Boasting output equivalent to a 40 watt halogen bulb and a burn time of 4 hours, the Firestorm light system was built with speed in mind. Testament to this is the number of 24 hour bike athletes winning races with the Firestorm. Not a 24 hour racer? No problem, the Firestorm makes an excellent commuting light. Your safety is greatly improved by the increased visibility provided by ultra bright HID technology. The Firestorm also incorporates a low battery indicator to help monitor battery power. Included is a 2.5 hour charger that makes certain you have a full charge and are quickly on your way again.
Submitted by
Kyle
a Weekend Warrior
from Oregon Date Reviewed: January 4, 2008
Favorite Trail:
the one Im on
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
WOW! Niteriders slogan is right on par "Discover the night" with this light its just like riding during the daytime, I can ride just as fast.
Its super bright and I like the white beam. Focuses light in the middle but also spreads the light out to the sides. The battery lasts forever. Comes with a handy little travel pack.
Niterider has awesome customer support! Recently I emailed them about my charger that broke and before I knew it I had a new one at my doorstep.
Weaknesses:
#1-The cost. Light flickers on rough terrain (might just be normal with HID lights). Sometimes I cant get it to strike (turn on), kinda scary when its the only light I have and the sun is setting quickly. The light isn't that heavy but when it is mounted on the front of your helmet it makes your helmet top and front heavy. Could of had a little bit longer cable for when I put it in by Hydrapak.
A new bulb cost's $100. WOW
Similar Products Used:
Dinky little 3 led headlights. Niterider NICD dual Digital (like the classic)
Bike Setup:
Giant AC, Trek 4300, Fuji Rubiax
Bottom Line:
HID is the best! Forget LED for now.
If you buy one you will love it :)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin Siemonsen
a Cross Country Rider
from New Faifield, Ct 06812 Date Reviewed: October 24, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Blue mountain NY(all of it!)
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$325.00
Purchased At:
Wheel and Heel
Strengths:
Heavy duty construction, honest 4hr burn time
Weaknesses:
A little heavy, bulbs are expensive ($80.00)
Similar Products Used:
Nite rider digital lights (bar and helmet mount), Turbo cat
Bike Setup:
Trek EX8,
Bottom Line:
Once you experience 4hrs of steady run time there is no turning back! I use a bar and helmet light set up. Helmet light uses a spot bulb instead of included flood bulb. My lights are early HID units. I had a problem with the wall charger. One phone call to Nite Rider and they sent a replacement free of charge. Since then a fall damaged an extension lead (my fault), and one light started turning off well before battery was dead. This time I sent the unit back to Nite Rider for repairs with a check for $20.00 per web site directions. The ballast and power chord were replaced and unit shipped back all for the $20.00 bench fee in about 3 weeks. I ride in some pretty harsh conditions from hot, wet, muddy to winter freeing. To sum it up I beat the crap out of these lights and they keep on working. Customer service is exceptional and I will buy another!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave T
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder Date Reviewed: July 25, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Fish Creek Falls
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Redstone Cyclery - www.redstonecyclery.com
Strengths:
I actually have the NR Rage - great light! LED/HID options are great for rallying at high speeds and then standing around waiting for your buddies with lame lights to show up without blinding everyone else. Really bright light - I've never seen a Big Cat, but now I'm lookin'. 4 hour burn time at 100% is real, still, after 1 year.
Weaknesses:
you'll miss some stuff that otherwise goes on at night because you'll be riding. That includes, but is not limited to: bar time, wife time, girlfriend time, whatever. You might get pale from lack of sunlight. Seriously, this thing will give you the darkness jones. You've been warned.
Similar Products Used:
trailrat 2.0 - not great, but cheap and it worked. Great customer service.
Bike Setup:
Heckler on a diet - 27 lbs, XTR, fox.
Bottom Line:
I highly recommend it. If you're local, check out www.redstonecyclery.com and talk to Dave. He'll get you the hook up and take you out late with it too.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Sterling Heights, MI Date Reviewed: April 28, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Dirt!
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$185.00
Purchased At:
EBAY - like new. $360 on receipt
Strengths:
BRIGHT! More than I expected. Night ride almost every day now. First you see the dears eyes, then all of their detail. Very cool.
Weaknesses:
On can take a few tries, but no big deal. Battery is a bit heavy for front pocket. Longer cord would get it in the rear pouch. Helmet is weighed down a bit, but OK.
Similar Products Used:
Only Cateye LED & Planet bike Halogen. Apples and orange there.
Bike Setup:
Trek 4300 with upgrade front fork, and seat.
Bottom Line:
This light opened a whole world of night riding. I use dirt trails to see nature; dear, raccoon, rabbit, duck, goose, muskrat, and on and on. I've only used it for 2 hour stretches, but it is just as bright at when first turned on. Helps with cars when I do go to a road.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Barbara Date Reviewed: March 11, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Area 51, Ithaca NY
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$290.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint
Strengths:
Bright!(daylight is not exageration) Quick charge time. Burly, rubber coated minimalist design. Relatively light housing.
Weaknesses:
Helmet mount is designed for extreme front of helmet- pulls down the front of the helmet- requires making a foam wedge. Wish Camelbaks had a better way of carrying these when in use (i.e. a pouch and exit hole for the battery and cable- similar to what they have for the water bladder and tube)
Similar Products Used:
None (weak camping LED headlamps)
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Truth (xc) Yeti AS-X (freeride/dh) Litespeed Tuscany (road)
Bottom Line:
Bought this light mainly for winter commuting (after a close call or two with my camping led headlamp). 300 seemed about right for a HID. I knew they were bright- but wow- even better than I expected. Immediately I felt so much safer at night on the roads. (Part of your visibility at night is not just the light coming off of you, but also the reflected light coming off the road, etc. from you headlights- think of seeing a car at night from a distance). I was a little uncertain at first, but I'm very glad I opted for the helmet and not the handlebar mount : you can avoid blinding pedestrians, you can make sure cars see you by looking at them, and as others have mentioned- you can really use the brightness to encourage courtious driving by delivering a mild visual shock to anyone driving badly around you). This light has also opened up the local trails at any time of day or night. My old mtn biking buddies always talked about night riding being different and harder- but I honestly can't tell any difference between night and day with this light- I'm riding gnarly big rocks, fast switchbacks (another reason to get a helmet mount),technical climbing and technical descending in the middle of dark forest areas- and I forget its nightime- Well, I forget now-- the first time I used the light I mounted the light in front of the helmet- as desgined- and it hammered the front of the helmet down over my forehead whenever I'd ride anything bumpy (read everything). Not good I cut a wedge of out dense black closed-cell foam- and have since mounted the light at the top of the helmet- at the center of gravity- no problems any more (it stays put no prob- even downhilling). This issue comes up in reviews below-- I can't understand why Niterider doesn't fix this 'angle of the mount' issue -everything else is perfect (by the way, mounting the helmet on the top doesn't force the beam angle further forward at all- maybe unless you want the light to shine on your stem when you're looking straight ahead, and you are wearing a clown nose and/or visor on your helmet). To deal with this problem your options are 1) have a perfectly fitting helmet 2) make a foam wedge 3) hope NiteRider fixes it in the future. Option 2 has been no issue for me.
All the rest is positive: I'm very pleased by how far I can see- but I also don't really get blinded looking at things up close, as some reviewers had mentioned (though don't look at your significant other when you try it out for the first time in house) I also bought the headstrap for nighttime trail running- I haven't used it yet- but I have brought it along in my camelbak for epic runs-- this headstrap is a nice option- I'm glad NiteRider offers it. Get it- and you won't need another light(other than your 10 dollar back red blinker). The only thing you might need is another battery if you're riding a 24 hour race. (4 hours has been enough for all my single day riding).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kris
a Cross Country Rider
from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: March 9, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$389.00
Purchased At:
WheelWorld.com
Strengths:
Bright light, battery life is suitable for my usage
Weaknesses:
Light switch is a bit finicky to turn on.
Bike Setup:
2004 Raleigh Avenger
Bottom Line:
It's a 2005 Storm. A friend had a NiteRider halogen helmet light that he was happy w/. I would have no problem recommending the light to anyone.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Anchorage, AK, USA Date Reviewed: October 22, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Rovers Run
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$389.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Very bright, with a wide field Long battery life, even after many years
Weaknesses:
Can be hard to start A bit heavy; helmet needs to fit snugly
Similar Products Used:
Various halogen and LED headlamps
Bike Setup:
Fisher Sugar
Bottom Line:
This is a durability update after 4 years of regular use; it's still going strong. I use if for both winter biking and XC skate skiing, and it's great for both. I've gone through about 300 charge cycles on the original battery, and am still getting over 4.5 hours of burn time at room temperature, and over 3 hours at around 0 F.
The only part that's been replaced so far was a bulb, which was my fault after dropping the unit onto a concrete floor. I simply ordered the new one on the Niterider website, and it was delivered promptly. My buddy broke the pigtail on his battery cable where it comes out of the battery by overflexing it in his pack, and Niterider repaired it quickly with an upgraded design. No complaints here on their customer service.
The beam is still easily the best of any I've used or seen on the trail, with a penetrating center spot but also very good peripheral light. You can pick up reflective trail markers at least a mile away, and when helmet or headstrap mounted you get great depth perception and visibility wherever you are looking.
It's become a popular light here in Alaska, as while it is too spendy it really opens up the winter. It's certainly not too bright when you're diving down the singletrack, especially this time of year when we don't yet have reflective snow and the darkness is particularly inky with dark woods and even darker moose to spot. It basically removes light as a barrier to getting out, and you can hit the trails at a good pace.
For cold use, I keep the battery warm inside my jacket. The battery fits fine in a small neoprene waist pack which rides comfortably in the small of my back, without any bounce. I've taped the battery pigtail down to the battery to keep if from flexing and breaking, and have had no cable troubles. The connectors all still fit tight after lots of use; the new design looks even better. I generally keep the battery topped off, recharging every 2-3 hours and never running it all the way down. The new Li ion bateries are smaller and lighter, and will be even better in the cold, but the original NiMH battery has been very good.
Overall, this has been a great light, and I'd promptly buy another if I broke this one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Racer
from upstate, NY Date Reviewed: October 16, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
mailorder
Strengths:
Bright! Long burntime.
Weaknesses:
Unreliable. Niterider customer service disappointing.
Similar Products Used:
Niterider Headtrip
Bike Setup:
many
Bottom Line:
Worked great for the first several rides. Long burntime and quick to charge. It's as bright, if not brighter than any other light I've seen on the trail.
However, mine was unreliable. After several uses it stopped working. I tried everything. I think there was a problem with my ballast. Half the time it wouldn't ignite.
I tried contacting Niterider. Whoever answers their phone is clueless. The technicians were impossible to get on the phone and didn't return my calls. They did answer emails either. I finally just sent it in. That was 4 weeks ago. I am still waiting to hear back from them.
Bottom line: stay away from Niterider if you value good customer service and a reliable product. I'm going to ebay this when I get it back from niterider and buy an LED light instead.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
john dow
a Weekend Warrior
from Tel Aviv, Israel Date Reviewed: August 18, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$270.00
Purchased At:
Internet.com
Strengths:
Very bright light allows technical riding, all details of the trail are clear. this light just sheds everything wiht a motorcycle strength illumination. one can ride night or day, sun no longer a factor, just ride. allows me to add a mid-weak ride no matter how work schedule looksd like. long burn time obleviate the need to think about shutting the light off on uphills, just light it on and ride, ride ride, fast charge trouble free for this first year
Weaknesses:
On/Off button has a vague feel, at times requires several goes How much did you pay for that bike light? (but still worth extra 30-35 rides a year); Connecters seem to be fairly fragile (so I do handle them wiyh care) light so strong eyes can't see anything not illuminated helmet mount --> few shadows to gauge depth light may be too strong for road use as it may blind drivers
Similar Products Used:
many, especially halogen
Bike Setup:
5' trail bike
Bottom Line:
Although 270 seems to be an insane price for a bike light, if NR keeps working as it has been for the first year I would say that the extra rides allowed by the excellent lighting and the sheer joy of night riding are well worth the price, even if you are not a 24 hours racer. By at the end-off summer light sales.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Simen
a Weekend Warrior
from Ljubljana/Slovenia Date Reviewed: April 12, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$280.00
Purchased At:
Jenson
Strengths:
Bright and simple to use.
