Bugaboo, arguably one of the true innovators in the stroller industry, will be launching the Bee in the latter part of August 2007. The launch of the Bugaboo Bee Stroller will be accompanied by much hype and fanfare. When the Cameleon and Gecko were launched there was an incredible level excitement and anticipation. This is a credit to Bugaboo's masterful use of the media. These strollers were clearly variations on the Frog design, and not a new creation. The Bee is a completely new design and therefore considerably more significant than the addition of the Cameleon and Gecko to the Bugaboo line. Bugaboo has a lot riding on this new stroller, hence the media blitz surrounding the launch of this stroller will be unparalleled. The Bee will be seen in Times Square on the Router Board for the entire month of September! The Bee will show up in countless magazines and publications everywhere! No other stroller to date will have such a prominent launch. This is definitely a red carpet event for Bugaboo.
The question that must be on everyones mind at this point is does the stroller really offer anything significant? Is this simply much ado about nothing? The Bee definitely has less to offer than it's predecessors. The Bee weighs less than it's Bugaboo siblings weighing in at 17 Lbs (similar to the weight of many umbrella strollers) making the bee far easier to carry around. The Bee is less of a financial burden with a price of 9.00. The Bee is less of a hassle as well. I say this because it offers a one piece fold (a first for the Bugaboo line). The Bee also has foam tires accompanied by a 4 wheel independent spring suspension system providing the smooth ride expected of a stroller of this caliber, without the possibility of a flat tire. Once again less hassle. The Bee is only 20 inches wide making it the sports car of the Bugaboo line. Zipping through the tightest of urban situations is one of the Bee's forte's!
One may suspect the Bee to be a stripped down bare bones stroller due to the lower price. That simply is not true. The Bee offers many things it's counterparts simply do not have. A perfect example of this is the telescopic push handle that allows the vertically challenged as well as the tallest of the tall to comfortably glide along. You may mention that the Cameleon has this feature as well which it does; however, the Bee has a new less cumbersome locking system that makes locking in your preferred height a snap! The Bee also has an adjustable seat base that none of the Bugaboo's offer. When your child is little the seat base adjusts in so their knees can bend and fit properly. When the child grows you can pull out the base so it continues to fit you child comfortably. The seat can also face forward or face Mom and Dad. The seat also has 4 positions, including a flat position suitable for a newborn. The canopy is large and color options abound! I have learned that Bugaboo is not offering the option of buying other color canopies, so one needs to chose a color they are willing to live with long term. While the Yellow may seem appealing especially for the "Bee" it may not be ideal over time as dirt is certain to show rather prominently with wear.
The Bee comes equipped with a Rain Cover, Under Seat Basket, DVD and a 2 year Warranty. The available accessories are the Baby Nest which offers enhanced support for infants, Footmuffs, Parasols,
Diaper Bags, Breezy Sun Canopy, Sunshade, Car seat Adaptors for Peg Perego, Graco and Maxi Cosi car seats, Cup Holder, and Transport Bag.
Bugaboo has a lot riding on this little stroller and Bugaboo has put a lot of innovation and convenience into the Bee. Bugaboo has been, and obviously continues to be, the standard by which all strollers are measured.
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