Submitted by
soccerpal
a Weekend Warrior
from yorba linda, ca, usa Date Reviewed: October 3, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Chino hills
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$65.00
Purchased At:
brand new on ebay
Strengths:
great amount of light. lights up the night.
Weaknesses:
battery life isn't what the manufacturer specs. not li ion battery makes battery a little heavy.
Similar Products Used:
nothing in the 675 lumen range.
Bike Setup:
specailized fsr-xc pro
Bottom Line:
great light for a rediculously low price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ming Lee
a Weekend Warrior
from HK Date Reviewed: July 10, 2006
Favorite Trail:
TMS
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$275.00
Purchased At:
ARGear.com
Strengths:
Reliable, Bright (12W bulb) Great handlebar mount and overall design Strong bulb casing Competitively Priced Great Customer service from Jet Lites - Jim Taylor, prompt, consise email responses, very helpful and knows his product
Weaknesses:
-Battery sounds loose inside canister but no problems. -Expensive but all lights in this range are the same if not more.
Similar Products Used:
None, but friends have a variety of models and I've seen their strengths and weaknesses
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Truth
Bottom Line:
Buy it, keep it simple, I don't think you need the lighted meter. Just charge it and go, the smart charger works great. I ride relatively rough trails and the system has held up to some pretty rough trails. I find that the starfire i single beam is enough lighting for me, having a helmet light would be cool but your talking about an extra 2.2lbs minimum. The 12w handlebar mounted starfire lights up my trails perfectly, I don't use the 3 level beam ajustment but it could come in handy for longer rides. Everything works great, knock on wood no problems with this product over the past 3 years. I tested the battery last night (going on 3 yrs now) and the light turned on full blast last almost 3 hours so it maybe time to finally replace it (Ni cad batteries have a lifetime of 3 years before replacement). When new it lasted 3 full hours however I'm confidant that this battery will keep working for quite awhile longer.
I wouldn't have purchased another unit and would do so again. The Jet Lites starfire system has a very solid, reliable look and feel to it. Some of my friends have Nite Ryder and other brands and they have constant wire connection issues and low battery life 1 year into their purchases. I've seen their frustrations, stopping to fix lights, turning to go back home etc... if your not into fussing around with bike gear get Jet Lites. Basically my philosophy when purchasing mtb gear is that it must be first reliable.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel
a
from Phoenix Date Reviewed: June 7, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$270.00
Purchased At:
directly from jet lights
Strengths:
Very Bright Light, Durable, Battery Life Meter
Weaknesses:
None So Far
Bottom Line:
This is a great light that works very well. The helmet mount is very easy to use and the 20W light is very bright.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason Cleeve
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne Date Reviewed: October 12, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Smiths Gully
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$290.00
Purchased At:
Direct
Strengths:
Runtime, durability and brightness.
Weaknesses:
None.
Similar Products Used:
Cygolite
Bike Setup:
Avanti Barracuda
Bottom Line:
This is a sensational product. I've used it regularly for approximately 2 years now at various events including 12hr and 24hr races. I use the helmet mounted version and two weeks ago I had a major spill where I collected the light on a low hanging tree. It through me completely off the bike and into total darkness. My initial thought was that the lights were toast. After searching in the dark for the light. I clipped it back on, flicked the switch and everything was running as normal. No doubt in my mind that this is a tough durable product which is built to last.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
clarkgriswald
a
from Grand Rapids mi Date Reviewed: September 29, 2005
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$270.00
Purchased At:
Jet Lites
Strengths:
Durable, weather proof, beam width and beam diatance
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Cat eye commuter
Bike Setup:
'O1 Quasi Moto
Bottom Line:
Fantastic light. Absolutely no problems. Works great in any weather. Still running strong after two years of heavy use. Buy one if you are looking for a durable, dependable light.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bob Slayden
a Cross Country Rider
from Nashville Date Reviewed: June 1, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Montgomery Bell in TN
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$270.00
Purchased At:
Jetlites.com
Strengths:
Well designed. tough components. bright yellowish light. good value.
