An extremely light weight 12 watt helmet mounted single light system. The flat pack battery is the size of a deck of cards. It easily fits in your jersey pocket or camelbak. CNC machined alloy headlamp housing on a helmet mount allows for vertical adjustment of the light beam. Plug & forget overnight charger provided. Mtbr Bike Lights Shootout - over 50 bike lights reviewed, photographed and measured here.
Submitted by
Nick
a Cross Country Rider
from Falls Church, VA
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2006
Strengths: Good price, lightweight, LONG burntime
Weaknesses: Plastic helmet mount (not a problem yet, but could get worn out)
Bottom Line:
This review is for the Marwi Nightpro-Elite Upgraded 12W Flood Halogen Helmet light with a 7.4V 6Ah Li-Ion Battery, as purchased from www.batteryspace.com.
This light has met my needs perfectly. It’s bright enough to handle semi-technical singletrack at a good pace, it’ll burn for about 3 hours, it is reasonably lightweight, the price is good (about $110 shipped), and the battery recharges overnight. All-in-all, the perfect balance of features for my needs.
The light itself is very lightweight and durable. It’s solidly constructed of aluminum, and seems to hold up pretty well to the abuse. The helmet mount is mostly plastic, which could become a problem over time, but so far so good. It allows you to pivot the bulb up-and-down, but not left-right. This is fine for a helmet mount since you can just turn your head to turn the beam. The on/off button is easy to locate on the top of the light, and relatively easy to use while on the trails. Just be careful because the light gets pretty hot after it’s been burning for a couple hours!
The battery is great. It fits nicely in the outer pouch of my camelback, and the cord is just the right length – not too long and not too short. It’s got a ton of juice to keep the light burning for a good long time, and the included smart charger will fully recharge it overnight.
The beam pattern is good too. The stock bulb comes with a flood, but you can buy a spot bulb for $20 from the website. I know others who use the flood bulb on the handlebars, and a spot bulb on the helmet, which is a pretty great setup. It’s more light than I really need, though, so I haven’t bothered. I find just the flood bulb on the helmet mount is enough to keep me going full speed through semi-technical terrain without any problems. In fact, on a ride last week, I was out with 2 others and I was the only one with a light. I rode in back and all three of us were able to ride using just my light! Granted it wasn’t a very fast pace, but it got us out of the woods (literally).
I’ve heard that the replacement batteries that you can purchase through the batteryspace website are pretty poor – they’re only a few dollars, but I’ve heard they are not worth it. Instead, quality replacement bulbs can be had for $20 from http://www.bicycletires.com/tek9.asp?pg=products&specific=jmmnnorqg
All told, it’s a great light, great battery, and will definitely meet the needs of most sport riders. If you’re doing 24 hour races, this may still be a good choice – the replacement batteries are only $45, and 3 batteries will give you 9+ hours of burn time and only cost about $200. I would definitely recommend this setup to anyone looking for a quality, low-priced, long-burning light. Customer service seems good, too – my order was supposed to ship on Thursday, but the UPS tracking system still hadn’t received the package as of Monday. I called to find out the status, and they said it still hadn’t shipped, but they were willing to upgrade me to 3-day shipping for free.
Bike Setup: '96 Klein Pulse Comp Hardtail w/ '05 Marzocchi Marathon Race, Truvativ Stylo Crankset, SRAM X-7 Everything. Not that it really matters . . .
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Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlotte
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2006
Strengths: Cost, light weight, burn time for the batteryspace.com version that I bought. Bright for a 12w light.
Bottom Line:
The version that I have is from BatterySpace.com and comes with a different battery than stock - mine is a lithum-ion battery that has a burn time of over 4 hours. I did some research and was interested in a system that was easily serviced and had reasonably priced replacement parts.
It's light weight and easy to mount and adjust direction and angle. Low weight keeps the light from shifting your helmet around during a ride. The light beam is just right width for singletrack - not alot of wasted light out to the sides. Would be nice if the beam throw was a little further up the trail, but it's good for a 12w system and for the price. The head unit is all aluminum so it should be durable, and the bulbs used are cheap to replace and easy to replace.
