Submitted by
marylou avanzino
a Cross Country Rider
from san jose, california
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2002
Strengths: powerful light, works great for a while, then problems begin. Battery pack is small, which is nice.
Weaknesses: I've owned two systems and I developed problems before the first year is up with both. The service department talked to me and facilitated the returns, but the problems persisted. I'm going to try another brand next time. To pay $200 and get a 10-month product is too rich for my blood.
Bottom Line:
I may come back to NightRider, but will purchase another brand next time in hopes of better value.
Strengths: Great Design, Easy to Use...Durable and Functional
Weaknesses: My sporadic usage did not work well with the previous design...improvements have been made to models three years and newer!
Bottom Line:
A product is only as good as the company that backs it up. With all great products there can be problems and the question is...what is the experience if/when something goes wrong.
I faced some unique challenges and found the support provided by NiteRider to be exceptional. They treat customers on a person level and really look at the big picture regarding customer satisfaction.
When I sent my unit in for service they suggested postage options thats cost me less than $5.00. When I explained my problems they listen, suggested and supported me!
Everyone who builds and sells products must make a profit to survive...and customer support can eat into this profit. My experience with the team at NiteRider showed that they are there for you and want your long term business.
Great Product + Great Support = Loyal Customers
I am one and will continue to be one as I upgrade to the latest and greatest NiteRider system!
Submitted by
Dan
a Cross-Country Rider
from Seemiller
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2000
Strengths: 1. Extremely Reliable 2. Extremely Bright 3. Great Support from NiteRider
Weaknesses: No NiMH battery option for classic system.
Bottom Line:
I use this light to commute 23 miles on road/trails to work. When I first purchased the light 3 years ago, the switch failed on my way to work. I called Nite Rider when I got to work. They were extremely helpful, called my local bike ship and had an immediate replacement ready for my ride home.One day I hit a set of RR Tracks really hard to avoid getting hit by traffic from behind. The force ejected the battery from the water bottle cage. Amazingly, the battery stayed connected as it was dragged about 100 feet to a point where I could safely turn off the road. The watter bottle batery had some road rash but was fully intact with cable and it kept working. It's the same battery I use today (it's getting a little tired now).
Best desribe as a sun. Because even 4 hours of using in a jungle,the surrounding still look like it was day time.From far away,my bikes look likes a car.That is because i have installed two Nightrider Commuter Light.Best luck to u all.I can't wait for u guys of what are u all developing next!!!!
I installed not one but two Niterider Dual Beams on my mountain bike and I am very pleased with their performance. We regularly ride the Phoenix Mountain Park at night, a 3 to 4 hour roundtrip, and the lamps pierce the night. I've been able to appreciate the superiority of the Niterider over other brands. The Niterider is exactly what you need. These lamps are pricey, but then again, these are not toys; these lamps are the real thing. I believe it is safer to ride at night for two reasons: (1) the angle of the light beam creates a shadow over the terrain that gives you more information about the ruggedness ahead, and (2) it is not necessary to travel at high speed to reach the desired adrenaline rush. If you live in Arizona, summer days are tough, but summer nights are o.k. The bottom line is -- if you want to master the night -- pay a little extra and get the real McCoy -- you'll be glad. Also, buy a timer at Radio Shack to time your recharge cycle to the letter. NiCad batteries last a long time when you take good care of them -- or none at all if you don't. You must understand NiCads very well before using them!
Best light I have ever owned - cyclops. Totally weather proof, tough as nails, construction rarely seen outside military pecs. One thing - I thought to upgrade to your top of the line system - it looks awsome - excpet that it is in gray - bogus! Bring back the black. And about the $300.00 price - I fell ass-backwards - twice. You gotta do something about that! Sorry bud, I'll buy another cyclops. Remember, most of us live in the real world and and have jobs, morgages,bills,...
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
victor sagie
a cross-country rider
from culver city,ca
Date Reviewed: February 9, 1997
Bottom Line:
while my niterider premium works ok,I have come to realize that it's over priced compared to other lights.my friend has a nightsun that seems brighter than mine and also runs after mine goes dead,but he spent less $ for it.
