This is a review based on personal experience by Jennifer Gardner, a passionate cyclist and mother of two from Boulder, Colorado.
Stumbling upon a Copilot Limo baby bike seat for just $5 at a thrift store felt like a stroke of pure luck. Deciding to restore it, locate the corresponding bike rack, and ultimately keep it was a more deliberate and thoughtful choice.
Living in a cycling-centric town like Boulder, Colorado, I frequently encounter used kids’ bike gear at bargain prices. This meant I wasn’t obligated to keep this particular seat if it didn’t meet our needs.
Fortunately, it turned out to be a keeper. The Copilot Limo pleasantly surprised me with its user-friendly installation process, a washable gel seat pad, and, most importantly, the sheer joy it brought to my daughter during our rides around town. Weighing in at only 11.8 pounds, this seat is remarkably lightweight, making its presence on the bike barely noticeable.
Our home is conveniently situated right on a primary bike path, and cycling is our preferred mode of daily commuting. Given our frequent bike usage, finding a comfortable and durable seat capable of accommodating my youngest child for a couple of years was a priority. My criteria included longevity (room for growth), quality construction, and, above all, comfort. I believe the Copilot Limo has successfully ticked all three boxes.
In this review, I will delve into the reasons why the CoPilot Limo has become a permanent fixture in our cycling gear and highlight areas where improvements could be made. If you are in the market for a lightweight, easy-to-install, and budget-friendly Children Bike seat, this model might be a strong contender. However, it’s wise to exercise caution when considering purchasing it at full price or to thoroughly inspect a used seat before committing.
Blackburn CoPilot Limo: Quick Review
The Upsides:
- Lightweight design, effortless to install and detach.
- Luxurious, washable gel padding and comprehensive side protection.
- Integrated spoke guards (Velcro straps to secure children’s feet).
- Foldable grab bar, secure three-point harness, and reclining backrest.
The Downsides:
- Lacks storage capacity compared to a bike trailer.
- Limited space between the child and adult rider, and minimal recline angle.
- Child tends to slide forward, creating a gap behind the lower back.
- Requires the proprietary carrier rack for installation – they are designed as a set.
- Questionable long-term durability and potential safety concerns (as reported in some user reviews).
- Incompatible with bikes lacking a quick-release rear wheel.
Pricing and Purchase Options:
- Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $199
- Check current price at REI.com
- $149.96 at Amazon.com (Price as of: 2025-02-22 at 19:18) – Disclaimer
Comfort Features
The Copilot Limo truly lives up to its luxurious name in terms of comfort. The seat is generously wide and spacious, featuring a reclining backrest and a plush gel seat pad for a comfortable ride.
My toddler enjoys resting her hands on the padded, overhead pull-down bar. This bar also serves as a convenient place to secure her doll and provides an added sense of security. The gaps incorporated into the plastic at the top of the seat act as ventilation on warmer days and can also be used to clip on a small backpack for carrying essentials.
Given our frequent use of the seat, I particularly appreciate the removable and washable gel padding. It’s a significant advantage to easily clean up spills and messes.
Removing the seat pad, washing it, and reinstalling it takes less than ten minutes. However, the adhesive on the Velcro backing may start to weaken over time, but it can be easily re-glued with standard super glue.
Fit Considerations: Not Ideal for Taller Parents or Older Children
The seat is a good fit for my 22-month-old, weighing around 20 lbs, with ample room for growth. My husband, ever the adventurer, even took our 4.5-year-old, weighing 49 lbs, for a short ride. He reported that while pedaling was more challenging, it was manageable.
While the seat is officially rated for children up to 4.5 years old, my daughter is already as tall as an average 6-year-old at 50 inches. During the ride, her knees were bumping into his back, making it less than ideal. This particular ride was primarily to satisfy her curiosity about riding in the “baby seat” and is not something we would recommend for older or taller children.
My eldest child inherited her height from her father, who is 6’2”. He also noted that the back of his shoes would occasionally hit the bottom of the baby seat while pedaling. As someone who is 5’7”, I experience this issue less frequently, but it is still noticeable.
The seat’s forward positioning seems to reduce the personal space for both the rider and the child. Despite the quick-release mounting system, which theoretically allows for easy transfer between bikes, we haven’t installed a second rack for my husband’s bike due to this space limitation.
Despite the slightly cramped feeling, the CoPilot Limo remains a solid, budget-friendly rear-mounted children bike seat, unless either the parent or child is particularly tall.
Areas for Improvement
The Copilot Limo, despite its merits, does have some drawbacks related to comfort, in addition to the limited space between rider and child. I wish the recline feature offered a more significant angle. The slight tilt is insufficient to prevent my toddler from slumping forward uncomfortably when she falls asleep during rides.
