The MiNewt.700 Dual gets a power increase for 2011, raising
lumen output to a blinding 700 lumens! To accomplish this staggering light output, the Dual utilizes multichip LED technology formally reserved for much higher priced lighting systems. The Dual also features a newly designed, powerful 4 cell Li-Ion battery that provides run times up to 9:00hrs on the most economical setting and 2:00hrs on high. Also new for 2011, the MiNewt.700 comes equipped with a splitter cable. For the first time since the MiNewt Dual’s introduction, it can now be used as a single or dual system.
Submitted by
jjacop
a Weekend Warrior
from Boise, ID USA
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2011
Strengths: -Great coverage! Lightweight, bright, great handlebar mounting system
-Good run times, good charge time
-Using the MiNewt350 and 700 Dual together is the way to go.
The combination of the MiNewt 350 and the MiNewt 700 Dual are just the right mix to get me out early in the morning or riding late into the night. These lights provide enough lighting to keep me going up or down the trail without worry.
Weaknesses: Mounting is a little harder on a closed BMX, skate-inspired type helmet but I was able to make it work and had no problems on the trail.
Bottom Line:
Changed my life!
NiteRider’s LED lighting systems have changed the game for me. No longer do I have to call it a day just because the sun is going down or skip the morning ride because I have an 8:00 a.m. crew call.
The battery on the MiNewt 700 Dual set provides light for over 4 hours, as does the battery on the MiNewt 350, making them a great combo. I like to mount the 2 lights of the 700 Dual on my handle bars with the battery on my center tube while the single is attached to my helmet (with the battery in my shirt pocket) for a light that shines wherever I look. Whether it’s another rider on the trail, a hazard just off the trail or one of those wild creatures living in the area, the helmet-mounted light is essential to set your nerves at ease.
Bike Setup: Specialized Stumpjumper Pro. Using the MiNewt350 and 700 Dual together.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
prennard
a Racer
from Costa Mesa, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2011
Strengths: This set up is unbelievably bright, lightweight, sturdy, and easy to install. I use it on a road bike set up for a 23 mile commute with 1,600 feet of climbing (reflectors, rear lights, wide tires, etc.) that is both on road and off road paved trails. I start at 5:15 in the morning, and don’t have to worry about working late at the office, either. Perhaps the greatest compliment about this lighting system comes from UCI track team members who in the evening use the same 8 miles of trail at the end of my ride: “Nice light”…”Wow”. Unlike other cyclists who apparently tend to sneak up on them in low light conditions without notice, this lighting system both allows you to see and others to see you. The simple strap set up that secures the lights to your handle bars works great. I have plenty of room for a computer on the bar and both of these lights. The battery fits nicely under the top tube, and the wire routing just fits naturally up front alongside your shifter and brake cables…no added clutter. The power management system and low batter indicator light work well. I usually use the lights at full power, and the indicators go blue to red with about 20 minutes of full power left…enough time to reduce to a lower power, finish the ride, and get it on the charger.
Weaknesses: None. This set up gets the job done.
Bottom Line:
Buy this light for a brilliant, lightweight, handlebar mounted system.
Bike Setup: Specialized Roubiax set up for 23 mile off road and on road.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Joecommuter
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 8, 2010
Strengths: Lightweight, compact, long run times, 3 modes (high-med-low), super flash setting, fast charging and Li-Ion battery.
Weaknesses: None.
Would be nice to come with the 36" extension cable and helmet mounts in the box (although they are available separately), but that is a personal preference not a weakness.
Bottom Line:
In over 15 years of cycling, be it commuting, racing or general riding I have never been 100% happy with the light options giving to consumers until I bought the NiteRider MiNewt.700 Dual. It has proven to be the best light around, with all the features needed by any cyclist. I have used it for about a month (approx. 1000 km commuting and 120 km trail riding) with no problems. On my road bike I find it mounts easily and quickly with the rubber o-rings and for trail riding I have it mounted on my helmet (one each side) with the two helmet mounts and extension cable, which I had to purchase separately. The lights are so small and light I don't even notice them on my helmet. I also love that I can focus each beam separately to get a strong spot, ultra wide beam or a midrange euro type beam. I have even been able to run my helmet camera on night rides centered in top. The beam pattern is so bright and focused that most people on group rides complain if I'm behind them and on the road cars flash their high beams if I point them too high.
The battery seams big at first sight, but you'll notice when you pick it up it is actually quite light. Other systems I've tried with similar output and runtimes have huge, heavy and blocky batteries. I light how NiteRider created a longer, slimmer and light battery pack. It fits nicely in my camelbak and also fits on all my frames. If you have a bike that has a odd shaped frame or runs cable in multiple places, you may have a hard time mounting it, but that will be with any battery pack, not just this one.
The charger is small and easy to keep packed in your packing you need to charge up at the end of the commute. It would have been nice to have a USB charge option like other lights in case you forget the charger, but that can be remedied by buying a second charger for minimal cost. The battery barely gets warm during use or charging. I have complete trust that they used quality parts when building their batteries. No need to worry about "vent to flame" issues of other cheaper systems.
The package is very professional looking and minimal compared to competitors. It's nice to see a company take pride in creating an environmentally friendly package.
NiteRider offers a 2 year warranty on parts, excluding the battery (90 days). No other company offers such a guarantee. I have personal experience with a past NiteRider warranty (7 years ago) and they stood behind their product. After months of trying to solve the problem they sent me a new light, and upgraded me from a halogen to HID for my troubles. Now that is a warranty! I have since then owned 8 different NiteRider lights that all worked flawlessly (and I still use most of them).
Overall this light is worth the price tag. It will make any owner happy for years to come. I have owned and used over 30 light systems in 15 years, and nothing has come close to the features and strengths of the NiteRider MiNewt.700 Dual.
Submitted by
Karlos Locos
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston, TX
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2010
Strengths: Really bright lights and so far very reliable
Weaknesses: None yet
Bottom Line:
These lights are great. The battery is rather large, so it must be mounted to the frame, but that shouldn't be too difficult. Combine these with a 350 on the helmet, and it's like providing your own sunlight.
Submitted by
2000voltz
a Weekend Warrior
from michigan city
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2010
Strengths: light!
Weaknesses: battery design has changed. to some, the o ring mounting system
Bottom Line:
upgraded from the older minewt 300 dual. same o ring mounting, which has never been a problem for me with year round riding to work daily in all weather, I was one of the group that thought they would break but hasn't happened yet after two years. the mount on the light itself is inproved to make the o ring install much easier than it was on the older lights.
New wiring allows you to use only one light at a time if you desire, old system made it where both lights had to be on. They added a medium setting to the original high and low setting. Low setting is just as the old set, just fine for city streets that have dusk to dawn lighting. The medium setting was on pair or better than my old set on high. I was blown away with the high setting for these lights. Riding in complete darkness at 5am on country roads and felt like I had car headlights on. I know there are brighter lights on the market but the price goes up significantly from here and I feel these lights give you the most bang for your buck, especially when you factor in size. These lights will fit in just about any cockpit and if they didn’t, I would question what could. Also switch input has improved as well, more of a “click” to the button and much faster response than the older set. There is still the delay switching from solid light to flashing but I don’t use flashing unless it’s very over cast or raining/snowing so it’s more for me to be seen than for me to see so I don’t have the “riding in the dark” problem others have had when switching back and forth at night.
Probably the only let down to the switch to this system was the new battery, every picture shows the same battery has the older systems, which fits perfectly on a stem out of the way. The new battery is not like the old battery. It is longer, too long to go on a stem. My frames top tube has cables on the top and underneath is triangular so I cannot mount it there. I ended up putting it where my bottle holder would have been but it’s a tight stretch for the cables. They sell extension cables for this but I hate to have to purchase something else to go with what I already have, especially when I only need a inch or so. Niterider designers if you read this add some length to the cables now that most won’t be able to stem mount the battery any more. When I first opened the box and saw the new battery, I thought about sending it back, but I decided to wait and I am glad I did. All my doubts about the problems with mounting the battery were pushed aside by just how much improved the lighting is. And to be fair, this new battery still blows away the old bag or bottle batteries. All things said, this is an awesome set of lights, just upgrade the photos of the battery so people that are upgrading from the old sets know what to expect.
Part of me wants to only give four chilis because of the bigger battery, but had I of been using the other batteries that I have seen on other system I doubt I would see this as a problem. That and brighter lights need more power. so I am giving five based on sizes of other brands and the increase in power to these lights.
