Kids Ride Shotgun Launch a New Child Seat That Doesn't Contact the Frame

Aug 10, 2021 at 21:47
by Dan Necklen  
Shotgun Pro Child Seat

Press Release: Kids Ride Shotgun

Two years ago, we launched our frame mounted 'Kids Ride Shotgun' child seat. Designed for mountain biking with kids 2 – 5 years, the up-front ‘riding shotgun’ concept has proven popular since then, especially whilst many families have been restricted to riding within their covid-friendly bubble.

Fast forward to 2021, and today we are back with a brand new child seat, a new take on the original Shotgun seat – the Shotgun Pro.

With zero frame contact, and lightning-fast fitting and removal, the Shotgun Pro is the ultimate child seat for MTB families. And because it doesn’t touch the frame, it’s also suitable for eMTBs with bigger downtubes, which is something the original shotgun seat couldn’t accommodate.

Shotgun Pro Launch Video

by kidsrideshotgun
Views: 2,906    Faves: 1    Comments: 0


“We had a great response to our original frame mounted seat, with thousands of families hitting the trails around the globe – but we’ve struggled to make our frame mounted version suitable for eMTB’s. There are also still some parents out there with high end carbon bikes, that prefer not to have a child seat contacting their frame, and that’s why we developed the Shotgun Pro.”

Shotgun Pro Child Seat

In terms of bike compatibility, the Shotgun Pro fits all mountain bikes with standard 1 1/8 steerers, which is the vast majority of modern bikes. And so that MTB parents can share the duties, two headset spacers are included with the product – allowing for quick switching between bikes. The rear of the Shotgun Pro attaches to all common seat post sizes, and is dropper post friendly.

Shotgun Pro Child Seat

For those that want to take a deep dive into how the product came about, we have put together an overview of the Shotgun Pro development process on our blog.

bigquotesI don’t think there are many other child seat products that have the range of adjustment and design complexity that this product has. For me, the highlights are a combination of key aspects, like the way the saddle can be levelled, the way the legs fold up flat so you can hang it on the wall – the shape of the top tube, and how that mimics the shape of an MTB top tube. Also, I really like some of the details that everyday customers might not notice, the fact that every sliding mechanism is bushed and has a nice feel to it, the black on black brand aesthetic and little design details like the printed torque settings. But most importantly, this product is going to create a lot of smiles for a lot of kids!—Tom Hayward, Co-Founder

Launching today, the first release of the Shotgun Pro is exclusively available from your local bike retailer. Mountain bike parents can find their local stockist or learn more on the Kids Ride Shotgun website.

Author Info:
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Member since Apr 30, 2019
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149 Comments
  • 134 5
 I'd love one but really put off that it doesn't have an integrated AXS Kashima coated dropper....
  • 21 3
 XPLR version incoming soon
  • 16 2
 You mean it won’t go with the pivot and Küat bike rack?
  • 54 1
 Haha classic. We honestly had a kashima top rail as one of earlier designs, but thought it was a bit over the top. But perhaps not!
  • 5 0
 @kidsrideshotgun: I didn’t realise you guys were from Tauranga. I used to own a house at the mount. Love the book, my year old daughter doesn’t care so much about it though
  • 3 0
 @Waldon83: Small world indeed! We just moved from an office in Judea Tauranga across to an office at the mount. Great spot.
  • 1 0
 @kidsrideshotgun: can of gold spray paint for the gimmick would work just as well Smile
  • 28 0
 This is essentially a Mac Ride...
  • 14 0
 I kashima coated my kid. Came wired from the factory but we cut the cord to go wireless.
  • 1 0
 Seat tube is in front of the BB. Good. Good.
  • 1 0
 @derekr: And mac-ride is essentially a LOCT seat. The concept isn't new but it has been improved upon over time by a few different companies.
  • 87 13
 "We’ve been thinking about it and working on it for over 2 years now."
Step 1: Reverse engineer a Mac-Ride to make it not look like a Mac-Ride
Step 2: Price it above a Mac-Ride
Step 3: Profit

I will say however that the rotating seat is nice, that is my one complaint about the Mac-Ride. So - bravo! At the end of the day these are game changers for parents and kids riding bikes together.
  • 53 12
 Hey man, I appreciate it might look like that at first glance, but other than the where it attaches to the bike, it's a completely different design from the ground up. Check out the design article if you haven't already, the brain section caused us some serious headaches along the way! In terms of mounting, we did also think about attaching to the steerer alone, but we didn't want the seat to rotate with the bars so ruled that out pretty quickly.