With this battery setup you can get a 20w bulb from the web site that will still give over 2 hours of burn time, and the bulb cost is only $3. Replacement batteries through batteryspace site are much cheaper and longer life than replacement through manufacturer. With cheap replacement parts the light should last a long time.
Similar Products Used: NightSun Team Issue, NiteRider Evolution
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Submitted by
Peter Dartana
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2006
Strengths: Nice aluminum light housing
Weaknesses: My Marwi helmet light litterally disintegrated from the inside out. The coaxial cable is the inherent flaw in the design. The cable shorted out the batteries. After replacing the batteries, the switch shorted out, and melting the batteries again. Marwi sales emailed me saying that they will repair it but never got back to me to give me mailing instructions. Marwi technical support emailed me saying that they could do it, but at a significant cost.
Bottom Line:
Inherent flaws in the design, and very poor customer service. Not very pleased with Marwi, and definitely not pleased with their helmet light. If I was to buy another light, I'd look at the BLT first.
Weaknesses: lack of a "smart charger" may shorten battery life
Bottom Line:
I bought this at the recomendation of the bikeshop owner. This is a very good light at a reasonable price. It may not produce enough light for racing, but it only cost $100. sometimes you get what you pay for. The light output is quite adequate for most night riding. The helmet mount works very well. The on/off switch is a little small and not that easy to feel for with full finger gloves on, but I was able to turn it on and off when stopped.
10/05/05 This is a follow up to my previous post. I've had some problems with the on-off switch. It seems the rubber push-button wants to push all the way through. Sometimes it sticks a bit and won't work. IMO this is a bit cheezy but it still continues to work. It seems the rubber push button (which is flush to the light-head ) should protrude a little higher to make it more easy to operate. I won't change my rating for the light as long as it continues to operate well over-all (which it does).
Bike Setup: Light is used bar mounted...see my previous posts
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Submitted by
Don Newman
a Cross Country Rider
from Athens, Georgia USA
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2005
Strengths: SMALL, lightweight, high capacity battery pack, inexpensive
Weaknesses: None considering the low cost
Bottom Line:
This light will get you out in the woods at night. Your speed may be limitted since its a single 12W bulb but what do you expect for around $100. Best value out there!
Submitted by
Simon Davis
a Cross Country Rider
from Yackandandah Australia
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2004
Strengths: Light is well designed, simple + w battery pack not heavy. The handle bar clamp is v good.
Weaknesses: However there is a point where the heat shrink wrap rubs through the wire cable insulation shorts out + in my case caught fire.It needs better protection.
Bottom Line:
Watch it.It would rate 5/5 if this problem was addressed. You shouldnt have to but if you already own this, consider making the insulation thicker at the point where it can cut through.
Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from Columbia, Md.
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2004
Strengths: Bright wide pattern 12W flood beam, very light weight, light adjust up and down very easily.
Weaknesses: Not suited for helmet mounting, light switch is tight and hard to work sometimes.
Bottom Line:
I am writing this to amend my previous post. DO NOT BUY THIS LIGHT IF YOU INTEND TO USE IT HELMET MOUNTED. Yes I know, that is how the manufacture sells it, however IF YOU INTEND TO MOUNT IT ON YOUR HANDLE BARS, YOU SHOULD BE PLEASANTLY PLEASED. To do so you will have to obtain a bar mount from Marwi. I was wrong about the Marwi Web site. You cannot order directly from Marwi however if you can find a Marwi dealer you should be able to order the bar mount. IF YOU ARE A RACER, YOU DO NOT WANT TO USE THIS LIGHT HELMET MOUNTED...SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH FOCUSED LIGHT TO DETAIL QUICK CHANGING TRAIL CONDITIONS. For helmet mounting I suggest either the Niterider 10w spot (low $ low lbs.) or the Jet Phantom with smart switch (High $ High wt.) The 12v Jet Phantom battery weighs more than twice the Marwi (6v) battery. The Jet weighs more and is brighter than the NR and runs for 3 hrs at the 12W setting. This is what I use and I've traveled at full tilt down a rough Mountain Forest road at high speed with no problems seeing anything. Special note on racing: To extend run times with the Marwi to 4 hrs just buy a second battery and carry it when you think you might want an epic ride...With the Jet you don't have this option...the battery feels like it weighs about 2lbs... so you work a little harder for that brighter light.
Similar Products Used: Performance Viewpoint, Niterider 10W spot, Jet Phantom with smart switch
Bike Setup: Trek 9800 Carbon OCLV
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Submitted by
scott nelson
a Racer
from millbury , ma
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2004
Strengths: WEIGH -- helmet mounting
Weaknesses: power, color of light, on/off switch
Bottom Line:
Look --- what do you want for $99.00? Honestly, I hate riding at night but my mnt bike club does a lot of 24 hour races. It's easy to get talked into joining them but once I say yes, I always know I'm going to hate doing my share of the night laps. This year (04) we signed on to do the Genesis 24, hours (churn and burn) so I figured it was time to buy a new helmet light. I'd been running a laplante burner light for years but I'd always been jealous of people with thier dinky little, light weight batteries. The burner lit up half the woods but the battery was about the size of a car battery and twice as heavy. Anyho, I researched lots of lights on mtbreviw before I bought this one. Originally, I had planned on buying the jet lights but the model I wanted was back ordered and I was worried that it wouldn't have arrived in time for the race. I could go for the cheep joke here and say that I'd have been better off using a lighter to guide my way through the churn and burn race course but that would be lame. In reality-- the nightpro light wasn't that bad combined with my two cygo light handle bar lights. I just felt like at race speed, I was always going just a little to fast for the light. Almost like if it could throw the beam an extra three feet in front of me I'd have been OK at race speeds. (In the end my four night laps were actually each only about 2 minutes slower than my day laps and my team won our class.) Since that race I've done about 10 more regular night rides with my club. Even at slower speeds though, I'm still searching for those extra feet off the light. Another thing that anyone buying this light and planning on racing with it needs to know is the on/off switch is very awkward to use if you have full fingered gloves on. It might sound like I'm nit picking a $99.00 light but the design requires you to remove your glove to get the thing on. Kind of awkward as your transitioning in the 24 hour tents.
As I've said, --- what do I want? I guess I could still buy the jet lights and figure out a way to mount the nightpro light to my bars (it doesn't come with a bar mount option.) but I really was hoping for a little more after reading some of the reviews.
Similar Products Used: cygo lights, laplante burner lights
Bike Setup: Specialized stumpjumper hard tail--- Cannondale cad 1 hard tale.
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Submitted by
Eric J
a Weekend Warrior
from Chesapeake, VA
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2004
Strengths: Solid metal light housing, fairly even light pattern, low cost. Battery flat pack design good for jersy pockets.
Weaknesses: Not very bright, no strain relief on the battery flat pack. No charge indicator on charger or battery.
Bottom Line:
I will never purchase another Marwi product ever. The battery pack wire is poorly designed, over sized and unessesary, making it cumbersome, bulky and stiff. There is NO strain relief whatsoever as the cable enters the battery pack. Mine pulled out, chafed and shorted out. While still under warranty sent it in and they refused to repair it under warranty. And worse, the held it for some time without contacting the bike shop, my LBS had to force the issue and have the battery returned. My LBS repaired it for me for free. So, as you can see Marwi warranty and customer service is non-existent, at least for me.
I used this light for more than 2 years. At first I was using the performance view point, which is the same thing. The light was great, and bulbs are cheap to replace though online lighting warehouses. I went through 4 batteries though. After a bad crash on one of my rare offroad adventures at night, I totaled it. I figured since the light treated me well ( I had replaced only one battery after a little over a year) I would buy a new one. I went through Aardvark, because performance had changed there supplier.
