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Submitted by
Tibor
a Weekend Warrior
from Winston SalemDate Reviewed: February 25, 2012
Strengths: It used to be the only thing around when it came out on the marketWeaknesses: intermittent performanceBottom Line: I read your posts, as I also experienced power cut-outs and intermittent light myself. Being such an old of a system, and after years of no use, I had nothing to loose, so I opened the sealed case to see what the problem could be. Found out immediately, that one of the two wires making contact with the power connector receptacles was poorly soldered, and was loose, out of its intended socket. I realized that this explains what was happening to my light: turning off, turning back on after twisting the plug, or rotating the light head, but then shortly cutting out after some heating up time. So, once I applied some solder flux paste onto the wire and a bit of solder, inserted the wire into the socket and applied heat from soldering gun, Bob was my uncle. I hope this helps others to fix their problem with this light. Next thing I want to do with it is to find a replacement LED light head for the original Halogen bulb that fits the grey light head exactly. Any ideas?
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$300.00
Bike Setup: helmet mounted
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Dave Drabkin
a Weekend Warrior
from Mill Valley, CADate Reviewed: May 10, 2005
Strengths: Lightweight; helmet mount easy to use. Strong light beam.Weaknesses: Technical problems from the get-go. Light started to do drop into reserve mode about 15 minutes into a ride. Had to ship it down to San Diego for service. Fine since then until this month when the old battery would no longer hold a charge.
Seems that their former supplier went out of business and now I have to buy a battery, cahrger and cord. Whole project will cost $108 plus tax.
Had similar bad experiences with a NiteRider digital handlebar setup. Problems when new and then had to change the whole battery/charger system when the battery grew old.Bottom Line: Never again. NiteRider concepts are great but they blow it big time in execution. Every time they sell one, it's like a guaranteed anuity for the company. They know customers will be dropping big bucks to keep the product operational.
I use a simple, realiable TurboCat on my road bike. Will be doing the same on the MTB.
Favorite Trail: Any trail in China Camp
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$180.00
Purchased At: REI
Similar Products Used: TurboCat
Bike Setup: MTB: K2 Proflex 5000
Road: Merlin RSR
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Rick
a Cross Country Rider
from Chapel Hill, NC, USADate Reviewed: December 7, 2003
Strengths: Light weight. Mounting options (helmet, headband, ...)Weaknesses: Battery died after only a few dozen uses. Made the mistake of believing what it said about trickle charging in the manual and left it plugged in over the summer.Bottom Line: This is the newest of the three battery/light systems I own. It's also the only one that's failed completely. The others are holding up just fine despite their advanced age (4+ years). Difficult to recommend for any purpose given how totally it's died (run time measured in seconds).
Favorite Trail: CHHS
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$180.00
Similar Products Used: Cygolite, non-digital Niterider lights.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Joseph Poirier
a Cross Country Rider
from MidlandDate Reviewed: January 2, 2003
Strengths: NoneWeaknesses: I looked at the numerous reviews that were posted on this site and could not belive it. All these guys went through the same kind of b.s. that I went through with this company. The light worked for about a week then the burn times started to go down. I took care of that light like a baby, followed the manuel to the letter, but IT DID NOT MATER. I took it back and the bike shop and they sent it back to the company's Montreal service center. It came back a week later with a note advising that they had checked the system and that it was " fine " " as advertised " I was very frustrated... I WILL NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM NITERIDER AGAIN OR ANYTHING THAT LOOKS CLOSE TO THEIR PRODUCTS. THANKS FOR NOTHING NITERIDER...Bottom Line: DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM THAT COMPANY. YOU WILL REGRET IT LIKE ALL OF US THAT HAVE TRIED THEIR PRODUCTS.
Favorite Trail: Copeland forest
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At: Hard Wood Hills
Bike Setup: ATX-706.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Winnie The Pooh
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Ontario, CanadaDate Reviewed: December 12, 2002
Strengths: I had the original Digital Headtrip. It worked for about 14 months and then the burn time issue and dropping to low mode problem started. I called the US company and was given essentially what has been described. Poor unorganized and BS service, not to mention at my cost. I went to my LBS and they sent it back to their Canadian distributer in Montreal, not the US company, the distributer repaired/changed out the problem parts and sent a new battery and charger (now actually a smart one) all within a few weeks.
Since then 1 yr and no problems. Too bad the company is full of fu*kos.Weaknesses: .Bottom Line: .
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Purchased At: LBS
Similar Products Used: .