Anyway, thanks for the kind words on the rotating seat. We wanted to add the padded saddle, as we get a lot of positive feedback on how comfortable the original shotgun seat saddle is, so wanted to bring that across. And agree with you, riding with a kid upfront (regardless of what product you use) is an epic experience, and gets kids off screens and out onto trails which is a great thing right!

Cheers, Dan
  • 17 1
 @kidsrideshotgun: I definitely appreciate the explanation and the engineering behind it - it was hard for me not to give them credit for all the joy it's provided me and my family. More kids on bikes is a great thing, and I hope this gets more shotgun seats to the masses!

The pinkbike formula - pick a seat and be a d*** about it.
  • 20 4
 @iduckett: This is the (Pinkbike) way.

Mac Ride had (what on face value) appears to be essentially this design ready 4(+?) years ago? You can't make something that bears more than a striking similarity (read identical with improvements) and not have people leap to that assumption.

I bought a Mac Ride about 3 years ago for my now eldest and he was on it for 2 years and was really uspet when I told him he was too big to go on it (safety issues with getting the stirrups low enough/wheel fouling etc), now his younger sister loves it too. The only complaint is sometimes on long bumpy rides they've mentioned a numb bum so a slightly more comfortable seat I'm sure is a welcome improvement the Mac Ride.

I guess when you've been beaten to the punch the only way is to "develop" your own solution and hope the improved features over the competitor blur people's memories that it's been done already. I'm definitely struggling to see how it's a "completely different design from the ground up".

But whatever, if it gets kids out on bikes more great, just a shame original ideas are becoming a rarer thing. If I ran Mac-Ride I'd be pissed although someone far more mature would probably be flattered...
  • 4 0
 @veero: Hah - agreed! Really tough to create a different design with the same (and probably the best) mounting locations and not look the same. I would consider this a product improvement as well. My 3.5 y/o is almost too big for it (max stirrup, head hitting my chin), and my 16m/o is just getting acquainted, so plenty more smiles to go!
  • 14 5
 @veero: Thanks man, I get it.

I think mac-ride started around 2012 so they've been around for a long time by comparison, and have lots of loyal followers. Before mac-ride, there was actually another brand the LOCT (little ones come too) child seat out of the UK, which was also a similar zero frame contact design. I can't speak to whether mac-ride got the idea from them or not, but that's old news now – and LOCT has gone out of business since I believe.

Anyway, thanks for the kind words on the comfortable seat. Yep we've 100% tried to improve on what's out there already, I think that's only natural in business and I don't wish the mac-ride guys any harm. In fact I met them at Sea Otter pre-covid and said hello, they were super nice. I also emailed them the other day to give them the heads up about our pro seat launch ,and they responded to say thanks – which was more than I expected to be honest.

Anyway, as you've said (as have a couple of others), people love whatever seat they've used, as it's an amazing experience riding with your kid. Here's to more of that!

Cheers, Dan
  • 3 0
 My only issue with my Mac Ride is the seat height. On my long travel bike, the head tube stack height is tall enough that my daughter's helmet is right at chin height. Although the seat angle adjustment on this copy is a nice touch, it will put child even higher. Another possible issue I see is the big nasty thumb screw hanging out from the side steerer clamp. That thing looks like a puncture wound waiting to happen. The Mac Ride's clamp screw is integrated into the clamp and doesn't pose that threat.
  • 2 0
 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: Cheers man, I hear you. We've worked really hard to get the saddle height low whilst still having zero frame contact, and keeping the padded seat. But your concerns are valid. Just a note: The photos in this article are of our pre production sample, the thumb screw for the production version is approx 50% smaller. On the helmet / chin contact, how old is your kid? Often it's a bit of a combo of your height, kids height + frame geometry.
  • 6 13
flag graniteandrew (Aug 11, 2021 at 5:31) (Below Threshold)
 Other than the function and the mounts, it’s totally different…ok @kidsrideshotgun:
  • 14 4
 Jeepers,

How about if the first design of a two wheeled machine with a seat and some sort of handlebar was the only "allowed version" of said machine...or perhaps only one version of a 4 wheeled vehicle with a motor and steering wheel. Itd be nice if we were all driving around in a Benz Patent Motor Car with no improvements.