Weaknesses:
Nothing special only extra cable is not necessary. I'd rather have a light unit with longer cable.
Similar Products Used:
NR Digital Evolution and Classic Plus
Bike Setup:
Spec Enduro 05, CK headset, Mavic XL, Maxxis Ignitors...
Bottom Line:
NR Storm works great. It's bright and 4hrs of burn time are more than enough for me. I never had it completely discharged and I keep it fully charged when not riding. After one year of use my battery shows no weakness and it's as good as new. On the trail I switch it on and forget about it. Remember to mount it pretty high on the helmet otherwise it'll be too heavy and your neck will hurt. I had no problems with bulb life either. Helmet mount is simple and works ok.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Larry
a Racer
from Boise, ID Date Reviewed: February 11, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Porcupine Rim
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Don't remember
Strengths:
Good light when it works
Weaknesses:
Light never works. Over four years, I have been able to use it no more than ten times max.
Similar Products Used:
BLT Halogens
Bike Setup:
Various road, mountain, cross bikes
Bottom Line:
The light I bought is a piece of crap. I think it worked great for my first two rides, and that was it. After that, it was acting quirky in that when I would shut it off, I could wait an hour and it still wouldn't turn on. Pretty much useless for any kind of night race. After about five rides, the light would never turn on again. I sent it to Night Rider, and they replaced almost everything in it. When I got it back, it worked for one ride, and then it never turned on again. Since then, NightRider will not even return my calls or emails, so I cannot get it fixed. Very poor service for such an expensive product. I would be happy to get anything for this piece of crap.
To the guy who says we don't know how to use a ballast, think about it. Do you really think so many people could have the same problem, and not do the research to learn about how these things work? You could hold the button down on my light all day, and I guarantee you it is not coming on. I have brought it to several shops to look at who have used the same light, and they could not get it working either. Maybe you just happened to be lucky and have gotten one that actually works.
I bought the light when it first came out, so that version may have had more problems, not sure. All I know is I spent around $400 on this HID, only to have used my $50 used BLT Halogens for the past year. If you are buying this product, you are taking a chance.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Hantsport, Ns Date Reviewed: February 10, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Tough as nails
Bottom Line:
Forgot to mention in the review below, this light is not fragile. Hit an over head branch at speed, knock me off my bike and almost out. The light works fine.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Hantsport, NS Date Reviewed: February 10, 2005
Favorite Trail:
joyride
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$275.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
As advertized, BRIGHT! Straight forward to mount. Long burn
Weaknesses:
On switch is not "positive". Have accidentially turned light off trying to adjust beam, not good when you have to wait, and fumble to re-juice.
Similar Products Used:
Planet Bike Alias (helmet & handlebar)
Bottom Line:
If you're the first of your riding buddies to get one, they'll hate you. If they have one and you don't, you know what I mean. Long burn means long rides, take a break leave your light on while everyone else shuts down to save their batteries. I wouldn't go back to a regular light.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Fat Tony
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego Date Reviewed: February 8, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
- Bright - Long burn time (4 hrs) - Fast charger (2.5 hrs)
Weaknesses:
- Fit and finish is not as nice as Lite & Motion - Reflecter design is generic (see below) - "On" button confusing at first (see below)
Bike Setup:
KHS 504xc and Schwinn Fastback road bike
Bottom Line:
HID is the way to go. I tired several 10 and 15 watt halogen systems and was not satisfied. The Storm 2.0 for 2005 is even nicer with the 2.5 hour fast charger. The light is bright and last the full 4 hour charge as claimed. The flat smaller battery fits nicely into a CamelBack or even into an under the saddle bag if you have room inside. The bright center spot lights up any trail or road obsticle. The beam projection is very effective. I also like the fall off light to the sides as it lights up the trail and roadsides effective so I can just use my peripheral vision instead of having to turn my whole head. The fit and finish is not as comparable to the Light & Motion stuff though. It's my only gripe. The L&M made stuff just feels more fluid to adjust and mounts so easily. The Niterider connectors are not as smooth as the L&M stuff. If you have not used an L&M Arc HID, then you will not notice the inferior beam quality of the Storm. L&M uses their own proprietary reflector housing with projects a beam with a smooth transition from bright center to darker edges. Whereas the Storm's generic reflector housing has a bright center spot and then abruptly ends dark around the edges. Like I said, you'll never know this difference unless you come from a L&M light. About a week into riding the Storm, I got used to the beam and forgot about the L&M.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Pedro Lahoz
a Cross Country Rider
from La Romana Dom Rep Date Reviewed: December 8, 2004
Favorite Trail:
cacata
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$270.00
Purchased At:
wheel world
Strengths:
works as advertised, improved 2005 model
Weaknesses:
should include both helmet and bar mounts
Bike Setup:
5" trail bike, with xc geometry
Bottom Line:
The light lit up almost right away, waiting time was negligible. On first charge it seemed to last more than one hour. Helmet mount does not seem as forward as others complain about, or is it that the 2005 model has addressed that issue? Good light for "filling" the road or trail, as a spot it is too white. I am missing the amber tone of a hallogen light, but do enjoy how this light seems to propagate and light up "all around". At this early stage, just got it, I am happy with it and do recommend, especially at the price I got it for.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Shane Gouldthread
a Racer
from Weedville Date Reviewed: October 18, 2004
Favorite Trail:
its always a favorite ride!
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
SPEEDGOAT.com
Strengths:
NiteRider quality, long run time, and BRIGHT!
Weaknesses:
didnt own one sooner!
Similar Products Used:
light and motion arc light(ran both at same time for 7 Spring's 24 hour race)
Bike Setup:
cannondale, all new XT, Avid disc, Mavic disc 223's, Hutchisons MOSQUITO's (BEST RACE TIRE).
Bottom Line:
BRIGHT, long burn time.. great for 24 hour racing. easy to seem objects at high speeds. light on yur head doesnt weigh much. the helment mount it great sticks to your helment like glue! just a great light for racing or riding..
LIVESTRONG_RIDELONG
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from NP Date Reviewed: September 24, 2004
Favorite Trail:
RV
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$270.00
Purchased At:
BeyondBike.com
Strengths:
Wow...these light are bright!!! Worked great for my first 24hr race. The connectors are made well and the charger has an indicator light to inform you when the light is fully charged
Weaknesses:
So far no problems to report with the switch or light. However, the light feels heavy on the helmet.
The 3.5 hour charger still takes over 4 hours to fully charge...not a big issue unless it's during a race.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
04 Stumpjumper
Bottom Line:
Overall this is one of the best out on the market. H.I.D.'s are by far the brightest lights you can buy. 4 our run time is accurately stated.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Eagan, MN Date Reviewed: August 15, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Lebanon Hills
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$260.00
Purchased At:
beyondbikes.com
Strengths:
VERY BRIGHT! Soothing white light at night. Not too "yellow" like others. READ THE MANUAL!
The Shizzit! This light will kick anyones butt out of the ballpark! GET ONE NOW WHILE YOU CAN! And by the way, the CS at Niterider is now outstanding!! They had issues a couple years back and it steered folks away. Try one, you'll be drooling!! DON'T ILLUMINATE! DOMINATE!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Luke Sheehan
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Date Reviewed: May 27, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Mountaineers Trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
cycle fantasy
Strengths:
awesome light ouput & run time
Weaknesses:
i'm being picky here - on/off button, helmet mount, no charge indicator
Similar Products Used:
nothing in this league
Bike Setup:
underneath rider (98% of the time)
Bottom Line:
this light is the dogs bollocks, it outshines cars headlights and burns for 4 hours, charges in 3 and a half. This light makes anything with a halogen globe look like it's running flat, when evey one else is conserving power and running out of lights this thing is still burning strong. I recently did a 24hr race with my fiancee in a four peerson team and afterwards I worked out that we could've just used this one light between the two of us!! Makes the cost easier to swallow. You have to be picky to criticise this light, but here goes, I suppose a battery indicator would be a nice touch (although this has yet to be an actual problem for me), the light mounts a fair way forward on my helmet, which makes it slightly top heavy, and it's pretty easy to turn the light on by accident (although I now just always unplug it before I put in a bag etc). Also, a light this powerful on your head tends to wash out shadows on the track which makes it difficult to judge the height of dops and bumos etc. I mounted mine on my handle bars to see what it was like, and it worked great, because there is so much light it's even ok in single track where you normally have to have a head mounted light. bottom line is I'm gunna buy the handlebar version as well and have the best of both worlds.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben Dawson
a Racer
from Peterborough/ON/Canada Date Reviewed: April 19, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Ganaraska E2
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Really bright, long burn time, my charges does it in 3.5hours.
Weaknesses:
Needs a power guage just in case you loose track of how many laps you've used a certain battery at a 24hour race.
Similar Products Used:
Vistalite (crap)
Bike Setup:
2004 Carbon Giant NRS Air (stock)
Bottom Line:
Well, like all the other people say...the button can be fidgity. But a little common sense solved that problem and I can operate it fine. Light is so bright that you dont think it's very bright cause the trail looks like it does during the day, you can crank out day lap times with this baby. For anyone that owns the light try turning it off when your on the trail (stopped of course) to fully appreciate it. Light seems dull at first till it starts heatin up (takes about 5 sec) than it's unbelieveable. I bought the light used and it still works great after a year of racing. Cant justify buying the cyclone just for the little LED's, I will buy a new one when they come up with something usefull like a battery guage or a more powerfull one! Word is they have developed a battery that lasts like 30hours (Nightrider hasnt released it yet), might be worth the investment when it comes out. The're probably using them in the Dakar like they did with the original Storm.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Larry
a Cross Country Rider
from Germantown, MD, USA Date Reviewed: February 13, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
You have read the specs by now: burns extremely long & strong. Two points: I use the setup for winter commuting & it has been amazing - "one of five technologies that have changed my life". This morning I realized I've commuted 4 hours and have not recharged. The charger is so small I put it in my butt pack and charged the system by lunch time! I've had cars stop, even though they had the right-of-way (ROW) to let me go because of the light. Past 10 watt setups didn't even get the attention of cars when I did have the ROW / in a crosswalk. I like the helmet mount to guide the light along trails in the woods or to provide visibility from all perspectives.
Weaknesses:
None. Advice: (1) mount light high on helmet to distribute weight evenly. (2) don't get a false sense of security because drivers still are unpredictable.
Similar Products Used:
Night Hawk, Vistalite.
Bike Setup:
Airborne ti, XT, Mavic Crossride
Bottom Line:
Spend the money, stay on the trails longer, be safer.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
james coyne
a Cross Country Rider
from tampa, fl, u.s.a. Date Reviewed: January 13, 2004
Favorite Trail:
pine mountain complex
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
niterider
Strengths:
solid build, long lasting charge, bright light, small but not necessarily light battery, lots of cable, easy set up for mounting system, connectors line up easily.
Weaknesses:
the light is a bit white so under some surface conditions you can get a white out effect. the bulb is somewhat expensive and although i've read that the bulb is somewhat fragile i've yet to experience this even after more than 1.5 years of typical single track after dark riding.
Similar Products Used:
niterider pro
Bike Setup:
trek 8500, marin team, specialized m4 cross
Bottom Line:
strong light, one of the longest charge holds available, relatively fast charge time (around 5 hours to fully charge a nearly empty battery). i'd go with a helmet mount every time over a bar mount so this alone makes this system really valuable. niterider customer service is easy to get ahold of and they will respond in a professional and positive manner.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
gf99
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlotte, NC, US Date Reviewed: January 9, 2004
Favorite Trail:
many
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Strengths:
Bright, long burn times, well thought out mounting system and connectors.
Weaknesses:
Weight is balanced too far forward on helmet. Could use a broader dispersed beam.
