Blackburn's System X8 has the power, versatility and reliability to get you where you want to go. The dual 3 watt Luxeon lights, you have both a wide angle and narrow beam light pouring out up to 170 lumens. Plus, you can adjust the lights from flashing to 100 to 70 to 30% power to use only the amount of light you need, saving battery juice. This great light also boasts a small, light, frame-mount Li-Ion battery that's reliable and powerful. And, the X8 won't overheat or fade with time thanks to Blackburn's Constant Current technology. There are also easy-to-use quick-release handlebar and helmet mounts, too.
Submitted by
caseym
a Cross Country Rider
from la crosse, wi Date Reviewed: August 12, 2009
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
good beams, many settings, quick setup and fastening
Weaknesses:
bad battery. don't ever expect blackburn to help you if you have trouble with this light system. while their website says that they still manufacture this light system...THEY DON'T as it is discontinued...but it is still on the website?? anyways, look elsewhere if you want a solid light backed by solid customer support.
Similar Products Used:
nightrider,
Bottom Line:
See weaknessess above as it details the bottom line on this product. It would be solid if the company had a reputable customer support program and quit the false advertising. At this point I wish I would have never bought the product now knowing the product would not be supported. Sorry blackburn, but this is the last time I will ever purchase or even recommend one of your products.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mikkelz
a Cross Country Rider
from Cape Town, South Africa Date Reviewed: July 16, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Tokai Forest
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Bridge Cycles
Strengths:
Light quality (clarity) and strength (distance). The actual light housing, brackets and recharger all look & feel solid to withstand tough mountain biking conditions and should last a lifetime. The "SuperCharger" which is meant to maintain and increase battery life is appealing.
Bike Setup:
'09 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp
Bottom Line:
I've recommended this set of lights to all my family and friends.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
S_Owen
a Cross Country Rider
from Ortonville, MI, USA Date Reviewed: March 27, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Back Roads - Holly Rec Area
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$125.00
Purchased At:
ediscountbike.com (f
Strengths:
Excellent Value. I actually purchased the Blackburn X8'SL' system (not X8), with 240 Lumen Luxeon lamps, and extended run time. Easy to use smart charger. Nice bright Spot and Flood lamps with intensity adjustments (or strobe). Easy set-up on bike, and run-time is more than sufficient for 1.5hr commute.
Weaknesses:
Charge plug-in socket on battery faces frame tube which it is mounted to. Requires loosening battery in order to charge. I over tightened the handle bar mounting clamp, and broke the clamp near the hinge. My fault, but clamp could be beefier. I called Blackburn Customer Service, and told them "I screwed it up", and they were nice enough to not only replace the broken mounting clamp, but they also sent a spare clamp.
Similar Products Used:
n/a
Bike Setup:
'Beater' mountain bike used for commuting 18mi (~1.5hrs), one-way, to work. Mounted lights hanging under the handle bars for better protection, and mounted battery pack on front side of seat post, just under seat. With battery centered, does not rub inner thigh. Wire routed along top tube, with brake/shift cables.
Bottom Line:
Excellent - excellent value (MSRP was $260) $125!
I could not find this much light for this price, in other brands looked at. I recommend this system, it seems very well designed. Do not over tighten the bar clamps, and there should be no issues. And, obviously Blackburn offers pretty decent customer support.
I had some additional questions and correspondence with edicountbike regarding the product, and they were very friendly to work with.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Christopher_CK
a Cross Country Rider
from NSB,FL,USA Date Reviewed: January 17, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Santos
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$125.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Super Bright Light, Li-Ion Battery, Current doesn't fade, Comes w/ two handlebar mounts and a helmet mount
Weaknesses:
Doesn't mount itself to the bicycle
Similar Products Used:
only lesser lighting systems
Bike Setup:
Used it on my Trek EX and my Redline Monocog 29er
Bottom Line:
Great light! I read all of the negative reviews about the battery on the X6 and decided to pass on it (even though it was SOOO cheap). I decided to go with the X8 and was IMPRESSED during my first (and second) night ride w/ the light. It's a good buy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
shredbetty
a Cross Country Rider
from Sacramento Date Reviewed: December 31, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Pine Nuts, NV
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$119.00
Purchased At:
Extreme Supply, CA
Strengths:
Bright light, long lasting battery, weather resistant, good wide beam and spot, easy set up, fast charging battery, variable beam strengths with strobe option (great for making yourself visible while commuting through dense fog).
Weaknesses:
Clunky battery, only one battery so using lamp on bar and lamp on helmet is tricky since they both have to connect to the same battery, cables a bit unwieldy.
Similar Products Used:
Cat eye everything, VistaLite Nightstick.
