Submitted by
Dinty Moore
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2007
Strengths: Variable light intensities
Weaknesses: Battery
Bottom Line:
When my battery died, I called NightRider and their replacement cost was about $ 175. I went to Batteries Plus and they rebuilt the thing for 50 bucks. Works great. Hindsight though, I would probably go ahead and buy a better LED or newer technology light that doesn't take this heavy of a battery.
Submitted by
Brian Stevenson
a Weekend Warrior
from San Mateo, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2004
Strengths: Solid light distribution. Able to conserve battery life with 3 5W,10W,15W settings. Durable
Weaknesses: Wished I did my homework about Ni-Cad Battery maintenance when I first got the Digital Pro-6. My battery is dead and there's no way I'm going to spend $110.00 each for both my and my fiancée's replacement batteries from niterider. We've had our light for approximately 3yrs.
Bottom Line:
Has worked well when used, but not used that often. Good light distribution, at least for single track. Used for a handfull of occasional night rides and the Hi-Tech Challenge Adventure Race.
The light is great until it's time to replace the battery! I've been searching to the ends of the internet for prior knowledge on how to replace this battery! I haven't had any luck. I opened up the battery housing. It's just 5 D's in series and some insulation spray foam.
I have an Digital Pro-6 Charger...not the newer Brute that NiteRider has as the replacement. I need to find out the following:
1) Will my old charger be able to charge NiMH cells? If not, I might invest in the Brute for a quicker charge and support for NiMH. My Pro-6 has 5 x 4.5Ah batteries.
2)If I do go with the Brute Charge and NiMH, will my Digital Pro-6 work ok with NiMH? I'll purchase 5 NiMH D's or Sub-C's as close to the same mAh as possible (currently 4500mAh)
If anyone has any tips, let me know. I'll post what I find out once tested. I haven't tried Niterider support, but I assume they'll stick to what their manual says and say x batteries are only compatible with x system and x charger...they're making money on replacement batteries.
Strengths: Well built light head, bulb lasts long, nice camlock mount, remote switch, gauge
Weaknesses: Connector broke, I had to solder it on
Bottom Line:
This light lasted almost 2 commuting years in Seattle rain. I expected it to last a little longer but maybe that's the average. The battery no longer holds a charge and the connector broke off inside the light housing. It's hard to reach but I have managed to solder it back. The light is fairly bright, but narrow. It's a good light for commuting when you need a little something more than a light just to be seen. The gauge showing how much light you have left is helpful and changing light levels is cool. I had a problem with the first charger, but Niterider sent me a new fast charger to replace it. The customer service then was good, but they did not respond to a query I sent them a month ago about the connector. It was out of warranty anyway. I believe it does a good job for what it is designed for, however, I think the connector thing was a poor design.
Similar Products Used: Cygolite Nite Rover Jet Lites Starfire I Dual Beam Niterider Digital Evolution
Bike Setup: Gary Fisher
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Justin
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose, CA USA
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2002
Strengths: Light seems SOLID!, ease of setup, 5 hour charge time, fuel gauge.
Weaknesses: battery connector to the light, it came off after like 2 rides. It still works but just make sure you dont lose the piece. Basically part of the connector on the headlamp itself, comes off, if you pull straight out. placing the connector in, still no problems with the light
Bottom Line:
This is for the Digital pro 6 with remote 2001 model. This light is very bright on 15 watts, but 1:45 hour run time, 6 hours on 3 watts(which is soo dim who would bother) I do like the fuel gauge, and the way it has a reserve so you can try to pedal home fast :o) Value is at 4 chilis, overall 3 chilis, if that connector wouldnt have broke soo fast maybe it would have gotten a better rating
This was a factory replacement for a 5 year old dual beam that finnaly gave up. They were great to work with, always available and supportive. I will probably upgrade to the HID in a year or 2.
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Pasadena, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2001
Strengths: Fool-proof charger, compact light head, LED "fuel gauge"
Weaknesses: Variable power output useful primarily for climbing and/or extending burn time
Bottom Line:
This light has a fairly narrow spot beam which is good for seeing straight ahead but bad for seeing along the sides of the trail and/or road. The 10 and 6-watt settings are useful primarily for low, low speeds (e.g. climbing) and for saving battery life to get you home. Many people think the concept of having a "fuel gauge" is useless; I think it's a good idea because I no longer have to guess how much time I have before things go dark. My experience with the fuel gauge is that it's fairly accurate.
