Submitted by
markn65
a Racer
from Sydney, Aus Date Reviewed: January 29, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Suburban
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
Phantom Cycles
Strengths:
Gives strong, useful light.
Weaknesses:
Battery, battery, battery. Never lived up to battery life claims and it has progressively got worse.
Similar Products Used:
Various halogens prior to this.
Bike Setup:
Road bike
Bottom Line:
I only ever ride in the pre-dawn darkness and I looked upon the high cost of this light (A$700 at the time) as a good investment in safety. It does give a great light, way ahead of the halogens I used before. But I use this light 4-5 times a week and it wasn't long before the battery life began to decline which I lived with for a while before contacting the supplier who "tested" it and told me they could get three hours out of it which had to be untrue because I was only getting two hours max. No new battery, no suggested solution. Since it was so expensive, I lived with it for a couple more years, charging more or less every day until it stopped working altogether. A new battery costs an incredible amount in Australia and they won't deal direct with you from the US. I feel let down that the battery has been a consistent underperformer and the only solution would now be to buy a >A$300 battery. Their profit margin on the battery (which is just a 9 cell NiMh) must be enormous! So after about 4 years, this is heading to the bin. I'll be replacing this unit but not with anything made by L&M, sorry to say.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Westford, MA, USA Date Reviewed: January 10, 2009
Favorite Trail:
FOMBA trails
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$180.00
Purchased At:
backcountry at geart
Strengths:
car headlight for bicycle
Weaknesses:
didn't include helmet mount, but those are cheap enough.
Bike Setup:
2004 gary fisher marlin. bontrager race lite wheelset
Bottom Line:
it is a super bright light, I'm hoping it'll be good for the old pueblo. So far I've used it to get to school and ride in some local trails at night. It lights up the trail very well, and the road as well.
Buy one if you can find one for cheap, and you need to see. Dont buy one if you just need to be seen.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
truehiker
a Cross Country Rider
from Steamboat Springs Date Reviewed: December 22, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Thunder Mountain
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$215.00
Purchased At:
chainlove
Strengths:
Cheap and bright! Nice secure bar mount
Weaknesses:
Came without helmet mount. Slight change in light color when you go over bumps. A bit on the heavy side
Similar Products Used:
Lupine Edison 10
Bike Setup:
Fisher Supercabiler 29er(Frame broke during ride), Chris King Hubs
Bottom Line:
I got this light online for a pretty good deal. Very easy set up that puts the battery on the frame and the light on the handlebar. The only issue I had was that the light "shimmers" while going over bumps on the trail. The color goes from a white to an orange, but only on realy rough trail. Overall I like the light. It is very bright and about a 1/4 of the price of the high end products. I had no problems going my normal day speed at night. I would recommend this light. Use the money you will save and get a spare battery so you can ride all night long!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paulito
a Racer
from Richmond, VA, USA Date Reviewed: December 16, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Trails at Douthat State Park, VA
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
On-Line Somewhere
Strengths:
durability, quality, design, light strenght.
Weaknesses:
Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery is heavy - but if you are worried about it, get the Lithium Ion Battery.
Similar Products Used:
NightRider Rage HID
Bike Setup:
Turner Flux 08 with XTR, King, Thompson and the rest of the high-enders.
Bottom Line:
This is a great light for daily two hour night rides and the battery can be upgraded to Lithium Ion Ultra for 6.5 hours of light if needed. The beam is strong enough that I can ride almost as fast as with daylightand the cost is significantly cheaper than the lighter Lithium Ion Bettery.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO, USA Date Reviewed: November 25, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Jenny Creek
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
I have used this light for around 4 years, probably around 150 charge cycles, and have been completely satisfied. It is very durable, and the battery still gives >2 hours per charge (not sure of the exact amount, but probably worth an experiment!). Extremely bright, gives great visibility both on the road and trail. Has both low and high beam, but low is more than enough. Spot is extremely clear, but also has substantial diffusive light to be have good visibility outside of the spot. I have tried both helmet and bar mount, and I strongly recommend the helmet mount for 3 reasons: (1) RF output will interfere with wireless speedometer; (2) Wherever you want to look (forward, side, etc.) you will have light, unlike with a bar mount, and; (3) You won't blind oncoming cyclists, unlike the bar mount! Just look away slightly, and the other cyclist will be fine.
If you ride at night, this is as good as it gets.
Weaknesses:
I have an older model that doesn't have the low power indicator, but this problem has been taken care of.
Similar Products Used:
Before getting this light, I had a halogen, Pb-acid battery powered light (Performance, I think).
Bike Setup:
Primarily a Dean 29er w/ White Bros shock.
Bottom Line:
If you like to (or have to) ride at night and want to have great visibility in a durable package, this is a great choice. In a few years the LED's may match this light in lumens/$, but not currently.
Trailriding at night with this light is great, but the appearance of bumps, rocks, etc. in the trail takes some getting used to - kind of like going night skiing after only having done daylight skiing!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mason
a Racer
from San Francisco, CA Date Reviewed: October 8, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Road commute only
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$429.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Bright, WHEN it works
Weaknesses:
Short battery life before replacement required. Very abrupt and scary shut-down sequence when out of power. Very expensive. VERY SHORT BATTERY PACK WARRANTY - THIS IS A SCAM - WATCHOUT! It was used perhaps 25 times over a 9-month period - very light use.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Jamis road bike
Bottom Line:
Overall very disappointing and unreliable. i FEEL VERY DECEIVED AND RIPPED OFF. This light was advertised to be highly reliable for night riding. No one should buy it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
midlifechrisis
a Weekend Warrior
from UK Date Reviewed: July 29, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Coed y Brenin
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Super bright & wide. Light weight unit.
Weaknesses:
Heavy battery.
Bike Setup:
Commencal Meta 5.5
Bottom Line:
Superb penetrating wide beam light. I prefer the white light given off bt this than the yellow light from some others. I've been stopped by a farmer, thinking I was on a motorbike, it's so bright. I now have two (helmet + bars) in readiness for Dusk til Dawn overnight race.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
sevencycle
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Date Reviewed: July 22, 2008
Favorite Trail:
SingleTrack at Night
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Wide pattern with spot. Best on Helmet.
Weaknesses:
none in 3 years
Similar Products Used:
Nightrider
Bike Setup:
Kona Singlespeed and Dual XC
Bottom Line:
Great Product with no problems in 3 years. Lots of great light. Put the kids to bed and go hammer some singletrack!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bog
a Cross Country Rider
from Surrey, B.C. Date Reviewed: June 18, 2008
Favorite Trail:
JYD Race Course, 7th Secret, all of Galbraith Mtn
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
-
Strengths:
Nice light when it works. The beam pattern is good although not quite a piercing as my Nite Rider. Plenty adequate for any night riding whether it is in the
Weaknesses:
1. The bulbs are very fragile. My died on my in short order with no bumps or bruises. Light and Motion charged me $80 to replace it and sent it back to me with the bulb in crooked! They then wanted me to pay for shipping to have them straighten the bulb!! Needless to say this is total BS and I'd rather ride around with the light head pointed to the left and the light beam straight ahead. That's what I call lousy customer service.
2. The mount is very fragile. I broke the little mounting disc once simply by adjusting the light head while I was riding. It was a long cold hike out that night.
Similar Products Used:
Nite Rider HID. Much superior product and definitely better customer service. My battery packed it in after a while and they sent me a new battery along with a postage prepaid envelope to send the old one back. After that I was so impressed with Nite Rider I went and bought a TriNewt (which has been fantastic so far).
Bike Setup:
Trance X0 with a Fox F120RLC, XTR drivetrain, Crossmax SL wheelset, Avid Juicy Ultimate brakes, & Thomson stem/post.
Bottom Line:
Wouldn't buy from Light and Motion again. They didn't back up their product two times in a row even when they made a mistake after I paid them to install a new bulb!
I'll give them 2 overall because the light is OK when working. The value rating is a 1 because no light should have a bulb die after 40 hrs with no impacts.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alan
a Cross Country Rider
from Malta Date Reviewed: December 5, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$430.00
Purchased At:
Jensonusa
Strengths:
Very bright indeed and very wide, much wider than I expected from reading these reviews. Positive fitting, adjustability and very well constructed. Relatively light when compared to competition. Excellent customer service.
Weaknesses:
Of course, like all halide systems they don’t come cheap.
Bike Setup:
Giant Anthem 2 2006, XT, Manitou's with Panaracer Fire XC pro's and risers
Bottom Line:
Probably technically superior to the competing halide systems, with the exception of the Lupines and maybe supernovas, however these alternatives cost waaaaay more. I have done my fair share of research before shelling out the money and the light and motion are the best value for money IMHO . A sound investment. They mean that in the dull winter season I am not longing for spring or summer – after a day in the office I can enjoy myself in the countryside on my bike – this is PRICELESS to me! Neither do I have to rely on the weekends or take leave to ride my bike, only to have sh**** weather then and stay inside! Night time mtbing gives a new, welcomed change to those familiar trials and sort of spices every ride up. I have had a issue with my light and light and motion solved the problem in no time. They have by far exceeded what I would expect to be a good service. Andreas from light and motion has been a real pleasure to deal with. I am fully satisfied with my lights and bless the money I ve spent on them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jereme
a Cross Country Rider
from Eau Claire, WI, USA Date Reviewed: October 26, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Levis Mound
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
used
Strengths:
-Bright as you would ever need (or perhaps brighter). -Comes with multiple mounts, extra hardware in case of crash breakaway, turbo charger---none of this "sold separately" BS. -Produces bright spot while still putting out plenty of flood. -Bar mounts are quick and easy to use. -Up/down adjustability works great -Compatibility with other L&M products. -I got a good deal
Weaknesses:
-Battery is a bit heavy. -Battery mount doesn't work well with my Marin's non-round, triangular top tube, so I have to mount it on my seat tube. -Left/right adjustment is a bit loose, occasionally moving away from center (probably a simple screw tightening I need to do).
-Really, any weaknesses are minor and nitpicky. This is an awesome light.
Similar Products Used:
Light and Motion Solo Logic (13W halogen). I was using the Solo as my only light prior to buying the ARC, and it worked fine for tight, twisty, FAMILIAR singletrack, but not for descents or high-speed straightaways over questionable terrain. Now, I've got the Solo paired up with the ARC (Solo on the helmet, ARC on the bar).
Bike Setup:
Marin Pine Mountain, Gunnar Ruffian, Gunnar Sport
Bottom Line:
Ignorance is bliss, so I was content with my Solo Logic and had no desire to spend $400 on a HID system. Sure, I had to be cautious and a bit of a prude with just the Solo, but it was a nice light. At least I was able to get out on the trails after the sun went down.
It was only because I found a used ARC selling for $200 that I decided to go with an HID, and now the difference is (pardon the pun) like night and day. Now I can ride as fast and nasty at night as I could in the daylight. The trail is LIT UP. Do I need this kind of lighting power? No, but dang it's nice. Pairing this up with my L&M Solo is just icing on the cake (though ARC completely washes out the Solo, the Solo is good for looking into turns).
Excellent product. Only 2 chilis for value, though, because I think all HID systems are ridiculously overpriced.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ralph
a Racer
from Maynard, MA, USA Date Reviewed: October 19, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Light battery. Short charge time. Bright light.
Weaknesses:
Helmet mount is weak. Must remove mount when removing light. Mount occasionally loosens while riding. There is no way to see the battery low indicator when the light is on your helmet.
Similar Products Used:
NiteRider Classic. Cygolite Night Rover NiMH.
Bottom Line:
I realized that I don't like such a bright, white light. It's just too much, when mountain biking. When commuting, though, the brightness is helpful. When mt. biking, the brightness takes away from some the "peace and quiet" feeling of being in the woods. It's like having the stereo on full blast. Not to mention that it is annoying to your riding partners. I'm going back to halogen.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Granby, CT Date Reviewed: October 7, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$289.00
Purchased At:
Alfred E Bike
Strengths:
BRIGHT - So bright you have to be really careful riding with a group that you don't blind your buddies - really. The advertised times are conservative, I get over 3 hours on high. There is a bright center spot with a HUGE cone around it. Everything is lit from the ground at the tire to the markers on the trail.