This time around the wire entered through the bottom of the rear of the light, which limited the vertical adjustment. I can't help but think that it could have done something to the circuit as well. I had to replace 3 batteries in less than a year. I am going to try a Jet based on the review that is getting.
This would be a great light if the damned battery would last.
Similar Products Used: nightsun, cateye, duct tape and flaslight
Bike Setup: rigid mtnbike set up for commuting
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Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from Columbia, Md.
Date Reviewed: September 19, 2004
Strengths: Wide beam pattern (30 degree)12watt, very bright distortion free cone of light. The light package (light head and battery) are very light. New (slip-in) case for battery is nice and can be attached to top tube very easily. Conectors are well made and also work with earlier models of both Marwi and Performance lights. The new light head also works with earlier bar mounting hardware.
Weaknesses: The On-Off switch is a little tight and hard to work.I probably just need to get used to it. Hopefully it will loosen up some once it's been broken in. A bar mounting adapter should have been included with the system.
Bottom Line:
This is one great little light!! I bought this light to replace my Performance Viewpoint which finally gave up the ghost after 5 yrs of good hard use.(short in light head)Rather than try to fix the light I figured buying a new replacement would be the better option. Since Marwi made the original Viewpoint lights, I went with the Marwi Elite. I don't know why Marwi markets this light to use as a helmet light. It is much more better used bar mounted because of the wide beam pattern. The good news was the new light slips right on my old performance Viewpoint bar mount.What was even better was the light is much brighter than the original systems. The light is much whiter and brighter...I am pleasantly pleased. Marwi supports their products by making all replacement parts and accessories available on their web site. Bulbs, batterys, different mountings..they are all there. This light is great when used in combo with a helmet mounted spot beam. That is how I use it. Marwi might make a spot beam bulb. I haven't checked yet but if they do, a combo bar/helmet system would be a good way to go. I gave it a four Chilis only because I feel a bar mount should be included with the new system, other than that the quality of light is great (with a two hour run time)
Similar Products Used: Performance Viewpoint 12W flood..(the original Marwi design) 5yrs old. Niterider 10W spot beam (helmet mounted)Jet lite (Phamtom SB)
Bike Setup: 95 Trek 9800 Carbon Hard tail. I use a two light combo set up for tough off road riding. The Marwi I bought as a bar mounted light.
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Submitted by
Darrin Stevens
a Weekend Warrior
from North Bend, OR USA
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2003
Strengths: Light weight and bright.
Weaknesses: Battery died after 1 year of light use. Customer support cost to repair/replace is high with pro-rated warranty. Connection from battery to light is poor, causing light to go out in bumpy terrain.
Bottom Line:
An excellent light if you are lucky enough to get a good one. Works great in combination with a 6 watt handle bar mounted light. Cost to repair too high, I will try another brand.
Similar Products Used: Cygo Lite 12.5 watt handle bar mount.
Bike Setup: Cannondale Volvo hardtail.
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Submitted by
Tom
a Weekend Warrior
from Baltimore, MD, USA
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2003
Strengths: light weight of NiMH battery solid aluminum construction very affordable dummy-proof charging durable helmet mount (so far)
Weaknesses: absolutely none, at this price point
Bottom Line:
Excellent product! Works really well, no problems so far after a year or so. And at $90, it was WAY less than pricey NiteRider lights. I had been using a handlebar-mount 15W light by itself for a year or so, and a friend recommended for me to use both a handlebar-mount plus helmet-mount. He was right: used together, these two are better than the sum of their parts. I would not go back to a single light.
And the Marwi has been a lot less hassle than my Planet Bike 15W light. I like the guys at PB, but they have some real design problems with that light. The Marwi has just worked every single time, no issues ever. Hard to complain about that.
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So I've got a Marwi Nightpro Elite from a few years ago that is dead, I think the battery is shot. Thinking that it would be a good opportunity to upgrade to an LED setup. Haven' Read More »
