. Pulling a trailer on a bike is not something I have any experience with - never used a child or pet trailer -- nothing. My motivation is to find a way to ride my bike more and use my car less.

The trailer is amazingly light weight (9.8 pounds) and portable. Right out of the box there is little to do but unfold the frame which entails a cable release for the bottom shelf (with pop-up reflectors) and twist hand grips that turn to both secure and release for the other two segments, and actually serve as handles to carry the collapsed trailer. Next, the 12 1/2 x 2 inch pneumatic wheels are attached by pressing a button on the hub (also serves as the release,) and screw the hitch to the seat stem (compatible with 25-32 mm seat posts, but not recommended for use with carbon fiber posts) with the included hex key, and then attach the trailer to it. That's it, done, ready to ride. The entire process took maybe five minutes.

A large carry-all tote bag (approximately 21 x 17 x 7 inches) is included which is secured to tie-down buttons on the trailer frames with attached loops and swivel-lock buckles. There are also two included tie-down straps to further secure the bag. The tote is generous in size and would easily transport two or three bags of groceries or other purchases, a large picnic lunch or work clothes and a laptop if commuting. The same tote also holds the entire collapsed trailer for storage when not in use. This set-up should serve anyone looking for a means to transport most anything (up to 60 pounds), but if it isn't exactly what the rider needs, a variety of other bags for the trailer are available, including one designed to hold more groceries. For night riding, there are pop up reflectors on the frame and a small amount of reflector cloth on the tote.

So, how does the trailer ride? I hooked it up to my bike and took it for a test trip to the grocery store. There is a bike lane (asphalt) right in front of my home and a grocery store a couple of miles down the street. Headed down my steep driveway I felt no loss of control with the trailer hooked to my bike, of course I had no load and the trailer itself is lightweight. The area is hilly and it handled well and almost immediately felt like a natural part of my bike.

At the store I locked my bike, flicked the lever on the hitch and removed the trailer and wheeled it in. With the tote bag attached to the trailer, I selected a gallon of milk, some lettuce and a frozen pizza, intentionally buying a load that would be out of balance for the return trip home. I unloaded at the checkout and wheeled the trailer around to the other side of the loading area and the cashier repacked the items in the tote. The entire exercise - unfolding the trailer, attaching it to the bike, de-attaching it and rolling it through the store, re-attaching it to the hitch and riding off was so convenient there is absolutely no excuse not to use it. Some products sound good on paper but in actual practice are more trouble than they are worth - not the case here.

On the trip home, the presence of the trailer was more noticeable, particularly when turning, but the handling, although not as precise, was fine and the bike felt very stable. It did require more distance to stop, but the rider quickly makes adjustments to compensate for the added weight and changes in handling. At no time did I feel out of control.

I looked at Burley's other trailers - the Flatbed and Nomad, and although the benefits of both for a particular use are clear, the Travoy, with its lighter weight and smaller wheel base, is better suited for my needs. Its design adds to the feeling that it is one with the bike, not a small feat because trying to transport anything on a bike is a challenge -- imperfect at best and requiring compromises.

If the bike is stolen, the hitch goes along with it, so Burley might want to consider re-engineering it to include a quick release mechanism for attaching it to the stem so it could be taken along with the trailer when the bike is locked. That is my only suggestion for what I otherwise consider a terrific product. Parts are sold separately, so if virtually anything on the trailer breaks or is lost or stolen, a replacement may be ordered. I plan to order a spare set of tubes to have on hand.

Not surprisingly, there is no warranty on the tires, but the rest of the parts have a warranty that ranges from three to five years. A small thing, but I appreciated that on the enclosed warranty registration card a bar code containing the serial number for the trailer is pre-printed so the owner doesn't need to hunt around for it.

I am impressed with this bike trailer and see endless uses for it. It looks smart, is well designed and user friendly, requires very little storage space and the available accessories add versatility and a level of customization. Now that I own the trailer, I will use my bike more often, particularly in situations where in the past using a car might have looked like my only option.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well made, easy to fold and useful. Do need to consider how to lock it up., June 22, 2010

By 

Two kids mom "scienceteachermom" (NM United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Burley Travoy Bike Commuter Trailer (Sports)

(What's this?)

This is a clever system for towing stuff behind your bike. It would be useful for the bike commuter, or those who shop by bike. This type of system is more common in Europe.
Some things you need to know that are not mentioned in the description.

The tires are pneumatic (blow up) like a bike tire. But much thicker and heavier than a bike tire.

The tires easily remove from the trailer and just as easily snap back on. Shown folded in the photos, the wheels are removed.

Axel width is 18 inches (45.5cm) without the wheels. With the wheels it is 22.5 inches across (56 cm). The wheels themselves are 12.5 (31.5 cm) inches in diameter. Depth of the bottom shelf is about 9.5 inches (24 cm). Height of back carrying portion is about 30 inches (76cm). Width of back section at widest point is about 16.5 inches (42cm). Height from floor to top folding section is 43 inches (109cm) . Carrying bag is 22 inches (56cm) tall by 14 inches (35.5) wide by 8.5 (21.5cm) inches deep. Folded, with wheels removed, it is 18in wide by 22 long by 5.5 inches tall (at the bottom).