Weaknesses:
Slightly heavy
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Blur
Bottom Line:
this is the 20 Watt version with the adjustable power and fuel gage. I have ridden with others with HID lamps and did not like the whiteness of the light. The halogen yellow light is so much easier on the eyes, and seems to give better definition to the trail surface. The brightness is more than adequate, and the 2 hour life is plenty for my needs. have not used long, but like it so far. Would not disagree with the last two or three raters that gave this product a 5.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Shannon Cortez
a Weekend Warrior
from Olympia, WA, USA Date Reviewed: March 11, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$260.00
Purchased At:
Jet Lights
Strengths:
Jet Lights Phantom 13.2v. This light rocks! The company is based out of California so shipping up here to the NW was fast and free, if I remember correctly. Jim, the owner of Jet Lights, was so willing to help and informative when I called to place my order. They offer rentals so I had the opportunity to rent for the first 24 hour race last year and was sold after that. It makes all the difference in the world having a light that gives you the confidence to safely make your way down a mountain quickly! The battery pack weights about 1 lb. Invest in the smart switch - this allows you to go between the three settings. On low, it’ll last about 6 hours. I’ve never needed more than this yet so I usually don’t carry an extra battery pack. I like the helmet mount better than the bike mount. This way the light goes wherever your head does and you’re not relying on the bike to light your way.
Weaknesses:
Haven't found any yet.
Bottom Line:
I love it!
Read more from the Washington Adventure Racing website:
Submitted by
Jonesy
a Cross Country Rider
from Ancaster, Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: February 26, 2005
Favorite Trail:
All of them
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$285.00
Purchased At:
JET Factory Direct
Strengths:
- high quality construction - solid connections - fuel gauge functions correctly - long burn times - very bright with wide dispersion - rapid charging with Smart Charger - fits nicely in a Hydration Pack compartment - can purchase direct from the company
This light is outstanding in very respect. I can't say I know what the total burn times are because every time I return from our usual 2 hour night ride the LED fuel gauge indicates there is still at least 2/5ths of power remaining. I guess it is safe to say the manufacturers claims about burn time are accurate. The brightness and dispersion on the 20 watt setting is incredible and it provides you with more light than you will ever need on the single track. This is a nice problem to have because it means you still have great visibilty in 15 watt mode when you want to conserve energy for one of those 3+ hour epic rides. When not in use this light seems to hold a full charge forever and it is unbelievable how quickly you can re-charge it. Generally it only takes 3 hours to charge after a 2 hour ride where I have used both the 15 and 20 watt settings. And with the fuel gauge and smart charger there is no guesswork involved (or mid ride disappointment).
This has to be the best lighting system on the market. So as far as the price goes....it is worth every penney.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jayrav
a Racer
from Area Oeste, PR, USA Date Reviewed: January 14, 2005
Favorite Trail:
CaboRojo
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$215.00
Purchased At:
ebikesworld
Strengths:
Bright white light! Light dispersion is great! Burn time with the smart switch is very good at 3 hours on my first ride. Break away mount really works! Rugged design. Comes with smart rapid charger (5 hour charge time). Easy to adjust on the fly. The 13v battery is considerably light for it's size.
Weaknesses:
none so far, but I plan to post another review in a month or so.
Similar Products Used:
Sigma mirage x sport, Marwi elite, Marwi torch and Marwi bullet
Bike Setup:
Cannondale scalpel, carbon ELO Lefty, full XTR
Bottom Line:
This light is great! Very white light. At full blast the Phantom out shined everyone else's bike lights except for one of my friends that has a performance viewpoint dual on steroids(it has a couple great modifications). As a matter fact during a night ride in some serious off road terrain, two other riders that were using the sigma mirage x sport never had to use their high beams because my Phantom Jet Lite was enough light for the three of us when we stuck together.
If you are looking for a bike light for serious off road action look no further, this is the light for you. It is worth the price if you want to ride fast and safe at night in any kind of terrain.
I have to see how this light compares to an HID brightness wise, because I already know that the HID's are not even close when it comes to durability and ruggedness. Soon, I hope to get a Jet Lites Starfire dualbeam/smart switch as a gift because the Phantom made my Marwi torch(15w)handlebar light look useless.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Walkman
a Weekend Warrior
from US Date Reviewed: January 7, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$280.00
Purchased At:
Jet Lites
Strengths:
Great even light with no edges or blind spots. Nice charger and battery life.
Weaknesses:
expensive, but cheaper than HID that aren't any better.
