Submitted by
Eddie Chin
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore Date Reviewed: July 11, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$10.00
Strengths:
Small and self-contained Uses 5AA batteries (for abit more runtime) Allows the use of NimH, Nicd or Alkalines.
Weaknesses:
Uses 5AA batteries (odd numbers) Light will shift abit on the handlebar in rough terrain.
Similar Products Used:
Cateye EL-510 Handlebar mounted flashlights
Bike Setup:
Titus RacerX
Bottom Line:
This is good light for people who cycle on unlit paths or mild offroading when coupled with a helmet light. I didn't even bothered with the NiCd option, I just got some Sanyo NimH and charged them seperately on my wall charger. A little trick here for people who require abit more light. You can replace the 2.4Watt bulb with a 3.5Watt Rayovac bulb for more light. (with reduced runtime, of course)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
spiro vagenas
a Racer
from denmark Date Reviewed: February 22, 2006
Favorite Trail:
short&sweet
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$33.00
Purchased At:
bilka
Strengths:
good light
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
smart bl-117hf halogen, cateye EL700 triple shot
Bike Setup:
koga-miyata terralineralloy-s (tls)
Bottom Line:
An excellent product. Great light for in and around town. 100% value for money. This light lasted me 7 years. I have recently bought a new one and expect this one also to last the distance. If I may very briefly comment on similar products used. I found the smart bl-117hf halogen to weigh 50% less with however also 50% less light at the same price. The cateye EL700 triple shot gave out 50% more light than the sigma at more than 10 times the price.
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Submitted by
Guennadiy
a Cross Country Rider
from Moscow Date Reviewed: August 15, 2004
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$10.00
Purchased At:
Velomir Moscow
Strengths:
Bright and long lasts from 1 set of alkaine batteries. Great Value/price
Weaknesses:
No
Similar Products Used:
Different lights
Bike Setup:
Merida Matts Cruise 5.9 (Deore- XT)
Bottom Line:
If you need real light for 10$. Great for non-agressive XC.
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Submitted by
Tom
a Cross Country Rider
from Munich, Germany Date Reviewed: January 12, 2004
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
Karstadt (Maybe)
Strengths:
Good little light. I cycle to/from work with it and I do occasional leisure riding on it
Weaknesses:
I have had 2 of these lights and both have broken in the same way. The ratched clip breaks. When you click in the ratchet, the ratchet teeth dont grip and it opens up (this is why I bought the 2nd light). BUT.. all is not lost.. I was just out today buying a Cateye HL-EL300 (5 LED) and noticed that you can buy replacement ratchets for the sigma for 3euro 50cents.. so not all is lost. The ratchet lasted me about a year on each one.
Similar Products Used:
Cateye HL EL300
Bike Setup:
Ghost and Scott mountain bikes with Deore / Deore LX level components.
Bottom Line:
I have 2 of these now, one rechargeable and one not.. and the new fangled 5 LED cateye one.. I think I like all my lights :)
I give it a 5 on the overall rating cos of the breaking ratchet. Would have been a 2 if it wasnt replaceable
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Submitted by
jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from brewster, ny, usa Date Reviewed: June 26, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$9.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Looks good, Mounts in seconds
Weaknesses:
Not really enough light for unknown territory
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
marin
Bottom Line:
For what I paid I have no complaints. No compact system is going to really give enough light, that's just physics.
That said, this isn't bad, particularly on familier terrain. I really use it for training on roads. Since this is usually after work at dusk it's just as important to be seen, and it works well for that. I get around 3 or 4 hours out of a set of batteries, but it dims considerably after about 2. It uses 5 AA batteries, a blessing because it gives a little more run time, a curse because they come in even numbers. Still, no-name alkalines are always on sale for around 40 cents. I have not had a problem with the quick release moving. I just try and squeeze it extra hard to get that one last "click". It would be nice if the low battery led was an on-off indicator. If it's not completly dark out I find I'm putting my hand in front of the light to make sure that it actually turned on when I hit the button. Bottom line, in the context of clip on style light you can't beat it. I've gotta give it 5 for value and a 4 overall because if you do serious night riding you really need a remote rechargable type with a minimum of 5 watts.