Weaknesses:
The color of an HID light is very blue. I'm blue color blind, and it tends to (maybe it's me) flatten out the colors somewhat. This is a minor gripe, but it's all I could think of.
Similar Products Used:
HID technical dive lights
Bike Setup:
Stumpy FSR XC
Bottom Line:
If you can find one of these on sale it is well worth the money. I can ride technical trails at night at the same speed as the day. I have not seen a light on the trail I would trade for. Now that the days are getting shorter again it's time to find one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a
from Houston, TX Date Reviewed: March 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Brays Bayou
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
Colorado Cyclist
Strengths:
Very bright. People jump out of the way on the hike/bike path when they see us coming. Plenty of burn time. I haven't found out just how long it'll last yet, though. Great beam pattern. Kind or pricey. I don't know where some of you are finding this light for under 300 or even near $200. Cheapest I've ever seen it is $390 when it was on sale at Colorado Cyclist last November. Perhaps those reviews are for the NiMH version or for a used light?
Weaknesses:
As at least one other poster has mentioned, after 3 months, my light just started automatically switching from bright to dim mode when I hit a bump in the road. Only way to get it back to bright is to turn it off and on. Did this about 3-4 times in a 40 minute ride tonight. Also, if I switch it to dim mode it will often not go back to bright mode unless I turn it off/on. I plan to call tech support to ask about it. My wife's light purchased at the same time hasn't had a problem.
Similar Products Used:
Nightrider Digital Evolution 15W Halogen. At $210, that light is like a firefly compared to the Arc Lithium Ion. No comparison at all.
Bottom Line:
Great light. Would buy again. Don't regret spending the money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jlpxc
a Cross Country Rider
from Wilmington, DE Date Reviewed: March 20, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Blue Marsh Lake, PA
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Bright spot and fill light. Handlebar and helmut mounts. Easy to use. Fast charge time. Easy to install on bar or helmut. Break-away mount.
Weaknesses:
Haven't really found any yet. Normal stuff like dimming over hard bumps, but I expect that.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Element 70
Bottom Line:
I've never used another light but this was a good purchase. I was a little nervouse buying something I had never tried, but I got a smokin' team discount at my local bike shop so I went for it. It was a great purchase. I've only gone on hour rides but I'm excited to get out on some longer ones and test the actual burn time on the battery. The thing is really bright though and the nice thing is it has a great spot and fill light. I've heard nothing but good about Light & Motion's customer service so even if I have a problem I know it will be alright. It's a great little light. I like the look, the ease of use, the brightness and the company's vibe. Check them out.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt F.
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Wayne Date Reviewed: March 14, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Red
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$349.00
Purchased At:
Performance.com
Strengths:
This baby WILL light the trail up!
Weaknesses:
It rather salty but 15 minutes into my first ride with this thing stuck to my head and the intial sticker shock is long gone.
Similar Products Used:
NiteHawk Emitter
Bike Setup:
M4 hardtail
Bottom Line:
It was hard to fork over $350 for light but after one ride with this thing $350 now seems like a fair price for what you get. I went with the helmet mount and it feels like you have night vision googgles.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim Rogers
a Cross Country Rider
from champlin, MN, USA Date Reviewed: February 14, 2007
Favorite Trail:
3 rivers trail
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$385.00
Purchased At:
online ???
Strengths:
bright- bright light!!! awsome at night, weekend warrior but do some single track also. nice WIDE viewing angle from the light, EXCELLENT !!! scares the heck out of the deer on the trails I ride!.
Weaknesses:
not much difference from high to low beam, can ride on low beam FAST with extended battery life!
Similar Products Used:
1st one I have bought.
Bike Setup:
Specialized FSR XC, disc upgraded
Bottom Line:
you get what you pay for! bottom line- fork out the extra dough for the LI- ON you will not be let down !!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dan
a Cross Country Rider
from australia Date Reviewed: February 2, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
super bright
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
cateye, niteflux
Bike Setup:
scott scale 30
Bottom Line:
best light ever brought brighter then any other light i have seen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! u want to see in the dark on the mountain this light will do it! now i am not afraid to tear up the mountain in the dark!
TOP STUFF!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Patrick
a Racer
from Wausau, Wisconsin Date Reviewed: January 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
9 Mile
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$340.00
Purchased At:
phattire.com
Strengths:
BRIGHT!!, during my first use after fully charging the battery, I went out at night to commute to the YMCA. No lie, right when I got onto the road a car flashed its brights at me. I couldn't believe that this little light is that bright. Perfect beam, has a brighter spot in the upper-middle, then a HUGE beam covering the entire road. Worth every cent! I finally get some respect as a bike on the road with this light. Light & Motion, you made a winner here.
Weaknesses:
uhhh, the release from the handle bar can be hard to pull off. I thought I was going to break the light off pulling it off. But its all good. Just added alitttle lube to the ball detent.
Similar Products Used:
all those little $40 LED lights, completely put to shame by this light.
Bike Setup:
Winter Beater: Specialized Hardrock Single Speed. Summer Bike: Bianchi W.U.S.S.
Bottom Line:
I'd highly reccommend this light to anybody who wants to have respect on the road. I personally havn't tested it on the trails but I am almost positive it will perform extraordinaly. Crazy bright, great burn, fast charge, charger works in every plug in the whole world, SOLID CONSTRUCTION, the ARC NiMH is phenominal if you don't mind the few exra grams compared to the Li-ION. And it's cheaper!!! Great buy, completely satisfied, reccommend to every bike rider.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jesse Hill
a
from San Jose, Ca USA Date Reviewed: November 28, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
best beam pattern I have seen yet
Weaknesses:
not able to replace the bulb reself (but not too bad since it last 700hrs on average)
Bike Setup:
07 Heckler, Marzocchi AM SL1, all chris king, DT 5.1D, xt
Bottom Line:
After night riding with this light I must say it is the nicest light I have ever used/seen used. The beam pattern on this light is just unbelievable, my friend has the niterider enduro and it is bright too but it is more focused and everything around it is dark. This light still has a concentrated center but has a perfectly even flood all around it and is very blueish (making it seem whiter when it hits the yellow dirt). Anyone considering HID should definently take a look at this light also the price is steep (as all HID are) but L&M gives an average of 700hrs bulb live compared to halogen at 40-70hrs at 24.99 a pop vs 80.00.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Veljko Roskar
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, TX, USA Date Reviewed: October 27, 2006
Favorite Trail:
The Anthills
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$280.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Light pattern/coverage, L&M's customer service, design and durability.
Weaknesses:
Cable exiting lighhead exposing wires, can't disassemble to fix. Can't self-replace bulb. Non-coiled cable. Only one connector and cable length option.
Similar Products Used:
Niterider Halogen 15W Spot
Bike Setup:
Titus Switchblade Talas
Bottom Line:
This is one of the best bicycling products I used, ever. It's strengths far outweigh it's weaknesses. Riding behind riders with non-HID lights really makes them lust after this one.
For those of you that have a problem not being able to easily remove the helmet mount -- I use a butter knife and pop off one of the hinges - the light comes off, the helmet mount stays on.
5 chilli's for value -- because I use it several times a week in the winter, it's cost per ride is way low.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason Hamm
a Racer
from Rural Retreat Va. US Date Reviewed: October 20, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Hungry Mother Lake Trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$349.00
Purchased At:
Performance bikes
Strengths:
Super bright light brighter than any light it also has a very wide light pattern. With this light you don't need have two on your bike. Sturdy helmet and Handle bar mount. easy to operate. Has survived several crashes and still works fine.
Weaknesses:
Down side it takes a screwdriver to switch it between handlebar and helmet mount
Bike Setup:
Litespeed MTB with XT
Bottom Line:
This is a great light very expensive but well worth the investment
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan V
a Cross Country Rider
from West Chester Pa Date Reviewed: October 9, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Cadillac Mountain ME.
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$360.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Super Bright Light better then my motorcycle light... people actually think I'm giving them brights on the road, plus it sure makes cars aware that you are there in the darkest of nights... I couldn't out run the light even at 45+mph down a paved hill totally awesome...Plus it doubles as a great spot light for fishing or boating....
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Giant TRC
Bottom Line:
If you commute on a back road and you are worried about someone hitting because they don't see you during the night; this is the light for you. Plus it lights up the forrest like you have the sun on your bar... enough said.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jodiuh
a Cross Country Rider
from Tempe, AZ Date Reviewed: July 2, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Desert Classic
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Performance in Chandler
Strengths:
lightweight on the helmet, uniform brightness throughout beam
Weaknesses:
entire helmet mount must be unstrapped when not in use
***quality control*** see below
Similar Products Used:
Night Rider Enduro
Bike Setup:
I've tried both helmet and bar. I prefer the ability to "see where I look" as opposed to the confidence inspiring depth perception on the bar.
Bottom Line:
Ok, so the light is bright. MUCH brighter than my old Night Rider Digital Pro 15 watt Halogen from 2000. It allows me to go much faster with confidence to spare in the darkest of nights.
The Night Rider Enduro puts out a typical flashlight beam that produces a "starburst effect" and fades suddenly and abrupt, whereas the ARC lights up an even greater area with a consistently uniform beam. Because the mount on the Enduro cannot be lowered enough to wear it in the middle of the helmet, it must weight down the front part of your helmet. And it's NOT light. :( The ARC on the other hand weighs at least half, maybe less than the Enduro and it's mount can angle lower. This means it can sit in the middle of a helmet and the rider can forget all about it and...well...ride!
Now the bummers. I'm on my third light and my bro will be replacing his shortly as well. The light has 2 modes, one 13.5 and a 10. Despite some folks/L&M's site and manual, we both notice a HUGE difference in brightness between these two modes. So when the lamp randomly drops down from the 13.5 to the 10 in the middle of a fast downhill...well...it sucks. What's worse, you must turn off/on in order to bring the big beam back. Or you could wait 10-15 minutes and it will dot it on its own. I've spoken with L&M and they assured me this was not normal or something that will be fixed with breakin. I waited until my Performance ran out of them in hopes they were a bad batch. The new one will be tested tonight and we'll see what happens.
Also, worth noting. The second one had no breakaway mounts and this third light seems to have lost it's frame strap for the battery. :(
The folks at L&M were courteous and quite knowledgeable about their product. There was no "press 1" options, only humans telling me I could send it back to them and they would fix it. I might have to take them up on that offer, we'll see.
Value - 3 Chilis because I think these things are WAY to expensive.
Overall - 4 Chilis because it's SO BRIGHT and that's worth fightin' for!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jake
a Cross Country Rider
from East Greenwich, RI USA Date Reviewed: June 1, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$360.00
Purchased At:
Casters
Strengths:
Bright white beam with adeqate run time. Battery is not to heavy or cumbersome. EXCELLENT customer service
Weaknesses:
It mounts to far towards the top of the helmet making it vulnerable to trees. helmet mount has been known to losten up on me (an improved mounting system would earn this product the full 5 chillis)
The helmet mounting system has a few design flaws and has been known to losten up. The strap that mounts the light to the helmet goes through a slit on the mounting hardware. The side of this slight cracked off making the helmet mount unuseable. I emailed Light and Motion and a woman named Trish responded within hours offering to ship out new mounting hardware at no charge. Rarly have I encountered customer service so excellent that braking the part actually became a pleasent experiance. I will continue to perchase products from Light and Motion.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark Naglack
a Racer
from Northern, Italy Date Reviewed: March 5, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Mtb Marathon
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Awesome light!!!
Weaknesses:
Not one in four years of use!!!
Similar Products Used:
Old Vista light
Bike Setup:
Pinarello Paris Carbon/Record Santa Cruz Blur/XTR
Bottom Line:
This is the single best purchase that I have ever bought for cycling. I love the fact that this light is so bright the cars coming from ahead sometimes flash me to turn down the light. This tells me that they actually see me! A few of my friends do not even bother to turn on their lights when we ride together. This light is so bright. I have even been told that the light is so bright that traffic coming from behind know that I'm a cyclist. Whatever it takes to keep from getting killed on the road.