Bottom Line:
Small company so they're a little more difficult to deal with logistically, but they seem like nice guys putting out a great product.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from San Ramon, Ca, USA Date Reviewed: December 20, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$285.00
Purchased At:
Jet Lights
Strengths:
Great product. Great battery life. Solid connections. Solid construction. I was also considering the NR Blowtorch but I am glad I got this one. Everything looks natural as if riding in the day time. The HID's, to me, are bright but don't put out a natural light.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
NR Blowtorch
Bike Setup:
04' Specialized EPIC Comp Stock
Bottom Line:
If I were in the market to buy a light again, I would definately purchase this one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Glendale,California Date Reviewed: December 14, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Red box to JPL
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$285.00
Purchased At:
jet lites
Strengths:
Very bright lite,Long burn time,no wash out.Very lite on the helmet.3 diffrent lite levels,and tells you how much battery life you have left.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
04 Cannondale Gemini with pushed vanilla r and sram x9 drive tran,2.4 wtb mutano raptors.
Bottom Line:
Rode my friends jet lite before buying my and let me tell you that this blows Nite rider out of the water.Pound for pound the Nice's lite out there.With that i could keep it but due to a family illness need to sell it asap.The lite is a 2005 as has never seen a trail,just got it a couple of days ago.Well if any one is interested in the please contact me and we can work out a sweet deal on a sweet lite.Don't forget that the lite I'm selling is brand new.Get this lite and go rip up the single tracks out there.Thanks for your time and take care.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
CactusCorn
a Cross Country Rider
from Sioux City, Iowa USA Date Reviewed: September 23, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Platte River State Park, Omaha, Nebraska
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$280.00
Purchased At:
Scheels All Sports
Strengths:
Superior beam, huge battery life, tough new waterproof connections, ultra light lamp case, adjustable mount.
Weaknesses:
Lemme check...... nope. I got nuthin for ya.
Similar Products Used:
Mostly a Nite Rider Trail rat from '94 upgraded to a 15w bulb and a Nicad battery, used as a bar light but primaraly as a helmet light. Cateye HL 500 II and Cateye HL 200 I used as cheap but very effective bar lights and loaner lights. I just picked up 2 Cateye EL 400 LED lights to replace my dimmer, heavyer old ones.
Bike Setup:
Hmmmmm. Pick one seein as how I own 12. My primary rides are a '96 Turner Burner w/ full XTR, Avid Discs, Woodman Disco system/hubs topped off with a '01 X Fly. Then theres my '02 Schwinn Homegrown w/ XT, Race Lite cranks, b/bkt, stem, bar, wheels (the king versions), Avid 2.0 brakes and a sweet old '98 Atom Bomb.
Bottom Line:
Im a shop manager from Arizona who moved to Iowa so theres a huge difference in trails between the 2 places givin me the oppertunity to test several systems in different conditions and I gotta say this Jet does it all and far better than the rest. Ive ridden with this light in the super tight woods and steep hills of my new home and in a few weeks it will see the technical desert of AZ.
After a couple of demos on my shops light, readin the reviews and watchin the beam pattern of my buddies and customers lights, it was the obvious choice. I liked the way it didnt "white out" the trail like the HID lamps tend to do therefore takin away the ability to see the trailing shadow of a obsticle. So a call to Jim at Jet had my new system in hand in a few days. He was a huge help and fun to talk to. Its always cool to talk to a guy who rides instead of some marketing grad ya know. He sold me on the Phantom i 13 Single Beam w/ Smart Switch and Fuel Gauge with a 20w head which Im in the middle of conditionin the battery for a 24 hour race back home in AZ.
I demo'ed this same system last year durrin the snow ride season and loved the enormous burn time and rock solid performance. No flickers, no slippage, no worries. I also was quite impressed with its ability to handle the sub zero temps and wet/snowy conditions. Not that the old Night Rider light was bad but this thing keep burnin in the cold where as the old light puked its battery like last nights beer and burritos. The damn thing did last for almost 10 years of regular use afterall. All i need is the strength to not order a Jet Starfire with all the extras for the handlebar but theres airfare and all that to consider.
The new waterproof connections are nice for lots of reasons but i found them easyer to plug in than the older ones and well worth the extra cash. Nice work Jim! I think Jet can upgrade yer old system if ya like. The helmet mount is a excellent design as its easy to use and adjust, but the coolest thing is the breakaway he now uses after a guy was injured awhile back when his light burried itself in the ground durrin a fall. Talk about payin attention to the details and yer customers needs. The 5 hour smart charger is flawless though it looks plasticy and somewhat fragile. The 5 bar fuel gauge shows what ya have left in 20% incriments therefore savin yer butt before and durrin yer ride.