The trailer folds into thirds. The two top folds are accomplished by rotating a handle. The bottom fold (the bottom of the bike trailer) folds up by pulling on a wire cable that runs along the bottom of the trailer. This is very easy to do, my 11 year old can manage it by herself. Folding down the top portion makes it easier to pull the trailer around with you.
The whole trailer then fits into the carrying bag. The bag itself also fastens onto the trailer to use when you are hauling stuff. There a small knobs (called buttons in the manual) on the side of the trailer and corresponding tabs on the bag. There are four knobs (buttons) on each side of the trailer. The bag also has reflectors built in. It also comes with 2 straps that can be used to attach other stuff to the trailer.

The grey portion is a very thick flexible plastic. There are two reflectors on the bottom section of the trailer.

The hitch attaches with a 4mm hex key (which is included). Once you attach the hitch the trailer attaches to the bike by sliding a loop over a pin on the hitch. This is held in place with a rotating spring loaded latch. It is very easy to remove. From the manual "hitch is compatible with 25mm to 32mm seat posts. Use of this hitch with carbon fiber seat posts is not recommended"
The trailer has a kickstand but is not stable standing upright unloaded with the kickstand.

The wheels roll easily along gravel (next test is cobblestones, but that will have to wait). Hauling a trailer does make the bike less maneuverable (which is mentioned in the manual, but would seem like common sense).

Warrenty is 3 years for trailer and skin (I assume this is the plastic) and 5 years for bags and straps. Does not cover rental, competitive or commercial use.

The main issue I have with the trailer is that there is no way to lock it to your bike directly. Of course anyone with a wrench could remove the hitch and thus take away the whole thing, but it would be nice to have a loop on the hitch and the trailer that a lock could be attached to for quick trips into the store so that the trailer would not need be taken in. It would be possible, of course to thread a lock through the top portion and then to the bike or rack. I understand this is a design issue, as most bike seats can also be removed and the whole thing would then be easy to pull off. Still, some thought to this issue should be given by anyone who will use it in an urban area and plan to leave it for any amount of time. You will need some sort of cable or chain lock to secure it. I am not going to take stars off for this, since this is not really an issue with the trailer itself, but you should think about this when considering it.

I put the first part up right away as a couple of people asked me about the dimensions. Below is more about using it.

Yes, I bike. No, I would not call myself a cyclist. I can speak to using it as a trailer to fetch stuff from the store, which is the purpose to which I will put it. I can not speak to pulling for 50 miles, because I would not ride 50 miles in one day.

I took it out with a 40 lb bag of water softener salt on gravel and paved roads. Maximum weight is 60 lbs but that is more that I can handle. Cornering is harder, you can feel the torque and the minimum turning radius is slightly reduced but it is not unreasonable. Braking time of course is slightly longer, more momentum from the weight. It is not like you feel it pushing from the back though, more just like the bike itself is heavier. On a straight away I did not really feel any pull to one side or another, but of course it is harder to go up the hill pulling 40 plus pounds than without. That I did feel. It is a lot less of an impact than hauling one of the child trailers though, I guess because the axle is a lot smaller and the whole thing less heavy.

Someone who is a more intense rider will have to answer about pulling it over the long haul.


UPDATE: Works fine on cobblestones in Holland. The wheels are thick enough not to get stuck in the slots between the cobblestones. Fit into suitcase without much trouble.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great product. Stylish. Designed for convenience., July 4, 2010

By 

Nuknuk (Springfield, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Burley Travoy Bike Commuter Trailer (Sports)

(What's this?)

Love this thing. If you like to bike to work, and you don't have enough space to put your stuff in, this is a great solution. Does not look like dorky or cheap at all. Remember when office workers go to their work with their Razor scooters? It actually looks cool. You can easily detach it from your bike in 1 second and carry it (I mean roll it either pushing or pulling it) straight to the elevator and to your office.

Assembly is a breeze. You can attach or detach the wheels in a second. The center of the wheel serves as the lock. Press it with a little push to put it in, and press and pull to disengage. The only thing that needs a tool (a hex key which came with the cart) is for attaching it to the bike. Once attached, you can leave it on your bike. Now, to engage the cart or release it is just a matter of a turn of a knob.

I recently brought it with a 40 lb load on a 3-mile route on a bike trail and city drive. Bike trail traverses through winding, up and down paths. No problem there, the trailer is very easy to maneuver. Most of the times I even forgot I am towing a cart behind me. Going up the hill will be a bit of a work, but nothing different as carrying an extra child passenger behind you. No problem with sudden brakes as the cart is attached with a solid tube and not a flexible rope. It will stop at the same moment as your bike stops. If it is a flexible bungee rope, you bike will stop first and then the cart with the load will continue rolling and give you an unnecessary bump behind. I did not try to test breaking to a sudden stop while negotiating a turn (for obvious reason, that is probably a sure recipe for a disaster).

We also use it to a picnic as a rolling cart for our bags and cooler. Rolls smoothly either on asphalt or dirt roads. The cart came with a large thick nylon tote bag that attaches to the cart. It also came with two adjustable straps to support the tote or any bulk cargo.

Everything is a snap to attach or adjust. I guess it was designed foremost for convenience. Lastly, the whole cart without extra baggage weighs just a few pounds.