I have lived in Korea and Italy with these lights and the fact that these lights are dual voltage is a definite plus. I just plug them in to the wall and do not have to worry about switching anything or dragging around a transformer. They just charge without any worries.
I have used these lights for over four years without a single problem.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Clark Harikian
a Cross Country Rider
from Fresno, CA USA Date Reviewed: December 29, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$330.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bicycle, Fresno CA
Strengths:
The brightest light on the night ride. The lighting system has a unique lighting pattern. A large flood area also a generous spot for detecting hazards in the roadway. Very easy to mount on the helmet and handlebar.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Light and Motion Solo Logic MV halogen lighting system.
Bike Setup:
Solo Logic on the handlebar and ARC HID on my helmet. A good combination.
Bottom Line:
So satisfied with Light and Motion products that I will be purchasing a second ARC HID lighting system in just a few days from Performance Bicycle. Thank you light and Motion for developing a fine lighting system! Bottom line, I feel very safe and in control when using the lighting system.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Blue Shorts
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Cruz, CA Date Reviewed: November 16, 2005
Favorite Trail:
All of them
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$335.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Very bright. Extremely wide angle coverage with center spot. Very even coverage. Light weight. Easy to use.
Weaknesses:
Helmet mount leave a bit to be desired. You must remove the whole mount to remove the lamp head. It would be nice if you could leave the helmet mount on the helmet and just be able to remove the lamp head. A quality mount similar to the Jet helmet mounts would be great.
The handlebar mount is difficult to adjust to get the right vertical angle. The light tilts up slightly as you tighten the mount.
This is one fantastic HID light!! I've tried it on the helmet and on the bars. The difference was like night and day (no pun intended).
When I had the light on the helmet, there was plenty of light, but trail features were washed out making it difficult to see the details of obstacles. Once I mounted the light on the bars...... WOW It was unbelievable!. I could see well enought to ride technical trails almost as fast as in daylight.
The light beam is so wide that it really adds a level of comfort when going down a trail. You're not surrounded by darkness with just a light spot in front of you. The sides of the trail are well lit. The wide angle coverage also helps with negotiating tight singletrack turns when it's mounted to the handlebars. A helmet light still helps with very tight switchbacks, but the L&M coover everything else.
These lights would be perfect if L&M had better mounting hardware.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Stuart
a Cross Country Rider
from Canberra, Australia Date Reviewed: September 19, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Edna Mae Bennet, Colorado Springs
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$340.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
The most amazing bright, blue light. I was utterly amazed at its output. As others have stated there isn't a whole lot of difference between 11W and 13W, which makes me wonder why there are two settings.
It weighs very little and is easy to set up (took like 5 minutes), and the construction looks safe and sturdy.
It has nice features such as auto-power-off to prevent deep battery drain, a nice design for attaching the battery to the frame or seat post, and a swivel action on the light itself so you can spot things off the trail if the need arises.
Weaknesses:
Expensive, but it can be rationalised if you take into account non-HID lights and the value you put on your safety.
Similar Products Used:
Halogen ligts.
Bike Setup:
Giant NRS Air with XTR, blah, blah, blah.
Bottom Line:
Great light! I know it's expensive (just ask my wife), but it's well worth it. You'll be amazed how easy night-time trail riding becomes, and once you've had a HID you'll never go back.
If you are considering a 24 hour MTB event then you might want something with a longer battery life such as the ARC Li-ion Ultra.
A bit over the top if you're just going to use it solely for commuting, but at the very least you'll be seen. You can also scare the Bejeezuz out of other commuters who suddenly think, by the strength of the light, that they are approaching an on-coming train.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lobos
a Racer
from South Florida Date Reviewed: February 9, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Outstanding performance. Even on the bar mount i can see everything in front of me with no problems. I live in south florida where the trails here are mostly very rooty and rocky, and i have no problems navigating through them as i would during the day. Dull blue light looks REALLY cool.
Weaknesses:
Price, and im not too sure what the differance between 11 and 13 watts make looks about the same to me. Also the helmet mount needs you to unscrew the light from the base which isnt too bad since i dont use the helmet light, but if u wanted to change it around im sure it could get a little annoying.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
99 Specialized stumpjumper, xtr components.
Bottom Line:
Awsome light if u can afford it. The burn time is great compared to halogen light systems. The battery mount for the frame is outstanding around the seattube, once everything is in place doesnt even feel like you have the battery on the bike. Also the light doesnt get super hott like the halogen systems. Expensive, but the quality in the light can definately be seen.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Todd
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh, Pa. Date Reviewed: February 7, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Frick Park- Worm trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$280.00
Purchased At:
LBS/Sponsor
Strengths:
Blindingly bright, consistent beam pattern that has a great radius to it. Easy to use, easy to mount, great burn time. In a twisted way, the 11w burn time is nice to have since they both give a super bright beam, but you can squeeze out more time on the 11w, if needed. But, this light is durable. I have put it to the test in many 24hr races and it has never let me down ( knowck on wood). It has taken a crash or two and never faded or gone out.
Weaknesses:
Cumbersome, somewhat, to switch it from a helmet omount to a bar mount. 11w and 13w setting don't seem to show much difference in visibility, which leads me to ask why, although this may be a strength also. It's also very possible that I have no idea what I'm talking about
Similar Products Used:
Niterider evolution, Marwi night pro, Niterider digital evolution.
Bike Setup:
2003 Specialized Epic with '04 brain with adjustable IQ. Fox F100X terralogic. DT Swiss Onyx/317 rims on Specialized Roll-X with Stan's tubeless. XT 4 piston disc brakes, LX shifters and front der., XTR rear der. with XT cassette and specialized strongarm II crankset. S-Works carbon riser bar and Thomson stem. BG saddle.
Bottom Line:
This light turns night into day, bottom line. At races, times usually slow down at night, but not with this baby. You get an unbelieveable view of the trail and everything around you, with minimal shadow casting. The two settings are ( as mentioned above) a bit useless, but you can get more burn time out of the 11w setting if you need it. But, it does kick the deuce out of any non-HID light on the market. I wouldn't want any other light, except for maybe a Lupine, which I lust for dearly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben Troia
a Weekend Warrior
from Auburn VA USA Date Reviewed: February 4, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$330.00
Purchased At:
Cambrai Bicycle Emproium
Strengths:
This light is very bright and provides a consistent beam pattern over a wide range. The battery is relatively small and light and mounts to the bike in a very sound fashion. The light comes with a helmet and bike mount. The charger, connectors and cables are high quality. The light provides a 3 to 4 hour run time.
Weaknesses:
My light can rotate horizontally if bumped even with the adjustment screw cranked.
Similar Products Used:
Nightrider blowtorch
Bike Setup:
SC Heckler, fox vanilla rlc, 5th element coil, maxxis minnions
Bottom Line:
I did alot of research and demod multiple lights before buying this one. I am 100% satisfied with the performance of this unit.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
George G
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Beach Date Reviewed: January 18, 2005
Favorite Trail:
turnbull canyon (at night)
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
performancebike.com
Strengths:
Very bright and easy to use. The Turbo charger works great. The head mount works great. Very durable and quality feel to the whole system. You get enough light to give you confidence going through fast and technical trails at night.
Weaknesses:
I guess it could be the size of a pen and be 3x brighter, that would make it better? Hard to spot any glaring weaknesses. The light does get hot if it's on while you stand still, although the cool night air cools it down as you ride. Many lights produce heat though so it's not a big deal.
Similar Products Used:
Various halogens.
Bike Setup:
"late" 04 Yeti 575 with 05 suspension and truvativ cranks. Stock except for kenda tires.
Bottom Line:
Excellent HID system for any weekend warrior or racer. Very easy to use, quality feel to it and very bright. From what I hear about their warranty, they're very good. Friend of mine is having issues with the li-lon but they're overnighting a new one.
Gets 5 chillis all around.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tony
a Cross Country Rider
from Earth Date Reviewed: December 8, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Light output Fast recharge Bright Customer Service
For me, there is not much difference between the High and Low setting to justify the shorter battery life - I can see fine with the latter.
The cord is way too long and cumbersome. I guess if you use it on a helmet (which I don't), it would come in handy.
The dismounting is sort of a pain. You really have to push/pull (which every direction suits you) with some pressure to get it off. I would have prefered a "click" type anchor. But then again, the cord won't rip if detached from the handlebar, which is the original reason behind this sort of attachment.
Although the battery attachment frees up the bottle cage by wrapping around the frame, it will tend to slide down the downtube unless it's wrapped with the bottom side against the water bottle mount boss. When attaching to the top tube, I can hit the battery when pedaling out of the saddle back and forth (please don't mention I have bad technique...).
The battery recharges in three hours and it automatically shuts off if you forget to unplug it. This is a big plus.
Light & Motion's customer service is excellent. They sent out a replacement part at no charge (it was the rubber band, but still...).
When the battery is almost dead, the warning light indicates by blinking rapidly. If you were to shut the light off then back on, it will NOT light up. So when there's a warning, don't be like me and shut if off thinking you'll be able to save it for the darkest part of the commute.
Retails for about $409. But it was on sale and with a 20% off extra coupon, I ended up paying $289. Expensive still, but somethings you can't put a price on safety.
This review is based on my 22 mile commute daily to work.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Philadelphia Date Reviewed: November 18, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Beyond Bikes
Strengths:
Sick power... really really sick power, long battery life, short charge time, very high quality construction - the lamp housing feels like you could run it over with a car but is still light weight, light weight for the power that it produces, good mounting systems for both helmet and bars. Made in the USA!!!
Weaknesses:
Price - but you get what you pay for... the beam has a relatively bright and tight hot spot in the center - I feel that for technical trails this would be better if it was a hair wider - just my opinion. The surrounding light is plenty to see the ground well at the position of the front tire and wide enough to navigate tight switchbacks with the light mounted to the bars. I have the light aimed so the bright spot hits the ground about 15 feet in front of me - road bikers probably would aim the light higher given their higher speeds and not needing to study the trail to pick a good line.
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Moment with the light mounted on the center of the bars on the right of the riser.
Bottom Line:
I have the Arc Ultra - as far as I can tell all the Arcs have the same lamp just different batteries and chargers. Battery life is about 5 hours on "high" with the high capacity Li-ion battery - 'nuff said.
The lamp appears to be a very small metal halide lamp (the discharge tube is about 2.5cm long and 3-4mm in diameter) with a color temp of about 6500K - this a cool white light similar to "xenon" car headlights but perhaps a bit cooler. Metal halide lamps are mercury vapor lamps doped with small amounts of halide salts which act to raise the color temp (make the light more blue or "cool") - we use these in the marine aquarium hobby.
The light is about half as powerful as a lowbeam car xenon lamp (which is also a metal halide lamp with xenon gas added to speed up the ignition and time to full output). The lamp "warms up" to full output in about 10 seconds and fluctuates in color a tiny bit when violently shaken - this is most likely due to the arc dancing around inside the discharge tube - not an issue.
Considering the tempurature of the gas plasma inside the dishcharge tube, the housing just gets warm to the touch and is less hot than similarly bright incandescent lamps.
I will post a follow-up review if I have any failures or problems with the system - the lamp should last for years becuase it's an "HID" or metal halide style lamp - lamps of this nature lose color temp with age (yellow slightly) but are typically rated for thousands of hours.
If you have the cash get this lamp - you will not be disappointed - cheers.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeremy
a Cross Country Rider
from Sacramento, CA Date Reviewed: November 15, 2004
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Shines light very brightly, making day out of night.
Weaknesses:
Stopped working about a month ago.
Similar Products Used:
Other light systems including Nightrider Road Rat Light and some much, much, much older systems.
Bike Setup:
Road bike: TCR2 with Shimano 105, speedplay pedals, SLR saddle, FSA carbon seatpost... not that it matters for this review.
Bottom Line:
Ok, I bought this light about a year and a half ago and it worked well till about a month ago when it stopped working. Was I annoyed... well sure, my expensive toy stopped working.
I called Light & Motion, got through on the first try and spoke to a real live person. The rep I talked to gave me a RO# and requested I send the light to them so they could check it out... that was November 11. Today is November 15 and they have it diagnosed (too much flux remaining from the original manufacturing process), fixed, and are sending it back to me already! I sent it to them five days ago... they have it repaired way quicker than I ever expected!