Of course the basics are the same..WTF. Isnt it true that imitation is the greatest form of flattery?
  • 1 0
 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: The other issue with high stack height and a Mac-Ride is the angle of the seat with a long dropper. The mount on the back has to be close to the seat collar when the dropper is slammed. So the angle of the seat rail is quite steep. I had to compensate by moving the rear mount up near the dropper collar and not slamming the dropper, so my kid didn't slip off the back of the seat. With this design you could mount the rear clamp flush w/ the seat collar and still get a good seat angle, so I feel that high seat issue is negated somewhat, but it still is frame dependent.
  • 8 4
 There are a lot of comments like this; this seat, bike racks, bikes, etc. What the masses don’t get, is that just because something bears a resemblance, or even seems to work in the same way, that doesn’t mean it’s a copy or a knockoff. Designing a new product often has constraints that limit how something can look or function, so at first glance two different products could look or seem to function the same, but the details, assembly, etc. could be totally different. This still requires a crap ton of work, engineering, due diligence, etc. It’s not as easy as copy, paste, profit.
  • 6 0
 Really it is a fancy mac-ride though. That's what I like best about the mac-ride - it connects at the head tub and seat post and doesn't touch the frame. They even sent new stirrup bars when my wife bought an e-bike. I'm not saying this new design doesn't have some improvements, but denying that it's super similar to the mac-ride is a bit crass.
  • 7 0
 Sounds like you're saying that it looks like a Session.
  • 2 0
 @ratedgg13: D@M... I was just going to say that... beat me to it. :>
  • 4 1
 I still love the Mac Ride for all the great adventures my son could enjoy with me. And the design is pretty close, pretty strait forward, simple, light and durable. The only thing I would not assume is comfy... And I bet my ass that the shotgun thicks this box.

It is at least a huge improvement on the older shotgun, which looked like a DIY project.

I mean isn't it the trend in our sport that good designs will get adopted by others...

As long as it helps to share a ride with your kid, you shouldn't think twice fir the price.

#lookslikeasession #lookslikeamacride #kidsonbikes
  • 1 0
 To see it in real world use...
m.pinkbike.com/video/509998
  • 7 0
 @enis: I think a lot of what we're responding to here is the language used in the PR.

It sounds like they're touting "A kids bike seat that fits in-between your headset and seatpost" as some kind of amazing new invention.

It's like if WeAreOne launched the Arrival, and was like, "It has two wheels, front and back suspension, and is capable of going down mountain trails!"

Instead of focusing on what's actually unique about their product, @kidsrideshotgun wrote a press release that presents the features they share with earlier products, as unique, instead of actually focusing on its unique features.

After reading the design article, I believe the ways this tries to improve on the MacRide design are:

* A more comfortable, adjustable seat.
* Adjustable-width legs.
* Grippy foot pegs.

That's cool, and I'll bet they wouldn't be getting this flack if they'd focused on those advancements in their PR, instead of suggesting that "features MacRide has offered for years" were innovations.
  • 1 0
 @ldhbaker: My first thought was the Wee-Ride that we inherited from my sister's kids. That also connected the same way. The bracket was super cumbersome to put on and off.

I "upgraded" from that to a Yepp, which was great to put on and off (it snapped into a bracket on the headset stack).... but the seat was too high and too upright so I'd have the kids helmet bouncing off my chin

The iBert seemed to fix that problem from what I saw from a fellow Dad, but never tried it myself.

Anyway, all great ideas. I dig any company that puts in the effort to get us all on the trails together.
  • 1 0
 @kidsrideshotgun: Hey Dan, appreciate the reply. Since my comment earlier there's been quite a few comments echoing the fact that good solutions often inevitably end up looking the same. To be honest I probably am a bit swept up in the fact that at the time the Mac Ride was pretty much the only solution on the market which did what I wanted, Rear mounted seats? Hell no. Wee Ride with the weird podium/lecturn thing which looks like it's made of girders and weighs half a metric ton, nope. I'd already got the Mac Ride when your KRS came out, but to be blunt I was never keen on clamping a kid's seat onto a carbon frame...

Sure there is a certain inevitability in solutions focussing to a similar means, and to be fair your solution does look like it solves some of the imperfections of the Mac Ride and you've executed them in a pleasingly engineered way so props. If the Mac Ride guys are cool with it then what the heck, there's 50 different bikes out there running faux bar so yeah let's get those kids seats out there. I knew I had seen something prior to the MR but had forgotten about the LOCT, I guess their business model just wasn't quite succesful or maybe it was pitched at the wrong time/wrong market.

To anyone with kids umming and ahhing about a kid's seat, just get one. If you have two kids get a trailer too, hauling two children on a conventional bike up a shallow gradient turns it into a mega workout, plus they are usually grinning like nutters on the way back down.
  • 1 0
 @letsgoridebikes18: While I’m an owner of the resembled seat and personally have had my products copied/reproduced overseas as an engineer, I only meant this as a sarcastic jab. I think it’s pretty clear what went into this design, with the effort and attention to detail. As long as the Big S doesn’t get involved we can celebrate this innovation and others for years to come!
  • 2 1
 @atourgates: Thanks man, that's a really interesting point you raise. Well put.

I think when writing the press release above, I've been super conscious that (for most of the world at least) the concept of riding with kids upfront on a mountain biking is a relatively new idea. A lot of people think it's crazy in fact! Appreciate that's not the case for PB people however, so I probably could have changed the language for this article. But at the same time, I didn't want to make the article a mac-ride comparison. It's a pretty tough one when there's only one main competitor, as it looks like you're singling them out.

In terms of the differences of the product, you've pretty much nailed it at high level. The rest are all subtle design features that only product designers would notice. Another thing that the trade would be interested in, as that we're available at your local bike shop, in fact, the pro seat launch is exclusively through bike retailers which we think is pretty rad.

Thanks for the feedback man, appreciate it! Cheers, Dan
  • 2 0
 @iduckett: Fair enough, hard to catch the tone in the comments section! I’m a design engineer so I know how tough it is!
  • 4 0
 @atourgates:
Yeah, without a doubt. To be honest it's good to see people sticking up for the original.
There's always going to be a first, and if it's a decent idea there will always (mostly) be another better and another worse version.

Competition will drive innovation
  • 24 0
 $5 says Richie Rude would still be top 25 in a EWS race if he carried Mike Levy on his Yeti with one of these things....
  • 8 0
 @mikelevy i'm gonna be mad if this isn't mentioned in the podcast
  • 13 0
 My top tip for theses is to buy a neoprene chain stay protector, cut it in half then put onto either side of your handlebars so your little one has a pair of grips to hold onto, rather than cold hard handlebars.
  • 8 0
 I used bar tape.
  • 8 0
 I just use roadie bar tape/wrap, same idea! Saves having to remove controls to slide over foam grips too.
  • 61 0
 I just tape my kid to the downtube.
  • 21 1
 @oscartheballer: I just snipped my downtubes so I wouldn't ever have to figure out how to get a kid on my mountain bike....
  • 3 1
 Two other solutions:

Shotgun sells a small handlebar for kids that clamps onto your bar.

Or, I have used a Renthal extra tacky cut in half and each side slipped onto the inside of the bars using an air nozzle. Gotta take your shifter and brake levers and stuff for that though ...
  • 5 0
 @oscartheballer: Dude, get with the times. You gotta use the new Lezyne Enduro Kiddo Strap. Its 48" long for custom fit, and uses aerospace velcro.

EDIT: Spelling
  • 4 0
 @lewiscraik: the advantage of the neoprene is that it velcros on and off really easily.
  • 1 1
 @husstler: Plus one for putting lightly used grips inside the shifter/brake levers!
  • 1 0
 Same here, but I used some hockey tape. The other tape are pretty thick and the little hands can't quite wrap around so it's hard to grip. Also used an old tube with some tape.
  • 1 0
 @lewiscraik: I was just thinking the same
  • 5 0
 Also, if you're riding in cool weather, remember that your mini-me will be way colder than you, since they're not pedaling. Had to turn around a couple of times in the fall and spring before I learned to overbundle the little parasites.
  • 13 0
 Can't wait to drop in on Dirt merchant with my kid.
  • 8 0
 A lot of comments about copying the mac-ride... Improvement and refinement tends to lead down a common path. Much like how all the different components essentially look the same. Both work well now and both are slightly different. Buy whatever you want! We have the mac-ride and it works exceptionally well for us. These things are joy bringers!
  • 2 0
 yeah imagine the next xtr derailleur comes out and somebody says "looks like every other derailleur" yeah, because that's the best way to do it. (behind gearboxes of course) Honestly i bet half the people don't even have kids or aren't in the market for one. if you don't like it, don't buy it.
  • 12 1
 The Mac-Ride is probably the best bike related thing I've bought in the last 3 years.
  • 10 1
 Looks like a Session, errr Mac Ride.

I guess it at least settles the discussions as to if it is better to clamp the child seat to your frame, or to steerer/seat post.
  • 4 4
 Hey Lewis, agree that zero frame contact is great if you can get it, but bikes with slammed stems or weird headsets don't always make that easy in terms of compatibility.
  • 2 0
 @kidsrideshotgun: I have the first version for this reason along with wanting the kids weight a little lower. The little girl loves it. Thanks for making a great product
  • 3 1
 @seanwggns: Thanks man, stoked to hear that!
  • 7 0
 Got one of the original SHotguns and it's by far the best upgrade I've ever bought for my bike - and I've bought a few! My daughter loves it and it means I can go out for a ride with my older son and bring her along for the ride.. Can't recommend these types of seat (Shotgun, MacRide or otherwise) enough, a total game-changer for riding with kids.
  • 4 0
 It’s pretty awesome. You get looks of curiosity everywhere you go.

Who are these ninnies worried about their precious “high end carbon” frames? I have one of those and I don’t worry a bit about it. Just wipe the dust off the frame and the shotgun seat’s rubber innards. You won’t scratch your frame.
  • 2 0
 @gnarlysipes: Amen. Why we treat depreciating recreational equipment with such reverence these days is beyond me. Ride it! Use it!
  • 2 0
 @gnarlysipes: I have an original one, as well, but I I've scuffed paint off my bike from it. I'm not sure how, given how the rubber coating surrounds the metal plates? I guess I've just really cranked it down. It stays on the XC-ish bike because switching it between bikes is annoying and time consuming. My only complaint is that I can't tighten down the optional handlebars enough that my 3-year-old won't yank them down towards his lap when things get bumpy.

Regardless, it's a fantastic invention and really is a game-changer for riding with kids. Every adult who sees it is in awe.
  • 1 0
 @Eiriksmal: Maybr I don’t use it as much as you. I’ve used it on two bikes now. The first had a gloss paint job and my current ride has a matte slippery finish. Haven’t noticed any major damage. I’m sure there are some minor scuffs but I’m pretty careful to wipe the frame and rubber bumpers off before I put it on.
  • 8 2
 Had both the original Shotgun, and the mac ride. My kid and I prefer the Mac ride. Easier to install, feels solid, more comfortable for the kiddo, he seems more confident in the saddle.

Judging by the fact shotgun just ripped of Mac ride’s entire design I’d say they agree.
  • 4 0
 Looks just like a Mac Ride now!! maybe they should’ve named it The Session?!

In all serious… it’s just rad to have some more kids seats out there. We’re on 7 years+ use of our Mac Rides! Yay bikes and kids! Weeeeee! ✨

DB@EB
  • 9 2
 "Macride? Never heard of it"
  • 5 3
 Mac-rides a great product. Nothing against those guys. Pretty sure they wanna get kids on the trails too.
  • 8 5
 I bought the original shot gun and didn't like the way it mounted and scratched the hell out of my downtube on my yeti. So I sold it and got a Mac ride. You could have at least painted it a different color to not exactly copy a Mac ride.
  • 2 0
 I got a shotgun because my bike (also a yeti, coincidentally) didn't have enough spacers under the stem to mount a mac ride. It's been fine other than some minor wrinkles in my ride wrap, but I'd definitely get a mac ride if I had room for a 10mm spacer under the stem (as I'm sure most people do).

That being said, either one is better than none. It's so fun to be able to take my whole family out on the trails and makes it way easier to get out for a ride compared to having to leave my wife with all the little ones.
  • 2 0
 @big-red: I have Thule Thule Yepp Nexxt Mini...put on a shorter stem, and slide seat back. Knees still hit the back and I am forced to ride bow-legged. Does either the Shot Gun or Mac Ride have this issue?

My mountain bike - also a Yeti, tho a 575 - does not have a lot of space on the steerer tube for a mount, and the Thule requires 30mm. But it sounds like either of those require less.
Currently using my cross bike.

The kid loves the thing and it gets me more riding time, so I am looking for a better set-up.
  • 2 0
 @ReformedRoadie: Okay, so my around-town is a dutch-style city bike and I had a Yepp Mini on the front until my kids outgrew it, so I can speak with a good amount of experience when I say it's a whole different ballgame. You're replacing a full lounge-chair seat with a slim saddle. You still have to ride with your knees out a bit, but it's soooooooo much better. Plus your kid is in a standing/seating bike position instead of fully-seated so they can learn to absorb bumps with their legs. You also don't have the high back of the seat eating into the space where you chest wants to be on climbs like you would with a Yepp Mini.

I would strongly recommend a mac ride. It only requires a single 10mm spacer under the stem to fit (you replace the stock spacer with one supplied by mac ride that has a groove in it for mounting). I've been able to take my son on almost all my local trails as long as they don't include airborne features since he was about 2.5 years old and he's loved every second. Just make sure it's not near nap time, because it's not like a Yepp Mini where they can go limp and be supported by the seat when they fall asleep.
  • 2 0
 @big-red: Thanks! He's 15 months today, so I think I need to wait on that, but it sounds awesome. I'll check out the Mac Ride.
  • 2 0
 @ReformedRoadie: You have time, but I'd say your little one could be rocking that thing by next May, so start planning. They may not be ready for rougher stuff right away, but my little guys could sit on something like a Mac Ride or Shotgun stably before their 2nd birthday.
  • 3 0
 @ReformedRoadie: My daughter started off on her Mac Ride at 18mos, she's 5 now and I still take her to and from pre-school on the Mac Ride, it's a little too far and to urban for her to ride her own bike. That being said, she's around 20kg now and getting a bit too large for the Mac Ride. She starts elementary school soon, and that is only a couple blocks from our house and residential, so she'll be surrendering the Mac Ride to her little sister.
  • 1 0
 @big-red @ReformedRoadie: And take snacks! Lots of snacks
  • 2 0
 @ReformedRoadie: agree with the others on the age of kiddos. My little girl started on the shotgun seat at 18 m and has managed to sit solidly even with her 25th percentile-height-legs for the last five months. Also had a close call this summer riding home from the community pool tho, so watch out for not just nap time but more exhausting activities as well. You'd think riding in 105 heat would keep someone awake for the 5 min ride back home but next thing I know she's bobbing her head side to side and hitting my arms!
  • 3 0
 I have 2 current gen shotgun seats and I dont see the issue with frame contact. There are 2 things about this deisgn I do see issue with. With the floating design... what is preventing flexion of the stir-ups that will contact the side of the frame say if the kids weights themselves to one side? Also, the lowest riding height is considerably higher than before. I have a tall little one so we swapped the shotgun seat out for a very low profile one just to give a little more head clearance. With this one, its going to be more difficult to see over the child than before which will limit its use as the kid ages. Maybe these are non-issues though but the rider clearance was why I went with shotgun over Mac-ride.
  • 2 0
 Same here.
  • 5 2
 Congratulations, you almost caught up to Mac ride! Your price just needs to be more competitive.. These seats are defiantly a game changer, been using mine for almost 5 years between two kids, both of my kids gravitate to the bikes now, it was just so much for for them. Great tool for introductions!
  • 3 0
 The experience's y'all have brought me with my 3 year old daughter and shortly my 1 year old son are priceless. Seriously...there's very few products on the market which have made such a strong impact on my life. Getting out and enjoying rides with my daughter, sharing the love of the sport I love, dusting off those first crashes, etc. I only hope my daughter has a vague memory of some of our early rides.

I tell everyone I can about the stuff from @kidsrideshotgun and will continue to do so. One comment: y'all need to implement the idea I sent last year: build out a community of people who ride with their kids. The only thing that could make my rides better is if my daughter and I could find some other parent riding buddies. We did this in the early days of GoPro and it paid dividends.
  • 7 0
 MACRIDE
  • 2 0
 Love this, and see it as a great evolution of the Mac ride.

Have two Mac rides for kiddos (now 4.5 and 3) with mounts on the mtbs and emtbs.

When the kiddos were smaller the grippy larger saddle of the macride was advantageous in keeping them in place but having to buy the emtb package for the stirrups to clear the emtb downtubes was definitely an extra cost. Also, the macride struggling to fit the 34.9 seat post was a challenge (this may be remedied with their updates)
Mac ride has changed their saddle to shift back further for ‘longer’ riders but the saddle is so huge the kiddos reach can only extend so far…
with older kiddos this saddle design seems a lot better, especially since most bikes have shorter seat posts to facilitate long droppers and the saddle rotates…
The stack height and chin Bono is a real concern but if my 5’2” wife on a S 29 emtb can figure it out, you can too…!

Also, the shotgun looks like the foot rests can extend further and toe overlap is less of an issue…

Excuse me while I go clean tinkle out of a car seat, restart Luca, flip a load of laundry, and get a kiddo out of time out

Long story short just Get out and ride with your kids. It’s amazing.