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Submitted by
Adonis
a Cross Country Rider
from Heidenheim Date Reviewed: March 29, 2003
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
0
Weaknesses:
I've bought this product 4 times and it never worked longer than three months. Don't buy this s... . Try an other one.
Bottom Line:
Never worked longer than threee months... :(
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from MS Date Reviewed: November 10, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Couch/Badlands loop
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At:
some random mail order house
Strengths:
- *just* enough bright, clear, white light to get home by - no-bracket-needed ratcheting mount; haven't had any slipping - little details: coin-slotted screw heads, good finish, tough exterior, etc.
Weaknesses:
- somewhat fragile innards, makes battery changing a pain - uses 5 batteries, and they always seem to come in 4-packs - the rubber pads in the mount fall out, so glue them down with contact cement
Similar Products Used:
NR Trail Rat II (a minimal *real* light) some CatEye roadie lights
This is my primary light for around-town rides, and my backup light for trail rides. I didn't pop for the rechargable NiCad version, but have started using rechargeable NiMH batteries (5x$3 each, ouch; at least it's a one-time expense). With 5 fresh NiMH batteries, this pup puts out a TON of light for such a little cheapie. I've turned off my main light several times and ridden a half mile or so on this little guy, and it's plenty to crawl home on if my main beam goes out. Plus, with the no-bracket clip on mount, they make nice loaner lights for buddies who want to try night riding before they shell out for real hardware.
The need for a backup light in the dark dark woods, the low cost, the loan-ability to get friends night riding, make this light (or something very like it) a must-buy.
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Submitted by
Frank
a
from Germany Date Reviewed: October 24, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
has been a gift
Strengths:
Attractive price compared to better, but much more expensive solutions.
Weaknesses:
Quick mount is quick indeed, but on rough terrain it sometimes isn't strong enough to keep the light in position.
Similar Products Used:
my first light running on batteries
Bottom Line:
Using the Sigma nicad batteries, I get about 2.5 hours light until the batteries are empty. After recharging them several times, at the end of their power it gets dark fairly quick - only some minutes after the "low power" indicator led gets on.
The light itself is OK for everyday cycling, but don't expect miracles from a standard bulb.
The patented quick mount, however, failed to convince me. Even if it is only a matter of seconds to mount or unmount the light, on rough terrain I sometimes had trouble to keep it fixated. Bump for bump, the light pointed more and more downwards. :-(
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Submitted by
Laura
a Racer
from Raleigh, NC Date Reviewed: August 30, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Bright light, quick mount
Weaknesses:
Faulty switch - darn thing broke after about 5 uses!
Bottom Line:
Would be nice and convenient if the switch didn't break. This wasn't the only unit to fail this way - a friend boughth the same model and the exact same thing happened to his.
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Submitted by
Gordo
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, Texas USA Date Reviewed: June 24, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Barton Creek Greenbelt
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$17.00
Purchased At:
Performancebike.com
Strengths:
Very Bright, Pure white beam, Very Focused beam Easy Clip on supplied Recessed On button prevents accidental Outage.
Weaknesses:
Takes 5 AA batteries to run Burns Batteries somewhat quickly at first, then average
Trek ZX6500, STX Components, Judy Shock, lots of upgrades
Bottom Line:
This little wonder is friggan Bright! I compared it to 3 mini maglights taped together and it was far brighter, and more focused that even some smaller motorcycle lights ive seen. It projects the light in a kind of dual side-by-side rectangle pattern. The on-off button is very recessed and requires you to push it with a finger tip, which helps prevent accidental turn-on/off. Overall, it burns AAs somewhat quickly for everyday night riding, so the recharger and some Ni-Cads, which I didnt get, might be a good idea if you right at night daily. For 2x a week action its efficient. Great overall pattern and performance and watertight!! "Smithers, Release the Hounds" - m. burns
$ 35.00
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