I will give the Arc 5 Flamin' Chilis for Value as you can not get a better, brighter light and 5 Flamin' Chilis overall. Yes, the light stopped working, but more importantly, Light & Motion stepped up and took care of the problem for me.
I would suggest this light to anyone who rides at night and wants to be able to see and be seen.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a
from New York, NY Date Reviewed: November 6, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$369.00
Purchased At:
performance bicycle
Strengths:
Insane light. Insane.
Weaknesses:
The standard battery is somewhat heavier than I imagined. If you can afford the Li-Ion battery model (which is half the weight) go for it. My issue is with attaching the battery. It's certainly a tad time consuming to attach/detach it everytime you need to charge it. I wish they had designed some sort of a clip-on mechanism, where you'd attach the battery bracket permanently and just slide the battery out.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bottom Line:
This light is just insane. I rode it with a group of 50 bikers in Central Park just last night. As we rode through some pitch black sections, I heard people behind me say "Jesus, I thought it was a Police helicopter shining down on us". This light will hands down outshine anything out there. In fact, the light is to bright, that on-coming pedestrians just move aside not knowing whether you're a motorcycle or a car with one headlight out. Best $400 I ever spent. The battery charges fast. I rode in 40*F temperatures and got 3 hours run time on full beam.
I've heard some previous reviewers complain about the lamp not igniting. What people need to understand that HID technology is still fairly new to the consumer market. HID lighting has been used on streetlamps/stadiums for decades, but only recently has it been integrated within automobiles and bicycles. If you shut the lamp off, and then try to re-ignite it shortly thereafter, you put tremendous stress on the ballast (ballast is responsible for regulating current that goes through the arc of the bulb). I usually wait at least 10 minutes before trying to re-ignite the lamp, but frankly once I turn it on, I pretty much leave it on until I reach my destination. If you think you'll save power by shutting it off for a 10 minute break, you are wrong. In fact you're only draining your battery more as it takes a powerful current to initially ignite the lamp (automobile HIDs run a current of 25,000 volts for the first 30 seconds in order for the lamp to head up).
Insane light, that's all I have to say.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lee Wild
a
from Isle of Wight England Date Reviewed: November 4, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$318.00
Purchased At:
Isle of Wight local & Ebay
Strengths:
Crisp white light easy to position
Weaknesses:
Poor low battery indicator
Similar Products Used:
Cateye Stadium. Cateye Halogen, Other lead acid 6 volt
Bike Setup:
Canondale Caad2 Ultegra Groupset Mavic open pro's
Bottom Line:
So far I would say this is the best light that I have seen and used. One light will illumunate both sides of a standard British road and give a respectable hotspot at a good distance. If you angle it too far, oncoming cars will flash you. I liked it so much and wanted more so I bought another. I like lights and these just make me smile. Sod the expense. I can see well and be clearly seen. Oncoming cars will pull over if there is a parked car on their side giving me a ridiculous amount of room, not knowing what I am. In the UK they retail at 400 quid. You will find them on Ebay for 170 pounds, or a bit more for the Lithium Ion battery which weighs a little less but the battery life is about 300 compared to 500 charges. I only have to look at my lights and it makes me wanna go out. I am very pleased with them. I would give 4 chillies for value for the UK but a 5 for thje U.S.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave Reckoning
a Racer
from Noblesville, Indiana, USA Date Reviewed: November 2, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Which ever one I am on
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Factory
Strengths:
High quality of construction and materials Simple, effective design Enough light to make cars pull over if they bother you Even beam pattern means you can enjoy the entire trail not just a spot
Weaknesses:
No strain relief on the back of the lamp.
Similar Products Used:
Wow, a lot, every kind of LED and lots of Halogen including the Night Sun
Bike Setup:
Road Bike, flatlands, 20 MPH average, early morning training on farm roads and commuting in winter
Bottom Line:
These guys at L&M ROCK, they have an elegent, simple design. The materials and construction are wonderful and after THREE YEARS of heavy WINTER use the light is still going strong. I had to get some help with the strain relief and I wore out a battery and each time the factory worked with me and treated me with nothing but respect. With my last light that lasted only one season I had to deal with that guy at Night(mare) Sun, what a jerk.
$400 for about that many rides so far, this was a GREAT deal!
If you want a light light will keep you safe riding in all conditions and will still be working like new after three years get this one!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff E.
a
from Laguna Niguel Date Reviewed: November 1, 2004
Favorite Trail:
san juan
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$299.00
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
Super Bright, easy to set up, great burn time, EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE.....
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
niterider
Bike Setup:
5 spot
Bottom Line:
Its as bright or brighter then niteriders HID, very easy set up, doesnt flicker over bumps, very clean, full,even beam, longer then stated burn times, It is an excellent investment, and the customer service is unbeatable, chris & patrick and the rest of the crew go way out of there way to make sure you are happy w/the light, questions,parts if you need it they will get it to you, if they dont have it,they'll find, usually cheap too.If your going to do some night riding do yourself a favor and buy LIGHT&MOTION....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
daniel hackett
a Cross Country Rider
from Essex Date Reviewed: October 27, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Bottom Line:
update from my previous review.....
After a couple of full discharge / recharge cycles I'm getting 4 hours on full beam off the Li-ion battery... This lasts a lot longer than my legs do.
Shop around and you can get this light for under £250. If you ride more than once a week in UK where for 6 months its dark in the evenings I reckon it justifies the cost because of the increased confidence you get from knowing what is coming at you. Not sure if I would have paid £400 though.... I've got friends who've spent less than that on a car!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nick
a Cross Country Rider
from La Habra Ca Date Reviewed: October 18, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$340.00
Purchased At:
La Habra cyclery
Strengths:
Very Bright... hasnt failed..... good range..... good burn time hasnt died on me.....also allows you to select from 11 to 13 w to increase burn
Weaknesses:
THE BUTTON.... pain in the ass.... but it WORKS!!! just a hassle to turn on when on healmet mount... but other than that its alll good
Similar Products Used:
trail rat and digital evolution
Bike Setup:
03 enduro comp soon to be big hit expert
Bottom Line:
ok here it is, its a great light, never failed me or just shut off. i have even been dirt jumping in the pitc black with it! and i went with a friend who had no light at all. also it is brighter than the NR H.I.D. light and it seems prety tough. the only complaints you will have with this light is from your friends when u blind em!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jack
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol, UK Date Reviewed: October 15, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Shop
Strengths:
Massive light output, decent battery life
Weaknesses:
Bit pricey, expensive spares should they be needed
Similar Products Used:
Tested some others.
Bike Setup:
Spesh FS and Surly SS
Bottom Line:
One hell of a light. Outshines any halogen by a wide margin and lasts longer. It's nice to be able to turn light on and leave on for a full 3-hour ride. This light has turned me on to night riding in a big way. If you get a good deal, go for it. Don't buy if you're not going to use it a lot, but if you are...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel Hackett
a Cross Country Rider
from Essex Date Reviewed: October 12, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Lingwood Common
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$390.00
Strengths:
very low weight and extremely bright
Weaknesses:
cost
Similar Products Used:
2*10 watt vistalights with 2*1 kilo lead acids
Bottom Line:
usual ride is about 2 hrs and my previous vistalights (running on two batteries) were struggling to last the distance, even when I only used both beams occasionally. They did the job but were always a limiting factor in night rides, and were pretty heavy
I'd been looking around for something better for a couple of months and discovered that you have to spend over £200 to get anything significantly lighter, brighter or longer lasting.
The Arc li-ion looked to be about the best out there, but I couldn't justify the hefty £359 (cheapest price in UK I could find) required.
Finding it for sale at under £250 decided the rest. Had my first long ride tonight and came back with a huge big grin.
Switched on the tiny li-ion battery, left it on with no worries about battery life and enjoyed a wide cone of perpiheral light and a great spot. No rattles, flickers, or clattering batteries.
5 for quality, 4 for value at the rrp.
This light will transform your night riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brooks
a Weekend Warrior
from Lewisville, NC, USA Date Reviewed: October 8, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$280.00
Purchased At:
Beyondbikes
Strengths:
Bright Light. 2 mounts. Can mount to either handlebar or helmet. Mounts nicely to helmet. Charges in 3 or 4 hours and comes with a smart charger.
Similar Products Used:
Niterider Digital Pro 6 and Digital Headtrip
Bottom Line:
I now like night riding. My 15 watt Niterider lights were never bright enough for me when riding singletrack at night, so I never enjoyed it that much. With this HID light it is almost like riding in daylight and now I love to ride singltrack at night. With the deal I got at Beyondbikes I could not pass it up after reading all the good reviews for this L&M light and HID lights in general.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Australia Date Reviewed: September 30, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Strengths:
Broad even beam, long run-time, fast charge, well built, horizontal adjustment on helmet mount, colour of light.
Weaknesses:
Wide, but short beam - not enough penetration into distance which means reduced speed.
Similar Products Used:
Lume Strada Wide, Cateye Stadium, Vista 15+5W halogen.
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up review from about 4 weeks ago....I previously had a very old 12W HID Cateye Stadium to compare against.
The only issue I had with the L&M ARC (Li) was the fact that the beam did not penerate as far as perhaps a regular 15W halogen spot (eg Vista). The beam colour is perfect for contrast, not too blue or yellow. However it seems to me that to much power is wasted on peripheral illumination, rather than ensuring there's sufficent penetration. Having said that, it's a great light...if only the centre hot spot was bigger and thus went further !
I had this light for about 3 weeks, before decided to sell it and get a Lume Strada Wide(having seen both side-by-side)- it was much cheaper, and had enough penetration....see my review on that - small issue there still.
The bottom line...it's a great light, but for the price, I would expect to be able to ride faster - not enough centre of beam strength.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tony
a
from Earth Date Reviewed: September 27, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$288.00
Strengths:
See review
Weaknesses:
Expensive. But isn't your life worth it? Cord is way too long
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Yeti A.R.C. Tommasini Sintesi
Bottom Line:
I use the ARC for my daily 22 mile commute. The beam has no jagged edges and the center spotlight is...well...spot on. There isn't much of a light output difference between the high and normal settings except color: the brighter setting is cool blue while the normal is brownish. The battery charger automatically shuts off after topping off, which most other companies don't offer. And it only takes 3.5 hours to fully charge. The cord, when mounted on the handlebar, is simply way too long. Unless you ride Shaquille O'Neal's setup, you're gonna be winding the extra slack with a rubber band or such. The retail price is around $410, but I got it at a big discount. $288 is still a lot to pay, but when it comes to safety, can you really put a price tag on it?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bruce
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ Date Reviewed: September 10, 2004
Favorite Trail:
National Trail, Phoenix, AZ
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Beyond Bikes
Strengths:
Excellent dispersion/balance. Extremely light (using Lithium Ion version).
Bike Setup:
Titus Racer-X, XTR, Rock Shox, Fox Float
Bottom Line:
I went riding with a guy that had just bought a Niterider Flamethrower. Not only am I glad I bought this systen, he now wishes he had waited to see what mine looked like - He wants a L&M Arc Li-Ion now. The brightness is similar to the Flamethrower, but the Arc light is more balanced. I attribute this to the fact that Niterider has a convex lens on their unit that "focuses" the light, rather than dispersing it. I would rather get the feeling that the whole area is lit up, not just a point some distance up the trail.
I'll update with durability later. But for now, after looking at the Niterider Flamethrower standing right next to this lite, it's a no-brainer, and that isn't including the fact that my system is 1/2 the weight!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bubba Hotep
a Cross Country Rider
from Vallejo, CA, USA Date Reviewed: September 9, 2004
needs a coiled cable instead of straight, to prevent overstress when turning the bars. should have kept waterbottle battery. Battery warning hard to notice.