What I wanted was a killer light that did it all, the perverbial holy grail if ya will, and I got just that. Expensive? Kinda. A major value for the money? You betcha! If ya buy a light, high end like this one or one of the less pricey models, please make it a Jet. Not for me, Jet or the local shop but for yerself. Youll make mamma proud.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, GA Date Reviewed: July 8, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$260.00
Purchased At:
Jet
Strengths:
Incredibly bright. Lightweight. Nice mount.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Trek Fuel 90
Bottom Line:
I bought this light because some of my friends and I were entered into a 34 hour race. The week before the race I went for my first night ride, and with this light it really wasn't much different than riding in the day. During the race I had four different people that I passed during the night compliment me on how bright my light was.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Schnick
a Cross Country Rider
from Wheaton, IL United States Date Reviewed: July 6, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Butchers Ranch - Downieville, CA
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Direct from Jet Lites
Strengths:
Nice mounting system, brilliant white light excellent for single-track. Superior customer service!
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Speciallized, and Nite-Rider
Bike Setup:
Klein Adept with XTR and Thomson - idealy suited for x-country single track.
Bottom Line:
Although the product is rock solid, I found the guys who answered the phone to be unbelievably helpful! The service and the attention they give customers is what sold me! The guys on the phone are very technical, and in most cases are the gents who founded the company. They're more concerned about getting the right product on your bike (or helmet), rather than just selling. Smaller company, attention to detail - I say...help these guys take market share from the big boys...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Fred Brunetti
a Weekend Warrior
from chi town Date Reviewed: June 25, 2004
Favorite Trail:
the street
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
from jet lites
Strengths:
very bright , small , smart switch comes in handy
Weaknesses:
none as of so far
Similar Products Used:
cat eye
Bike Setup:
Cannondale BadBoy ultra stock
Bottom Line:
i looked around a lot for a good light,price was not a problem for me what got me was when i called jetlites they were great to me on the phone very helpful explained in detail about lighting systems and what would serve me the best.as for the light it was everything they said and more i do a lot of night riding in the city at night and needed a good light to be seen and indeed this light really turns heads . so i think i made a good choice with jetlite.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Troy
a
from San Francisco Date Reviewed: May 23, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Skeggs
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$245.00
Purchased At:
Jet Lites
Strengths:
Ease of mounting & adjustment, VERY BRIGHT light!
Weaknesses:
Big battery, but it's a 13v, so what do you expect?
Similar Products Used:
Nightrider digital
Bottom Line:
While the battery is large, I am using a small battery powered Jet for my handlebar, so total weight is similar as Nightrider setup (big battery for handlebar, small for helmet). That is nitpicking, as it fits fine in my camelback and the light output, pattern, durability, and runtime is amazing. My 20W light is almost as bright as HID lights, and the color doesn't wash out shadows like my friends' HID lights do. When I first turned it on, they were amazed at how bright and far it throws light down the trail.
I am thrilled with the system and the customer service at Jet, where (even though I may not have wanted to) I learned all about lights, battery design, charging systems, power requirements, and replacement costs. I had every question answered and then some from Jim at Jet, and I have the utmost confidence in the product.
After following the instructions on conditioning the battery, I have been getting runtimes about 30+ minutes longer than Jet lists. At full power, I get runtime of over 2:15, so my legs puke out before my lights ever will when run at partial power in less technical sections. The switching system is easy, and I've gotten almost 3:15 in runtime when switching from higher to lower power during a ride.
Bottom line: not cheap, but considering the output and reputation for durability, it's a bargain in the long-run high performance light market.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul McDowell
a Racer
from Darien, CT Date Reviewed: May 17, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
Jet Lights
Strengths:
I race on a sponsored adventure racing team and over the years have used a number of different lighting systems. Nothing beats the Jet lights. We use them on both the bike and as a valuable route finding tool when racing through the wilderness at night. Product support is also great with a battery rental program. I strongly endorse Jet lights.
Similar Products Used:
Cateye
Bike Setup:
Specialized M4 Stump Jumper Comp
Bottom Line:
Best light system on the market.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a
from Plano, TX Date Reviewed: January 9, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Cedar Hill State Park
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
JetLites
Strengths:
Build Quality, excellent beam pattern, run time, customer service, mounting and adjustability while riding.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
NRS1XTC with Fox Float
Bottom Line:
Excellent light with good customer service. There are no questions of performance as long as it's charged. The LED battery gauge is also a nice option when you ride a day or two with out charging or are out on a ridiculously long ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
clarkgriswald
a Cross Country Rider
from grand rapids, mi Date Reviewed: November 18, 2003
So far I have only used it commuting. I have no reservations about taking this trail riding. It is weather proof. It rains often in the fall in Michigan and I have had no problems with the light in these conditions. It is very bright, and has excellent beam projection distance and width. Top notch light. If you need a dependable, bright, weather proof, durable, simple to use light, this is it. Love the intelligent charger and LED indicator on the battery. I have the helmet mpounted, Phanton single beam with 20W bulb.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jimbo
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, Texas Date Reviewed: October 29, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Walnut Creek
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$230.00
Purchased At:
Hammerhead Bikes
Strengths:
Takes a beating, but keeps on shining
Weaknesses:
Short Cord - I'll have to break down and get the card extender before too long.
