Novara  Afterburner Single-Speed Trailer Bike

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The single-speed Novara Afterburner brings a high level of user-friendliness to folding trailer bikes!

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Features

  • Tool-free folding mechanism is intuitively easy to use; simply unscrew the hand-friendly knob and fold the arm back on itself—it's that fast!
  • Sturdy hitch adapts to a wide range of seatpost diameters without need of switching out parts; attaches easily via bolts and a quick-release
  • All of which means it's a snap to move the Afterburner from bike to bike
  • Single-speed operation is simple for a young mind to comprehend: get on, hold on, pedal!
  • High-tensile steel frame provides a sturdy, solid ride and the longevity to last from one child to the next
  • Fully adjustable cockpit accommodates kids of various sizes (80 lbs. max weight); simply move the seat up or down and angle the handlebars to fit
  • Features a detachable forward deflector (like a fender without the wheel) and a full-length chainguard, so your child stays free of wet and grime
  • Handlebar pad adds an extra bit of style; soft rubber hand grips accommodate small hands
  • Large platform pedals make it easy for small feet to stay aboard
  • Bright orange safety flag mounted on tall rod increases your small rider's visibility
  • Measures approximately 53 in. folded and 74 in. unfolded
  • Trailer bike is easily assembled upon arrival—just install the handlebars and pedals and you're ready to hook up and go!
  • Suggested for kids three to six years old
  • NOTE: Specs and images are subject to change based on component availability

Imported.

This bike comes with Coast to Coast Support, which includes:
  • 1 year of free adjustments (see more below)
  • In-store bike assembly
  • Pickup in store or curbside
  • Bike experts available at 170+ bike shops
REI Co-op Members get more:
  • 20% off shop services
  • Free tubes with purchase of flat tire repair (Co-op Cycles brand tubes only; tube must be installed at time of purchase)
More about our free adjustments:
New bikes go through a normal break-in period, after which they should be readjusted. All bicycles sold at REI include free adjustments for one year after purchase date—as many times as you need. Included: derailleur and brake adjustments, lateral wheel truing, hub and headset bearing adjustments, tire inflation and chain lubrication. Not included: replacement or installation of new components or accessories, any other services. Call your local REI Co-op Bike Shop for more information.

View all Novara Bike Trailers for Kids

Technical Specs

Best Use

Recreational Cycling

Weight

24.4 pounds

Bike Weight

Bike weight is based on median size, as sold, or the average of two median sizes.

Gender

Kids'

Reviews
37 reviews with an average rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars

Ratings Snapshot

Product Rating

28 out of 37 (76%) reviewers recommend this product

Review this Product

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Most Helpful Favorable Review

5 reviews with an average rating of 5.0 out of 5 stars
Works Great for My Five Year Old
TheTorg
14 years ago
REI Novara AfterburnerAbout six months ago we wanted to purchase one of these bike trailers (where the bike is converted into a kind of tandem where the child sits on a bike seat and pedals) but after checking out all the brands we could find, we decided they were all too crummy to risk using.After a move, we became aware of Novara's Afterburner available through REI. There were lots of good reviews and so we drove 40 miles to check it out in-store. First off, we're now fans of the store. [...] After two rides, including one today of ten miles, we couldn't be happier. My daughter is five and she sits on the lowest seat setting and her legs fit perfectly. She can ride wobbly on her own little bike and pedaling behind me is no problem. This bike is sturdy and the seat is comfy. I can tell I get a boost when she pedals hard. The pole that connects this bike to mine folds and collapses to where it just fits into the trunk of my Honda Accord. We don't have a garage and so I'm stuck taking the bike apart every time we use it, but I was able to get it out of the trunk and attached in less than five minutes. The way the bike attaches to the seat is great. I'd think it would fit a variety of bikes as long as the area under the seat and behind the bike is clear. You couldn't have a child in a rear child seat or much of a bag or anything on the back of your bike and still attach this hitch. Write to me with questions at [@]
TheTorg
Queens, NY
8 people found this review helpful

Most Helpful Critical Review

5 reviews with an average rating of 1.0 out of 5 stars
Hope the 2009 version is better
Cycling Family
16 years ago
We have an earlier version and it leans to the side no matter how we adjust it. We took it back to REI and the cycling service staff said that it was fine. This results in a very unstable ride - so unstable that I won't risk using it and losing control. Only my husband, who is an extremely strong rider, uses it. As we ride, our child (an excellent, well balanced rider on his own bike) whips from tilt left to tilt right resulting in a loss of control for the lead bike. We see lots of other trailers on the bike trails, and none lean like this. We won't take it on roads and only use it on the bike trails.
Cycling Family
Bothell, WA
4 people found this review helpful

Customer Images

TheTorg
Queens, NY
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Works Great for My Five Year Old

14 years ago

REI Novara AfterburnerAbout six months ago we wanted to purchase one of these bike trailers (where the bike is converted into a kind of tandem where the child sits on a bike seat and pedals) but after checking out all the brands we could find, we decided they were all too crummy to risk using.After a move, we became aware of Novara's Afterburner available through REI. There were lots of good reviews and so we drove 40 miles to check it out in-store. First off, we're now fans of the store. [...] After two rides, including one today of ten miles, we couldn't be happier. My daughter is five and she sits on the lowest seat setting and her legs fit perfectly. She can ride wobbly on her own little bike and pedaling behind me is no problem. This bike is sturdy and the seat is comfy. I can tell I get a boost when she pedals hard. The pole that connects this bike to mine folds and collapses to where it just fits into the trunk of my Honda Accord. We don't have a garage and so I'm stuck taking the bike apart every time we use it, but I was able to get it out of the trunk and attached in less than five minutes. The way the bike attaches to the seat is great. I'd think it would fit a variety of bikes as long as the area under the seat and behind the bike is clear. You couldn't have a child in a rear child seat or much of a bag or anything on the back of your bike and still attach this hitch. Write to me with questions at [@]

Yes , I recommend this product
Helpful?
ToddR
Saint Paul, MN
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars

My son loves it!

12 years ago

After reading previous reviews regarding the weight of the Afterburner Trailer Bike and before picking it up, I was a little concerned, but after checking it out at the store and then purchasing it I am very satisfied. I would definitely recommend only using it on a multi-speed bike, especially if you are going to use it on hilly routes. I wish the clip to the bike was a little easier to get on and off the seat stem of the pulling bike and also would have liked to see more of a positive closure and perhaps even a "lock" when the clip is connected. My 4-year old son loves the trailer bike and we are able to go on much longer bike rides than we could have before. Thumbs up!

Yes , I recommend this product
Helpful?
Cycling Family
Bothell, WA
Rated 1.0 out of 5 stars

Hope the 2009 version is better

16 years ago

We have an earlier version and it leans to the side no matter how we adjust it. We took it back to REI and the cycling service staff said that it was fine. This results in a very unstable ride - so unstable that I won't risk using it and losing control. Only my husband, who is an extremely strong rider, uses it. As we ride, our child (an excellent, well balanced rider on his own bike) whips from tilt left to tilt right resulting in a loss of control for the lead bike. We see lots of other trailers on the bike trails, and none lean like this. We won't take it on roads and only use it on the bike trails.

No, I do not recommend this product
Helpful?
TucsonMegan
Tucson
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars

Son loves his tag-a-long

12 years ago

My 4 year old son loves riding this bike and asks to go for a ride nearly every day. It is heavy and I believe most of the trailer bikes are heavy for stability. My son wiggles a bit and I can definitely feel this but never worry we're going to fall. My only complaint is that the hitch is difficult to attach to the seat post and cannot be easily removed and place on another bike. You will need a hex wrench each time. So if you're planning to take the bike on and off the adult bike often (for parking, transporting by car, or switching bikes) you may want to consider another brand.