Similar Products Used:
L & M ARC! :)
Bike Setup:
Touring/commuter
Bottom Line:
Just bought my 2nd ARC -- my first unit died an untimely death due to an accident, for which I can't blame the light. Used the 1st for about 2 years and was generally very pleased. The biggest reason by far is the amount of attention this light gets from motorists. Drivers entering from side streets, making left turns, etc, will ACTUALLY SLOW DOWN OR STOP, which if you've done much night riding is pretty amazing and very welcome. Other lights may be "visible" for miles, but motorists just don't notice them much. I've seen it myself when behind the wheel -- some sickly dim yellow light bobbing along just doesn't get your attention. The ARC does! Value your life? You need a powerful light.
After 2 years and at least 400 hours on the system I was still getting good light and the smart-charger had treated the battery pack well; it was still going strong. Unless you're insane about weight, I'd go with the NiMh setup rather than the more expensive Li-ion. The former will give more charge/recharge cycles and a somewhat longer "warning" time (15 min vs. 5).
The new unit seems to have a more balanced color spectrum; the first one seemed more bluish. Maybe they've tweaked the gas mix in the bulbs a bit. Still leans towards the blue-white, but now seems to have more orange/yellow in the mix. Having a better color mix makes broken glass easier to notice on the road due to refraction of the beam, so that's a plus for the new unit. On the other hand, so far I'm not too crazy about the frame-mount battery. I wish they would have kept the waterbottle battery at least as an option. It was dead-simple, which is exactly what is needed. Slip into the cage, slide the rubber strap over and you're set. Now I've got this finicky velcro/rubber contraption that is not really inspiring confidence, and is a pain to get on and off. Fortunately I rarely remove it, but still worry about simple friction holding the thing in place. We'll see.
One improvement that I'd hoped to see by now is a coiled power-cable. The unit comes with a simple straight power cable. Since the unit is typically mounted on the handlebar, that means you have to be careful to leave enough slack to keep from pulling the wires out of the thing when the bars turn. An unnecessary risk, imo. A coiled cable would reduce this risk and make fitting the unit to the bike much less finicky.
One last feature that would be great would be an audible low-battery warning. Currently, the lighted switch will slowly flash but is not so easy to notice unless you're checking once in awhile. It's especially hard to notice if you mount the light so it's hanging under the bar, which I do because it gives a greater angle between the light and your eyes, which results in better shadow/detail rendition. A minor problem, but would be nice to know you're in low-bat mode as soon as it happens instead of (maybe) noticing it after 5 or 10 minutes. The final 1-minute warning is unmistakeable, however (extreme dimming of the light for the final minute).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rick
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego Date Reviewed: August 31, 2004
Favorite Trail:
SoCal trails
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Super bright, light weight, easy to use, frame mount battery
Weaknesses:
None so far, except that the person on Ebay (blueplanetbikes)that sold me the light claimed that it "works perfectly with full battery life" forgot to mention that the battery might be having problems. I could only get 1.5hrs of burn time! Other than that it works perfectly.
Similar Products Used:
Nitetrider Storm HID
Bike Setup:
'04 Trek Fuel 95- Stock
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is this, after I sent the light to Light & Motion to get checked out, they informed me that it was the battery and that all other parts checked out fine. They turned my light around (with the purchase of a new battery of course) in two days. I found that their customer service is top notch and if I could give them the chilies, I would. Intead, I will give the light a solid four chilies for performing super well despite the weak battery that was sold with the system. I anticipate that the light will work flawlessly when it comes back with the new battery, which by the way, mounts to the frame and not inside the water bottle cage.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from ACT, Australia Date Reviewed: August 25, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Strengths:
Light weight (Li-ion version), a nice well built product, broad beam.
Weaknesses:
COST ! There's no quick release for the helmet mount, which means you have to take the whole mount off to remove the light (the 1m cable can't disconnect from the light either)
Similar Products Used:
Cateye Stadium (the original one)
Bottom Line:
Great product with a nice wide beam pattern. I've only had it one night, but find that it's not as bright as I'd expected. Mind you I was using an original Cateye Stadium which was 21W! I changed over as I wanted a head mount, and something that wasn't so old that getting parts would be an issue. The Stadium had a pretty wide & extremely bright beam, but not wide enough when mounted on the bars for tight & twisty sections. I almost bought a Lume Strada wide, and chose this for the wider beam. The Lume guys were really great over email, and a friend just bought a Strada & highly recommended it. In hind sight, perhaps the Lume would have been fine since it was a head mount anyway so width may not have been as big an issue. And most of all, the Lume was US$120 cheaper.
Still, I've only had 1 short ride, and the L&M is a great light weight & neat package....stay tuned.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dick Gilpin
a Weekend Warrior
from Derby, Kansas Date Reviewed: June 22, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$335.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Very bright, clean light with lots of battery headroom for a weekend warrior like me. Product support – they stand behind their product, actually answer emails and take prompt action to remedy legitimate concerns.
Weaknesses:
Did I mention it's kinda pricey? That's about the only real flaw I have with this setup.
Similar Products Used:
Dual Cateye halogen (12/20 watts), and before that an old Performance setup
Bike Setup:
Klein Adept (hybrid) with XT/XTR stuff
Bottom Line:
I did a lot of research before buying this light, and had to swallow hard before spending that kind of money. The factor that pushed me over to the Light & Motion side was the feedback I had read about their customer support. They truly care about customer satisfaction. After experiencing an unexplained difficulty I called the L&M folks and talked with “Chris”. He was interested in resolving my issue – he said to send him the unit and he would check it out. It turned out that there was a short in the power cord. They fixed the light at no charge, and promptly returned my light. My kinda guys.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Greg
a Cross Country Rider
from Ancaster, Ont, Can Date Reviewed: June 22, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
bikeroom.com
Strengths:
Customer service is fantastic (see below). Got the new litium ion version and the overall package is super light and well made. The light's so bright that it forces riders ahead to get out of the way since the shadow they cast makes it hard for them to see.
Weaknesses:
Takes a bit of practice to turn it on on top of your helmet with gloves on.
Similar Products Used:
BLT halogens. Never been happy with them.
Bike Setup:
RM ETSX-70 Buy Canadian!
Bottom Line:
After dropping serious hints, I was lucky enough to get this as an early birthday present in time for the 24 hour racing season. The light worked great at first, but then it stopped working when I was trying it out the weekend before the 24 hr race. One call to L&M and they had a replacement unit enroute! It miraculously made it in time for the race. The new light worked flawlessly and is everything promised. Sure it's a lot for a light, but after fretting with dull halogens and inconsistent burn times for years, to ride full speed at night with no worries and get passed by no-one was worth every penny. Buy one now, you can't afford not to.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Buckshot
a Weekend Warrior
from San Carlos CA Date Reviewed: March 12, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Carlmont Doubles to Brambush
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Woodside Bike Shop
Strengths:
Brighter then all of the incondessant lights (except Daves Li 20v 50w which is insane) and has a good distribution of light. Enough light that I can cruz at about 70% of daylight speed on the downhills.
Weaknesses:
the battery failed to charge after about 2 mo.(15 rides)
Bike Setup:
03 Heckler,marzocchi frsl, and solid parts
Bottom Line:
I was initially dissapointed about the failure of the battery to charge, but after talking to the tec. line a received a prepaid shipping label to return the light. This monday I sent out the light and mid week I got a call from Patrick to adress my concerns. It's friday and I now have my light back with a new battery and light mount at no charge. I did and still believe this is a solid product. I'm not sure if they make 100% of the light in Montrey, but I'm glad to support an local company.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Christian
a Weekend Warrior
from Concord, CA, USA Date Reviewed: March 4, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$349.00
Purchased At:
Beyondbikes.com
Strengths:
First, mounting the lamp was very easy, with the thumbscrew lamp mount. The battery was a little more difficult, as the cables running along my top bar made fixing the velcro challenging. There was also an excess length of wire to the battery that I am not quite sure what to do with, but everything fits very snugly. The light itself is adjustable side to side, which is a wonderful feature. The lamp looks very attractive on my bike, and is of high quality. It is quite a bit smaller than the AA battery powered lights I used previously. The switch on the back of the lamp is nicely done, and I have had no problems with it like the other reviewers did. The light itself is very bright, and not overly blueish. I was pretty amazed when I first turned it on even after reading the hyperbolic reviews that compared it to the sun. It is more than enough light for most trails, although on city streets, it is not quite as impressive (see below).
Weaknesses:
This product has a few minor weaknesses that could be improved on. Even though I am happy with the light lets just say for nearly $400 I expect a lot.
First of all, I think the light could be brighter. The light is quite bright on the trail, but on the road it doesn't look quite as bright under streetlamps, etc. One feature that I would really like is greater control over the brightness. I would prefer a brighter bulb than the current 13 watts, but also one that can be dimmed to about half brightness. The dimmed setting on the ARC is really almost the same as the bright setting. I've heard HID lamps are hard to dim while maintaining lamp life, but the folks at Lupine seem to have figured it out by providing both 10 and 16 watt settings. Also it provides a pretty narrow spot beam that is far brighter than the surrounding flood light. I would like a way to focus that beam wider so it would illuminate corners better before I begin to turn.
While the battery life is quite long, it dies suddenly. There should either be a better battery gauge, or a limp-home LED light that could take over once the battery is too drained to operate the main light.
I had a hard time getting the lamp to slide off the mount once I had snapped it on, but I suppose that is for a reason. Nonetheless, it was a bit frustrating.
The power cord that connects the lamp to the battery has three small pins that are hard to line up properly. I am also afraid that they could get bent, as they look fragile. I would prefer a more durable connector so I could just connect my lights and go rather than having to carefully line up the pins.
The battery was a little heavier than I expected, not that I notice it when I'm riding, but I couldn'd afford the new Li-ion setup, so I guess you get what you pay for.
Lastly, and this is not so much a weakness but a feature request, I would like a bright red taillight that could be connected to the same battery for road use.
Similar Products Used:
None in this league. Previously I used two Cateye EL-300s, which are about equal to a good flashlight. Trust me, there is no comparison.
Bike Setup:
2003 Trek 7700
Bottom Line:
This is a very nice light. I was very pleased with the quality of the HID lamp and I am convinced HID lights are the future and it is only a matter of time before halogens will be considered obsolete. In terms of battery life, bulb life, and quality of light, HID wins hands down. Also, the light blows away any LED available, making it the only real solution for achieving both very high brightness and long battery life.
If you are considering buying a true headlight, then you should really consider a HID lamp, no matter what your budget. This type of light, and especially the well-designed unit by Light and Motion, really is in a league of its own. Even if you think you can only afford a halogen, I would go ahead and spend the extra $100 to buy this light, it is well worth it. When you compare the bright white light to the yellow light of a halogen, it is much more pleasing to your eyes, and you can run the light twice as long before a recharge. When you are out on the trail, it is truly amazing how well you can see. I can relax now and enjoy the ride more because of the better visibility, and when I ride on the road, I feel safer knowing that I will be much more visible to traffic.
Light and Motion has clearly put some thought into designing this light. The overall quality of the contruction is very high, and thoughtful features like the rotating light mount turn what could have been just another light into an excellent light. Combine this with their included fast, smart charger, and you have a very easy system to use.
I left out one chili on the value rating because while this is a very nice light setup, there are other HID lights on the market for less and I feel the cost could be more competitive.
Overall, however, this is clearly an outstanding light setup, and I would reccommend it to anyone prepared to shell out the cash required for a HID lamp.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Julian Bosley
a Cross Country Rider
from Oxford Date Reviewed: March 2, 2004
Favorite Trail:
grim's ditch
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$280.00
Purchased At:
All Terrain
Strengths:
Wide, bright beam. Long battery life
Weaknesses:
Tends to rotate side to side when you touch switch
Similar Products Used:
Direct comparison with Cygolite and Cateye Stadium
Bike Setup:
Marin FRS, mainly XT/XTR
Bottom Line:
Lovely wide beam let's you see everything even in peripheral vision. Bright centre spot reaches in to the distance. Beam pattern seems better than on the Cateye. Similar beam pattern to cygolite. So much better than my old Nightsun XCs.
Lovely construction. Battery pack is easy to fit but does sometimes slip. I ride a Marin FRS and have to mount it on top of the top tube.