Bike Setup:
Old School Gary Fisher HooKoo, Shimano XT
Bottom Line:
Good light set for use on very dark trials at an incredibly reasonable price, illuminates all the roots and rocks and crevices in the trail; lasts for a very long time excellent for extended night rides; maybe a bit intensely bright when you come across on-coming riders (I recommend just cupping your hand over the lights to minimize blinding your fellows, if you come across on-coming cyclists). This seems to be a variation on the older VistaLite Nightstick, which has a nearly identical but updated design for lamps and mounts, but which came with more than one battery so you could connect your helmet lamp to a separate battery and stick that in your back pocket. With this Blackburn set, you get only one fairly clunky battery which you either use to connect to your helmet lamp or to your handlebar lamp, but if you try to connect both to that one battery then either your head is attached to your bike (if you mount the battery on the bikeframe) or your handlebars are connected to your jersey pocket with cables wrapped all around you (if you have the battery in your pocket). A bit of a silly "choice" constrained entirely by the design.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jamis_dakar
a Cross Country Rider
from windsor, Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: December 3, 2008
Favorite Trail:
The poto
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$127.00
Purchased At:
Jensen
Strengths:
This is a well thought out light. It is light and built with quality materials, all of this and for such a low price.
Weaknesses:
I would like to see narrower mounts, I had trouble fitting them into my bars with my lefty fork, maybe it would have been easier with a standard fork but I don't know.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
cannondale rush race replica
Bottom Line:
It is a great product in terms of build quality, reliability, price and on top of it all it's guaranteed for life. I recommend.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
neverdnf
a Weekend Warrior
from Woodsfield Date Reviewed: November 24, 2008
Favorite Trail:
The Wilds, Southeast Ohio
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$129.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA
Strengths:
Price, Burn Time, Dual Lights.
Weaknesses:
Can't mount one light on helmet and run the other one on the bars at the same time.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bottom Line:
For the money, this light is pretty awesome. Burn time is exactly as advertised and charges quickly. I haven't updated the LED's but everyone says that it can up to double the output of the lights of a very small cost. I wish there was a better way to mount the lights so that you could wear one on the helmet and one on the bars, but with the wires going everywhere I don't think it would be too safe. But again, for the price, you could run both these on the bars and buy another set just to wear on your helmet and have spent less than a lot of other lights systems out there.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mtbidaho
a Cross Country Rider
from Hailey, ID USA Date Reviewed: October 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Porcipine Rim
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Reliability and price
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
light in motion
Bike Setup:
mtb with 31.8 bars
Bottom Line:
I've read that it's difficult to mount to oversized bars..all you have to do is remove the rubber size adjusters inside the clamp. Very simple guys!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jacko
a Weekend Warrior
from Plymouth England Date Reviewed: October 22, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
ChainReactionCycles
Strengths:
Price - Not sure they're worth the £200RRP, but they always seem to be on offer somewhere.
Versatility - can be mounted on std or OS bars or helmet, and can be run with both lightheads or just one.
Smartcharger - charges very fast, and when not in use the battery can be left pluged into the smartcharger which will condition the battery.
Weaknesses:
Switches - the buttons on the top of the lampheads are awkward to press, especially with thick winter gloves on...!
Similar Products Used:
crap old halogen systems
Bike Setup:
Special Giant Reign & Specialized Langster
Bottom Line:
The lights bloody brilliant for the money. £130 will not buy you a setup with as much light output, in a good pattern, with a good burn time, that comes with as much kit (battery, wide lighthead, narrow lighthead, pair of bar mounts, helmet mount, spare clip for either mount, std cable, cable for single lamphead use, smartcharger, carry bag), that can be used in as many differant ways, weighs this little, looks after itself (leave the battery plugged into the smartcharger when not in use), and has as many different settings (each head can be 100%/70%/30%/flashing, thats 16 combinatons).
I use mine for commuting every day, and can still get home, stick them on charge for a couple hours, go out for a decent nightride, n then leave em on charge overnight ready for the commute next morning.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Marcelo72
a Weekend Warrior
from Honolulu Date Reviewed: October 19, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$129.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA.com
Strengths:
+ Battery last longer than speced! (much unlike the X6)
+ Quick charge
+ Carrying bag included (unlike the X6)
+ variety of cables included
Weaknesses:
- outdated LED
- don't recommend using one light on the handlebar and one on the helmet.
Similar Products Used:
Blackburn X6
Bike Setup:
All mountain
Bottom Line:
I returned my Blackburn X6 because the battery sucked. Jenson was kind enough to fully refund me after six months of use. Though I'd give the X8 a chance knowing they changed the battery and I've been pleasantly surprised by the X8!
The battery is MUCH smaller (about half) that of the X6 and I got 3h @ 100% out of it after the first charge.
The Luxeon III LED that comes with it is quite old so bought a couple of Cree Q5's (and SSC P4's) from Dealextreme.com. and popped them in. 10 minutes later I had blasting bright LED set-up at a really affordable price. Stoked!