Similar Products Used:
bunch of bar mounted flashlights (cateye etc.)
Bike Setup:
'03 Titus Locomoto
Bottom Line:
We did an impromtu light comparison one night on the trail. There was a L&M HID, a NiteRider HID, a couple of Jet Lites, and a home made jobber. The JetLites at 20w had more useful light output than the HIDs did imho. I prefer the spot rather than the flood because of the longer throw on the spot. Besides at 20 yards or so the hot spot on the spot pattern is about 10 feet wide. I tend to knock branches with my pack and helmet. So the light head gets knocked around a bit.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jon
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh Date Reviewed: September 26, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$260.00
Purchased At:
direct
Strengths:
Beam pattern, ease of use, intelligent charger, stays cool, overall construction
Weaknesses:
battery is a little heavy.
Similar Products Used:
homegrown, nite rider, others
Bottom Line:
This may be a tad expensive for some, but well worth the cash. I have the 20W upgraded lamp and it just plain kicks a$$. I love the intelligent charging system and the ability to change the output to 10 or 8 watts with a click. Fantastic light.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt Fulks
a Cross Country Rider
from Oklahoma City, OK Date Reviewed: August 21, 2003
Favorite Trail:
NuDraper
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$245.00
Purchased At:
jetlites.com
Strengths:
Extremely bright light Easy to set up and use Very rugged, durable, water proof Excellent customer service and fast delivery
Weaknesses:
Scorche's other riders retinas out Bugs love it Deer on the trail get that caught in the headlight look! People wanting to know where to get one all the time
Similar Products Used:
Night rider. Never again
Bike Setup:
2002 Trek 8000
Bottom Line:
It's like riding in the daytime! This thing is definately the best value. It's a lot better than my buddy's $350 nightrider piece of junk. All of the equipment is very durable. The fast charger thing rocks! It uses a NiMH battery and they can take a lot of abuse. Don't even bother with that night rider junk or other lights. Call Jet Lites and get one of these! It's freakin awesome. I give this light 5 scorched retinas.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from St. Louis, MO Date Reviewed: July 3, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$270.00
Purchased At:
JetLites
Strengths:
Superb brightness and burn time. Have both Phantom i for helmet and Starfire w/power reduction switch for bar. At 20w easily 2hr burn time and can step dow to 15w and 10w to extend lamp use. For most applications won't need to use 20w setting. Jim @ JetLites was most helpful in spending the time to find exactly the type of riding and possible usage before making a recommendation......Kudos!!!
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Saw these lights in comparison to in-laws Viewpoint and Vista lights.
Had used the bar mounted Starfire a few times on street rides before vacationing with family in Flagstaff, Arizona. I new the lights were good based upon my initial rides, however, the proof is in seeing them next to others. The first night ride in Arizona brought replies of "Wow" and "who brought the sun" as the Jetlites outshone all others. I generally kept them on the 15w setting. Next night on singletrack the first statement was "Kevin, you lead!" I knew that I had made the right choice and was all smiles as I led the way down the trail.
If you race, you can't beat their efficiency and quick charge with the intelligent charger. I you simply enjoy riding at all times as I do, let Jim @ Jetlites take care of you. Their product and service are second to none.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Churnin'N'Burnin
a Cross Country Rider
from Peterborough, Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: June 23, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Martyn's, Bethany
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$270.00
Purchased At:
Jet Lites
Strengths:
Everything works exactly as advertised. Solid product. Jim @ Customer Support. Delivered on time as promised. The i charger is awesome as is the battery level indicator. 3 light level output for varying conditions to extend battery life.
Weaknesses:
A little harder to get here in Canada. Instruction sheet is very modest but usable and photos did not match my battery or helmet mount, but nothing was hard to figure out.
Similar Products Used:
Vista Nightstick.