Buy this if you ride off road regularly at night, it will be a revelation.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lee
a Cross Country Rider
from St.Louis,MO Date Reviewed: January 30, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$325.00
Purchased At:
bike shop
Strengths:
Amazing amount of light from a small package. It is holding up very well and continues to burn longer then my friends lights.
Weaknesses:
none I'm aware of!
Similar Products Used:
Older Night Sun, and cheap AA battery powered lights
Bike Setup:
SC Heckler
Bottom Line:
It was tough to justify the cost, but once I bought it I consider it one of the best bike products I have ever bought. The charger is fast and makes it impossible to damage the battery. The company has been great. I ripped the wire out of the back of the light housing(I mounted it poorly and caught the wire on the Stem!)and they repaired quickly for almost nothing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Biff
a Cross Country Rider
from Wilson Date Reviewed: January 26, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
beyondbikes.com
Strengths:
Bright and defined light pattern fast charger. I have the oldstyle with the bottle cage battery I like that on XC rides battery stays in place well
Weaknesses:
Price, It is the best deal for the money much nicer than the Nightrider HID product.
Similar Products Used:
Cheap Cateye Midgrade Night Rider
Bike Setup:
Trek 9.8 Arc up front Cheap TREK LED on seatpost.
Bottom Line:
This light will blow your socks off great for trail and road. I have not had a car pull out in front of me in almost a year of night riding, cops stop to look, and people on the street take notice. I am not big on flashy look at me products, but this is one that I love, I feel safe in the city and in combo with a halogen head light the trails are almost as fast at night.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Todd
a Cross Country Rider
from Corona, CA USA Date Reviewed: December 24, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Sullivan Canyon, Weswood
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Great beam coverage, my old system (NR Digital 12E) had to be pointed close to the ground to pick up the trail at speed, this one covers the trail and surroundings. I love the light weight of the battery pack. I have the new lithium ion version which is supposedly lighter and a more solid charging medium. Burn time is about 3 hrs. after 4 complete charge cycles.
Weaknesses:
Length of cable. It comes with a ton of cable. I guess you can't please everybody but on my small frame, seems like I have enough to wrap around the entire bike. L&M can shorten it but it expensive. QR mount is not really weak but in comparison to the new Niterider one, it isn't as good.
Similar Products Used:
Niterider Flamethrower, Trail Rat 2.0, Digital 12E, Classic. Light and Motion Cabeza Logic.
Bike Setup:
Specialized Epic Marathon, full '03 XTR, Crossmax SL disc, Maxxis High Rollers, Thompson goodies, Easton EC90 bar, WTB saddle & grips.
Bottom Line:
Other than the long cable which I have wrapped around the battery and secured with zip ties, the light is excellent. For the money, the Flamethrower has more features and looks a little cooler but I prefer the L&M due to better light spread on the trail, lighter overall weight and better customer service. I also like having my bottle cage freed up.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike S
a Cross Country Rider
from Spokane Date Reviewed: December 19, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Mt. Spokane
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Colorado Cyclist
Strengths:
Clean, crisp beam pattern. Very reliable, quick charging, bright enough for two.
Weaknesses:
Battery life on mine is less than claimed....About 2 hours on high, and 2.5-3 on low. Some find the bluish hue annoying, I don't. Some complain about the price, but I feel it's on par with any other high priced lighting system.
Similar Products Used:
Cygolight 20W nicad, Vistalight 10W lead-acid unit. Demo'd NR
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Paragon, Surly 1x1, Surly CrossCheck
Bottom Line:
L&M makes a solid, reliable product. This light puts out plenty of light in a consistent and reliable manner. The parts seem solid, and the electronics seem crisp. The quick charger works great. The battery works well in all conditions (just got back from a 2.5 hour ride in 20 F). My only complaint is that battery life isn't what is claimed, even in ideal summertime conditions. Thats okay though, because at least it's consistent. I rarely go for night rides that last over 3 hours. Highly recommended.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jake
a Cross Country Rider
from Ephrata Date Reviewed: December 18, 2003
Favorite Trail:
buckrabbit
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
phattire.com
Strengths:
Clean bright light, long burn time, short charge time, good strong mount.
Weaknesses:
As mentioned the button can be kind of tricky to push with gloves on, very minor thing.
Similar Products Used:
old vistalight
Bike Setup:
cannondale jekyll
Bottom Line:
This light rocks! I shopped long and hard before coming to my decision on light and motion. It is one of the more expensive HID's but well worth it. It is impossible to overcharge your battery, it is also impossible to over drain your battery, it burns over three hours and charges in about the same time. It's idiot proof! This light is peace of mind. I can ride whenever I want. With this light I can ride almost as if it were daytime, meaning on fast decents you can go all out. There are a lot of lights out there to choose from. If you are looking for something inexpensive there are some ok ones under $100. Anything more than that and I would seriously consider this light. It is expensive, but you'll forget how much you paid on that first ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Date Reviewed: December 8, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Fruita
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$390.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat
Strengths:
Costumer Service H.I.D. Quality materials Beam Pattern
Weaknesses:
maybe a headstrap attachment would be nice (night skiing/trekking)
Bike Setup:
who cares...ok i do. Superlight
Bottom Line:
First and Foremost...Customer Service. Patrick and Chris at L&M are on the ball. Even called me at home a few times (had a slight defect). My buddy is still waiting for multiple return calls from NiteRider (do they even have customer service??)
The quality of this lamp is obvious when comparing similar HID lights....durable housing,cable connections & battery all seem more "sturdy".
Beam Pattern- Nice bright spot with a larger fading flood. This allows for peripheral viewing....singletrack corners & elk. Niterider is just a spot.
I've been doing my research for over a year (JET, Niterider, Turbocat, Cateye). Just read all the Reviews and buy it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tom
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego Date Reviewed: December 6, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Noble Canyon
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Extremely bright - large illuminated area - excellent battery time
Bike Setup:
I have mounts on 3 bikes and use the light on all three
Bottom Line:
This is a high priced trail lamp, but worth it. The light, once your accustomed to HID, provides a degree of depth perception not available with other lights.
Igniting the lamp requires that you press the trigger twice. I suspect that the critical reviewers forget and get frustrated. READ THE DIRECTIONS.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Connair
a Racer
from Elkton, MD, USA Date Reviewed: October 24, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Fair Hill
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Bike Line
Strengths:
Bright Light, lightweight.
Weaknesses:
The on/off button is hard to negotiate especially with gloves on.
After the second trip back to L&M because of ignition problems, this light has worked flawlessly. I'm now able to turn off the lights when necessary with confidence that they will come back on when I want them to in a couple of minutes. This wasn't always the case. The on/off button is really hard to use when riding. I lose 50 yrds on my riding buddies every time I have to mess with it. Really though it's all probably worth it for the light
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott Collingwood
a Cross Country Rider
from Iowa City, Iowa, USA Date Reviewed: October 8, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Sugarbottom when not in CO, NC, TN, WI, MO, KS
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$328.00
Purchased At:
rei.com
Strengths:
A broad, evenly-illuminated bright white beam. I much prefer the battery/mounting system with the arc vs. bottle cage batteries. Current model (2004 I think) comes with both helmet and bar mounts. Very water resistant. Seems to be well designed and constructed--very rugged with 'brake-away' mounts in the event of wreck. Rapid charger makes for convenient and fast charging when you decide late in the day you just have to ride tonight...
Weaknesses:
All HID technology is expensive.
Similar Products Used:
Vistalite halogens (lost/stolen in a move????); Nightrider Classic dual beam halogen.
Bike Setup:
Steel soft-tail with 9spd XTR drivetrain/brakes, RaceFace cranks...
Bottom Line:
From the standpoint of illuminating the trail/road, you can do almost as well with multi-halogen setups. That said, the low power consumption of HID's in combo with the NiMh battery means longer burn time (better than the 3hrs as advertised to date) and lower weight versus multi-halogen and sealed lead acid (SLA) batteries. The ARC is very well designed and manufactured. Its appears very rugged although I have no wrecks (thankfully) yet that have really tested it. I've located the compact battery/ballast on seatpost, seat tube and top tube on mountain, road and cyclocross bikes as well as in jersey pocket--it mounts quickly and stays put. I like the broad, bright beam it throws vs. what appears to be more focused with my halogen lights. The ARC illuminates everything in immediate sight including enough on either side for technical turns when your head or handlebar are facing one direction yet you have an impending turn rapidly approaching. Buy it if you can afford to part with $300+ for bike lights (ebay works, LBS, or I used a 20% off coupon at REI giving me the comfort of their great customer service policies) else save some bucks on halogens and just be prepared to deal with their inherant inconveniences. Most importantly, trail riding at night makes your old trails feel 'new' again. 4 value chilis as you can still ride at night with halogen for less $$$. Overall 5 because I will always reach for the ARC before my halogen.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris Matthews
a Racer
from missouri Date Reviewed: October 8, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$330.00
Purchased At:
E-bay
Strengths:
Awesome light....wow!!!!!!!!!!!
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Road and mountain bike
Bottom Line:
Some guy is selling these on e-bay for a little over $300. The new model arc comes w/ both helmet and bar mounts!!!!!!!!. I searched for hours online for the cheapest light. Tailwindcycles on e-bay is the cheapest way to go, and i got my light in 3 days after payment. 5 flamin turds!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from raleigh, NC, USAKICKSASS Date Reviewed: September 25, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$360.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat
Strengths:
Incredibly bright, pure white light. Like the other reviews said, the light shaping is great- fantastic peripheral illumination and a spotlight center that you just can't catch up to. No holding back on decents now- you can't outride this light. Turbo charger is a set it and forget it charger. Illuminated switch is nice. Break-away discs included- if you crash the disc gives- not the light.
Weaknesses:
Really miss my Niterider's coiled power cord. Costs a lot of coconuts.
Similar Products Used:
Niterider bottle-pack with 12W halogen. Anybody wanna buy it?
Bike Setup:
Trek Fuel 90.
Bottom Line:
At first I thought that I'd rather spend the money putting HID on my car- but I really want to ride a lot this winter and it's dark when I'm not working. So after reading reviews here it seemed that the L&M Arc was the choice. It is a solidly built component and jeez this thing puts out the light. I got the '04 model which has both the helmet and bar mount. I don't know how the reviewers got it for $300- the best deal I found was at the Goat. On my first trip out I met tradjedy. Was a five AM ride and I had some oncoming nightriders on the trail. Before I could warn them the first one went up in flames. Watch where you point this light!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
erik pipins
a Cross Country Rider
from claremont, ca Date Reviewed: September 20, 2003
Favorite Trail:
claremont wilderness park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
One work for this light - Respect... I ride mostly road and previously used a Niterider 12E, a very solid light. The biggest problem is that I would have to ride in a lower mode to get the burn time I needed. The arc is slightly brighter than the 12E in full 32 watt mode but offer 3X the burn time.. I got almost 3 hours right out of the box in burn time.. They say after 5-10 battery cycles it will reach max capacity.. The light throws a long narrow beam with a wide flood beam to see just about everything on the road.. I use to have to look about 10-15 feet ahead now I can easily look 30 feet ahead to see what's coming up.
Weaknesses:
None: I got a great deal on ebay and Colorado Cyclist has them for 299.00 right now. If you are serious about lighting and being seen this is a hot setup..
Similar Products Used:
Niterider 12E - Soon going to ebay..
Bike Setup:
Eddy Merckx Motorola Team Isuue Road Bike Fisher Supercaliber Mountain Bike
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line is that this light rocks.. I bought the Arc Cabeza unit which came with all the hardware to either use on your helmet or with a 5 minute hardware changeover to use as a handlebar mounted light.. The flexibility is awesome. For people complaining about the extra cable, I used 2 rubber bands and it keeps the cables perfectly in place.. The light swivel is a nice feature to get the beam perfectly where you want it, not a feature on the Niteriders..
Now the Niterider is offering a new HID light that supposedly offers 6 hour burn time, I wonder if L & M will step up and offer a longer burn battery or a new unit all together..
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Stinky Pete
a Cross Country Rider
from Northern Virginia Date Reviewed: September 15, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Schaeffer Farms
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$350.00
Strengths:
Extremely Brite, Quality Construction, Great Battery Life, Respect from 4-wheelers
Weaknesses:
The ARC should come with hardware that would allow you to mount on handlebar or helmet.