Similar Products Used:
L&M ARC
Bike Setup:
Titus LocoMoto
Bottom Line:
This review is also for the '04 Cyclone. I originally bought a L&M ARC which I had several problems with so I got a refund and a Cyclone so my opinions are based on a comparison of the two. Both lights are very bright. Nuff said about that. The L&M had a nicer light quality. Very broad even beam with the brightness gradually diminishing outward from the center. The Niterider has a very bright center but is dimmer and somewhat splotchy outward from it. Not bad, but noticeable. The Cyclone has a nicer helmet mounting system. The range of power settings on the Cyclone seems more useful than the L&M. I've yet to find a practical use for the LEDs (gimmick?), but they are bright enough to get out of the woods if the main light fails. The cyclone sits kind of forward on the helmet so I had to tighten the helmet a bit for it to be comfortable/stable. Both the light and charger have worked flawlessly so far. Advertises a 4-6 hour burn time, but I've never used it for more that 3 so I can't vouch for this. Overall a nice light.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doug Surowiec
a Racer
from New Brighton,PA Date Reviewed: January 8, 2004
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$465.00
Purchased At:
Snitger's Bicycle Store
Strengths:
Quality construction
Weaknesses:
None as yet
Similar Products Used:
Niterider Digital and Non-Digital Evolution, Nite Hawk Viper
Bike Setup:
K2 Mod 3.0, Jamis Eureka
Bottom Line:
This review is for the '04 Cyclone. I can't praise this product enough, it makes up for all the grief I've put with ( and for almost 500 beans w/tax, it better). Brightest light I've EVER owned! Niterider sure hit a home run with one. Some posts I've read about the Storm and Blowtorch switch problems have been corrected with this light, but the power-up is different also. When you press the power button on top of the light, the three leds come on. Pressing the button again causes the ballast to strike, and the unit slowly (5 or 10 seconds), powers on. If you want the best and brightest, BUY THIS !!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave Leibert
a Cross Country Rider
from Bethlehem, PA ,USA Date Reviewed: January 5, 2004
Favorite Trail:
American Std -closed by PAGC
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$360.00
Purchased At:
Price Point
Strengths:
Everything you want in a light; BRIGHT AS HELL, Long lasting, one setting (BRIGHT AS HELL)
Weaknesses:
Price of addmission.............
Similar Products Used:
nothing
Bike Setup:
Helmet mount for light
Bottom Line:
Great light, great company.If you can swing the $'s buy the best.You nite rides will be 10x better! When I first decided to buy a light I was dismayed at how sh#$tty most of them operated. Riders were trying to nurse the battery home by keeping the output low with the complicated power output regime. I saw that more than one time and said screw it I'm getting the best one. I remeber one ride where we did this wicked mostly unrideable descent at JT. Several riders' light were out and I was lighting the way for a few of them! Plus, Niterider is a GREAT COMPANY. I dropped my light and it didn't work(on asphalt). Sent it to them and they fixed it for FREE, OUT OF WARRANTY, AND PAID THE RETURN SHIPPING! Plus, they were really nice on the phone and they are a single business entity and you actually talk to a person.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
as bright as day
a Downhiller
from san diego, califexico, usa Date Reviewed: December 17, 2003
Favorite Trail:
noble canyon
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$325.00
Purchased At:
what used to be known as BIKE USA
Strengths:
ample amount of light, blinding light, very bright, turns night into day - literally
Weaknesses:
a little on the porky side regarding weight!!! wish design was more sleeker looking rather than having a bulky look
Similar Products Used:
vista code 25
Bike Setup:
03 bullit
Bottom Line:
if you want to see whats ahead while you're bombing down a hill get this light - it will save your life. anything that does not have h.i.d. capabilites are inferior. my storm casts shadows in front of others with inferior lights, no joke!!! a little on the costly side but feel the performance warrants the extra dollars. i highly recommend this light. i will consider the new model with the led lights in them, you should too.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
CrashALot
a Racer
from Crown Town, CA Date Reviewed: November 8, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$315.00
Purchased At:
Riverside Bike Shop
Strengths:
Helmet mount works awsome. This light is bright enough for technical trails.
Weaknesses:
it is difficult to turn on after it has been shut off.
Similar Products Used:
niterider digital, specialized fireball comp
Bottom Line:
I recommend this light to anyone who is looking to do some long and fast night rides. This light with the helmet mount works great because you are able to light your riding "line". The light is very bright that covers most of your riding vision and the beam of light reaches out about 50 yards. Regular lights do not compare with this light. So if you are thinking about buying a light, spend the money on this niterider, it is well worth the money!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Blind_As_A_Bat
a Cross Country Rider
from Peterborough, ON CANADA Date Reviewed: October 27, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
BikeWorks
Strengths:
Bright, fast charge, long burn time, slim battery.
Weaknesses:
Helmet mount is too far forward - very heavy. Price is a little steep.
Bike Setup:
Trek Fuel 100, yadda, yadda, yadda ...
Bottom Line:
Great system. The ONLY problem I had was the helmet mount positioned the light too far forward. This resulted in a lot of weight up front and caused my lid to slip down. I solved this problem by moving the mount closer to the top of the helmet. Inserting a wedge of foam re-positioned the light point at the right height (hard to explain: when the light is moved up the helmet, the light can no longer be pointed down enough due - I simply propped up the rear of the mount so the light would point downward again) Works great.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Filipe Mesquita
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego, CA, USA Date Reviewed: October 21, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Any fast singletrack
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$320.00
Purchased At:
Performance with price match
Strengths:
Strong bright light, the white spectrum lights up the trail with true colors. Battery lasts a long time.
Weaknesses:
Expensive product. Bulb shouldn’t be cycled on and off.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
'00 specialized enduro FSR with XT/XTR.
Bottom Line:
This product is well worth the money. It is well built and has worked well. I actually run 2 of these HIDs one on my helmet and one on the handlebar. I must say that Niterider service department is excellent. The ballast gave out late last season. When I took it to Niterider to have it fixed the tech told me they weren’t sure if it was the ballast or the bulb and they would have to keep it overnight. When Vanessa heard of this she took charge and made sure that the techs fixed it that day. Sure enough 5 minutes later there was my light all fixed free of charge. If you read old reviews on Niterider’s service department you will see that it used to be totally unsatisfactory. Ever since Vanessa showed up on the scene it has taken a 180 turn. I now understand why. I have had some of my riding buddies go there to have their lights fixed and their impression was the same. Vanessa rocks. Keep up the good work Niterider.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Weekend Warrior
from Newton, NC, USA Date Reviewed: October 13, 2003
Favorite Trail:
the one I'm on
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Insainly bright, great burn time, helmet attachment greatly inproved over the the old velcro mount used by NR's other lights.
Weaknesses:
Sometimes this is too much light. The color temp. of the light causes the trail to disappear if the trail color and the beam color are a close match.
Similar Products Used:
NiteRider Digital Evolution, NiteRider Evolution, cheap Cat Eyes
Bike Setup:
Klein Attitude Comp; XT and XTR
Bottom Line:
This is the light you want and need for epic night rides! I've never needed the full four hours this light is advertised as providing, but I have been out well beyond the the two hours that I know the Evolution lights do give you. I have never experienced the "touchy switch" problems others have mentioned. I have never felt the light was too heavy for my helmet. I wear a Giro E-2 and if it is put on correctly it stays put. I always turn off my light when stopping for a break and I have never had problems getting this light to fire right up when I start it by manufacturers instructions. This baby has been nothing but perfect in operation! As stated above I sometimes find this is too much light and sometimes the trail seems to disappear, but as with anything there is a learning curve you must go through before you are fully at ease with this light.. Two things I really, really like about this light is the great peripheral vision it provides (all those little night creatures pop out at you) and one really cool thing I have experienced is bats flying out ahead of me catching bugs which are in the beam of the light. The hard part now is deciding if I really need a second light for my bars. It would probably be over kill.
In conclusion I simply say if you want light and long ride time suck it up and drop the bucks for one of these jewels. You will not regret it! Why only four chilis?? Nothing is perfect.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
paul
a
from new hampshire Date Reviewed: October 6, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
The night rider storm has a very bright beam with good visibility.
Weaknesses:
The on-off switch is terrible. Often it will not contact properly. I once spent 15 minutes trying to get the light to come on by which time I was so late that I had to drive in to work. It does not matter how good the light is if you cannot depend on it. For a product that is this expensive this lack of attention to detail is unacceptable.
Similar Products Used:
nightsun
Bottom Line:
I would not spend close to $400 dollars for a product I can't depend on.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a
from Anchorage, AK USA Date Reviewed: October 4, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Bicentennial park trails
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$389.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Exceptionally bright, with great beam coverage. Very good battery life, even in cold temperatures. Flexibilty for mounting on helmet, bars, or headband. Has been very reliable over several seasons.
Weaknesses:
Switch can be temperamental at low temps. A bit heavy; needs a well-fitting helmet.
Similar Products Used:
Various REI and Petzl halogen headlamps.
Bike Setup:
Fisher Sugar, SRAM X.0 driveline
Bottom Line:
This is a follow-up to an initial review back in 1/02. I'm heading into my third winter with the light, and have run it through about 150 charge cycles. It's still going strong, and I haven't noticed any significant reduction in battery life. I use it for both mountain biking and XC skate skiing on fairly remote, rough trails, and so try to avoid running it all the way down to "check" the full life by ending up in the dark. I generally run it for about 3 hours between complete charges, and it's fine.
This light basically makes all the difference between staying home when it's dark (essentially October through April in Alaska during the early morning hours when I prefer to go out), and staying out there year-round. On the bike, I quite prefer the helmet mount to the bar mount, as you can look around corners when descending at speed, or to the side when watching for the big critters we share our trails with. The beam intensity and width is amazing, and gives a clear view from right ahead to hundreds of feet down the trail with decent peripheral vision. Shadows on dark trails can hide the occasional nasty surprise, so I do slow down a bit on trails I'm not completely familiar with, but overall you can just jump on the bike, light it up, and go, and focus on the ride without worrying about visibility.
I also enjoy the flexibility of using the light on the NiteRider Explorer headband for xc skiing. It looks a bit odd sticking out from your forehead, like some demented gynecologist, but it works great for fast skating. I used a four-cell Petzl for years and thought that was fine for skiing, and so thought this spendy light would be overkill, but after the first run with the Storm I've put the Petzl out to pasture. The bright beam works particularly well with the high reflectance of snow to allow you to see texture changes or icy bits, and the shadows actually help to see ruts and bumps better than on typical cloudy days. It's not a big deal for cruising in the tracks on classics, but the added visibility really helps on a fast, twisty, big-grin downhill on skate skis.
An unexpected benefit to the bright beam is the reaction from drivers on the road and critters on the trail. Drivers are much more aware of you at night with the startlingly bright light than they are during the day, and are much less likely to cut you off. Moose on the trail are usually pretty hard to shift during the day, but they really don't seem to like the light, and are much more likely to move away and give you space to go by. On the downside, you can really annoy your buddies, hikers, or drivers if you look directly at them, as the light is blinding.
The only downside I've found is that the light can get a bit heavy on a helmet, and it can cause a poor-fitting helmet to slide down or bounce around. I've swapped a vague-fitting Gyro for a lighter, snug-fitting Bell X-Ray Pro, and that solved the problem.
There are other HID designs now that may be lighter and fit a bit closer to the helmet to reduce the leverage, but they don't allow use with a headband. If you're into moving quickly on dark trails, don't settle for anything less than an HID light, and I can still fully recommend the Storm after a few years of hard use.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Stephen
a Racer
from Pittsburgh,Pa Date Reviewed: September 17, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
INCREDIBLY BRIGHT!!!
Weaknesses:
Power button can be a bit tricky, but once you realize it's quirkiness...no problem.
Bottom Line:
I first used this light in a 24 hour race...let me just say WOW!!! The burntime is really around 4 hours...no BS!! This light made the downhill sections a breeze as it just lit up the land. DO NOT LOOK AT OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS LIGHT ON...it will hurt their eyes with how bright it is. I actually had someone riding my wheel because their light had puked and mine was bright enough to take us both in to the staging area. I can't recommend this light enough!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Christian Harberts
a Racer
from Paris France Date Reviewed: September 11, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$550.00
Purchased At:
BikeWorld > export
Strengths:
Strong enough for daytime visibility - I commute year-round in Paris, my lights are on 10 months a year
Weaknesses:
Horrible burn rate - the initial charge lasted over 4 hours, then sank rapidly over about 30 charge cycles to ...under an hour. Bad. Very very bad, especially for a high-end product which cost me close to 600 USD to get shipped and imported to France.
Similar Products Used:
Various dual-beam systems from NiteRider
Bike Setup:
Various slick-equiped mountain bikes (they don't last very long in this time, what with the cobble stones, thieves and accidents...)
Bottom Line:
Assuming the system worked as advertised (burn time) I could recommend it for commuting, although its a bit "over the top" but that's what I wanted. Oncoming drivers give me a w-i-d-e berth, but I have to be careful to point my head up when waiting behind a vehicle at the light.
I hope its just me, but this product has been a gigantic disappointment for me, really surprising after many years of excellent luck with Niterider commuter and dual beam halogen systems. The service outfit in the UK (Raw Experience - that's really their name!!) is lamentably organized. I sent the Storm in for warranty repair, and it came back 6-8 weeks later. This week I start using it again, the problems still there.
I'm really fed up!
Christian
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rene Hoepelman
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Beach, CA Date Reviewed: September 11, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Carbon Canyon
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
This light blows any halogen light out of the trail
Weaknesses:
HID is delicate
Similar Products Used:
borrowed or biked with friends that used halogen
Bike Setup:
Klien Adroit Pro Night Storm Paint Full XTR
Bottom Line:
Do not ride at night without HID its not even worth it. You pay a little more and get back 10 fold and you wont regret it. I have 2 nightrider HID light sets; helmet and handle bar I though I would need both but you really dont. I prefer the helmet mount. I like to look around. The guys I ride with all have halogen bulbs. They look about as bright as yellow candle light. My light looks like a baseball field lights. Halogen takes 9 to 18 hours to charge for 2 hours of dim light. I charge aprox 3 to 4 hours Im at full charge with 4+ hours of bright light. I went out last week for about 1hour and 45min ride. Last night I went out again. did not charge my battery for the whole week and still had plenty of light to run 1hour and 30mins with out the slightest dim and probably could have lasted another hour or so. spend the extra money you wont be disappointed.
I do have to say the HID bulb on my first light blew out. It happened on the first day I got it while i was discharging. I believe its because its not a good idea to run the light in the house with no circutlating air. It gets too hot. At night on the trial it air cools.
About the button start just hold it down for a few seconds you dont have to keep finger jerking it. fools that dont understand how a ballast works are the ones with the most problems.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
BobKreyole
a Weekend Warrior
from Queens, NY Date Reviewed: August 20, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Rocky Point LI, NY
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Long lasting about 4 hours burn time. Extremely bright.
Weaknesses:
Have yet to have a problem.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Intenses UZZI SLX
Bottom Line:
Went riding last night with my NiteRider HID. My group got lost for ½ hour. This resulted in a ride of almost 3 hours. The rider with the classic ran out of juice before the 2nd hour even thought he periodically shut off his light. I did not have time to charge my light before I went out. I had used the light for an hour last week due to the blackout. I still got enough juice left after the ride. My light was leagues brighter then the classic. It was so bright that they called me the Bmer.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Merk
a Cross Country Rider
from Rancho Cucamonga, CA USA Date Reviewed: July 17, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Competitive Edge
Strengths:
Bright, clean light. Strong center beam with lots of flood light to compliment.
Weaknesses:
Battery is heavy. Helmet strap slips sometimes.
Similar Products Used:
a bunch of cheap lights
Bike Setup:
Fuel 90
Bottom Line:
Unbelievable what a difference a good light makes. I read a lot of the negative reviews for this product and was sceptical. It looks like they have fixed a lot of the issues. I have had no problems with the switch, no problems with it not turning on. The helmet strap needs to have some way of tightening down better. If you are serious about riding in the dark, pay the extra bones and you won't regret it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Roy H
a Cross Country Rider
from Oakland, CA USA Date Reviewed: June 24, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$389.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Bright, focused beam, 4 hour battery, water resistant
Weaknesses:
Cost. When turned on, best to not turn it off until the end of the ride in case it has trouble turning back on. Helmet mounted setup can feel heavy at first.
Similar Products Used:
15 watt halogen setup.
Bike Setup:
Klein hardtail
Bottom Line:
I've been very happy with this light. So far, I'd estimate I've put about 200 hours of trail riding/racing in with it and 50 hours on the road. For me, it has been a straight-forward no hassle light. A friend who has the same light has had periodic switching on problems, especially on cold nights, but mine hasn't been any problems. For trail riding I swear by it. For road riding, I was at first hesitant to use it because it seemed overkill and caused motorists to react to it, making their movements less predictable. But I got used to the reactions it receives and now I enjoy using it for road riding as well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
runnerXCskier
a Cross Country Rider
from piscataway, NJ Date Reviewed: January 10, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$280.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
bright, lasts long
Weaknesses:
VERY WERID ON OFF SWITCH. Beware. Looks like this: you fully charge the battery, try to switch the thing on on - and nothing happens, only the tiny red button light turns on. SO you have to m..turbate with the switch for say 10 sec...1 min... 5 min... depending on the zodiac sign, I guess, until finally the HID turns on. The button recently just broke off... sure... it went through 100x cycles more than it was engineered to go through.
Helmet mount was not designed for m.b. helmets, but for something else, you guess.
The central spot is way too bright, but the area is small, so it would help to widen the field by a factor of 2.
Bottom Line:
Good light when it works. Beta version could be better, if NiteRider people read this thread.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joseph Jozwik
a Cross Country Rider
from Highland MI Date Reviewed: January 2, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Pottowattami
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$230.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Bright, Im not sure what the guy below was talking about, i have a 15W Halogen and the HID is MUCH brighter. Good battery life. Charges fast. Bright. and Bright and.. oh Bright
Weaknesses:
Heavy battery big deal.. Wish there was power gauge some where on the light to see how much battery life is left.
Similar Products Used:
Nite Rider Digital Evolution, Cate Eye EL-300 LED some other lights..
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Jekyll 700 LTD Hayes Hydro Brakes lefty fox float R race face rings, tubless mavic rimms, scorpian ust tires, winter riding Nokian 296 studded tires.
Bottom Line:
The light is very bright you can get it on ebay for a great price because of the new line coming out this year, I have a nite rider digital evolution however i dont use the lights at the same time because the hid is so bright. Keep in mind im in michigan with trees so I do actually need the light. But bring a secound light since its hard to gauge how much battery you have left. Mine hasnt gone dead yet they say about 4 hours of life but I dont trust it without a gauge.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
d gowan
a Weekend Warrior
from Moraga CA Date Reviewed: December 26, 2002
Favorite Trail:
All on Mt. Diablo
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
NiteRider
Strengths:
Bright wide beam with good foreground and side coverage. Good on both pavement and dirt.
Weaknesses:
Light too blue, not quite as much reach as Niterider halogen 15w spot bulbs
Similar Products Used:
digital pro 6, digital head trip
Bike Setup:
Trek 5220 and Cannondale F700
Bottom Line:
Good light at less than Kamakazi speeds. I commute on a dark "country" road and the beam is not washed out by car headlights. On dirt trails the wide beam is very nice on turns. Prompt delivery from niterider under the upgrade program.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob
a Racer
from Middletown, CT Date Reviewed: December 24, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Hawley, MA
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$330.00
Purchased At:
Wheel World
Strengths:
I bought this light a few years ago and its been great so far. The light output is definitely bar none superior to any 10 or 15w halogen light I have ever used from niterider. I also love the fact I dont need to worry about battery life. 4 hours is plenty enough, where as my other buddies are constantly conserving there batteries, which are prevent us from doing extended nite rides.
Weaknesses:
A bit heavy on the helmet. You need a good snug helmet. I have a Giro H2, I need to adjust the straps a bit tighter then I would like for the helmet to stay level. Otherwise it sags down in front.
Similar Products Used:
Nite rider digital head trip
Bike Setup:
GT I-drive 2.0, XTR drive train, formula discs, Panaracer dart and smoke
Bottom Line:
Nite rider recently contacted me out of the blue and offered to replace my microbrute charger at absolutely no cost to me, due to some bugs the earlier ones had. I had a few kinks with my old charger where it would say the battery was charged after only 15 minutes on the charger. I had to unplug the charger and plug it back in and it would finish the charge 4 hours later. Strange... But nite rider is sending me a new charger. Which I give 2 thumbs to for my customer service experience with them. Thanks Shannon!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Pale Rider
a Cross Country Rider
from New Jersey Date Reviewed: December 4, 2002
Favorite Trail:
The ones without booby traps
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Great helmet mount system, connectors, charger, instructions, etc...a very nice package indeed. Oh, and it's PHUCKING BRIGHT AS HELL! No kidding.
Weaknesses:
A little heavy, working the button is kinda wierd sometimes.
Similar Products Used:
Schwinn MOD-4 lights
Bike Setup:
Maverick American ML-7.....need I say more?
Bottom Line:
This light RULES! I have used it a couple of times now, and the light is UNBELIEVABLE! My buddy has turned his Schwinn light off completely and mine is enough for both of us, for the most part. Makes his 15w Schwinn Hi-Beam look like somebody's shining a mini-mag lite on the trail; and a dim yellow one at that. The Storm has a nice spot in the center, yet also has a 20 - 30 foot circular beam (flood) around that. Lights up everything extremely well. I cannot say enough about how much this light rules. If you can afford it, buy it...HID is the shiz-nitty-nit!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Karl Friedrich Gauss
a Cross Country Rider
from Germany Date Reviewed: December 2, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
Incredibly bright! The burn time is forever (well, 4 to 5 hours, which is basically forever on a night ride). The quick charger. The trickle mode on the charger.
Weaknesses:
Who the hell designed that crappy button?
Similar Products Used:
Digital pro 6
Bike Setup:
Kona, XT/XTR drivetrain, Bomber fork, why do you care, anyway?
Bottom Line:
This light is ridiculously bright. It's perfect for lighting up trails, for it casts a nice round (I'd say 30 foot diameter) circle of bluish light that illuminates everything. Even spiders' eyes light up! As far as weight, sure it's a little heavy, but if your helmet is adjusted correctly, it won't matter.
Now...that on/off button SUCKS! Mine broke within a year. I was told by customer "service" that I was the first person to ever break one of the buttons. Really? How can that be? It's a "soft touch" button, which basically means that you never know if it's on or off until you see the light. Geez!
Bottom line...HID is the way to go. Is Niterider HID the way to go? I'm not sure. I give them 3 chilis for value, and 4 for overall just because a $350 light shouldn't have such crappy parts at all.
And where the hell was this wonderful customer service? After subitting email inquiries I was replied to (via an automated email) saying basically that, "We're too busy to read your email. Try something else." By the way, that something else consists of waiting on hold for 30 minutes (while you're paying for a long distance call...no 800 number).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason Schlueter
a Cross Country Rider
from Arlington, TX Date Reviewed: November 26, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Bottom Line:
I've had this light for over a year and have had no problems that others have been complaining about. Mine is a 2001 model and my fiance has been using a 2002 model for about 6months with no problems as well! I still would recommend this light to anyone who enjoys riding at night and not having to worry about being stranded out in the dark. One thing that isn't great is the price of the bulbs. $80 a pop is a little steep! This would be my only complaint. I droped mine on the concrete and had to buy a new bulb. Props to Nightrider for making a nice product!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel Lorek
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA Date Reviewed: November 20, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$225.00
Purchased At:
through a buddy who works at a mcycle shop
Strengths:
Extremely bright, light will burn for ever (4-4.5ish hours), and the customer service that accompanies the light!
