Strengths: I actually have the Nite Hawk Avenger which is a single bulb 12 Volt, 10 Watt system. I got into the Nite Hawk because of the price, but have become very pleased with the performance and durability of the unit. 10 Watts is just fine for commuting, although it would probably be marginal at higher speeds. On my commute I cruise along at 18-20 mph and the 10 Watt bulb throws a beam 2 or 3 seconds in front of me. Once I broke a bulb because of my own incompetence and ordered a replacement through Nite Hawk. I don't have a problem with their customer service, it's just a small company.
Weaknesses: Battery tends to bounce around in water bottle cage. This could lead to the battery bouncing completely out, and over time will certainally result in a broken bottle cage. My solution was to make a strap out of 1" webbing and a buckle that securely holds the battery to the cage. No problems since.
The electrical connectors at the light and battery tend to fall out. I tied a rubber band to the connector and loop it around the light (or battery) and, other than looking a little hokey, works fine.
Bottom Line:
Not sexy but utilitarian. Highly recommended despite a couple of rather minor shortcomings.
Works awesome. Is cheap. Has smart charger. Remote switches need to be tie wrapped in place, original straps used to contain excess wire length.SLA battery a no-brainer get home from ride/work plug in and forget.
Weaknesses: Customer service sucks!!. Small company like this usually tries to provide level of cust svc above the competition. My battery failed and NR cust service called and wanted $80.00 for a new charger and $150 for a new battery. The whole unit new sells for less!!. These people suck. I now hang it on the wall in our shop to deter other buyers.
Bottom Line:
Don't bother unless you want a disposable lighting system.
Submitted by
John Bulmer
a Racer
from Troy, Ny 12180
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2002
Strengths: The Night Hawk is strong and crash proof. I have used nothing else but this system for the past year and it has never disappointed me. I have owned other systems from other companies and has nothing but problems. I would recommend this system to anyone looking for lights.
Bottom Line:
Awesome. Dependable. Buy this light if you want a good light that won't fail you.
Buy it if you want to get home from that scary night ride!
Nice unit, is very bright. it uses a sealed lead-acid (SLA) battery, which is small BUT heavy (same type as battery as in a car). Also, a SLA battery should never be allowed to discharge completly as it can damage it (however some SLA batteries can take this and not care). smart-charger is nice, works quite well. The lights work great in the rain, everything is nicely sealed.
Submitted by
Ross Johnson
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, OR
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2000
Strengths: Bright for the $, breakaway mounts, smart charger
Weaknesses: HEAVY
Bottom Line:
These lights are incredibe. They do a $250-$300 job for just a little over $100. The breakaway mounts have saved these beauties about 5 times in the past year, and there's still hardly a scratch on them. The other reviews are right about the switch mounting straps, but I've found that they make darn fine cable wraps for organizing computer wires while zip ties take their places on the handlebars. The switches suffered no ill effects when the ties were tightened down just enough to start digging into the plastic. Also there was some initial problem with keeping the plugs firmly attached to the battery and the lights. This was solved when the factory guys told me to use a small, flat piece of PLASTIC to pry apart the bullet connectors-no more problem. Everyone else has said it, but I'll say it too: The battery is friggin' HEAVY! Due to the location of my cage mounts, I've had to mount the battery under the frame rather than inside it. From all of the banging around it takes in this position, the battery has broken three bottle cages in the past year, the last two while I was backing everything up with Coleman heavy duty camp straps. Still, bottle cages are cheap, and I've apparently done some unprecedented testing on the durability of the battery. There have been absolutely no ill effects from being thrown into my chainrings, bounced off of large rocks, and being ridden over by a blind rider three times. With the breakaway light mounts, this setup will be on my bike for a very long while (as long as bottle cages are still cheap).
Submitted by
D.W.
a Cross Country Rider
from Faribualt Mn U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2000
Strengths: high watt to buck ratio
Weaknesses: as other reveiwers noted - heavy, cheesy velcro switch mounts, low burn time when you use the twenty watt bulb.
Bottom Line:
this is a good light for the $. very usable switches on handlebars. not quite as nice as real spendy ones, but works real good if you use it right(save that twenty watt light for when you need it).
Submitted by
Ricksom
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2000
Strengths: - good value at $90 Canadian! - easy to install - bright lights - an uncomplicated, simple design
Weaknesses: - heavy - handlebar light switches "cheesy" design - not the shortest charge time or longest burn time
Bottom Line:
Good value, good value, GOOD VALUE! Really good lights for the price, and I am happy with their performance. The 10W spot and 20W flood really is all I need for a dark 1.5 hour ride. These are no Nite Rider Digitals, which are brighter and come with more fancier features (and a $300-$400 Canadian price tag). The Nite Rider spot light reachs farther for safer high speed riding. But, if you pair the Nite Hawk duals with a decent helmut light, you are all set for any 24hr race.
If you want to ride at night, but aren't worried about your high speed night racing performance, get these lights.
Submitted by
scott connors
a Racer
from redlands, ca, usa
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2000
Strengths: Very bright, very cheap. Looks good. good mounting options. Smart charger.
Weaknesses: Heavy-makes my Aluminum bike feel like iron.
Bottom Line:
As bright as Jett systems lights, but three times as heavy. But I don't care about the weight-It doesn't bother me at night- I don't race nocturnally. I saved enough money to buy another set for a raccoon that lives down the street. The 10w flood doesn't give as even coverage as the jett but the 20w spot is awesome!-you don't even hardly notice the 10w bulb with the 20w on. Great value. velcro switch tie downs are a little cheap-just a strap loosely wrapped around the switch.
Similar Products Used: cygolite night rover. Jett designs.
Bike Setup: Caad 3. SX-R. Lx. grip shift. sun sub 1v. rockshox seatpost. time atac. mythos xc. and a piece of mud stuck to my crankarm.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
tommy
a Weekend Warrior
from woodside, nyc
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2000
Strengths: most light for the price, lots of mounting positions
Weaknesses: battery is HEAVY
Bottom Line:
Combined wattage of 30W (20 flood+10 spot)for only $99-$119 from performance. Higher end models like niterider, jet start at like $200 for the same output. Only problem with this system is that its like 1300+ grams total while others are only 500-1000
Submitted by
Rod Jones
a weekend warrior
from Aldergrove,British Columbia
Date Reviewed: October 25, 1998
Bottom Line:
This has proved to be an excellant light set. It has 1 ten watt and 1 twenty watt light. Mounting independantly or together on the same mount. They can be mounted low to the mount or with the stem that comes with them they can be mounted up about 3 inches(or low). They come with a charger that will top up the battery to full from flat in about 4 or 5 hrs.. When fully charged the battery will last upwards of about 4.5 hrs.. But usually while running both lights on most of the time I get about 3.0 hrs on a charge before serious brown out. Excellant lights,and for the CANUCKS out there, they are built in CANADA. This may also offer a good price for you Americans. I got mine last christmas and have had no problems at all. They cost around the $175 Cdn. Good price for a great product. Oh ya, they have breakaway mounts in the event of a get off. And then just clip back in.
