Submitted by
Jennifer
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland, OR Date Reviewed: October 7, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Any, also commute daily
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Gift
Strengths:
Looks like it should work supa fine, independent adjustable beams good for blinding motorists (read: increases visibility to motorists) while still lighting road.
Weaknesses:
Sucks major ass. Heavy, dim light (must have both beams on at once, all the time - the lo beam is pointless), battery CRAPPED OUT after less than a year of use (good luck getting a response from Specialized) - won't hold a charge, silly handlebar button mount is pointless - just something else to secure with bundle of wires to frame using chintzy velcro strap, "quick release" handlebar mounts ain't quick, loose connection between charger body and outlet adapter - better make sure it's on there - why is this cord removable, anyway, unless it or the charger has a history of crapping out, too!
Similar Products Used:
None - my first "real" lighting system.
Bike Setup:
Old skool KHS hardtail, XTR everything, Avid, Mavic, Kore
Bottom Line:
I'd seriously consider spending this kind of coin elsewhere, on a light that actually works as well as others in it's class and lasts longer than a season. Gee, I wonder why they no longer make these?? Glad I'm not out the money this POS goes for.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ken
a Weekend Warrior
from Chandler, Az Date Reviewed: April 27, 2003
Favorite Trail:
hawes
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
supergo
Strengths:
Individually adjustable irises. Comes with a neat tin lunch box. Get four hours burn time if you are willing to use the weak light bulb.
Weaknesses:
Very dim light! Even with both lights on my friends Light & Motion Commuter is WAY brighter and lasts longer! The L&M is only $30 more than this thing was. No smart charger.
Similar Products Used:
first one
Bike Setup:
Fisher Sugar all XT
Bottom Line:
Complete waste of money. I'm going to get a more serious light. My advice for those buying a first light is to carefully consider why they are buying it. Maybe the fireballs will do fine for you. But if you plan to ride often, or on technical, or would like to see whats ahead of you, plan on spending between $100 and $150 for a good system. It will be worth it. Or else you'll be like me and have to buy a system to replace the one that sucks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
moke
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Angeles Date Reviewed: January 3, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
borrowed from a friend
Strengths:
makes downhills more of an adventure!
Weaknesses:
makes downhills more of an adventure!!
Similar Products Used:
bic lighter
Bike Setup:
iDRIVE customized
Bottom Line:
Not to bright (the output, the design, and the outlook for this product in the future)!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
pete
a
from Los Angeles Date Reviewed: December 15, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$49.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
the blow-out price.
Weaknesses:
weight, mount and switch design.
Similar Products Used:
Light & Motion commuter
Bike Setup:
marin eldridge grade
Bottom Line:
The light is bright enough for commuting and for $49, it's much better than the little 4-AA battery lights.
The problem with the light, however, lies in the design of the mounting hardware. The handlebar bracket is called "quick release," but that would only be accurate if you call "quick" a few minutes. So it's difficult enough to be a pain in the ass to remove, but it's not so difficult such that someone couldn't easily rip it off. the remote switch is particularly poorly designed -- it attaches by a zip tie and doesn't sit flush with anything!
I returned it for a L&M Commuter light -- lighter, brighter, longer lasting, and it comes off my bike in a few seconds.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bob
a Weekend Warrior
from nederland, co, usa Date Reviewed: December 22, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$79.00
Purchased At:
local (boulder) bike shop
Strengths:
price, adjustability of beams
Weaknesses:
light output, size, weight, handlebar switch
Similar Products Used:
niterider trailrat 2.0
Bike Setup:
mostly stock stumpjumper comp
Bottom Line:
Even though Specialized (and their dealers) are offering these at blw-out prices, don't buy them. It _appears_ that Specialized is bailing out of the high-end light business, and is trying to dump unsold merchandise. The light output, even with both beams on, stinks. I suspect poor reflector design is at fault. I owned the Fireballs for one week before I returned them. BTW, the local shop took them back without an argument. I replaced them with a NiteRider TrailRat. Although only 10 watts, a much brighter light. It's also smaller, lighter, and does not require the large and flimsy handlebar swith that the Fireballs included. The TrailRat cost $20 more than the discounted Fireballs. No comparison. I guess there's a reason for Specialized to give up on high-end lights.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gabriel Seifert
a
from Stockton, CA, USA Date Reviewed: December 1, 2001
Favorite Trail:
where ever
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Fun Sport Bikes
Strengths:
The headlights mount in a rather compact manner (for dual lights). Dual beams with a bright enough hi beam for in town commuting. Decent first "real" light setup.
Weaknesses:
The hi/lo/both button is a bit large, but since it's not used too frequently it doesn't really matter. Long charge time.
Bike Setup:
Sort'a stock Raleigh M50
Bottom Line:
I bought this product because I commute in the evenings. So far the lights have worked well enough for moderate speed in town use. I wouldn't want to be bombing down a hill with just these lights though because they aren't super bright. The lo beam is almost worthless and I only use it as an early evening dumb-car-driver-attention-getter. For the price (I paid 1/2 of retail, $100) I've been happy with it. It's not worth $200 though.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jh
a Cross Country Rider
from mass Date Reviewed: February 28, 2001
Favorite Trail:
otis
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
it works, at first
Weaknesses:
it stops working! the connectors are very cheesy and the light works intermittently, making it useless.
Similar Products Used:
Niterider. Homemade setup
Bike Setup:
RM element TO
Bottom Line:
I have a specialized light similar, but not identical to this model. the shop here sells them and all models are total junk. they will work for you at first. for about 10 rides or so. then all of the connectors get flaky and if you shake the wires, which happens while biking, the blink out. BAD! my niterider worked for a lot longer, but was $$. I am building my own system now. at least then when it fails i can fix it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robert Oliver
a Weekend Warrior
from Bangor Date Reviewed: January 27, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Pat's Bike Shop
Strengths:
Design, variable light intensity.
Weaknesses:
Battery runs out fairly quick, insanely stupid attachment for the handlebar button.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Preview Plus
Bike Setup:
Raleigh M-80
Bottom Line:
This is a fairly decent rechargeable system which has a few very annoying faults.
The button that cycles the two lights is indeed rather large as another reviewer indicates, and it is attached to the handlebar with one of the stupidiest methods I've encountered (the attachment system of the Fireballs Tailight, though, is even dumber). How this got past 30 seconds of R&D I don't know. I can't figure out why a company such as Specialized keeps trying to invent all kinds of weird ways of attaching things to a bike...and failing.
Also, the soft rubber "plug" that covers the taillight port fell off the first time I opened it to try out the taillight. Now I either have to leave the taillight connected all the time, or perhaps use some electrical tape to cover the port hole.
The system actually has two buttons, one that mounts (very poorly) on the handlebar, and one that actually powers up the system on the "waterbottle battery." It would be nice if the one on the handlebar was the sole button, as it would eliminate the need to reach down.
The ability to independently adjust each of the fireballs is indeed interesting, but the range is somewhat limited.
Battery run time was less than my previous system, but the light is brighter, so that is to be expected. I like the fact that one can attach a taillight to the Fireball battery, but the port cover is poorly designed and the actual attachment system of the Fireballs Taillight is a nightmare.
This system is a mixture of good and really bad. Specialized should have some outside testers to look at this stuff first :)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ray
a Cross Country Rider
from Tilton,nh Date Reviewed: January 6, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
gift
Strengths:
looks cool
Weaknesses:
2 connections
Similar Products Used:
Nightrider digital head trip
Bike Setup:
giant xtc
Bottom Line:
This light is made to look flashy not functional. Battery screws into a hard plastic cap for connection and then plugs in to another wire. The on button is kinda large. Manual says the operating temp minimun is above 40. Not very usful in New Hampshire. When it gets dark iin the fall it also gets cold. I like to ride in the winter. I returned it
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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