Extremely bright Solarc™ 10W HID light (equivalent to 40W Halogen) which mounts directly onto the front plate of the new Hope Stem. This rigid mounting allows you to set the light exactly where you want it and it’ll stay there, until you decide to reposition it. The small Li-Ion battery pack also mounts underneath the stem front plate with a short wire between the two. So no more bags hanging from your frame or velcro straps.
Submitted by
globalfish
a Racer
from Hertfordshire UK Date Reviewed: August 23, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Great penetration, well made product
Weaknesses:
lack of reserve/warning of low power
HOPEless after sales care - didn't even answer my email :-(
Bike Setup:
Giant Trance 3, Fox TALAS X, full XT groupset, Avid Juicy 7's
Bottom Line:
@Chris Wade - call yourself a racer yet can't charge a battery yet! I was riding mine for 2 hours + in the snow, rain etc. Never had temperature issues with it. Are you sure it's a Hope you bought?
@Phil - I bought the helmet mount and it's not a problem so what's your issue with 'can't use on helmet'?
also if you don't carry a small multi tool you'll have problems with many other bike issues - not just adjusting your light. Yeez, how hard is it to carry a single allen key?
It's a great light everyone - don't listen to these clowns. I have cars give way to me when riding home in the depths of the British winter.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chris wade
a Racer
from london Date Reviewed: February 28, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
cyclestore.co.uk
Strengths:
Hpe Vision HID - save your cash - buy a Cateye
Weaknesses:
This product does not work when the battery gets cold or wet - even on full charge - ideal for casual commuter use in the summer months - a full charge in the wet lasted less than 5 minutes - buy a Cateye!!!!!
Bike Setup:
M4 Stumpjumper
Bottom Line:
Buy a Cateye!!!!! They are cheaper and might work - this Hope Vision HID is useless - I'm about to send it back with the stem for a full refund - very disappointed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nathan OLeath
a
from PA Date Reviewed: October 9, 2006
Favorite Trail:
where there are woods....
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
jenson
Strengths:
Very well built, very precise beam, very light weight, the stem is super beefy and comes in many colors and sizes. I was cruising intown yesterday evening(urban assault) and some kid said "hey man, cool light" and I said "Yeah....Cooool"
Weaknesses:
no low charge warning..but the light has never shut off on me yet at night. I also experienced rattling from the sytem and found it to be the lithium ion battery was not properly shimmed inside the aluminum case..I carefully took it apart and placed some double faced tape in the gap.
Similar Products Used:
nothing compares to this
Bike Setup:
Raleigh XXIX single speed
Bottom Line:
Jenson has it for 299.00 including a stem, you cannot touch this deal on the web. I had an issue with Jenson concerning the mounting bracket for the light (wrong size) they took care of the issue very quickly. I also was unable to get the correct size stem from Jenson(100mm 10degree rise) because they were limited so I contacted the Hope rep. in Texas and he was glad to swap the stem out for the correct size. Their Customer service dept. is very friendly and helpful.
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Submitted by
BZ
a Cross Country Rider
from Japan Date Reviewed: February 27, 2006
Favorite Trail:
all of em
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$379.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
BRIGHT!! LIGHT!! LOOKS SWEET!! No straps, clunky battries, wires from the bottle cage to the stem. mounts secure and is pretty theft proof.
Weaknesses:
2 3/4 hour burn time and the lack of a dimmer swich. Its on or off.
