Burley Kazoo Vs Piccolo

Sunny day? Check. Helmets? Check. Packed a lunch? Double check. Young kids want to go for a bike ride?….with a Burley trailercycle that’s a check.

You’ve probably seen trailercycles (or trailer bikes) around. They’re miniature-sized, one-wheeled bikes that attach to the back of an adult bike. This gives kids the chance to get out and enjoy a day of bike riding without falling behind the pack.

Even better, young kids don’t even have to know how to ride a bike to hop on a trailercycle. They can just sit down and enjoy the ride as Mom or Dad tows them along.

In this review I’m going to put two of Burley’s popular trailercycles head-to-head to see which one comes out on top: the Piccolo vs. the Kazoo.

Both are great trailercycles, but depending on your needs one might have an edge over the other.

Quick Comparison: Burley Kazoo Vs Piccolo

Video Comparison

Why a Burley Trailercycle?

First things first: Burley is one of the most trusted brands in the trailercycle industry. You really can’t go wrong: sturdy construction, durable frame, and high quality components make these trailercycles last.

But you might be wondering whether a trailercycle is right for you. Why get one? Consider this: a trailercycle is the perfect combination of a bike trailer and a kid’s bike.

Like standard bike trailers, trailercycles attach to the back of another bike and follow in tow. So if the little one decides it’s time to give those gams a rest before you do, you two can keep on trekking.

But like standard kids’ bikes, trailercycles give kids a chance to practice two-wheeling for themselves. So this makes for a great way for kids to get exercise without getting tired too quickly.

Win-win.

If I’ve piqued your interest, let’s now take a closer look at two of Burley’s popular models: the Piccolo and the Kazoo.

Construction

The Piccolo and the Kazoo are both built to Burley’s high standards. Each has…

• A lightweight aluminum frame built for durability and a smooth ride (though the Piccolo clocks in a bit heavier at 18 lbs vs Kazoo’s leaner 16.5 lbs)
• A front splash guard to protect from any muck coming up the front bike’s tires
• Adjustable seat and handlebars (Burley recommends these bikes for kids from ages 4-10, to a maximum of 85 lbs)
• A patented Burley hitch and ‘Moose Rack’ (more on this below)

So you can rest assured that these are well-made bikes. No worries here.

A Hitch (Almost) Without a Hitch

One of the most important things to consider when looking at trailercycles is the hitch system. This is where the trailercycle connects to the back of the adult’s bike.

If the hitch is too stiff then this can cause stability issues in the trailercycle, a definite concern. But Burley has come up with an ingenious solution.

Their patented hitch system attaches to the Burley Moose Rack (now included with both Piccolo and Kazoo models). This hitch, which is double-locking for extra safety, is constructed with ball-bearing guided pivots.

This ensures that no matter how you ride, the trailercycle will smoothly respond to all your moves. This is especially helpful when making turns. No more need to worry about sending ‘jolts’ back to the trailercycle. It’s a smooth ride all the way.

But unfortunately this system is not completely perfect. For one, you cannot use just any rear rack to attach either the Piccolo or the Kazoo via the hitch. You must use Burley’s Moose Rack. (In fairness, Burley now includes the Moose Rack with each model.)

The good news is that the Moose Rack can still fit panniers and is compatible with disc brakes. So no need to worry about whether it’ll fit on the back of Mom or Dad’s nice bike.

The not-so-good news is that the hitch can be difficult to attach to the Moose Rack. In fact, some say that they found it easier to get the local bike mechanic to attach the hitch, so this is definitely something to keep in mind.

Gears or No Gears?

We’ve talked about why you might want a trailercycle. We’ve also talked about Burley’s top-notch construction. The Piccolo and the Kazoo are an even match so far.

Here’s where they come apart: the drivetrain.

The Piccolo comes with a 7-speed drivetrain, while the Kazoo is single-speed. So what does that mean for the little one? Well, it depends.

The Piccolo’s 7 speeds are definitely great for kids who have some more experience on a bike. They can shift gears as they desire, helping them (and you!) handle those hills a little easier.

But the Kazoo’s single-speed drivetrain is great for its simplicity: fewer parts means fewer broken parts.

So if you’re thinking about taking the trailercycle out for longer rides or just want to the peace of mind knowing that you won’t have pesky mechanical problems, then the Kazoo is probably for you.

On the other hand, if you think you’re going to be doing some longer, more challenging rides, and if your little one is eager to ride like the adults then the Piccolo is definitely a great choice.

But they say all good things come with a price. And this is true of the Piccolo: its 7-speed drivetrain adds a bit to its retail cost.

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Final Verdict – Burley Kazoo Vs Piccolo

The truth is you really can’t go wrong with a Burley trailercycle. Top-notch construction. A durable, patented safety-first hitch. The complimentary Moose Rack.

The Piccolo and the Kazoo are both head-to-head on these measures.

The choice between them really comes down to the kind of riding you plan to do. If longer, more challenging rides are in the works, then the Piccolo’s 7-speed drivetrain is probably the best bet.

But if you’re just looking to tow the little one around town on shorter, easier rides, then I’d consider the Kazoo. After all, that single-speed drivetrain ensures that any pesky mechanical problems are less likely to appear.