I would buy this light only if you don't ride at breakneck speed; otherwise, I would recommend going with a dual-beam setup or an HID system. When riding on the road, I've found that even having a 12/20-watt setup (such as Niterider's Classic) with both bulbs firing isn't sufficient when going over, say, 25 mph. Consequently, I've ordered Light & Motion's ARC (HID) light and will see how that system works out.
In sum, then, if you're serious about riding fast at night I would go with as much light as you can afford. Otherwise, the Digital Pro-6 will serve you just fine.
Strengths: durable, light weight, waterproof, readily availible parts and accessories (the tail light is highly reccomended), manufacturer stands behind product, bright (motorists notice you and you can get up to speed at night), reasonable price, nicad batteries really last a long time with smart charger and digital headlamp (years). i haven't really used them much for trail riding, but they are perfect for year round, all weather niteriding in my medium sized city.
Weaknesses: on/off switch has broken three times over the years. niterider has fixed it promptly each time, tho' if you do alotta niteriding, you might consider buying an extra headlamp.
Bottom Line:
one could definitely do alot worse. while there do seem to be alot more choices now compared to when i first got a decent bicycle light, i can definitely say that niterider (the product as well as the company) is something that can be counted on for the long haul. if someone is just starting out, it might seem like alot to be spending $170US (including tail light) on a lighting system, but i would say that it's definitely a bargain if you want to ride fast and safe at night.
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland Oregon
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2001
Strengths: Very bright, easy to use, well made.
Weaknesses: Pricey and the battery is heavy, but then all batteries are heavy and mountain biking is not a cheap sport...
Bottom Line:
There are a lot of ~$30 lights out there but they are for being seen, not for seeing. This lite allows me to bike at high speed in the middle of the night which puts it in a whole other catergory. However, beware of animals when doing this. I have come damn close to plowing over small to medium sized critters on several occasions.
Bike Setup: kona hardtail, bombers, rhyno lites, avid, xt
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Sky
a Cross Country Rider
from Seneca Falls NY USA
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2001
Strengths: Bright, Long run time (2 1/2 hours on 15 watt) useful power management system. Niterider got me a new battery in just over a week when i broke the connector. plug and forget charger works good on this thing.
Weaknesses: heavy battery (over a pound, it does make the bike feel different) Weak connector. I broke the damn thing after 3-4 rides.
Bottom Line:
A decent light. that's not cool at all that the connector broke. I was mighty pissed. It'd get a five if that never happened. Light systems should be reliable above all. If the thing broke out in the woods that could be really bad. someone could get hurt or frozen or something. to niterider's credit they replaced my battery (to which the connector is attached) in just over a week. if you have trouble go to your dealer. I sent my digital headtrip in for a recall and it took them well over a month to repair it. On the plus side I love the thing when it's working. so buy it at your own risk. and always carry a backup.
Bike Setup: Gary Fisher Sugar 3 disc, raceface cranks, mostly stock otherwise.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Sacramento, CA
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2001
Strengths: Long battery, has emergency features (SOS), pluyg and forget charger.
Weaknesses: Not a flood bob, will replace when I burn this one out. A pain and the butt to tun on and off (gotta hold for 3 seconds each) Quick relase is not that secure, if it gets tapped it can fall off.
Bottom Line:
Value: Is better than Classic and Night Owl at same price. But a bit more complicated than the Classic (cause it's digital)
Favorite Trail: Dark ones (look out for skunks though)
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At: Christmas present
Similar Products Used: Nightrider Classic
Bike Setup: Ventana, XT, Mach 5
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Woodinville, WA
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2001
Strengths: Good clean bright beam. Durable. Waterproof. LED Battery Indicator a nice touch. Quick release handlebar clamp. MicroBrute charger makes getting out onto the trails faster.
Weaknesses: None so far. Maybe the price but I got a great deal on Ebay.
Bottom Line:
I have always regretted selling my NiteRider Dual Classic. When I saw a new NiteRider Digital Pro 6 Remote up for auction on Ebay I couldn't resist. I almost forgot how great these lights were. Even though I have the single beam model it is still plenty of light for me.
NiteRider did their homework and added some nice touches. The quick-release handlebar clamp was one of them. I hated having to put on the clamp that came with my previous NiteRider. This one goes on and comes off in a breeze but with plenty of adjustable clamping power.
Having the LED battery read-out is a plus. I now can better maintain my battery by actually knowing how much juice remains in my battery. And with the MicroBrute Charger recharging the battery takes half the time of what it used to take for my previous NiteRider Dual Classic.
I only use the 15 watt mode for riding. I haven't used the 10 or 6 watt option but I can see why they it's there. In the case one is running out of juice switching to 6 watts can buy you more light time until you get to your destination.