Similar Products Used:
Mulitiple lighting sys, light ans motion, blackburn
Bike Setup:
2006 Epic comp, Full XTR
Bottom Line:
Looks Tough. Responds well, have no idea what will happen if i get tossed, but a great buy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gary Fielding
a
from Saddleworth, England Date Reviewed: February 18, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Les Gets 2
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Looks
Weaknesses:
Cable doesn't have a breakaway
Similar Products Used:
Eddison 4, Cat eye Stadium
Bike Setup:
Intense 6.6
Bottom Line:
This light is excellent. It looks cool and is very light. I have tried various other lights and this one was the pick of the bunch. It was easily as bright as the Eddison 4's I tried yet much cheaper. The build quality a lack of clutter is awesome. People have commented on it's lack of breakaway for the main light but I've had multiple stacks and the light is that strong it's never even moved. The only thing I would improve is a breakaway cable between battery and light. I have already had to replace mine although it is relatively cheap to replace. The weight at the front of the bike has made no difference to the handling, it's much better than riding with a battery the size of a missile attached to yer bike. Very impressed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Phil
a Cross Country Rider
from Canyon Country Date Reviewed: December 29, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Purchased At:
430 (market price)
Strengths:
1. No cable from front end to the frame. 2. Good looks (also other brands look awesome) - objective point. 3. Good water sealing. 4. Burn time on low side for the weight. 5. Cool factor
Weaknesses:
1. Approx. 550 grams (light, batt. & stem mount) added in the front end may change the handling / steering of the bike. 2. Needs a wrench to remove the light. 3. Easy to scratch - Resin plastic is more scratch resistant. 4. Burn time is not as long as other in the price / weight range. 5. The bolt on light does not allow safe breakaway on impact. 6. May need a wrench to adjust angle or to adjust angle play. 7. Lack of high and low power settings. 8. Use of Hope stem. 9. Light unit on the bulky side compared to similar products. 10. Can not use as a helmet mount like some other brands.
Similar Products Used:
Light and Motion, NiteRider, Cateye
Bike Setup:
Trek OCLV hardtail
Bottom Line:
The Hope lighting system biggest advantage is the no clutter cables from light to the battery which is awesome. No use of Velcro for the battery is great.
However, the added front weight may be a disadvantage in handling of the bike on the rough at higher speeds and technical sections. Scratch easier than some polymer plastic.
The points mentioned above may or not be a problem but it is there for one to consider when purchasing this light.
The biggest advantage here is the less cable clutter and cool factor. As far as function goes, there any many lights that will out burn and weight less for about the same or less price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
LP
a Cross Country Rider
from WC, CA, USA Date Reviewed: November 16, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Xanadu - Mt. Diablo Foothills, legendary turf.
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA
Strengths:
This light is pefect. it is 100% metal, every little part but the wire housing (that's rubber - ha ha). I swear its as bright as one of my denali highbeams (almost).
Weaknesses:
It may blind people if you don't aim it low - and i guess it aint the sun. @#$! daylight savings! I cant believe the sun is gone at 4:30. God Bless Hope!
Similar Products Used:
None, sorry. I got nothing to compare it to. My buddies from Marin are freaking impressed when they see it, and it looks 10x tougher than the night riders at REI or my LBS.
Bike Setup:
Paka-Wallup, King, Race-Face, Hope, Fox, All kinds of really over-priced parts...
Bottom Line:
I bought my light at Jenson, i jumped because i saw the price drop $100 and that made it about $200 less than speedgoat or my lbs. One place online in england was throwing-in a stem, so i emailed the guys at jenson and the next freaking day they were throwing-in a free stem too. the whole set-up = $408 with shipping. The Night Rider was like $630 at the LBS... Im totally freaking stoked on the light - it fits perfectly and looks bad-ass. Im set. Now if i can only stay warm on the downhills...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James Scarry
a Racer
from Bakersfield Date Reviewed: November 11, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Cannell Trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Snider's Cyclery-Bakersfield,CA
Strengths:
Lightweight, compact, clean design. Does not get hot,almost cool to the touch after 2.5 hrs of use. Looks way cool!
Weaknesses:
You have to use a Hope stem, may not be able to match your current stem set-up exactly.
Similar Products Used:
Nite rider Blow Torch
Bike Setup:
2003 Titus Switchblade Talas
Bottom Line:
This is probably the coolest product I've ever purchased. It doesn't get hot, it sits on the stem, doesn't wobble around (it only moves wherever you point your stem)and frees up your bottle cage to enable use of your favorite on-bike beverage. Light is WAY bright enough for any application. If it had a 4 hr burn time it would be absolute perfection, but it's close enough for my purposes just as it is.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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