Weaknesses:
use the light for both dirtbiking and mtbiking and the mtb helmet mount is not of the greatest design.... had a charger go bad the first day i got the light and broke a bulb goin down some technical stuff from the vibration
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
fsr xc pro with xt discs
Bottom Line:
VANESSA ROCKS! she is the customer support person that has been soooo incredibly helpful to me it's difficult to express. the other night i was riding down this hill and the bulb broke... i thought i was screwed... then, out of the bushes jumped vanessa with a new bulb and then she dissappeared into the darkness again... wow, talk about customer service. obviously that's not true, but close. i've has several issues (mostly caused by me) with the light and each one of them was handled quickly and efficiently. as far as the light is concerned it is bright... i mean really bright. so bright that i've had cars pull over on my commute home and ask me what kind of light i have. throw some dust in the equation and it's like having your brights on in fog. both myself and a friend of mine have these occasional periods (hours sometimes) where the light just doesn't turn on even though the battery is fully charged. weird and very, very rare. our policy is just don't shut off the light when we rest during a ride. the thing burns so long there is no reason to! helmet mount is a not of the best design but oh well. i would recommend to niterider in the future design include a battery level indicator and brightness adjustment like their digital halogens. lastly, retail price is phunny. did i say vanessa ROCKS??!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Ohio Date Reviewed: November 18, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$360.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
Extremely bright. Lights up what you're looking at
Weaknesses:
Bulb life
Similar Products Used:
Vistalite 430, Performance Viewpoint Dual Pro
Bike Setup:
Trek 9800 XTR, Y-foil 77 Dura Ace, Hepcat XTR
Bottom Line:
If you want to see where you're going, get this light. After being run over by a deer, I swore I wouldn't depend on lights that pointed where the bike was looking. Animal eyes pop out of the darkness, cars slow down to see what the heck is shining that bright light around, and you'll never want to go back to halogen after running light this awesome for over 3 hours on a single charge. I've gone thru 2 bulbs in a year and the folks at Niterider replaced them both no questions asked. Sure it takes time to get thru, but they've taken good care of me. I'm gonna buy a Blow Torch next for the ultimate night riding set-up. As to the concerns about the helmet mount adjustability, I run mine on a Bell Image Pro and it can shine where I want whether on my road, mountain, or recumbent.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jon
a
from ct Date Reviewed: November 15, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
very bright. Makes halogen looklike a penlight. Super long burn times and a quick charge. Compact.
Weaknesses:
nightrider reliability. I've had it since August but it's back at Niterider for the second time. This time' it's been 3 weeks and still waiting. The first time my LBS got the ok to give me a new head out of one they had and Niterider replaced it 3 weeks later. Now this time it's the charger so they say. I'm hoping it's fixed now when I get it back. This is the exact reason I bought it at my LBS. Let them do the work and pay for shipping and phone calls.
Similar Products Used:
headtrip (great), digital headtrip(very bad)
Bike Setup:
scalpel
Bottom Line:
had it for 3 months but only got about 1.5 of use due to it being in for repairs. The HID is great but comes with hassles (can't turn it off, waiting for warmup time). I can deal with that due to needing a 4 hour burn time for those epic night rides which I seem to do alot of now the sun goes down at 4pm (and I like to see where I'm going really well). I bought the light preparing myself for warranty issues after reading mtbr-sad but true. So my expectations were kinda low about quality anyhow. Wanted to go with Light and Motion but my LBS couldn't get them. 1 flamin for it's reliability and cost. 3 for brightness and burn time.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
TomV
a
from Menlo Park, CA Date Reviewed: November 13, 2002
Favorite Trail:
North Umpqua
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$272.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
The benefits of metal-halide HID lighting -- more lumens for less watts, yielding longer burn times and/or smaller/lighter batteries.
Weaknesses:
Bad helmet mount design. Super sensitive on/off button. Unexplainable periods where it won't turn on.
Similar Products Used:
Vistalite, older NR models
Bike Setup:
Cannondale road bike, Turner 02 XC bike, Turner RFX freeride bike
Bottom Line:
Absolutely unforgivable helmet mount design. The helmet mount only allows for a slight tilt adjustment. If I place the mount on my helmet in a centrally-weighted location, then the light points straight up. If I place the mount where it points at the ground, then its too far forward, and the weight of it pulls my helmet forward on my head. To further complicate things, the mount can only be aligned on certain helmet vents. I have three helmets, and have been unable to get a usable fit on ANY of them.
The on/off button is unbelievably sensitive. I measured displacement with a caliper, and it requires less than 1mm of movement to initiate the switch. As a result, when I reach up to move my helmet back on my head (see above) the slightest glance from my hand turns the light off. Wouldn't be such a big deal with a normal light, but with an HID you have to wait 5 minutes for it to cool before you can turn it on again! This has also occured when brushing my head against tiny tree branches on the trail. And I've had the light turn on accidentally when my roommate laid my wind vest over my handlebars!
Lastly, I have repeatedly had the light unexplainably be non-functional. Plug it in and charge for 5 hours. Put it on the bike. Turn it on to verify functionality. Turn it off. Ride to work in daylight. Get on bike at end of day to ride home in darkness, turn on light, and nothing. No light. Is the ballast being quirky? Did the battery not charge?
For a $400 retail light, its just ridiculous that they don't have a more useable helmet mount. And why spec such a stupidly sensitive switch? Makes me wonder if they have some non-biker who barely earned an EE degree designing these things.
One last iritation -- I wish the reviewers would use the resolution of the 5-chili scale for the reviews. Almost every review of this is either 5 or 1. Being bright should hardly earn a 5 -- every HID light on the market is bright and efficient because they are all electrically similar.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob Beck
a Cross Country Rider
from Erie, PA, USA Date Reviewed: November 11, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$389.00
Purchased At:
Competitive Gear
Strengths:
Super bright and long burn time. I literally have cars turn their high beams off because of it. Part of my ride usually runs through the residential and busy suburb streets that at times are not well lit. I have not had any problems with the product yet. I have used it from the hot and balmy nights of summer to the cool crisp night rides in the fall where temps were around mid 30's. It just does what they say.
Weaknesses:
None that I can see up front. Might be a little heavy on the helmet for some people.
Similar Products Used:
none first light system I have used
Bike Setup:
TREK Fuel 100
Bottom Line:
Light systems in general as with any product are designed to be used not abused. Take care of your equipment and it should take care of you. I read the directions, do what they say, and I am careful in what I do with the product. This light sytem was no different. In my opinion performance is great but list price is a little high for a light.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Larry
a Racer
from Lincoln, Nebraska, USA Date Reviewed: November 6, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$389.00
Purchased At:
performancebike.com
Strengths:
The technology and light strength are simply remarkable. The system is durable, and has functioned properly when the temperature is in the mid 20s.
Weaknesses:
Its only weakness is that the light's frequency cancels the signal to my wireless flight deck. I trust that Niterider will be able to fix this problem, but it's minor compared to the confidence the light gives me to open up in pre-dawn rides.
Similar Products Used:
Niterider Digital Pro
Bike Setup:
Cannondale road bikes R2000, R800
Bottom Line:
The Storm should be standard equipment for the serious biker.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matthias
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Clara, CA Date Reviewed: October 29, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Mailbox @ Wilder Ranch
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$170.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Brightest light ever Battery provides full power for 4 hours straight Weather proof Compact battery
Weaknesses:
Light is a little bit heavy for helmet mount
Bike Setup:
Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper / Stumpjumper FSR
Bottom Line:
This is by far the best light I've ever had and seen. Many of my friends have a halogen setup which simply doesn't provide the bright light of a HID. And the Halogens run out of power after 2 hours - this one lasts up to 4 hours and is 3x as bright! After two charging cycles the first MicroBrute charger got too hot and melted. I wrote an email to NR customer service and they shipped out a new one which I had only two days later! It's probably worth mentioning that I had the light registered with them after I bought it. I'm currently using it as a helmet mount while on the MTB due to the spotlight nature of it - it gives you a better contrast when flying the trails downhill. On my road bike I use a handlebar mount ($20 extra) and the light just turns the night into day!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from San Ramon, CA Date Reviewed: October 14, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Real Bicycles
Strengths:
excellent coverage with strong spot
Weaknesses:
battery will not handle any sort of impact whatsoever
Bike Setup:
Truth, 5th element rear shock, FOX Vanilla 125 RL, Cane Creek Team Crono wheelset
Bottom Line:
the light is too white/blueish in color. if you use a light spectrum filter over the front of the light it produces a softer light spectrum that make the terain more distinguished and easier to see.
DO NOT DROP THE BATTERY PACK!!! IT WILL SHORT OUT AND EXPLODE!!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
L.A. Logan
a Weekend Warrior
from New York, NY USA Date Reviewed: October 5, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$375.00
Purchased At:
Piermont Bicycle
Strengths:
Everyone on last night ride thought a car was behind them when I had light on. We all loved it.
Weaknesses:
None so far. I have a little trouble connecting the cables, but then that's something I have to get use to.
Similar Products Used:
None.
Bike Setup:
LeMond - Tourmelet
Bottom Line:
Storm Light too heavy on helmet for my preference so I purchased handlebar mount & excellent results. Smaller battery pack better than blowtorch model.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bj
a Racer
from Greenville, NC, USA Date Reviewed: August 27, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Warranty Replacement
Strengths:
Very bright, very durable.
Weaknesses:
A little heavy on teh front of your helmet. But that's a VERY minor thing.
Similar Products Used:
NiteRider Digital Headtrip
Bike Setup:
Fisher Supercal 29
Bottom Line:
NiteRider is a company that is growing, and they are DEFINATELY ironing out the kinks. With any small company, you can't have unrealistic customer service expectations. If you break a light, they aren't gonna come to your place, take it off you bike, fix it in 10 minutes, and then put it back while cooking you dinner and wiping your nose. Products break.
The harder core rider you are, the more likely you are to bust stuff. It's that simple. Go to a Dept. store and look at the garbage they sell. Try to find a light there that will hold up to even ONE hard core MTB ride. No- companies these days make garbage for the average person that is delicate in everything they do.
Given this, Niterider makes the best lighting systems available. NO light system will hold up to a gorilla pounding it with a stick every day. And that's essentially what riding does to it. Niterider makes a quality product that gets better every year. The new SurLoc connectors are incredible, a significant improvement. Buy this stuff with confidence.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian Yotz
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle,WA Date Reviewed: August 5, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$375.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint
Strengths:
Amazingly bright, long duration
Weaknesses:
None yet
Bike Setup:
Gary Fischer Sugar
Bottom Line:
Vanessa in customer service ROCKS!! Really friendly, efficient and helpful. This light is super bright and long lasting. Have not used it enough to find any weaknesses. There are only two types of riding to be done at night. One is on a Mtn Bike, the other....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Javier
a Cross Country Rider
from Laredo, Texas, USA Date Reviewed: July 12, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
World Bike.
Strengths:
Bright light, so bright that it gets hard to see.
Weaknesses:
Not very depenable
Similar Products Used:
nightrider niteowl
Bike Setup:
Santacruz Superlight
Bottom Line:
Bought light and after I used it a few times, it went out. Sent to niterider and they said that they had to replace the bulb for $39.00 plus shipping, thats after the shipping I had paid to get it there. I received the light after a week and a half. After that I used it for about ten more times. I hit a branch and the light went out. It was not a hard hit. I sent the light in for repair to Niterider, they told me that they were going to charge me $90.00 plus shipping. Again I had already paid to get it up there. I thougth that was extremly expensive. I call the dealer that sold me the light and they said they would sell me the light for $70.00. I am having to pay for the shipping back because they would not work with me. I don't want to fix it and find out its going to break again. Will never buy a Niterider again. To expensive for my blood.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
BRANDON FISH
a Cross Country Rider
from GILBERT, AZ Date Reviewed: July 10, 2002
Favorite Trail:
HAWES
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
ONLINE
Strengths:
EVERYTHING, ESPECIALLY CUSTOMER SERVIE. VANESSA IS THE BOMB. SHE WAS SO NICE AND FRIENDLY AND HELPED TALK ME THROUGH EVERYTHING ABOUT THE LIGHT ETC. THIS LIGHT IS SO BRIGHT YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT, I COULD USE INSTEAD OF MY CAR HEADLIGHT IF THEY WENT OUT.
Weaknesses:
ABSOLUTELY NONE, EVEN THE PRICE IS WORTH EVERY PENNY IF YOU RIDE ENOUGH.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THESE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE ARE A JOKE. I WAS TREATED LIKE A KING, AND VANESSA THE GIRL IN CUST. SERVICE IS EXTREMELY NICE. SHE RESPONDED TO EVERY QUESTION AND NEED ON MANY OCCASIONS, AND SHE WAS VERY FRIENDLY. THE LIGHT IS AMAZING, BY FAR THE BEST LIGHT I HAVE SEEN ON THE TRAILS. IT LOOKS SO MUCH BRIGHTER THAN THE OTHER "YELLOWISH" LIGHTS I SEE OUT ON THE TRAILS. IF YOU ARE QUESTIONING WHICH LIGHT TO BUY, THIS IS FOR YOU. ALSO, DON'T BELIEVE ALL THE OTHER GARBAGE YOU READ IN THE OTHER REVIEWS, BECAUSE IT ISN'T TRUE.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
RandyP
a Weekend Warrior
from Irvine, CA USA Date Reviewed: July 2, 2002
Favorite Trail:
San Juan Trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$280.00
Purchased At:
Performance On-line
Strengths:
Bright, bright, BRIGHT! The only light you will need. Great burn time (well over three hours).
Weaknesses:
Heavier than a Light & Motion ARC Cabeza, lkimited range of adjustment in the mounting system, tends to bounce a bit on your helmet. Oh yeah, the price!
Similar Products Used:
NiteRider Digital Pro
Bike Setup:
Supergo Access FS01 XT components.
Bottom Line:
I started with a NiteRider Digital Pro 6 which gave me OK burn time and OK light output. I picked up a Blowtorch at a LBS for $300 and was blown away by its performance and burn time. I have some riding buddies that swear by helmet lights and since there are four riders in the house, I picked up a Storm. Biggest advantages over bar-mount: it aims where you look, you can see your computer, you can aim way up the trail or at the wheel of the guy in front of you if you want. Disadvantages: weight, dust clouds can look like swarms of locusts at first (you will get used to it, or just stay out front), the cantilevered mounting system means it has to be mounted towards the front of your helmet where it tends to rock the helmet forward on your head. If you try mounting it further back where it would balance, you cannot adjust the beam down enough and the light shines into the trees. Minor annoyances when you consider the burn time and light output. Five flamin/ chilis here!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Shawn
a Weekend Warrior
from Englewood, CO, U.S.A. Date Reviewed: June 27, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Very bright. I can see!!! Long burn time.
Weaknesses:
Can be difficult to turn on. You have to push the button down and hold it down for a few seconds to see if it actually turned on, and it may or may not turn on with the first push of the button. Expensive!
Similar Products Used:
Night Rider Trail Rat
Bottom Line:
Overall this light kicks butt. I wish it was easier to turn on, but it is so exceptionally bright. If you really want to see where you are going when you ride at night I would recommend this light.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Al Davis
a
from Oakville, CANADA Date Reviewed: June 25, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
Airbomb.com
Strengths:
Super bright, 4 hr burn time
Weaknesses:
Fragile bulb, mine blew after 3 uses, new one cost me $100.00 cdn !
Similar Products Used:
BLT good but only burns about 1 hour, Vistlite Nitesticks good when they decide to work but unreliable.
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Big Sur, XT & XTR
Bottom Line:
The only solution for night riding and 24hr events, the light is so bright and the burn time so long that there is no use buying anything else. I did e-mail Niterider about my bulb burning out so quickly and a week later have yet to hear back, guess I will have to call. As long as my new bulb holds up this light is awsome.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff Sparman
a Cross Country Rider
from Meadow Vista Date Reviewed: April 25, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Jon's 50K Birthday Ride (Sorry Didn't make the Party later)
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Upgrade directly from NiteRider
Strengths:
This baby is bright, I love it. The overall coverage of the beam is wide and bright. While being bright it does not wash out the detail on the ground.
Weaknesses:
The Bulb seems a bit fragile it broke somewhere between my ride before last and my most recent outing.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Easy no problems, one though tip take time to strap your helmet on tight. As I heat up the chin straps loosen up just a bit. Next thing ya know your the helmet is riding lower then when I started and your having to lift your head to see the trail.
Bottom Line:
Over the last 6 years my friends and I have done a bit of night riding in the Auburn area, squeezing in some additional riding time during day light saving. During that time I have progressed through three different models of NiteRider products. The last one out shines all others. No, I mean it! I had used a 15-watt digital Pro 6 for a headlamp before I started using the Storm HID. I moved the 15-watt to the bars now and can hardly see the beam, that's how bright the HID is. I am going to replace the Digital Pro with a Blowtorch, which will be the ultimate setup. “I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles.” Boy if that doesn't date me. My friends and I also compete in the 24 Hours of Laguna Seca and the 24 Hours of North Star. I can hardly wait to race with a dual HID set up.
Last but not least I must give the service department at NiteRider mucho kudos. They rock!! To be specific I got phone calls returned in a reasonable time frame by, pleasant, informed, helpful and enthusiastic service people (Special thanks to Dave Keil at NiteRider.)
In closing I feel NiteRider has a great product with an excellent service department backing them up. Is the list price a bit high? Maybe but you get what you pay for!!
That’s just my opinion, but I could be wrong!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian
a
from Fairfax, CA, USA Date Reviewed: April 24, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$325.00
Bottom Line:
Light was great, then bulb broke and I remembered the rumors that (1) customer service is crap, and (2) new bulb is a hundred bucks. Both false. I got the light back with a new bulb within a week, postage paid, and the bulb, which they replaced for free, is $44.
I have to say, though, that the replacement bulb has a slightly different pattern than the original, and is rough around the edges. Quality control ?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason Hopkins
a Cross Country Rider
from Reston, VA Date Reviewed: April 19, 2002
Favorite Trail:
...as long as I can ride it
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$195.00
Purchased At:
Employee purchase LBS
Strengths:
Bright, Bright, Bright. High Quality. Same intensity troughout the burn, the 4+ hour burns
Weaknesses:
Charger is a little sketchy
Similar Products Used:
I do not think halogens are in the same category...
Bike Setup:
Fisher Cronus (ahh, sweet steel), 2002 SID SL, King, Monkey Lites, Thomson, SRAM, etc., etc. Gets me where I am going.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is that this light kicks butt!!! Have yet to run into another light that lasts as long and is as bright. Everyone sees you coming. I have yet to see my light run under 4 hours. I did run my lights through 3 cycles before I actually rode with them. Plug them in, turn them on, and put a fan on them. Then you can get an idea of how long they will last before you take them out. Combine this light with the HID bar mount, and you have the ultimate light setup. And if someone needs to borrow a light or burns out before the end of the ride....well, it is not like you really need both of them anyway.
p.s. - if you buy it, don't whine about the price being too high.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bryan Cooper
a Racer
from Tupelo, MS Date Reviewed: March 28, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Oak Mountain, Birmingham, AL
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Bright, bright, bright!!!!! Makes halogens look like their batteries are dead. The beam pattern is broad and illuminates a huge area as opposed to just a bright spot on the trail.
Weaknesses:
A little heavy on the helmet and the wallet
Similar Products Used:
Various halogens...nightsun, performance, specialized
Bike Setup:
Airborne Ti with XT/XTR mix
Bottom Line:
I've been extremely happy with my NR Storm. This light has allowed me to ride at night almost at the same level as I do in the daytime. I'm surprised to read about the problems that others have had; however, as with anything, there are going to be some problems. I guess I've been one of the lucky ones because I haven't had a single problem and yet mine has been used 2-3 times a week, every week, all through the winter. My only wish would be that NR incorporate the ballast with the battery to take some weight out of the head. This light is expensive, yes, but I have gotten so much pleasure out of being able to ride fast after dark, that I would gladly spend it again. The quality and amount of light+ the extended run times = an excellent value!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chase
a Cross Country Rider
from Northampton, MA, USA Date Reviewed: March 18, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$325.00
Purchased At:
Competitive Edge
Strengths:
Super bright, but nicely diffused to illuminate a large area without any hot spots. I have left it on for 5 hours as a test and it still wouldn’t quit! Makes all your buddie’s lights look yellow and low on juice right from the start.
Weaknesses:
Maybe a tiny bit front heavy on your helmet, but just tighten your chin strap a bit.
I thought $325.00 was ridiculous. Then my local shop owner let me try his. Holy sh_t, this thing made all my one-year-old Nite Rider digital stuff look pathetic. Ever used a Surefire flashlight? Know how it makes Mag Lights look like a joke? Same deal. Fisrt ride I burned it for 4 hours and it was still going strong. Second ride I tested it but after 5 hours it was still going! Time to Ebay all my digital stuff. Interested?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steven
a Cross Country Rider
from Socorro, NM USA Date Reviewed: March 4, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$225.00
Purchased At:
broform.com
Strengths:
Incredibly bright, small, lightweight, 5 hour charge from zero to full, long burn time
Weaknesses:
Retail price
Similar Products Used:
NR Dual Classic Plus
Bike Setup:
'01 Specialized Stumpjumper XC Full Suspension - all stock
Bottom Line:
If you want the brightest light and longest burn times available, then buy this light. It will definetly add to your night riding enjoyment. I have experienced no problems at all and it lasted 3 hours on the first charge!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jacob
a Cross Country Rider
from Longmont, CO Date Reviewed: February 25, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$369.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint
Strengths:
Very powerful! - No need for handle bar lights.
Weaknesses:
Expensive, but worth it. A little heavy for the front of your helmet.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Jamis Dakar comp, Am. Classic ultralight discs, avid mechanicals, eggbeaters, sram rocket shorty's, Mars Super
Bottom Line:
Great light! A little pricey, but worth it when you are having to do a couple of night laps during a 24 hr race. No worries that I would be able to finish with light. A teammate ran out of light twice with his head and handlebar setup. Very easy to set up and run. It did take a couple of charges to get to full run times, but this was expected from the directions! The light is a little heavy on the front of your helmet. I moved it towards the top and had to prop up the back end and it works much better. Now it doesn't feel like my helmet is falling over my eyes. In the end a great light and worth every penny. I think I will try the headband for skiing and snowshoeing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Castle Rock, CO Date Reviewed: February 21, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Dakota Ridge
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$380.00
Strengths:
Incredibly bright Long battery life
Weaknesses:
Track record of problems Too bright for fog or riding behind others in dusty conditions; just like turning on your car's brights in fog - can't see a thing.
Similar Products Used:
VistaLight (pathetic), NR Night Owl (dependable but weak light), NR Digital HeadTrip (great light except it went into 5 watt limp-home mode within 10 minutes even though fully charged on a couple of rides)
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Instinct
Bottom Line:
I upgrade from a dependable but not very bright NightOwl to a Digital HeadTrip. I loved the 15 watt output and the selectable settings to save battery life. But it went into 5 watt limp-home mode right away on a couple of rides in spite of being fully charged. Checked MTBReview and found that was a common problem (should have checked before purchasing!). So I took it back. The Storm HID was out and I received many assurances it was the best thing ever and I would never have a problem.
It lasted 1 hour on the first ride. Not what I expected, but they did say substantially less burn time on the first few rides. So I went through the charge cycle a few more times and it got up to 4 hour duration. And the light is SOOO BRIGHT!! Makes everything else look like a candle on a birthday cake. Really improved my confidence and enjoyment.
Then it didn't work at all though the MicroBrute indicated it was fully charged. What a bummer. Had to go home. Recharged, used a couple times with great success, then another DNS. After the 3rd DNS, I shipped it back to NR. Was told 6-8 weeks. Got it back in 5 weeks. But it has continued to be erratic. Charger goes off ater 45-90 minutes. But the battery isn't charged.
NR rep told me today that he will send a replacement MicroBrute charger free of charge with a UPS return label to send mine back whenever is convenient.
I've had no trouble getting in touch with NR and the customer service reps have been very helpful. It just stinks that I spent so much $$ on their flagship product and am having problems.
When it works, it is GREAT! No comparison to anything else I've seen. And I'm hoping I just have a bum charger and the replacement will fix the problem.
I asked about getting a spare bulb. $40!! That's pretty pricey. Decided to ride without and hope mine keeps burning.
I will submit a higher rating if the new charger resolves the problems.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Colby Morris
a Cross Country Rider
from Burlington Date Reviewed: February 7, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$389.00
Purchased At:
0n-line
Strengths:
Very Bright, long burn time
Weaknesses:
None so far!
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Giant NRS XTC 1, Answer Pro-Tapers, Easton Stem, Terry Fly seat, Nokia 296 studded tires, MOSH DH pedals for winter use.