Yes , I recommend this product
Helpful?
luvbug
salt lake city, Utah
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars

Handy dandy!

12 years ago

Bought this for my three year old (he was huge for his age) (and helmet/pads) he loves it since he can keep up with us. I found the quick disconnect to be not so quick. I permanently mounted it to my seat post and replaced the vertical bolt with a quick release pin of the same diameter - now it really is a quick hook-up. When the kids pedal hard you can definitely feel the bike lurch to the side. I was able to get used to it quickly.

Yes , I recommend this product
Helpful?
KimberlyA
Dallas, TX
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars

Highly recommend this one!

13 years ago

My family, especially our 5-year-old daughter, has enjoyed this product immensely! She loves riding a "big girl" bike, especially since she doesn't really have to pedal. It's a very nice ride, and we would recommend it to many folks. Our only caveat being that it is slightly cumbersome to attach to the adult's bike. It seems like it should/would be able to simply slip onto the seat pole, but alas, it takes some effort to loosen the clamp completely, hold it in place, line it up, and tighten it onto the bike. We have to have our child (preferably one of the older ones) hold the tandem trailer steady in the hopes of not knocking any of the bikes over while securing the tandem bike.

Yes , I recommend this product
Helpful?
grandberg03
santa rosa, ca
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars

Lotsa fun!

15 years ago

We love this item. Our son is 4 yrs old and loves to pass his mom while he rides behind his dad. This allows him to pedal if he chooses or just sit back and relax. Our only problem we had-we lost the clamp that tightens to the bike seat. My husband put the bike on the car rack and didn't tighten the clamp and it fell off during our car ride home. We called our local REI and it took them a couple of days to get a hold of the compnay, but then we got the clamp about a week later. Now we just take it off and keep it with us instead of letting it hang. Don't want to wait to ride for that long again.

Yes , I recommend this product
Helpful?
Isle Royale Enthusiast
Boone, IA
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

This Bike Changed Our Lives

13 years ago

OK, the headline might be an overstatement. But in one sense it is true. Suddenly we went from a family that can take bike rides around the block to a family that can hit the park and local trails. We gave it to our daughter on her fifth birthday, and she absolutely loves it. We've had no trouble at all. While I don't doubt the problems mentioned in other reviews, some of the trouble may be attributed to the rider. When my daughter is coasting or peddling lightly, the ride is smooth. If she leans into it and pushes hard, she tends to jerk the bike from side to side. This isn't a big problem, but the movement takes a little getting used to. I would disagree with comments about the bike being heavy or overbuilt; it seems about right for the purpose and cost.

Yes , I recommend this product
Helpful?
jillygmom
Westland, MI
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Great trailer bike!

13 years ago

We purchased this for our 7 year old who is a late bloomer with riding her bike due to fear of taking off the training wheels. She is also too big to fit with her brother in our Burley trailer, so we needed another option for bike rides. This is perfect. On the first try we needed an extra set of hands for her to get on just to feel secure, but after that she did fine on her own. We were able to adjust the tilt of the handlebars to accommodate her height since she is a little older. She can ride easily behind my husband for close to an hour with no problem. He says it is more difficult to pull than a ride-in trailer due to the weight shift of the child, but we are extremely happy with this trail behind bike.

Yes , I recommend this product
Helpful?
bikemomma
Folsom, CA
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars

tried it and loved it

16 years ago

I purchased this product for my three and a half year old daughter. It took minutes to install and was much more stable then I thought. I attached it to my commuter bike. My daughter, who was a little nervous loved it so much she made me ride around the block several times on the first trip out. I researched a lot of different bike trailers before selecting this one. This one appeared to have the highest ratings. It is heavy, but not as heavy as burley or trek bike trailer. Before my daughter outgrew it we previously used an Ibert safety seat, which is a front mounted child bike seat. I love this tag along just as much as the front mounted bike seat, and my daughter does too. I can't wait to go riding again.

Yes , I recommend this product
Helpful?
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