This light rules. I've tried older Cateye's, Specialized, and also the Night Rider Cyclops. The commuter works awsome compared to these. The rechargeable battery is great. And the 12watt bulb is perfect for roads, but the whole 32watts is just perfect for the trail. There's no need not to go not to go nightridding if you have the NR. Awsome!!!!!!!!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Peter
a cross-country rider
from San Francisco
Date Reviewed: December 1, 1996
Bottom Line:
I bought a NiteRider XCL Pro aka Nighthawk as an addition to my NiteRider 10 watt single beam system I’ve owned for a year. I have the XCL mounted on my handlebar and the single mounted on my helmet. This set up works really well, allowing me to direct my helmet light around corners on trails, and while riding to the trails allows me to alert cars by directing the helmet light at them - 10 watts isn’t bright enough to blind them. The XCL obviously provides the bulk of the illumination.I looked at the G-Whiz Ultra Death Ray (an acquaintance makes them) and the Stadium Light before buying the XCL. The G-Whiz emits a prodigious amount of light, but I didn’t like the mounting system or the battery, and the Stadium Light had unproven reliability, a hideously expensive $100 replacement bulb, and much less flexibility than the XCL. Also, I don’t always ride with my light on, but when I turn it on I want light NOW. There is a delay between the time one turns the Stadium Light on and the time it actually provides light. I had visions of a tangled and bloody mess that once was me and my bike lying at the bottom of a cliff, and as I take my dying breath the Stadium light flashes ON. Anyhow, the XCL is very nicely built and is breeze to operate. Although changing modes can be somewhat challenging while trying to remain upright on a bumpy trail, the single button arrangement is well thought out. The light is admirably bright with the two beams providing enough variance in what they cover for both to be useful separately and very effective when used in concert with each other. Unlike the other NiteRider dual beam system, there is no dark time in between high and low beam - just more or less light. A neat touch: when the light is off, a touch of the button allows you to flash the lights on, like on a car. Very cool! And especially useful during dusk when you’re not sure if the driver of that car sees you.Charging is easy, with no worries about over charging, and the fuel gauge works well. The only nit I can pick is that while the mount allows one to change the position of the light on the fly, the graduations are too large to allow any but one position to be effective. I would prefer a pivot with a friction clamp. The XCL is highly recommended for those that don’t have the time to train during the day.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
E. Mills
a weekend warrior
from Oklahoma
Date Reviewed: November 26, 1996
Bottom Line:
Deliberated for a long tome on whether to spend about $250 on a NightSun or NightRider lighting system. Went with the NightRider Commuter and haven't had any regrets. It is an incredibly solid, well-built product, and puts out more than enough light for fast off road riding in complete darkness. It also ensures that when road riding, cars give you a wide berth. I have yet to see NightSun in the flesh but judging from the reviews, NightRider was and is the way to go.
This is on the new NiteHawk light:WHOOAAA $300 dollars for a bicycle light?? That was my first reaction and I have tried many combinations of cheapy lights. I finally bit the bullet and bought what I considered the best light on the market. I already have a cyclops by Niterider, and have thoughly enjoyed it but found it lacking in light at times. Well that has all changed!!This is THE BEST LIGHT PERIOD!!In Anchorage we only have about 5.5 hours of daylight each day right now. That means that you need a light the other 18.5(You get the point, I use it a lot!!) After strapping this baby on and setting it up(required doing a quick ride on a flat road to ensure I had the beam pointed right) I was off. I rode for just under two hours in 14 degree temps. I had to stop once to adjust my helmet and left the light on the whole time(most the time on the spot beam at 12Watts) and when I got home it still had 1/4 its charge. The truely amazing thing is the amount ++ quality of the light. Even compared to my Pro 6 / Cyclops(also made by Niterider) the NiteHawk was awesome.I don't know what else to say other than it hurt to pay for it BUT it adds about 8 months onto the riding season and provides EXCELLENT light!! And how many times are you going to buy a light, with this one it will only be once!!If anyone has specific questions I would be more than happy to answer them at asjjk@uaa.alaska.eduDon't let the night slow you down!! Jeffif they had a sixth star this would get it!!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doug
a cross-country rider
from Southern Californiia
Date Reviewed: October 31, 1996
Bottom Line:
I have the Nighthawk and find it unbeatable. I'll add to the other reviews and praise the low power mode. In the 6 hour mode I can still see 100 feet ahead on a dark trail (maybe its the bulb color temperature). You need the higher power only to overcome contrast from other artificial light (street, stadium, etc.). Water-resistant, bright, long-lasting, smart charging, a great light system.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Harris
a weekend warrior
from Houston, TX
Date Reviewed: October 29, 1996
Bottom Line:
I currently own the Nighthawk(XCL) and the 15 Cyclops Premium. I use them for wooded single track. I feel the spot headlight and flood handlebar light combination works best for this type of riding. Both work as advertised and I would recommend them unconditionally. Also, I have heard very good things about the company. I did the 24hours of Moab in 1995 and our team had a mixture of NightRider, NightSun, VistaLight and Jonco. The NightRider proved to be the most dependable. Also, the NightRider support/charging tent was professional, cheerfull and responsive, even at 3:00 a.m. during the blowing snow.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chris
a cross-country rider
from Greensburg, PA
Date Reviewed: October 8, 1996
Bottom Line:
The NightHawk is without a doubt the BEST bike light on the market. I use it daily for commuting with the optional rear flasher. The flasher is so bright that it can also be used in the daylight! When compared to other flashers it can only be described as blinding. The NightHawk has smart charging (worth the extra money alone), a fuel gauge, a reserve tank and too many other extras to mention here. Don't waste your money on anything else. The only thing that even comes close to NiteRider lights is their customer service.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark R. Williams
a racer
from San Juan, Puerto Rico
Date Reviewed: July 24, 1996
Bottom Line:
model: nighthawk
The Nightrider Nighthawk is, quite simply, an extraordinary improvement over any other premium lighting system. It's basically an update on the Commuter (formerly regarded as the best light on the market), with a number of significant additions. The most useful of these:
Intelligent battery charging--one can leave the thing charging indefinitely without damage
A new economy mode which allows the light to last for up to six hours
A battery fuel gauge on the remote switch--the switch itself has been redesigned to fit over the brake mount
A plug in slot for a rear 18 LED light Nightrider is supposedly introducing which they claim will be 8-10 times brighter than anything else on the market.
A strobe effect mode for use in traffic during the day. I can vouch for its ability to catch the attention of drivers quite well, in many cases due to the novelty effect--yesterday I was accused of trying to create my own private disco by a driver in a white Range Rover. Hmm.
Soft on and soft off, which supposedly allows bulbs to last much longer
A reserve battery which lasts about 20 minutes after the main battery has run down
The bottom line is that this light is beautifully designed, a joy to use, and seems bombproof. I recommend it unconditionally.