Bike Setup:
G.F. Sugar 2
Bottom Line:
Very, very pleased with this system. I have never been comfortable riding at night, even on local trails until I used this product. This light is bright and casts a great flood of light on the trail. Jim advised the 20w bulb & that is good advise for us older riders(49). I just finished a 24hr race with a 5 man team and on my 2 night laps, my times were only 5 minutes longer than my best daylight lap. This is a major improvement over last year's night laps which took me 20 - 30 minutes longer because of sometimes flickering light and generally feebler glow. The battery showed 3 out of 5 when I returned after 1 hour @ 20w, I put the charger on and it was fully charged 3 hours later for my next night lap. Bottom line is I know I am riding more, safer & actually having fun out there at night now!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from Schaumburg, IL USA Date Reviewed: April 14, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$265.00
Purchased At:
Factory direct order
Strengths:
- Burn time (6 hours on low beam -- which is a key in adventure racing) - bright, clean, and even light pattern - 3 light settings (so I can save battery on non-technical on the low beam, but have more than enough power on technical downhills on high beam) - durable (raced through freezing rain, snow, etc) - Great customer service
Weaknesses:
- power cord (mine had to be replaced in one year. But this is where the great service kicks in. They stand behind their product, and they are very helpful)
Similar Products Used:
- Niterider lights
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Superlight
Bottom Line:
I needed a light for adventure racing. My top priority was long battery life with acceptable light beam. What I ended up getting was incredible light pattern at 12 watt that gives me 6 hours of burn time. And when I need more power for downhill, I can quickly switch to high beam with one click, which I can do even with my gloves on. It turns out I don’t even need to switch to high beam in most cases, because my teammates have inferior lights, they cannot keep up with me going downhill even at my low beam. I have not tried any HID lights to compare the light pattern. But I have yet to find a HID light that lasts 6 hours with a single battery pack with the similar weight. I did have my power cord go bad after a year of use. Jet Lite promptly fixed the problem and got my light back in time for my race in April. It is the level of great service I received that prompts me to write this review for a great product.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kirk Stewart
a Cross Country Rider
from Flowood,MS,USA Date Reviewed: April 1, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Little Colorado
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
moosejaw.com
Strengths:
3 level light switch,long lasting light,price and customer service
Weaknesses:
have yet to find one
Similar Products Used:
first helmet light, compared to others i have seen nothing compares
Bike Setup:
1999 Trek 7000
Bottom Line:
Buy this and nothing else....you will get exactly what you want for a great price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rod C.
a Racer
from Locust Valley, NY Date Reviewed: March 19, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Blue Mountain
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$265.00
Purchased At:
JetLites.com
Strengths:
Reliability, ease of use, run time, brightness of light, Fuel gauge, rapid trouble free charging and adjustability of helmet mount to adjust light direction. Great customer service.
Weaknesses:
Battery is a bit heavy
Similar Products Used:
Niterider evolution
Bike Setup:
Giant NRS1
Bottom Line:
Great light. Never a malfunction. True to manufacturers run time claims. Great customer service.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jeff mick
a
from santa cruz ca norte Date Reviewed: March 19, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
ease of operation, long battery life, bright, bright,bright!
Weaknesses:
the weight? I like light
Similar Products Used:
turbo cat(cat eye) niterider cygolite vistalite
Bike Setup:
santa cruz heckler I wear the light on helmet battery back in the hydo pack
Bottom Line:
I have tried a lot of different lights. The phantom i is by far the best. It is simple; a click of the switch & the light dims to conserve battery life, brightens to catch a glimps of the terrain on those critical downhill descents. A simple compacked packaged lighting system that holds up to the rough handeling required in the world of cycling. I would recommend this light for any sport (except swimming) that require a light.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael Johnson
a Racer
from Pleasant Grove, Utah, USA Date Reviewed: February 15, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$249.00
Purchased At:
ARGEAR.com
Strengths:
Jet Lites have reliable electronics and are super tough. I have used this bike light in two expedition races and several 24 hour races. It has never let me down.
With the 12 watt head you have 6.5 hours burn time on the low setting and still have enough light on high to bomb down the single track and down hills.
Weaknesses:
None to speak of.
Similar Products Used:
Cateye, Nite Rider, Light & Motion
Bike Setup:
Specialized S Works
Bottom Line:
The Phantom i Single Beam is a great all around bike light. Having the light on your head allows you to see hear you need to, not where you handle bars are pointing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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$ 295.00
Overall Rating:
