Strengths: Easy to connect and setup. When it works it works great, but...
Weaknesses: I bought the Vistalite Nightstick Code 15 because they advertise the ability to upgrade (i.e. buy more Nightstick batteries for a longer rides, uprade with more lights, etc.) However, what should be a strength is it's biggest weakness. They don't sell just the batteries! If anything goes wrong, you are SOL. The Vistalite website doesn't have an address, phone number, or Email. The connection on my battery broke and if I want a new one I have to buy the whole kit all over again. Plus the battery holder doesn't keep the batteries in place which makes them easy to drop off on a hard ride (I use duct tape).
Bottom Line:
Pray nothing goes wrong. Don't lose a single wire, don't get dirt in any connections, don't let the rubber buttons come loose, don't let the batteries slip out of their holder, and don't believe a word you read about upgrading. It's a great system if you never take it out of the box.
Strengths: Bright, easy to use and lasts pretty well. Not bad for the money either
Weaknesses: Weak brackets, poor electrodes on bulbs (they break), no smart charger.
Bottom Line:
Pretty disappointed with this product, the first problem was it didn't arrive as the Royal Mail van was stolen. I should have known it wouldn't get better! Then when i received my lights the brackets broke/ didn't have the rubbers and the bulbs also fell to bits.
Submitted by
kevin pyle
a Cross Country Rider
from lafayette, la usa
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2003
Strengths: easy to connect, install and use. I have had two custom batteries made adn I like the one made with 5 half d size batteries that police use in their flashlights. I can get a little over an hour with the 15 watt lamp. If you don't like the batteries the lights come with then have your own made at a local battery shop. I just ordered a code 25 set, and hope the lightstick batteries work well.
Weaknesses: I have a lightstick battery I bought at a bike shop in N.O. for 15 bucks, but I think it doesn't function up to par. Maybe thats why it was 15 bucks. hehe
Bottom Line:
I have over 600 miles of use on these lights in the past three months riding at night time. My brother gave them to me to use. He had purchased the 540 set 5 years ago. I liked it so much I had to order the code 25 for my girlfriends bike, but can't wait to try out the lightsticks. Zefal and Avenir make nice pump straps with the rubber grips that work well for strapping batteries to bike frame. When I'm rich maybe I'll try the new HID light techology. Since my first set was a gift and the Code 25 set I purchased at PricePoint for 139 bucks I am in love with these lights. These lights have made it possible for me to ride about 15 miles in the city without the hassles of daytime traffic. I love it when cars stop and see where the light is coming from. I wonder why the Vistalites were disconinued?
Similar Products Used: just c battery side inexpensive bike lights.
Bike Setup: trek navigator
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Submitted by
senth
a Cross Country Rider
from ny, us
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2003
Strengths: bright as hell and no problems with connections or corrosion whatsoever.... it has also been completely submerged in fast-moving water a few times ( I had to use my bike to balance myself on a rock ledge ; lucky the water was only about 4 feet deep )... and is great for camping.
Weaknesses: well, the charger kind of sucks because there is no indicator to tell when it is fully charged.... also I think that for the price they should give you the better battery and not bother with the nicad. Charging takes too damn long! The charge has lasted as long as it should though... so far
Bottom Line:
bottom line is that I have no idea why all these people have had these problems with their vistalites. Mine works great ( I ride fast trails at night all the time ) and is only the 5 watt with the nicad batt pack. Maybe the newer ones with the blue switches are completely revamped... I'm glad I'm not one of the poor shlumps who bought the older models. Oh yeah, and to that girl who said the lights only lasted 2 minutes after she took it out of the box - did you even charge it?? Sounds like a bunch of sh*t from someone who just wants to b*tch along with everyone else. I love my vistalite and will never go back to the zippo.
Strengths: I like the battery shape and size. The charge is relatively quick. The actual light is small. The helmet mount is easy
Weaknesses: The battery lastes only 1.4 hrs. at 10W and 1 hour at 15W. It's fine if you are just going for that duration. If you are a solo 24 hr racer you will need at least 8 batteries and a charge source. Thus my $500.00 price tag.
Bottom Line:
I am envious of each and every racer that blows past me with their blueish white light that lights up the trail like a sports car. However I have invested so much into this vistalite system I can't turn back. This is a fine system for short night rides, or even one night lap in a 24 hr race but as your only system as a solo 24 hr racer look around.
Submitted by
alan nicci
a Racer
from Madison, Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: December 20, 2002
Strengths: Great design, doesn't strap to frame or replace water bottle. Bright and reliable.
Weaknesses: Old ones had problems, but the new ones are great!
Bottom Line:
Apparently I got one of the new and improved Nightstick systems, because I've experienced none of the problems other people mentioned here. It's plenty bright, charges quick and holds a charge well, and it hasn't failed me. I bought the Code15 (dual beam and 1 battery) and then upgraded to a helmet light and two more batteries for 24 hour racing. It's great! While I'm out on the course with two lamps and one battery, I have 2 other batteries getting charged up for my next lap!
Bike Setup: Sycip hardtail, Superlight FS, Trek 5900 road
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Submitted by
Kriss Anderson
a Racer
from 66 Port O Call Dr. Apt D
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2002
Strengths: Bright when it works.
Weaknesses: The light has very poor sockets for the bulbs. They shake loose and suddenly you have no lights. The light has poor cable connections, they pull loose easily and suddenly you have no light. The batteries have a poor mounting system, if the velcro straps are not pulled extremly tightly the battery will slide down into your chainring and rip the bottom cap off resulting in no light. The mounts are of shoddy construction and break easily resulting in no light. This light is not reliable and downright dangerous on singletrack as you never know when it will fail. For the price I paid, I would expect much better. I will never buy another vistalite product.
Similar Products Used: I am purchasing a Cabeza HID light. Judging from the glowing reviews here, I hope it will be a better system. I will right my review in the near future.
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Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2002
Strengths: Cool battery shape, modular construction, use as headlight or bar light or both, bright light, price.
Weaknesses: discontinued. Parts may become hard to get, company has no website. Wish battery life was a little longer. No smart charger.
Bottom Line:
I got the 10w and 15w combination with two batteries. Most of the time I use just the 15 as a headlamp, which is fine for off road riding. The 10w is excellent for night riding on the road and gives you a bit better perspective on the trail than just the head light alone. A single battery lasts about an hour with the 15w light; good thing I have two. I haven't had any trouble with parts breaking, and I like the clever design; the battery arrangement is better than any other light system I've seen. If the batteries are in the frame mount you still get to use your water bottle holder, and since the battery is kind of pump shaped it's a perfect fit in the bike pump spot in my camelbak. With their systems my buddies either lose a water bottle holder or have to use 10 velcro straps to hold their batteries on the frame.
So far the system has been durable under moderate use, though I haven't landed on it or anything. I hit the occasional small branch with my helmet with no ill effects so far.
The charging system is pretty basic - I'd like to have a smart charger so I don't have to set my alarm to remind me to unplug the batteries after 3 hours.
Anyway, you can't beat the price. 5 chilies for value.
I give it 4 chilies for overall because of the charging system and sub 3 hour battery life. I recommend this to anyone who wants to get into night riding for cheap.
Bike Setup: '01 Giant NRS1, '03 Santa Cruz Heckler, '88 Bianchi Forza.
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Submitted by
Garry
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney Australia
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2002
Strengths: Versatility and modular design. Bright, good battery life (1 hour per nmh battery at 15w). heaps of accessories and comes with a charger for each battery
Weaknesses: lights a little tricky to clip onto bar (minor), remote switch pretty pointless (minor).
Bottom Line:
These are great lights. I bought the "Code 20" which includes a 15w narrow and a 5w wide light, 2 batteries and chargers, helmet clip, remote switch and battery clip. Cheap compared with other lights of the same power/quality. Moduler design is great as you can use a light on the bike and one on the helmet or one on the bars with 2 batteries or 2 on the bars. Well worth the money. I have only been using them a few months but quality looks great and have had no problems so far.
Similar Products Used: non rechargable lights and dynamos (various)
Bike Setup: Hardtail Avanti Hammer disc. Deore/LX cross country
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Submitted by
Iain Rathie
a Cross Country Rider
from Brisbane Queensland Australia
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2002
Strengths: NiMh and Nicad batteries small with good capacity. Lights clip on and off handlebars and helmet easily. Reasonably small and light system. Reasonably inexpensive (compared to other systems)
Weaknesses: Very limmited (and expensive) replacement bulb supply in Aussie. Have cracked two mounting brackets (both in same place)Internal bulb holder (for the pins) is a poor design and and needs to have tin foil jambed in it to keep the connection (or a blob of solder put on the bulb pins)Front (plastic) assembly is weak (have cracked two)and needs electricians tape to keep it on (even when not cracked)
Bottom Line:
I would not recommend this system for a serious night time mountain biker. Maybe i got a bad batch or something - but mates with these rigs are having similar difficulties.
We ride hard (at night)at least two or three times a week and our systems need to be tough and reliable (these are n either)
Look elsewhere (do not be tempted by price) If you cant afford a better light - make up your own.
Similar Products Used: Home made 20 watt system with SLA battery (a bit heavier but has withstood the test of time)
Bike Setup: Not important
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Submitted by
Cory
a Cross Country Rider
from Grass Valley, California, USA
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2002
Strengths: Fairly long battery life, pretty bright.
Weaknesses: None so far
Bottom Line:
It's a very sweet light. Even the 5-watt is pretty bright! I got a sweet deat on this light. It came with a NiMH battery instead of a NiCad. I also got it for 35 bucks!It is a great little light, but I would recomend a 10-watt or up if you are doing racing.
Bike Setup: Nightstick, rattraps, front shocks, pump
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Submitted by
Phillip Ellis
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlton Vic, Australia
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2002
Strengths: 10w light brite, compact, good brackets and handle bar mounts, Fairly cheap for what you get.
Weaknesses: Battery doesn`t last long, so you should buy two Batterys
Bottom Line:
Their good value for what you get, if your into night riding but not too and rough serious they'll be good for you, me myself haven't gone out for a good long ride at night yet as it is Winter down here a damn cold at night. I'll get back to you during summer when it’s warmer at night and I'll have really tested them out.
Submitted by
Patrick Cook
a Cross Country Rider
from midland
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2002
Strengths: Cheap
Weaknesses: They suck, brackets break, lights turn off buy them selves, unreliable
Bottom Line:
They were cheap but suck. Ive had some good rides with them and the nicad bats last about 2 hours but Ive broken two light moduals and two mounting brackets, Actually two lights just died they did not break or get hit they just quit working. The botton broke on another one. Mine have the yellow buttons not blue, maybe the blue are better. Bottom line dont waste your cash buy better lights.
Weaknesses: Doesn't hold charge, umm, let's see, battery does not hold charge....oh yeah this battery does not hold charge, now I know why they call it Code '5'. Don't go further than five miles without having another light source....!
Bottom Line:
It's official, this nightstick sucks! Plain & simple. I commute year-round (CA) and don't have to contend with too much night riding, but when I do, I expect more from a light source. Bought it dirt cheap, on sale, so I shouldn't complain. Where's a BLT dealer in the SoCal area?
Submitted by
Cal
a Weekend Warrior
from Fairfax VA
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2002
Strengths: clearance sales, versatile design
Weaknesses: discontinued, service issues
Bottom Line:
Very responsive company rep (Bell Sports) told me it no longer has batteries for this discontinued system and suggested other parts may become hard to find. Said Vistalite has drastically cut its product line. With that, this sucker for a bargain decided to avoid a 15-w solo-battery NiMH Nightstick system marked down to $59 from $180.
But I was impressed with Bell Sports, which received my email on a Sunday and responded the next day, a holiday. If I ever need a helmet...
my wife gave me a vistalite nightstick for my birthday yesterday.
Looks like a decent system, but I'm not too sure about the duration of the battery.
Does anybody have a go Read More »
So I just a had a Vistalight Nightstick with 5w and10w lights handed down to me for free however it's missing a few things.
Anyone know where I can get the Y-cord to enable me t Read More »