#dadoftheyearoftheday
  • 8 2
 Looks like a Mac Ride
  • 2 1
 Sorry for the snark… Kids Ride Shotgun stuff is great. Have their handlebar and book.. and my kid loves them both. This seems pricey at first glance, but after spending the money on a similar quality/price seat, it’s worth it. I use every day when the weather is good cruising around with the little dude. They are extremely solid and easy to take on and off.
  • 1 0
 @deez-nucks: Thanks man. Great you have the book!
  • 5 4
 It's like people here have no idea how design and innovation works. Most products you buy are just copies with improvements on something. Look at all the high pivot Enduro bikes coming out. That's how it is. This thing is so different to a Mac-ride.
  • 1 0
 me and my daughters are pretty happy with ours, the only problem is how difficult is to put it on and off, my DJ is asigned to that seat for the following 5 years and i am not taking it off unless is really necesary. Looks like this new one you can take off and on pretty easily.
  • 4 1
 So they made a MacRide. LOL Sweet to have other options out there though. I ride with my kid a couple of times a week and it's awesome.
  • 1 1
 And mac-ride did a LOCT seat. The concept isn't new, it's just evolving.
  • 1 0
 I use my original shotgun almost every day, however it gets very little mountain bike time, and spends all of its time on my commuter. My daughter just doesn't like the bumpy trails. It just barely fits on the level top tube of the commuter bike though.

I would really love to see a spin off of this where the seat/stirrup apparatus can mount directly to a parallel top tube for commuter/road bikes, (and potentially swap over to the steer-seat bar for mountain bikes. Then you have a product head and shoulder above all others.
  • 1 0
 @kidsrideshotgun are the foot holders on this Shotgun Pro length adjustable for kids with different leg lengths? That has been my biggest gripe with the original; the foot pegs are just too high up even for a 2-3 year old kid.
  • 1 0
 Yes they're length adjustable
  • 1 0
 @kidsrideshotgun: Sweet! I'm very tempted to sell my original Shotgun and swap up to the pro. I see lots of benefits. Does it seems to work well with bikes with a steep top tube? I can just barely get the saddle level currently, but it looks like since the pro attaches to the steerer tube and the seat post, the angle of the bar should be less steep than the top tube itself. That at the pro is much more secure, the original likes to slip (rock) backwards until it contacts the downtube regardless of how much I tighten it down on the frame (mostly because the downtube is much wider than the top tube, but this is not an emtb).
  • 1 0
 Just don't be stupid like me and keep pushing the speed limits of what your 3 year old step-son can handle. If you go over a roller too fast it can buck them right out of the stirrups and end in stitches to the head and road rash all over the body. Thankfully no broken bones or concussion and he was back on a bike in 4 days. Just a cautionary tale for you freaks.
  • 1 0
 @kidsrideshotgun I've got your gen1 seat and love it, but do wish it were a bit easier to hook up to the bike like this one looks to be. My only thing is how I'm going to connect the seat if I've got my dropper slammed to accommodate my short legs? Any tips
  • 1 0
 Thanks man, you'll need 14mm of space above the seat post collar to fit the shotgun pro – if you can go up 14mm with your saddle height it sounds like you're good.
  • 3 0
 Buy a Macride. And the money you save you can use for new bling parts for the bike
  • 3 0
 Like the concept, something tells me my kid still going to kick me in the jewels.
  • 4 0
 How to get a cheap (inefficient) tandem.
  • 3 0
 Little freeloader can’t even pedal!
  • 2 0
 @TheR: Mine tells me all the time he's helping on big hills. Yeah, get off and walk your 40lb self up this one.
  • 2 0
 @TheR: “Little freeloader can’t even pedal!“

I know right?! That’s the future of children’s bike seats...incorporate more childpower.

My girl is 11 months old...still a year or so until she can ride this thing I’m so excited about the idea of riding with her that I I bought the OG shotgun when my wife was still pregnant. Probably for her 1st birthday I’ll get her the bars.