Only reason I don't give it 5 chillis on the overall is that Blackburn should've upgraded their LED a long time ago but the Lumens/$ using this system with the Cree's is hard to beat.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jfmctt
a Racer
from Ohio Date Reviewed: October 1, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$130.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA
Strengths:
Price, LI battery, sturdy mounts, remote dimmer, nice beam pattern.
Weaknesses:
Weight of lighthead, can really feel the weight when you have the light helmet mounted. Not alot of light compaired with other LED lights.
Similar Products Used:
HID, Halogen, cutter kit LED
Bike Setup:
road (bar mounted) and mountain (Planing on using helmet mounted along with a bar mounted HID.)
Bottom Line:
This light is a pretty good deal, the emitters are upgradeable (stars) and the battery is lite and last for clamed length. I am planning to upgrade to either P4 or Q5s depending on beam pattern. There is a large heavy brass plug/heatsink that the stars are mounted to; I removed some metal from these for reduced weight. Made the light heat up quicker, but this will not be a problem while riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
nm_gunslinger
a Cross Country Rider
from ABQ Date Reviewed: September 3, 2008
Favorite Trail:
The one I'm on
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
A real mounting system; no rubber bands! Much better battery life than most in this price range. Comes with a wide and spot. Most in this price range only come with one light. Battery can be left charging whenever the unit is not in use. Ligth weight, especially when compared to to my lead acid nigthsun halogen system.
Weaknesses:
Being picky, it could be a little brighter (see below). The swithes could be a little easier to turn on/off. The charger plug-in faces the frame, you need to remove the battery to charge it.
Similar Products Used:
nightsun dual halogen system. Other home made systems.
Bike Setup:
litespeed obed
giant tcr
Bottom Line:
For the money you can find these for, they're hard to beat. I like the real mounting system and the quick releases. I mostly use mine for commuting and night training.
Being picky:
I wish they could operate with one switch and the switches are easier to use. You can't flip them on when going through a tunnel. Again, it would be nice if I could charge the battery while its mounted on the bike.
I replaced the Led with seoul P4's. A $10 upgrade that doubled the light output and made no noticable effect on battery life. Blackburn should upgrade the leds.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
j35u5fr34k
a Racer
from East Tawas, MI Date Reviewed: August 20, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Rifle River Recreation Area, Rose City, MI
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$130.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA.com
Strengths:
Bright and easy to setup.
Trickle charger.
Great looking on the bike.
Long battery life.
Bright enough for any speed night riding in my opinion.
Weaknesses:
I didn't really find any for the sale price on the Jenson USA website. They were a little difficult to mount on an over sized handlebar but I got it. I could see if you had a hydraulic reservior in the way how these might be hard to mount. How could you mount anything if that is truly the case?
Similar Products Used:
Cheap bike lights.
Bike Setup:
Raleigh Mojave 5.0, pretty stock.
Bottom Line:
Great value, very bright. Get them while they last at JensonUSA.com
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
spaaarky21
a Weekend Warrior
from Omaha, NE, USA Date Reviewed: July 25, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Swanson
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$130.00
Purchased At:
Jenson USA
Strengths:
- Higher capacity battery? (compared to the single head X4 model.)
- Lithium ion battery.
- Has "smart charger" unlike some lights in the same price range.
- Includes helmet mount and remote.
- Lights are meant to detach from mounts easily.
- Suitable for more casual riding.
Weaknesses:
- Bar mounts don't fit with my shifters and brake levers!
- Much yellower light than my NiteRider MiNewt.X2.
- Doesn't seem nearly as bright as advertised.
- The clips on the mounts seem kind of cheap.
- Probably not suitable for true night riding at decent speeds.
Similar Products Used:
NiteRider MiNewt.X2
Bike Setup:
2006 Iron Horse Warrior Race with upgrades
Bottom Line:
I bought a NiteRider MiNewt.X2 on sale a while back and started riding at night. Since I plan on doing a fair amount of night riding, I figured I would pick up another light sometime. I found a deal on the Blackburn X8 and went for it.
Supposedly the X8 is brighter than my NiteRider (170 lumens vs about 150) but the NiteRider almost "drowns out" the light from the X8 when you use them together. The beam pattern from the X8 is also a little poor compared to the NiteRider, which has more of an optical-quality lens and reflector in it. Those shortcoming are okay but...
I could barely get these lights on my handle bars! They get in the way of my shifters and brake levers and I couldn't move them more toward the middle because the bar is too thick there. And because they are in the way of the shifters and levers, I couldn't really adjust them how I wanted. They ended up pointed down too much and THAT is not an acceptable shortcoming. I am returning these and plan on investing in a second NiteRider when I get a chance. The MiNewt.X2 doesn't come with as much stuff but is in the same price range and is a MUCH better product overall.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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