Bottom Line:
I read all of the reviews on this thing and took the chance and bought one despite all of the negatives. I commute on my bike every day, six days a week.....I bought the light at the beginning of November, 2001 and it has worked flawlessly since then, and it gets used and charged every day! Hopefully I didn't just get lucky and get a "good one". It is a bit heavy if mounted towards the front of your helmet......I just put mine right on top of my helmet (middle), and re-adjusted it a couple of times and now I don't even notice it's there. The light is incedibly bright, on-coming cars have flashed their bright lights at me on several occasions on the ride home. It looks like some folks have had some pretty bad experiences with these lights and chargers but I highly recommend the light, it's been a great piece of equipment.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam
a Cross Country Rider
from NJ Date Reviewed: January 31, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$380.00
Purchased At:
Planet Bike
Strengths:
Lights up the trail at night
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Nightpro Kamikazee, Elite
Bike Setup:
Trek 8000
Bottom Line:
I took this light to a South Mountain, where I had not been in a few years,onto trails that I had never been on. I rode about as fast as I could going downhill, without any hesitation. This light is awesome!If you plan on doing any night riding, just buy this light. All you need is the helmet light.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Racer
from Austin, TX, US Date Reviewed: January 29, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$999.00
Purchased At:
ep
Strengths:
Makes my old light look like a $2 pen light.
Weaknesses:
1. First charge lasted 30 min. 2. Switch is sketchy. 3. Charger is dangerous. 4. Service is ok so far. 5. Helmet mount make your helmet front heavy.
Similar Products Used:
specialized proview nicad
Bike Setup:
this way and that
Bottom Line:
Where to begin??? I was stoked to go and try this light after playing with it in the house at night! It was charged fully. The manual says to expect about half charge out of it the first time or two. I thought 2hrs... WRONG 30 MINUTES!!! Cursed the light as I made my way back to the truck in the middle of the pitch black forest. It now holds at least a 3 hour charge. The manual says that it is fine to leave the battery connected to the "smart" charger. The battery was fully charged (green light was on). I came home for lunch the other day to see the red light was back on?! Looked a lil closer- the battery was HOT!. Immediatly unplugged it. then smelled something funny- the charger was melting!!!. Lord knows that if I hadn't come home for lunch that day my apartment woulda burned down!!! I called them- gotta a new charger in 3 days. I hope my battery wasn't damaged. I've used it since and it seems to work. I'm just paranoid about charging the thing. Finally, the light dims yellow for a couple of seconds when riding over rough terrain. Some of the other reviews have had trouble too. They suggest purchasing an HID from another company. They're prolly right.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Laura
a Cross Country Rider
from San Antonio TX Date Reviewed: January 18, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Flat Rock
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Bikeworld.com
Strengths:
Extremely bright and light weight.
Weaknesses:
Price.
Similar Products Used:
Vista light 400 and 500 series
Bottom Line:
This light has enabled me to go on off road night rides which I could not do before even with two Vista lights, helmet and bar mounts. I was concerned I would also need a handlebar light off road with the HID but that is totally not necessary. This light offers enough light to ride the same speed as during daytime. I do have a problem with depth perceptiion but the more I ride at night, the less I notice it. I also purchased a handle bar mount and top tube bag for this light when I use it on the road. Cars seem to get out of my way! I never out-ride the light even on fast downhills. It is truly incredible! I finally feel safe riding at night.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Donald Webb
a Racer
from Brooklyn, NY, USA Date Reviewed: January 16, 2002
Favorite Trail:
N/A
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$335.00
Purchased At:
www.webersports.com
Strengths:
Super ultra bright light, that gets everyones attention. 4 hour battery.
Weaknesses:
None.
Similar Products Used:
Nothing is similar to this excellent product.
Bike Setup:
2002 Haro extreme EX3 blue/white, 2000 EX1 black and my wife EX0 blue, Spin rims, XT components.
Bottom Line:
The Storm H.I.D. light is a master piece to invest in. My wife and I both have this light on our Giro Exodus helmets. We got a deal at Webersports.com for $670 for two lights. When we ride at night we rule the streets.
The light is so bright, that it will intimidate drivers to speed pass you in a hurry just to get by, because the light is shining in their mirrors and they can't see. Even people will move out of your way because they will think your a cop looking for a crook.
This light will have all the street signs, car reflectors, and jogger shoes glowing. With the 4 hour battery you don't have to worry about a thing, just ride and enjoy yourself.
Take it from me, this is a must have, for the serious bike rider. You spend a fortune on your bike, why not go the extra mile for your light. If you want the finer things in life, don't look no further. You tried the rest, now it's time to try the best. "Nite Rider Storm H.I.D light " is the best.
P.S. When you buy this light prepare yourself for a lot of attention. Fine automobiles like Mercedes Benz and BMW have this kind of bluish white H.I.D. light. You'll be amazed at the beauty and performance of this luxury light.
Peace, Donald Webb
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott Digert
a Cross Country Rider
from Anchorage, AK Date Reviewed: January 15, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Far North Bicentennial Park trails
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$389.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Very bright, wide beam. Long battery life, even in low temperatures. Flexibility to use on or off the bike with helmet, headband, or handlebar mounts.
Weaknesses:
None.
Similar Products Used:
Various headlamps (Petzl halogen, REI, etc)
Bike Setup:
Fisher Sugar 2
Bottom Line:
I haven't used my new Storm HID light on the bike too much yet, as we've had some great snow in Anchorage and I've preferred to xc ski. However, I also bought the Explorer headband to use without a helmet, and the light works GREAT for dark-time skiing. It is hugely better than a comparable-weight halogen headlamp. By aiming it high, it shines well down the path - great on fast downhills to spot that big moose in the trail! - and yet has enough peripheral light to see small features and texture in the trail just ahead. It doesn't have the hot spots or dark rings that most headlamps produce, and generally just gives the confidence to move along at a decent pace without light being an issue.
The run times are impressive, giving over 3 hours right out of the box, even at temperatures around 0 F. After a couple of full discharge and recharge cycles, it's been improving to 4+ hours as advertised, with about 5 hours to charge it. There is no noticeable dimming until the very end of the battery run, when you notice some red-shift or flickering and then just a couple of minutes of remaining light. The flat battery pack fits well into a small pack or even a pocket, and can be easily worn inside a jacket to help keep it warm.
The cable connections have been solid, and the unit seems well made and durable. I've had no problems - and thus no problems with customer service. It's spendy, but nothing else I've tried has even come close to this performance.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris deZevallos
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX Date Reviewed: January 8, 2002
Favorite Trail:
City Park
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
Bright Light
Weaknesses:
No experience
Bottom Line:
I have two friends that ride with these lights and both are satisfied. A supplier to Niterider has this info on their website http://www.solarc.net/docs/bikefaqs.html that might explain the short bulb life???
They have a warranty so I plan purchase soon for bike/dirt bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andy
a Cross Country Rider
from Central Mass Date Reviewed: January 3, 2002
Favorite Trail:
never ending everlasting pine grove trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$389.00
Purchased At:
GearWorks
Strengths:
Unimaginably Bright, Battery life.
Weaknesses:
Micro brute charger, which was changed within 2 days of recieving the light.
Similar Products Used:
There are no similar products
Bike Setup:
Ancient Specialized Stumpjumper with the oldest front fork Rock Shock Quadra 21R
Bottom Line:
If you want to ride at night in the pitch black pine groves this is udoubtedly the light you want it is VERY VERY BRIGHT!!!! I've been riding since 88 When night riding meant going out under a full moon. I am very impressed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ranko
a
from Littleton, NH Date Reviewed: December 27, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
brightest light, longest batteries, best system.
Weaknesses:
none. quit yer complainin'.
Similar Products Used:
Digital head trip, JET Phantom dual beam
Bottom Line:
this is the best light out there, period. anytime something rakes the competition every whiny little picky dweeb has to start yapping about what's wrong with it. nothing is perfect, accapt the strengths of the product and move on. otherwise, go design, test, and market your own.
yeah, it's expensive. when isn't the best expensive?
i agree with one of the posts below... why can't li batteries be used on this system? what gives?
ride hard. ride fast.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Tejas Date Reviewed: December 25, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$280.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Bright blue light Superior burn time compared to conventional light systems Smart charger
Weaknesses:
Little heavy
Similar Products Used:
Vista lights Digital Headtrip
Bottom Line:
I am suprised at the reviews these lights have been getting. I personally have had no problems at all. I ride at night quite a bit and must say these are superior to all lights I've used to date. I went with the Storm over a Stadium because of the lighter battery pack and helmet mount. Every ride I've used it on no problems. Excellent burn times as advertised.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel Herke
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas, Tx, USA Date Reviewed: December 15, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Bright, 4+hour burn times.
Weaknesses:
charger cuts off too soon.
Bike Setup:
2002 trek 6700
Bottom Line:
This is the best light ive ever used. I waited a year to buy the light and finally found a good deal on ebay. HID is the way to go because its so bright and you can see street signs about a half mile away light up with the niterider. joggers will get out of your way when they see the light coming. most people comment that it looks like a car coming at them. i used it as a flashlight at my parents property which is 5 acres. i could almost see from one end to the other with the light. the only bad part about the light is the charger. it cuts off halfway into the charge and goes to trickle charge. it doesnt bother me because i just leave it on all night. overall a great light! Ive heard great things about light and motion arc also. i told my brother to buy one so we can scare people at night!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bill Reasor
a Weekend Warrior
from Buford, Ga, USA Date Reviewed: December 14, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$389.00
Purchased At:
adventure cycles
Strengths:
Bright,white,large diameter spot light. Blew away the other lights in the group, including a niterider digital pro.
Weaknesses:
none
Bike Setup:
SWITCHBLADE
Bottom Line:
Don't waste your money on anything else.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nathan Bower
a Racer
from Portland Date Reviewed: December 13, 2001
Favorite Trail:
all
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$280.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
4 hour burn time, intensity of light
Weaknesses:
cost
Similar Products Used:
Have 2002 BlowTorch, Digital Niteowl (for sell) and Headtrip (also for sale)
Bike Setup:
Cannondale 900z
Bottom Line:
I commute 45 miles a day and bought this light to protect myself on the road in the winter and of course for night riding. No more charging headaches during 24 hours races! I was so impressed I just purchased the Blow Torch and use them together. I have had problems with equipment in the past breaking down, but Niterider has always come through and backed up their products. I just can't believe I use to night ride with 25 watts combined with handlebar and helmet lights. Now I'm riding with 80 to 90 watts? I love technology!! (most of the time)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael Beck
a Weekend Warrior
from Irvine Date Reviewed: December 12, 2001
Favorite Trail:
White Rim
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$349.00
Purchased At:
BeyondBikes.com
Strengths:
This light is sweet! I also purchased a blow torch handle bar HID. This has made all the difference. BEYONDBIKES.com is having a sale right now. $349 is the lowest price I have found. If you want to out ride your friends you need one of these lights
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Night Sun Vista Light
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Truth
Bottom Line:
This light will make you faster. It is so bright you will think you are riding during the day!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Reno
a Cross Country Rider
from Oregon Date Reviewed: December 6, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
Don't listen to the review just befour mine. The guy is a twink. Li-ion batteries will not work in high drain devices. Like bike lights! No bike light company even uses that kind of battery in there lights! For good reason. I like this light because it is the only helmet mount HID bike light avable right now. I realy like the near 4 hour run time too!
Weaknesses:
Battery could be 4.5AH insted of 4AH. Not as bright as cateye HID lights. Over priced just like all of night-riders lights.
Similar Products Used:
Nightsun team max wich is crap comparied to any hid light!
Bike Setup:
mongoose amp 2
Bottom Line:
If your a XC trail rider then this is the light for you. If you ride downhill or just fast fire/logging roads then you should get a cateye statum 3! Also look at the new ARC HID bike light for XC use. It's not as bright as cateye but It's cheaper than Nightrider storm.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sam Perry
a Racer
from Richmond VA Date Reviewed: December 3, 2001
AWESOME LIGHT! Plain and simple. I’ve used my girlfriend's Head Trip for the past year and thought it was the bomb. Until she bought me a NiteRider Storm HID for my b-day (thanks babe)! Nothing compares to the output power of the HID. Compare one side by side with a halogen system and you will immediately see why.
The halogen system was effective enough. I did night races and rides with it... no problems. However, with the HID I no longer have to turn my head to point the light in the direction of the trail. This thing saturates my entire field of view with brilliant white/bluish light. It's a very 'penetrating' light and shines much further down the trail and off to the sides. It helps you see the course ahead and prepare for turns... it definitely helps me go faster at night. The main beam pattern is probably 3 times larger than the halogen’s. In addition to the larger main beam pattern, there is much more extra light flooding the periphery. The light isn’t much of a piercing beam… it’s a saturating flood.