...it’s going to be hard not to spoil her with bike gear.
  • 1 0
 @babymorox: I couldn’t wait to get a Burley. One of the best purchases I ever made. They’re really freeloading back there, though.
  • 1 0
 @babymorox: handlebars are a must imo. My relatively short daughter almost falls over the bars anytime I brake without them.
  • 1 0
 me and my 2.5 year old use a shotgun on my Fatbike for playground hauling adventures and occasional single track fun! Best thing I've bought for my bike in ages. Way easier than strapping them into a trailer!
  • 1 0
 The first one is ten bags of fun and seems so much better than having your kid on a seat behind you. So what it looks like another product on the market. We see further by sitting on the shoulders of giants.
  • 1 0
 @kidsrideshotgun Hey Dan, the new pro seat turned out awesome! Can't wait to get one on my wifes e-bike and take the neices and nephews out on some rides! Keep on crushing it! - Kelly
  • 1 0
 Thanks Kelly!
  • 1 0
 I've had no issues with the original my frame. 22 month old son has ridden on it for 2-3 months now. The more options out there the merrier, but will the original one be discontinued?
  • 1 0
 @kidsrideshotgun
Is there the 'Shotgun Pro Kids MTB Seat' w/ an option for a bottle cage or does the lucky Kiwi kid have to carry a heavy CamelBak? Asking for a friend :-)
  • 1 0
 This is just a rip off of the TykeToater clearly designed to get around patents. www.tyketoter.com Cheaper and simpler, dare I say elegant.
  • 4 3
 Product looks anything remotely like something else;
Pinkbike Bro Science - YOU COPIED (insert brand here) AND YOU ARE THIEVES!
  • 9 6
 Bummer they copied Mac Ride.
  • 2 1
 Check out the LOCT seat which existed before mac-ride. The concept isn't new, just our design is. More kids on trails!
  • 1 0
 I want something so that I can still hit Pro lines at parks with my kids on the bike. Y'know tossing a knack-knack with a kid on would be silky sikk bro!
  • 1 0
 Tears of joy when the boy said he "wanted to read it by himself" and straight up recited it to us. Thanks. Long live the Numbat!
  • 2 0
 Yes Numbat!
  • 4 0
 Mac-Ride knockoff
  • 1 1
 Check out the LOCT seat which existed before the mac-ride. Our concept is the same as LOCT and mac-ride but the design is different. There's a design article on our website if you're interested. Cheers, Dan
  • 1 0
 For a bunch of thrill seekers you guys sure seem scared to let a 4 year old ride on a bike… it’s not like you put them on there a rip a double black diamond.
  • 4 0
 So, the "Mac Ride"?
  • 1 0
 Check out the LOCT seat which mac-ride drew inspiration from.
  • 2 0
 Nothing will endear you to your wife as much as sending your 1 1/2-year-old over the bars.
  • 2 0
 been here, done this, front tyre took off most of his forehead. he now wears a full face when we duo ride. I asked him if he wanted to go slower and he looked at me as if I'd just turned into a giraffe.
  • 1 0
 Will it work for small dogs, and if not are you planning on making a puppy friendly version?
  • 1 0
 #dogsrideshotgun
  • 1 0
 Hey Ali Frame, I know I'm not supposed to contact you, but hey, you're sexy AF. C Seat.
  • 1 0
 If anyone out there is gonna upgrade to this and wants to sell me their gen 1 HMU.
  • 1 0
 Related note - any good recs for kiddo full face? Love the scamp mips but need some face protection for the fun rides
  • 2 1
 Give it a week for the chinese to copy it and save £10000
  • 2 1
 ye, definitely a solid idea to entrust your child's safety to a knock off product Smile !
  • 3 3
 @Robo88: Honestly, the 'knock off' copy of the original that was sold on eBay was Identical in every single way to the original when compared to the real thing, but a quarter of the price. Makes me think that another company designed it and Kids ride shotgun just rebranded it with some fancy advertising.
  • 5 1
 @kingfluther: I wish you were right, but unfortunately it was 100% the other way around
  • 1 0
 @kidsrideshotgun: Fair enough. That must be frustrating so.
  • 2 0
 $400aud... insanity!
  • 1 0
 …..oh, there will be a Launch for sure with this contraption.
  • 1 0
 More kids on bikes!!! Hope a ton of people buy this thing.
  • 1 0
 Great for teaching the kids reverse flips too Smile
  • 2 1
 Anna and I LOVE ours! Thank you @kidsrideshotgun !!!!
  • 1 0
 Awesome Katrina!
  • 1 0
 Time for the new "parent/toddler" enduro class at your next race
  • 1 2
 I find these things a bit dangerous, a little flat tire and your kid is at serious risk.

Can we add some airbags and call it the XPLDR?
  • 1 0
 make one that holds a cat and then we talking.
  • 1 0
 Looks like your knee would hit the kids pedal once to often
  • 2 1
 Thinin' the herd.
  • 1 0
 No carbon version?
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