Another issue is that my daughter tends to slide forward in the seat, creating a gap behind her lower back. It appears there’s also pressure concentrated on her diaper area after longer rides, possibly due to this forward sliding. This issue persists even when tightening the harness straps.
Speaking of the harness, I wish it offered more adjustability for a more secure fit. There are only two height slots for the harness, and a third, lower slot would be beneficial for smaller children to achieve a snugger and safer fit. Moving the seat further back and increasing the recline angle would likely counteract the slight forward tilt of the seat when installed.
While the safety strap around the seat post is a welcome feature, it unfortunately scratched the paint on my seat post. This is not a major concern for my commuter bike, but I would hesitate to use it on a bike with a nicer finish.
Ideally, the seat should be compatible with universal bike racks, rather than being limited to the proprietary EX-1 rack. This rack requirement prevents its use on cargo bikes like the Radpower Radwagon, which is a significant limitation for some families.
The adjustable foot wells on our older model no longer tighten properly. However, I can still use the straps to secure my child’s feet and prevent her from kicking me while riding. The newer Limo model has eliminated the adjustable foot wells entirely, possibly due to durability issues. While the concept was good, the execution could have been better.
Disc Brake Compatibility
A significant advantage of the CoPilot Limo is its compatibility with bikes equipped with disc brakes. Ensure you purchase the “EX-1 Disc” rack version when buying the seat if your bike has disc brakes.
The market offers a limited selection of children bike seats that are compatible with disc brakes, making the Limo a valuable option for cyclists with disc brake-equipped bikes.
Safety Features
The CoPilot Limo appears to be a reasonably safe option compared to other children bike seats on the market. I appreciate the bright color scheme (our older model is red and yellow, while newer models are blue and green), the rear light mounting point, and the integrated reflector for enhanced visibility.
Many parents opt to add extra reflectors and a safety flag for increased visibility, especially when cycling in bike lanes on roadways. The Copilot is compatible with Blackburn flashers and CPSC reflectors for those seeking to enhance safety further.
The padded overhead pull-down bar serves dual purposes: a comfortable hand rest and an added safety barrier in case of a bike tip-over. In terms of overall safety, the Copilot provides a solid level of protection, provided it remains in good working order. (See durability concerns below).
Copilot advertises that the pull-down bar can be positioned behind the seat to create a freestanding child seat. However, I am skeptical about its stability and safety in this mode. While the seat can stand independently, it doesn’t appear very stable, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable placing my child in it while freestanding for fear of it tipping over easily.
Durability and Warranty Considerations
The CoPilot Limo incorporates additional security straps designed to limit rearward seat movement, which offers added peace of mind.
However, my research revealed some user complaints regarding the breakage of these straps. Compounding this issue is the limited one-year warranty. If these straps fail after the warranty period, the seat becomes essentially unusable, as replacement straps are not available for purchase separately through the Copilot website. This is a significant drawback to consider.
Another potential durability concern is the rubber strap located on the back of the seat, which is also prone to snapping and lacks a replacement option.
Final Verdict
Overall, the Blackburn CoPilot Limo is a decent children bike seat with some minor and some more significant issues. I am willing to overlook minor inconveniences like re-gluing Velcro or improvising padding for recline. (Few children bike seats offer substantial recline anyway).
My satisfaction is amplified by the fact that I acquired the seat and rack used for only $20. However, if either of the critical safety straps (front or rear) were to break or tear, the seat would likely be retired due to the lack of replacement parts and expired warranty.
Therefore, I cannot wholeheartedly recommend purchasing this seat at full retail price. However, older models are sometimes available at discounted prices on platforms like Amazon, which might make them a more attractive option for budget-conscious buyers.
It remains a reasonably good seat, especially when compared to some of the lower-quality brands sold in large retail stores. If you can find a used Copilot Limo, it is worth considering, but thoroughly inspect the safety straps before purchasing and remember that the matching EX-1 rack is essential for installation.
Explore More About Children Bike Seats & Alternatives
About Us
Rascal Rides is a family-run website created by Kristen (mom), Blair (dad), and Parker (kiddo). We started Rascal Rides when Parker was born because we were determined to continue our passion for cycling as a family. We share what we learn along the way. Over the years, we have tested hundreds of kids’ bikes, helmets, bike trailers, and other cycling gear.
Kristen is a certified USA Cycling coach and is enthusiastic about sharing her love of cycling with other families. Blair is a bike enthusiast, mechanic, and mountain bike devotee. Parker is our chief product tester and source of inspiration.
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