As with other metal batteries I've used, I went through quite a few charging cycles (6) until the battery reached it's full capacity. I would charge it up, turn it on and let it sit until completely drained. Then, I would go through the same process again until the burn times started to increase. I've had no problems with battery life whatsoever. The burn times are now consistently @ 4.5hrs, and the charge times are well under 5 hours. I also like being able to leave the battery on the ‘smart’ charger and not have to worry about it. The car charger is next on my list.
I would like to know where the lithium ion batteries are. Lithium batteries aren't new technology anymore, and I think they should be available for the NiteRider systems either as standard issue or as an upgrade.
The entire system is a bit heavier than the Head Trip. However, it didn't take me long to forget about the extra weight once on the trail.
I have yet to have any problems with Nite Rider as a company regarding service, support, or reliability of their products as I've heard others have. Not with my SO's Head Trip or my HID so, I'll stick with them until such time.
If you are serious about night riding or you race at night you owe it to yourself to save a few more pennies and get this light system. It's the next generation. Keep up or catch up... your choice. I wouldn’t recommend this kind of coin be dropped by the once in a while recreational night rider.
And remember, be kind to your riding buds... don't look at them while this thing is on!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
THOMAS
a Racer
from DALLAS TX Date Reviewed: November 23, 2001
Favorite Trail:
DIRT
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$389.00
Purchased At:
BB BIKES
Strengths:
LOOKS GREAT AND SETS UP ON HELMET NICELY. VERY BRIGHT LIGHT.
Weaknesses:
HIT AND MISS RELIABILITY. SOMETIMES IT TAKES A CHARGE, SOMETIMES THE CONNECTORS WORK, SOMETIMES IT EVEN STAYS ON DURING Y0UR RIDE.
Similar Products Used:
CATEYE STADIUM LIGHT. THE BEST.
Bike Setup:
MOOTS XTR.
Bottom Line:
WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT. ONE WOULD EXPECT NOTHING BUT GREATNESS OUT OF A LIGHT THAT IS SO EXPENSIVE. EVERY RIDE I WENT OUT ON THE LIGHT NEVER WORKED. IVE HAD MY CATEYE STADIUM FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD ONE PROBLEM WITH THE SETUP. I TOOK THE STORM BACK TO THE BIKE SHOP AND GOT A FULL REFUND. IM CURRENTLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW I CAN SET UP MY CATEYE ON MY HELMET. DONT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY ON THE HID. IT OBVIOUS THE PEOPLE AT NIGHTRIDER ARE ASLEEP AT THE HANDLEBAR!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joe
a Racer
from Cali Date Reviewed: November 15, 2001
Favorite Trail:
sadona az
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$389.00
Purchased At:
supergo
Strengths:
Really Bright light (when it works) burn time (WHEN IT WORKS)
Weaknesses:
weight very very very poor customer service takes weeks to get a hold of them.
Bike Setup:
trek fuel
Bottom Line:
Great light when it works I used mine for about two weeks then it would not turn on anymore, Heavy compared to other hid lamps as you can tell I have had nothing but problems with niterider, took me 3 weeks of calling 10 times everyday to get them to call me back the guy I talked to was a real a** on the phone then it is going to take 8 to 10 weeks for me to get it back and I am going to have to pay for the repair. When I get it back I am selling it first thing. Do yourself a favor DON'T BUY INTO THE BIG COMPANY HYPE.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from New York Date Reviewed: November 12, 2001
Favorite Trail:
all the trails in Fruita, Co
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$389.00
Purchased At:
local shop
Strengths:
HID technolgy
Weaknesses:
heavy uneven beam pattern on the egdes (shadows and bright spots. eradic burn times
Similar Products Used:
Light and Motion
Bike Setup:
who cares?
Bottom Line:
I thought my niterider was the sh*t untill I checked out the light and motion its a little brighter but the main difference is the beam pattern the niterider looks like crap compared to the light and motion. The reason for this is light and motion grinds there own light reflecor instead of buying a sealed bulb unit the battery also charges quicker. Now If I can find someone to but this I will get the light and motion. Also I have been having problems with the battery had send it back niterider said it would take 6-8 week thats horse sh*t, talk about poor customer service
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
TODD PORTEOUS
a Racer
from FREMONT, CA Date Reviewed: November 9, 2001
Favorite Trail:
SECRET
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
WHEELWORLD
Strengths:
BRIGHTEST LIGHT ON THE TRAILS, 4 HOURS TRUE BURN TIME, CHARGES IN A FEW HOURS.
Weaknesses:
PEOPLE ALWAYS STOP ME ON THE TRAILS, AND ASK WHAT TYPE OF LIGHT IT IS, HOW MUCH DID IT COST, ECT.
Similar Products Used:
NITERIDER CLASSIC PLUS
Bike Setup:
GT STS 1500DS, XT-XTR, FIRE PRO 2.1
Bottom Line:
I HAVE BEEN USING THIS LIGHT WITH MY NITERIDER CLASSIC PLUS,I THOUGHT THE CLASSIC PLUS WAS A GREAT LIGHT, UNTIL I BOUGHT THE NITERIDER H.I.D. AFTER USING THE LIGHTS TOGETHER THE CLEAR LIGHT, 4 HOUR BURN TIME, AND WICKEDLY BRIGHT LIGHT, PROVES TO ME THAT THE H.I.D. IS SO MUCH BETTER. I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH THIS LIGHT THAT I AM GOING TO PURCHASE A HANDLEBAR MOUNT H.I.D. WHEN YOU SEE THESE LIGHTS NEXT TO REGULAR LIGHTS, THE REGULAR LIGHTS LOOK DIM, AND YELLOW LIKE A FOG LIGHT. I KNOW THAT THEY ARE PRICEY, BUT IF YOU ARE A SERIOUS RIDER WHO LIKES TO RIDE AT NIGHT OR IS EVER THINKING OF DOING A 24 HOUR EVENT, THIS LIGHT IS A MUST. BESIDES ITS A LOT CHEAPER TO BUY THIS HEAD LIGHT THEN ONE THAT IS INSTALLED IN A BMW, LEXUS, MERCEDES, ECT.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tim keating
a Racer
from denton,TX Date Reviewed: November 9, 2001
Favorite Trail:
-H
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
very bright, long lasting, light weight
Weaknesses:
once you turn it on it is best to leave it on the whole ride. on off cycles ruin the bulb.
Similar Products Used:
headtrip
Bike Setup:
Ibis only!
Bottom Line:
had this light 2-3 months and love it. took it to the 24 hour race in smithville TX, and on my first night lap it refused to turn on. used another battery and that did not work. that sucked. got back and called niterider and they sent me a new bulb free . it did not fix the problem. now i have to send the light back in and it will be at least 2 weeks, probably more ,right when the time changes. thanks alot niterider. good product if it works. really disapointed that i paid for this light and now that it is dark i got nothing. the tech people said it would be first priority and thats good but i expected more. i will reply when it comes back. because this light works so well (when it works)i will give it 3 chillis. maybe i just had some bad luck . we will see.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
CC Rider
a Weekend Warrior
from Kentucky Date Reviewed: November 9, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Sedona (all of it)
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$330.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Brightness Burn time
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Tried Marwi products briefly
Bike Setup:
Mountain Cycle San Andreas, Shimano XTR/XR/XT Disc, Z1 fork (4" travel), Fox Vanilla (6" travel)
Bottom Line:
Very pleased with the product. Have ridden only two night rides, so experience is limited. Light is VERY bright, and has lasted over 3 hours. I have not used lights before, so night riding is a treat!! They were pricey, but Performance Bike price matched Airbomb, and we got them for $330. With my Performance Team Member benefits, we each have $30 in credit with Performance! Sweet deal! 6 riders in my group got together and bought these lights. 4 lights were purchased up front, the other two were sold when they saw how bright they were! Overall, very pleased with the product. Due to the manner in which I was able to buy them, I am very happy with the choice. This one light will be all I need.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sean
a Racer
from San Diego Date Reviewed: November 8, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Noble
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Bright, bright, bright + long burn time.
Weaknesses:
It's a bug magnet.
Similar Products Used:
Niterider niteowl
Bike Setup:
Marin Mt Vision Pro
Bottom Line:
I've ridden w/ this light a couple times & boy does it really light up the trail! It's brightness combined w/ it's wide flood beam gives me a lot more confidence going down the technical stuff. I like this light even more than a dual beam + helmetlight setup - the HID is much brighter, weighs less, and burns longer. It's pricey, but well worth it if you like to go fast @ night!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bob
a
from AZ Date Reviewed: November 6, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Telegraph @ Durango
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Brightness & Battery Life
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
NR Pro-6, NR Pro-12
Bottom Line:
Short review: This light rocks. The brightness drowns out lesser lights and the battery life is just about perfect.
Long Review: If you're concerned with brightness, you really don't need a 2nd light if you use HID. One light is plenty (I prefer the helmet mount for MTB so I can keep my light on the trail). The Storm is a flood bulb but it is bright enough that it outshines halogen spot bulbs for distance also. If I pull up next to one of my friends who uses halogen, they're lights get drowned out in the glow of the HID. From a reliability standpoint, a 2nd light might still be a good idea but you could always carry a spare bulb in your camelback.
The battery gets 4 hrs on a charge which is just about perfect. I usually don't ride longer than 3 hrs at night but it's nice to have an extra hour if I need it. This year's NiteRider lights all come with the Micro-Brute Smart Charger which is a true "plug & forget" charger. Remember that when evaluating the price because not all lights come with smart chargers.
I agree that you lose some depth perception at night but I don't think that this is specific to HID. All night lights that I've seen have this effect.
Overall, I think the HID is worth it at any price. I see a lot better on the trail and feel a lot safer. Could be a placebo effect since I don't know if I ride any faster, but I still feel safer. Plus the crisp blue light is worth something for the coolness factor.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ricky J
a Cross Country Rider
from California Date Reviewed: November 2, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Little Elden, Flagstaff AZ
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$350.00
Strengths:
Long burn time, quick charging, bright
Weaknesses:
light scatter hides trail details
Similar Products Used:
various halogens
Bike Setup:
Ventana Marble Peak now El Saltamontes
Bottom Line:
Tremendously disappointing, I dearly wanted to love the thing: lotsa light for a long time from an industry le- ader...what's not to like? But from the very first few feet of my local trails I realized something was amiss. Compared to the yellowish beams of my friends' halogens the Storm's bluish spectrum obscured 3-D trail details to a frightening degree. There's an eerie lack of shad- owing which makes ruts disappear. Trails look almost as if they're paved flat, very two dimensional. This is a problem obviously. My cohorts asked me to switch it off because it washes out their patterns and details start to disappear for them too. Nothing we tried seemed like it made a difference in contrast. All present, Luddites and Techies alike, were underwhelmed. The light was re- turned to NiteRider where it checked out A-OK. After a week of use I returned it to my dealer for a credit. It was touted as NiteRider's best offroad system by their own tech guy but it's a flop on the light colored dusty and gravelly trails around here. I suspect it's a prob- lem of light wavelength that allows scattering. Hoping to try Light & Motion's HID this weekend, maybe their extra experience with high intensity discharge lighting will make it perform as promised? I still like the the- oretical HID advantage, but if not my future's halogen. I cannot say who should be using the Storm but I urge a prospective buyer to at least demo it offroad prior to purchase. Even better, have a conventional light along for reference.
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Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Indianapolis, IN Date Reviewed: November 1, 2001
Favorite Trail:
last one ridden
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Very bright, long burn time just what you want in a night light.
Weaknesses:
None dude that says bulb is heavey must be quite frail.
Similar Products Used:
Other niterider products.
Bike Setup:
Don't matter
Bottom Line:
This is a sweet light especially if you can acquire it at a discount such as on eBay. Quick charge, no woory aboput over charging. This light has outlasted my night rides. Wish it had a lower retail price though.
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Submitted by
Jasen
a Cross Country Rider
from Worcester, Ma Date Reviewed: October 30, 2001
Incredibly bright light. Its well worth the money. All other lights pale in comparison. There is no describing how bright they truly are until you're out on the trail. Brightness coupled with battery life of 4hours means your not only the brightest on the trail, but also the one out there the longest bringing everyone back in, because you light up enough trail for 2 or 3 other riders.
$ 389.00
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