In conclusion, NiteRider makes the "King of Lights" no other company in my opinion comes close in quality and durability.
Bike Setup: Klein Attitude Comp, SID XC fork, XTR drivetrain, Chris King Headset, Syncros seatpost and Selle Italia Flite saddle.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Sean 'O'
a Weekend Warrior
from S.F., CA, U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2001
Strengths: This light system is great! It takes bumps, dumps, and rain. Very dependable light. It recharges in 3 - 4 hours, I don't know why the manufacturer says it takes 12 + hours?? I highly recommend it, still strong after one year of (ab)use! The light offset system is strong and hasn't come loose, despite alot of reviews I have read stating this was a problem, and I have given it my fair share of pounding.
Weaknesses: None detected yet in over a year.
Bottom Line:
This is a great, rugged, durable product at a very reasonable price. I bought it through the 'net, and have no regrets. This light works great at all 3 levels, and recharges fully and quickly in about 1/3 the time it is listed at. Take a few minutes to fine tune the mount clamp the first time you install the light set, don't over tighten the silver band, and you should have no problems down the line. If it slips, cut a piece of junk tube for the bar and you'll be fine. Enjoy ! ! !
Strengths: The light is easy to set up with a good remote feature
Weaknesses: Battery life, customer service, brightness compared to other quality systems on the market
Bottom Line:
I bought this light hoping to purchase a quality system that was lightweight and bright. The Digital Pro-6 w/remote has a spot beam and really isn't very bright beyond that, even on 15 watt setting. But the biggest disappointment, however, is the burn time. The light claims 2.5 hours of burn on 15 watts, but I get around 1.75 hours. I thought Niterider boasted their great batteries and burn time. I actually sent the battery back to the company in San Diego. After about a week I called them to see if the battery should be repaired or replaced and I was put on hold for 30 minutes. When I finally got through to Warranty, they told me the battery will be looked at tommorow or something. They said they were backed up with repairs (ugh!!) and call them on Monday to hurry them up. Not a good sign. When I called on Monday they put me on hold three times for total of 50 minutes only to tell me that the battery was fine and they where sending it back. When I recieved the battery, I recharged it and clocked it at 1 hour and 48 minutes on High. To say the least, I am NEVER buying a Niterider again. I like my NiteHawk better. It's a tank of a light, but its bright and will burn forever. I recently bought a Light and Motion Dual system that is much more adjustable, waaay brighter, and burns up to their claim (and lighter). I would really recommend these systems. I think Niterider has just overgrown into a big, ugly company and they haven't kept up with the technology of the ever growing competition.
Submitted by
ToddW
a Cross Country Rider
from Washington, DC
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2000
Strengths: Good illumination w/tight beam; multiple settings; nice quick-release handlebar mount; easy to install and use.
Weaknesses: Bulky battery; no spare bulb included (at least that I could find)
Bottom Line:
All I can give at this point is my initial impression after 1 week of use: good illumination, ease of use and reasonable price make this a solid lighting package. I've used it both on and off-road with good results. One negative so far. On the two lowest settings the light interferes with my cycling computer ('97 Specialized Speedzone wireless) making it useless. I think one of the reviews below made this observation as well! Not too big of a deal since I don't really use my computer a night anyway but I do like to know my total mileage at the end of a ride.
Bike Setup: '97 Specialized Stumpjumper Pro; Judy XC fork w/Englund Air cartridges/ 517 rims-DT Rev spokes - King hubs / Avid SD 25 brakes/ Gore cables/ WTB saddle / RaceFace bottom bracket
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Andy
a Weekend Warrior
from New Brunswick, NJ
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2000
Strengths: Easy re-charging. Put the battery on the charger after a ride and forget about it.
Weaknesses: A little pricey. I have the one with a remote switch which is even more expensive. The remote version was all they had at the store when I bought. For riding where you are constantly adjusting the light level depending to obtain the longest possible burn time this might be convenient. However, I turn my light on when I start and off when I finish; reaching for the switch is not really an issue.
Bottom Line:
At 15 watts it provides just enough light for my road riding, dark country roads with few or no street lights. If I had to do it again I would probably fork over the extra cash for the 30 watt digital pro. Sometimes when riding fast on dark roads I find it hard to see small obstacles such as ice, sharp rocks or metal. Potholes and glass usually show up well. The light is certainly bright enough to be seen by cars. The best part of this light is the charging system. I would fry my battery with a regular charger that required me to unplug the battery after it was finished charging. Who has time to remember such things?