Bike Setup: .
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Manlyman
a Cross Country Rider
from New Hartford, NYDate Reviewed: November 13, 2002
Strengths: The best thing about this light is the weight.Weaknesses: Product quality is very low and the company has no interest in hearing from you regarding any problems. Avoid this company like the plague.Bottom Line: This light started out working great. The battery lasted 1.5 hours at 15 watts, like the company promised. Unfortunately, the company suggests leaving the battery plugged in to the "smart charger". I believe the charger failed and cooked the battery. The net result is that the light now starts at 15 watts but switches to 6 watts in about 20 min. Contacting the company is impossible, and I probably have to accept I made a big mistake buying a Niterider light.
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$170.00
Purchased At: Price Point
Similar Products Used: None, this is my first light.
Bike Setup: Trek 8300 with XT components.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Anton S.
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA, USADate Reviewed: October 31, 2002
Strengths: small and lightWeaknesses: everything elseBottom Line: I used to have an old niterider light before they got into all this digital garbage, it worked great, never had any problems with it. The battery was a bit heavier, but it gave me consitsant burn times. The digital head trip is a piece of garbage. I NEVER get consistant behavior out of it. Charge it for two days, burns out in a few minutes to standby... Charge it for half a day, burns for an hour on high power. I don't get it. The best is when I need to ride home from work in the dark and this piece of garbage barely gives me 40 minutes on standby. I'll never buy another light from niterider again.
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At: REI
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
kEN
a Cross Country Rider
from CalgaryDate Reviewed: October 29, 2002
Strengths: NONE! Company strengths...NONE!!!!Weaknesses: Quit after 3 months.Bottom Line: STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!!!!!
My light quit working after three months. I narrowed it down to the light unit itself, called the tech support number and was told to send it back to them. Great I thought. I called back after 5 months of not hearing anything from them and they told me that the RA number I was given was invalid. They gave me an RA number of 1234. A friend of mine who was in the biz, told me that some companies will give you a fake RA number just to get you off their backs. So I sent in a very expensive light that is of course now lost. What kind of crooks are these people? How in good concious could the A**hole at niterider give me a fake number knowing full well that I would never see the light again? Like I said at the start, STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!!!!
Favorite Trail: Baldy Pass "rocks"
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
ernest
a Cross Country Rider
from SC, usaDate Reviewed: October 14, 2002
Strengths: FewWeaknesses: Unreliable.Bottom Line: I have had the digital headtrip and nite owl for two years. The nite owl has been fine. I dont like having to hold the button down for a few seconds to turn on /off. I wish it would be on/15w/10w/5w/off. The head trip has been as described by other reveiws. Awful.I sent it back, they kept it for a long time and sent it back. Still goes crazy at times. I think the problem is in the connection to the lamp. I may try and straight wire it, and leave the cord attached to the light. I have noticed on the newer models they changed some stuff like the plug. My advice is to look at other brands or buy one of the nondigital ones. simplify your life. My buddies have some older Nite rider lights and have had good results. Mine have been fair to poor. Burn times are ok.They lie about that! If I cant get mine to work I will look at some other brands.
Favorite Trail: the one I am on
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Similar Products Used: none. first set of lights
Bike Setup: Surly 1x1
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Brian Lang
a Cross Country Rider
from RoanokeDate Reviewed: October 9, 2002
Strengths: Settings, brightness, compactness, light weight.Weaknesses: TERRIBLE reliability and EVEN WORSE CUSTOMER SERVICE.Bottom Line: I would recommend avoiding NiteRider due to the poor reliability that I (and many others with whom I have spoken) have experienced, and the unimaginably-bad customer service. The second time I sent my light in for repairs, these clowns had it for over a month (when it was supposed to take less than two weeks to repair it) and when they finally called back, the didn't call to discuss my light. They hadn't gotten around to working on it yet. They were calling to try to sell me another light instead!!! I told them I expected to get what I had paid for and insisted that they repair my light promptly. When they finally got around to working on it, one honest employee (among many I had spoken with on numerous phone calls) gave me the low-down: Their early so-called "Plug-it-and-forget-it" charging system should NOT be "plugged and forgotten." You need to unplug it after a certain time period, just like a cheap charger. Otherwise, you'll kill your battery, which happened to mine. I agreed (reluctantly, and only because I really wanted my light back) to pay $35 for a charger upgrade. Then, when it was due to ship, they lost it. More riding time lost. Later, when they found it, they agreed that since I had been without my light for over two months, they would refund the charge to my credit card, but never did. Had to spend even more of my time on the phone & fax getting my credit card company to deny their charge. The light has worked well since then but I have a very bad taste in my mouth.
Favorite Trail: Carvins Cove
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$180.00
Purchased At: East Coasters Cycling
Similar Products Used: Nightsun XC.
Bike Setup: Litespeed Obed F/S, Specialized StumpJumper
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
murf
a
from ctDate Reviewed: September 7, 2002
Bottom Line: update on my previous review. MY battery after 2 weeks of use still gives me 1.5 hours at 15 watts after my 'fix'
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Curt
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh, PA, USADate Reviewed: September 5, 2002
Strengths: LightweightWeaknesses: Battery life.Bottom Line: The battery runs out of juice quickly. I don't know why, too fed up to care any more. I went for a nightride recently and the frikkin' thing went dim after 20 mins. I migfht look into the Storm though, a couple of guys that I ride with have one each and they seem to perform better.
Favorite Trail: Frick Park
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At: BikeTek
Similar Products Used: None
Bike Setup: 2001 Specialized Stumpjumper M4 with goodies.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Murf
a
from CTDate Reviewed: August 25, 2002
Strengths: fairly bright light for 15watts. Nice option of adjustability. Light weight.Weaknesses: Short life at 15 watts-I ride atleast 2 hours. Battery issues- I had the light for a year and used it with no problems at all. Was very suprised to see all the bad reviews (and not just here on mtbr). Then I didn't use it for 6 months. Found someone to nightride with and have been going twice a week. After 15 minutes at 15 watts-light goes into reserve lighting. Even at the lower settings-it kicks into reserve. So I have just been bringing along for emergency and using my handlebar light. Read the reviews again and just was kinda pissed off that my light didn't work. I started thinking about it and figured it had to be something with the processor that controls the light and puts it into reserve or the battery was shot. Didn't really beleive the battery was shot so soon. Soooooo I figured I'd let the light go into reserve and time how long it would stay on at the 6 watt. It stayed on for 2.25 hours and I unplugged it as it really started to dim!! That told me the battery was still good. The reserve is supposed to only last 15 minutes. Sooooo I charged the battery up from almost full dead. Now I have 2 rides on it and I get my 1hr15min at 15 watts. Don't know if it's just a freak thing that now it works, BUT heck-if you've got problems with yours, it won't hurt to try what I did. In a couple of weeks I'll really know if it's "fixed"Bottom Line: Bottom line. If you nightride for any length of time-the battery doesn't give you enough time. The light it emmits is plenty bright for normal mountain biking on semi-technical trails. The digital option I think just complicated the light and is easy to malfunction, although I do like the option for different watts on one small light. The system is very lightweight and easy to carry. I can't positively say I'd recommend this light because of all the bad reviews and the problems I had. I am looking at the HID's right now but am on the fence of buying another nightrider. I just might buy a light and motion. I NEED long run times.....
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Similar Products Used: specialized proview-not soo bright but a heck of a value to introduce yourself to nightriding. Helmet and bar option included.
Bike Setup: just go ride
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chris Kofer
a
from Strafford, NH, USADate Reviewed: June 12, 2002
Strengths: For the few minutes it works, it gives good light. Also doesn't weigh much.Weaknesses: Smart charger is stupid. Got maybe 15 rides out of product then battery gave up. Company says if I buy new battery & charger for $130, I'll be okay.Bottom Line: Keep shopping. Don't ever expect an email to be returned by niterider. ever. Product was underengineered and overmarketed.
Favorite Trail: Shaw Trail, Pawtuckaway
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At: S&W Sports, Concord, NH
Similar Products Used: none
Bike Setup: 1997 Steel Moab with Bomber
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from TorontoDate Reviewed: May 18, 2002
Strengths: Long Battery Life, Different power settings. Small Battery PackWeaknesses: NoneBottom Line: I bought these on an impulse buy without looking at the reviews. I felt ripped off when I read all the negative comments.
However, for the past year this light has served me well. I am super impressed with the battery life. It outlasts all my friends batteries, even at the highest setting.
The battery is super small and light.
My only problem is trying to plug the cord into the light. Its a little finicky... i think the contact moves around a bit and if i take it apart something may have been jarred lose.
At anyrate... I personally think its a great light.
I also got a good deal on it... i paid $269 Canadian and have since seet it for as much as $400 in other stores.
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$180.00
Purchased At: Europe Bound
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