Similar Products Used:
cheap cats eye
Bike Setup:
NRS1
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up to a review after I first purchased. This is one product that just get better. I frequently enjoy nite rides in the woods in the Washington DC suburbs and into the city. In the woods, you can't beat the light. It washes out my friends halogen lights. It inspires confidence to get some good speed up on the trails. Riding downtown is a pleasure becuase the cars can not miss you. I certainly don't aim the lights high enough to blind a car driver, however it is quite satisfying to get a high beam flash from passing SUV's who think you have your high beams on.
This is without a doubt the best light on the market today!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Darrell McMillan
a Racer
from Round Mountain, NV, USA Date Reviewed: September 15, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Thunder Mountain, UT
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$320.00
Purchased At:
T-Rix Mountain Bikes
Strengths:
Distortion free, bright, long-lasting.
Weaknesses:
Price, but all HID's cost an arm and a leg.
Similar Products Used:
Marwi & Performance halogen helmet & bar mounted systems.
Bike Setup:
2003 Titus Racer X, Full XTR w/discs, Manitou Skareb Super, Mavic x3.1 disc rims.
Bottom Line:
This product rocks. They're awesome. At the 2000 24 Hours of Tahoe race I was stumbling through the darkness with halogen lights on both my helmet & the bars. Every once in awhile I would think the sun was coming up because all of a sudden I could see. Then once the rider with the HID system passed me I was plunged into total darkness again. The night laps took an extra 20 minutes due to not being able to see. I swore I would never do another 24 hour race without a set. This year I raced Tahoe again with my new HID's and the darkness didn't slow me down any. The pattern is so bright and clear and the burntime allowed me to do both of my night laps without recharging. Awesome product. They are expensive, but worth it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a
from Potter Co., PA Date Reviewed: September 11, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Bottom Line:
This is for the HID Cabeza.
Excellent light. Bright. The beam pattern is great. There is a bright spot dead center then a very broad flood. Burn time as advertised. Nice charger.
Something other posters below don't realized is that you can utilize the same light on both the helmet and the bars. You only need to acquire one of each mounts. Personally I don't think this is necessary as I only have use for a helmet mount. I like the light to aim where I look.
I did have a light go bad after relatively little use. The day before I was leaving for a 24hr race it died. A call to Patrick at L&M and a replacement was FedEx'd, no questions asked, and arrived before I left for the race the next day. Wow! Great customer srevice. No product I've ever used is completely infalable. As long as the problem can be easily remedied and there is good customer service I won't hold it against the product.
Price is high but comparable to other brands. You get what you pay for.
Mike
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
patrick
a Cross Country Rider
from chino,CA Date Reviewed: August 17, 2003
Favorite Trail:
the one ride
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
very bright and light. i like the blueish color better than the yellow light. long burn hour and the two setting thing. fast charger.
Weaknesses:
it will turn redish when riding over rough terrain. also the light kinder turn side way when going over bumpy section. i think i just have to tighten the screw on the bottom???
Similar Products Used:
none this is my first light
Bike Setup:
K2 FLYING MONKEY: LX,BLACK FORK, 33 pound bike. and it kick ass.
Bottom Line:
i like the light alot and will not buy the yellow light.this light kick ass.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Littleton Date Reviewed: July 9, 2003
Favorite Trail:
your mothers
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
colorado cyclist
Strengths:
good product...I like how it has a up down swivel and a side to side swivel...makes it nice when your helmet moves around on your noggin.
Weaknesses:
2 light settings....brigter than @#!( and way brighter than @#!#. Also I have noticed that the light produces a reverse flat light effect. It is so bright that it drowns out alot of the light colored rocks and pitch changes on trails.
Similar Products Used:
niterider ...
Bike Setup:
pretty nice.
Bottom Line:
Good product..
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
madboy
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco, CA Date Reviewed: June 11, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$299.00
Purchased At:
www.supergo.com
Strengths:
Bright white-blueish light that illuminates the trail. Quick fast recharging. Crash worthy. Sturdy water-resistant cable connectors which don't come loose.
Weaknesses:
Minimal difference between low and high brightness settings. The low setting should be a little lower for longer battery time.
Similar Products Used:
Cateye LED lamps. Niterider.
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Blur
Bottom Line:
First and foremost this isn't a cheap light, but it's money well spent. Riding at night is challenging and having a good lighting system makes it a lot safer when you can see where you are going.
I had my first ride with this light on a challenging single track trail in Bellmont (i.e. SF bay area). The light completely washed out the Niterider lights on my friends bike and helmet. Worked rock solid for 3 hours of riding.
Unexpectedly I was thrown over the handle bars on a downhill single track section. The light snapped off my helmet, when the helmet smacked into the ground rolling out the fall. The light popped out of the plastic mount on the helmet. The light kept shining. Popped it back into the plastic mount and it just kept on working.
I can't say it's outstanding purchase, as I still think $300 for a bike light is a steep price.
One comment on supergo. When I ordered this light it was on sale. They canceled my order because the light was on backorder without even contacting me. When I called to follow-up customer support had no explination for why they canceled the order without informing me. When I called back to speak with sales, as to why it was still advertized on their site, it turned out there was stock on the light, so I finally did get one. Supergo seems a little suspect and caution is recomended when ordering from there.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mudd
a Cross Country Rider
from Fresno Date Reviewed: May 30, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$299.00
Purchased At:
Cyclopath, Fresno, CA
Strengths:
The light is so bright you'd think that it's daytime when you're riding in total darkness. Very easy to install on bars or helmet, charges with turbo charger in less than 4 hours..Did I say the light is not only lite but the light is very very bright!! This light kicks booty. Plus when you have a black out in your neighborhood you can use this one light to light up your neighborhood block. Now you to can be like Fat Albert and say at night "Hey Hey Hey...get outa my way"!
Weaknesses:
None that I've found yet
Similar Products Used:
Cateye EL-300...give me a break, it's like comparing a Corvette to a Chevette. There are no comparisons!!!
Bike Setup:
Trek 7500 and Cannondale R800
Bottom Line:
Spend over $300 bucks for a headlight for your bike??? Well when you think about commuting at night you put a little more emphasis on your life and the safety involved in keeping you alive. After the fiasco I had with one Cateye EL-300 I said to my self that I'm either not going to commute when I have to go home at night or I will have find a better alternative. After reading the 65 or so reviews here I asked my friends at my LBS about the Light and Motion and not one of the sales guy's had one bad thing to say about it. After just spending $1500 for the Cannondale I justified the extra $300 on the light very easily. I want to see at night, I want to ride as fast at night as I do in the daytime, and I don't want those pesky autos to make mincemeat out of me. Trust me, auto drivers will respect you when you use this light. It's the best investment I've made after purchasing the two bikes. I can now feel comfortable about riding in any type of weather any time of the day. Oh yeah, 5 chilis too for the customer service. Very friendly, informed, they even care about their customers!! Even if you don't have a spare $300 on your credit card or bank account, save your money and get this light if you are a night commuter!!! This light just ROCKS!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bruno
a Cross Country Rider
from Sunnyvale Date Reviewed: May 30, 2003
Favorite Trail:
table mountain
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$270.00
Purchased At:
e-bay
Strengths:
This light is simply incredible! I bought it for the 24h of adrenalin and I won't regret this investment. Exceed any halogne light. Excellent design and the fast-charger is really useful (a led changes when the battery is full). I have the ARC HID cabezza which is one of the lightest light that you could put on your helmet. Reverse led is very helpful on the bar.
Weaknesses:
Difficult to find weaknesses to a perfect design but: reserve led doesn't make sense when your have the light on your helmet. A bip signal will be great? Difficult to connect the cable to the battery in the dark.
Similar Products Used:
Niterider storm or blow HID, or lumelighting HID
Bike Setup:
Specialized FSR S-works 2001 with magura marta and Xmax disk tubeless, Easton bar, Chris King headset, FSA carbon crankset
Bottom Line:
At the price paid I would say that this lamp has no competitors. For the 24h I used this lamp on my helmet with a standard hologen dual beam on the handelbar. You don't have to be worried about the battery life and the fast-charger is really performant. During night riding training I was able to produce light for the riders in front of me! On top of excellent ability to ride faster than with an hologen light, this light brings you some security for nightriding and for me there's no price for this. I plan to upgrade my handelbar light to an HID and I will go for another Light &motion.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a
from San Diego Date Reviewed: May 6, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$360.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat
Strengths:
Beam strength, spread and duration, simplicity and durability of design, break-away head feature and customer service
Weaknesses:
Not really a weakness: Check the screw holding the light head to its bracket once in a while to make sure it's tight. Locktite might be a good idea.
Similar Products Used:
NiteRider
Bottom Line:
I've used this light for daily commuting as well as weekly technical trail rides all winter. I recently did a 24 hour mountain bike race and even though my daytime laps were on a par with the other guys, I clocked our team's fastest night laps. I credit that to the light's intensity and beam spread.
Specific points:
1) After a couple hundred miles use, I like the cable system better than a coiled cable. My "cable management system" is to just wrap the excess around the bottle cage. I move my light system back and forth a lot between a commuter bike and a mountain bike, so I put handlebar mounting brackets on both.
2) I disagree with the posting that this system "wastes" light by throwing such a wide spread, both horizontally and vertically. That may be a logical attitude for road use, but when you approach a dropoff or steep hill on a trail at night, this light illuminates everything in your path, up and down as well a side to side. Do much technical trail riding at night, and you'll really appreciate this light's unique beam spread with it's bright center and gradual dropoff to a defined edge in all directions.
3) I've found that a handlebar-mounted light does a better job of revealing trail "irregularities" than a helmet-mounted one because it throws longer shadows. The light's angle reveals contrasts better too, such as between light colored loose sand and slightly darker moist packed sand. During the 24 hour race, it was actually easier to see both of these aspects at night due to the very uniform, light color of the dusty trail surface. During your second night lap at around 4:00 AM, being able to avoid loose sand is much appreciated!
4) Commuting is a new experience with an HID light. Motorists actually respect you, maybe because they think you're a motorcyclist. Just watch out for pedestrians on bike paths. You'll make them wince and cover their eyes. I point mine down until I pass them. On the other hand, when you've got people in your way riding or walking side-by-side, even the most oblivious can't help but notice your approach, from either direction.
5) L%M's customer service is superb.
The bottom line: This is the light to buy!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David Lund
a Cross Country Rider
from Reno Date Reviewed: May 5, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Peavine Mountain
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
beyondbikes.com
Strengths:
Bright Light. Can ride any where with it at night.
Weaknesses:
Ignition switch susceptible to failure.
Similar Products Used:
Nite Rider dual beam classic
Bottom Line:
This is an update from a previous review.
Last time I rated this light with 2 chilis given that the ignition switch on the light was not working.
I called Light & Motion. The customer service was excellent. They fixed the light at no charge. I have had the light back for a couple of months now, and it works great.
This product gets 5 chilis again based on quality of light and quality of customer service from Light & motion.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Philber
a Cross Country Rider
from London, Ontario Date Reviewed: April 16, 2003
Favorite Trail:
The next one
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$349.00
Purchased At:
Beyond Bikes
Strengths:
Construction. Weight. Runtime. Light color (temperature). Light operation. Nice smart charger. Ability to rotate horizontally.
Weaknesses:
Lack of coiled cord. Very wide beam. Cost.
Similar Products Used:
Niterider non-digital halogen stuff.
Bike Setup:
You name it, I've got it in a box somewhere.
Bottom Line:
I've been riding a Niterider non-digital Headtrip (with a 15 watt spot) and a Niterider non-digital Pro-6 (with a 15 watt flood). That combo has been working fine for me, and the run times are around 2:00 for the Pro-6 and around 1:40 for the Headtrip. The ARC is 13.5 watts, but is supposed to put out the equivalent of a 40 or 50 watt halogen bulb. The ARC runtime is 3-3.5 hours. The ARC water bottle battery is significantly smaller and lighter than my Pro-6 battery.
I went out last night for a 2.5 hour ride on trails that I know well, but are now a lot different since the local ice storm downed a lot of trees across the trail. In addition, the river is still pretty high, so there are various portions of the trail that are under water and must be hiked around. The trail is mostly twisty singletrack with some moderately technical sections and not much in the way of hills. I used the new ARC on the bars and my headtrip on my helmet with the spot.
My first impression was that the ARC was not as bright as I thought it would be. After reading reviews of "Turns night into day" and "Holy Cow it's bright" and such, I expected car headlights or something. In fact, it's not that bright. Don't get me wrong - it is certainly bright, but not so bright that it blew me away. The big difference is the dispersion of light. The ARC has a brighter spot in the middle, surrounded by a very wide, nice even flood pattern. I would say that the spot in the middle is the same brightness as my headtrip 15w spot. But with the headtrip spot, that spot in the middle is all you get. With the ARC, you get that, and you get the very wide flood to boot. So it's kind of like having a 15 watt spot and a 15 watt flood on at the same time. Now, having the equivalent of both those lights for over 3 hours is a definite plus. But I think the statements that the HID bulbs put out the equivalent of 40-50 watts of halogen are pretty ambitious.
The light is definitely a very different color than the halogen, and makes the halogen look yellow and dirty. The ARC light is very clean and clinical looking. I found the two different colors of light very distracting, as my headtrip spot danced in and around the pale clear blue light of the ARC. I definitely prefer the color of the ARC, but it's not like I had any big problems with the color of the halogen before.
I found it very useful to have the headtrip in addition to the ARC, although I was hoping this would not be the case, because I would like to get rid of the helmet light for comfort reasons. But I'm sure I won't because I found I used it frequently for checking the bike, cleaning crap out of the derailers and such, looking for twists in the trail (very useful), looking to see if there were deep puddles in the trail and then scoping a way around. Because the riding was fairly technical, I had the ARC pointed fairly close in front - I'd say the bright spot was 30-40 feet out in front. So the headtrip was useful for looking farther out to see what was ahead, like 30-40 yards out. This is always the way I have used my bar light and headlight, so maybe it's just that I'm used to that type of arrangement. We'll have to see.
I don't know if having another ARC on my helmet would be that good, because you'd still get the very wide flood beam, which is not what I look for on my helmet. In a perfect world, I would get a HID spot on my helmet - that would really be amazing. But the HID's don't come in spots.
The actual construction and function of the Light & Motion ARC is great. The mount is solid and easy to use. The true smart charger works very nicely (3.5 hours full charge). The double-click on, click to change setting and hold-click off worked perfectly (despite some reviews to the contrary, from which I have to conclude that people simply did not read the f---- manual). It is nice to turn on the light at the beginning of a long niteride and not have to worry about turning it on and off to save battery power, although I still had to do that with my headlight, but not as much (because with the powerful ARC, I wasn't so concerned if I lost the headlight altogether). I wish it had a coiled cord like my Pro-6, but no biggie. The ability to rotate the light horizontally is excellent and something I wish my Niterider products had. Also, I had a couple crashes where the light was knocked so that it rotated. I am left to wonder what would have been the result if the light head was fixed to the mount rather than able to rotate.
In short, I think the L&M ARC HID light is very good. It is not as dramatic an improvement over halogen as I expected, but it is definitely a significant improvement. Most important for me is the ability to run the light for over 3 hours - this means I can go on my usual niteride without having to ever turn it off or worry about conserving battery power. The beam and spread of light is very good. I like the bright spot in the middle, and the flood beam which surrounds the spot is even and smooth. Personally, I would prefer more light intensity in a narrower beam, but perhaps that's splitting hairs. I will continue to use the headtrip for the reasons above, but for anything but twisty trails a second light is not really necessary. In the twisty stuff, the headlight is definintely an asset. The two different colors, however, are distracting.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob C
a Cross Country Rider
from Westminster, CA Date Reviewed: April 13, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Chutes
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$320.00
Purchased At:
Nashbar
Strengths:
It's light is second to none, very bright and no dark spots. It's more than enough light even for technical trails. Battery lasts a long time, short charge time also. My friend has a Nightrider Blowtorch, and his has more dark spots and just doesn't seem as bright. His is more purple in color, while the ARC is a whiter light and more spread out.
Weaknesses:
Cord management, but you'll how to wrap it around the frame without it sliding around.
Similar Products Used:
L&M Commuter.
Bike Setup:
Foes FXR w/Curnutt Ti, XTR, Thomson, Chris King...etc.
Bottom Line:
Unless you are a serious speed freak and do very technical trails, this light should be more than enough for you. It lets me ride as fast as I can at night and lights up the whole trail well. It's just a solid light that can't be beat. I haven't had any problems turning my light on like some have complained about. If I stop and rest for a minute or two I just leave the light on the lower setting instead of turning it off. This light is seriously brighter than most cars headlights when they come up behind me. A great product. Don't waste your time with anything less, spend the money on the best.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Team GASHer
a Cross Country Rider
from Sacramento, CA USA Date Reviewed: March 16, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Big Boulder, Dowieville
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$260.00
Purchased At:
direct
Strengths:
Bright, built solid! Accurate battery. Short charging cycle.
Similar Products Used:
Homemade 20W/12V Halogen, TrailRat
Bike Setup:
One gear
Bottom Line:
Very sweet light! Indeed. I ride in weekly group rides and see all different kinds of lights. My one ARC blows away every Halogen. It is simple and never fails. The batter works as advertised, and the fast chargers is painless.
I tried to build my own light, and found out that to get a light this good that will run for 3+ hours, I'd have to spend more than what it costs. I didn't but would pay retail for this light!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Caleb Shimano
a Racer
from Ocala, FL Date Reviewed: March 1, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Central Florida
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$315.00
Purchased At:
Friend
Strengths:
Light weight on the helmet, clean beam, you can direct the beam anywhere. Less $ than N.R.
Weaknesses:
Brightness could be a little more intense in the center. The Cabezza battery could be a little wider and more flat
Similar Products Used:
NiteRider Blow Torch
Bike Setup:
Fishers
Bottom Line:
Much better than the NiteRider due to lighter weight(on the helmet) and versatility of directing the beam where ever you want. The Niterider also has a lot of sketchy dark lines in the beam where as the L & M doesn't.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Vallejo, CA Date Reviewed: February 25, 2003
Favorite Trail:
the road
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
L&M website
Strengths:
loads of light with smooth pattern/no dropoffs. GETS ATTENTION of motorists and gets you more respect on the road. Hassle-free charger. Runtime lives up to their claims. Good customer service when I made inquiries after purchase.
Weaknesses:
A coiled cord would be easier to deal with, especially if you want to remove the device at your destination. Considerable light wasted going into the sky. This might be desirable for MTB through the woods but wasted on the road; though there is plenty left over! Advised not to run for more than 15 minutes unless in motion - carry another light for emergency repairs. Can be too bright when encountering others on a trail. Like others I began to experience the intermittent start failures BUT I FOUND A CURE - see below. "low" setting not particularly useful - even if used continuously only adds slightly to runtime - however I've researched HID lamp technology and this seems inherent in the technology rather than any design deficiency by L&M. Running the arc bulb at too low a voltage can be damaging, so you can't just dial it down. Even if you did the low setting provided really is about as low as you want to go before the light starts getting too purple.
Similar Products Used:
Nothing actually "similar"; previously had a vista halogen.
Bike Setup:
commuter
Bottom Line:
Gave my first review within a month of purchase. This is my second review and I've been using it now for about 8 months. I'm very satisfied. This light really makes me feel better about riding in the dark. Where before I'd often have motorists enter the road at intersections and cut me off, now they see me well in advance and actually STOP to let me by. That's respect! and a great increase in safety - due to the brilliant nature of the light. I'm even seen by motorists at the intersection even when there are parked cars between me and them. Superb.
I've never had motorists flash highbeams at me, so I think the light is not TOO bright to where it is blinding them; but they DO notice it. One place where the light can be too bright is on a trail when someone on a bike or on foot is coming the other way. I ride a short stretch of multi-use trail on my commute and there are a number of joggers that like to use the trail in the predawn hours - totally dark and they are not carrying lights. The good thing about the ARC is I can see them. The downside is the light is a bit too much for them as I get close. The "low" setting doesn't really help here but judicious use of your hand to shield the light works ok; just keep it in mind and be courteous.
The smart charger is fantastic. As Ron Popiel says - "Set it; and FORGET it"! Nice. Plug it in before going to bed and it's waiting with a full charge in the morning. If I forget and leave it on all weekend; no problem I haven't toasted the battery. Charge is quick enough that you can even get a decent charge while you get ready in the morning even if you forgot to charge it the night before. The batteries live up to the claim - during winter I've been using the lights for the full run of my commute in both directions. 2 hours total and I've even run a third leg without charging - so yes you can get 3 hours and that's after about 150 to 200 hours of use.
Ok - the biggest gripe I've seen in the reviews is inability to get the lamp to strike an arc. I began having the same problem intermittently and I agree it's a big deal. Don't care how great the light is - if you can't start it, it's worthless. I was about to contact L&M for repair when I stumbled on a solution. At least for me, if I put some finger pressure on the cover glass while starting the lamp, it starts every time! :-D Now I know the bulb is delicate and I don't mean crush the thing, but a little pressure seems to do the trick. I haven't had any more problems and I've been running that trick for a couple of months now.
Note to the person having trouble charging after coming in from the cold - That's probably just due to the way the charger detects when to stop charging. It senses the change in temp over time. When the battery starts getting warmer that means it's done charging. When you bring it in after it's been cold-soaked the battery starts warming up by being in the room; that will fool the charger into thinking the battery is about to be over-charged. Inherent to the technology - dt/dT is what their charger uses to sense charge level and it's the right way to charge the NiMH batteries.
All in all, a VERY useful light. Let's grill some Chilis (sp)!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul
a
from Chico, CA USA Date Reviewed: February 14, 2003
Price - but after using it - the cost can be justified
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Will I lose my credibility on a light review if my bike is an old Schwinn Mesa?!?!
Bottom Line:
If you have the money to spend - go with the Light & Motion / Emailed customer service about some questions and had a reply within 24 hours / They overnighted the light to the bike shop / No problem with the switch - works every time / Use it on my helmet and there is no need for any other light / The guys I ride with were astounded / Looked at the Nite Rider HID but the bulbs are $80 to replace / This light is a great investment!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cary
a Cross Country Rider
from Lafayette, CA Date Reviewed: February 11, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Shell Ridge
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$325.00
Purchased At:
Bill Larson
Strengths:
Great Beam, good focus with absolutely no holes in the light pattern.
Weaknesses:
My Wireless Computer won't pick up when it is on.
Similar Products Used:
Performance Single Pro (The older one by Mirwi)
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Kaitai w/SID XC Fork. Klein Stage with 105. One day a Klein Palamino.
Bottom Line:
This is a fabulous light. The reflector design is great. There is no hot spoting, only a focused center beam with smooth falloff toward the sides. Basically it gives you more light than a spot beam in the middle and more light than a regular flood around the perimeter. The total light output is great, my only gripe being that I wish the color of the light had less blue/purple to it and was a little warmer. Setting the light to the low setting doesn't drop the light level much, but does make the color even more puple/blue. You really don't need different settings for the light, as it has more light output than a dual beam on high, but uses the power of a 12 watt single beam.
I is nice to finally be able to see what is ahead of me without squinting. I just wish it didn't interfear with my wireless computer.
If you are on the fence, get one, it is well worth the extra money. Finally, a plug for Bill Larson. I got his name from the MTBR discussion boards, great guy, great price, and when I asked about 2 day shipping, he told me ground would take two days and costs half as much.
Happy Riding
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Connair
a Racer
from Elkton, MD Date Reviewed: February 8, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Bike Line
Strengths:
Bright light, nice charger, light battery and mount.
Weaknesses:
on/off button
Similar Products Used:
Nite Rider
Bike Setup:
Ti frame & mixed components
Bottom Line:
This is a followup review. After sending my lights back a second time - they are working like they should so far. 2 rides and no letdowns. The second time I sent them back through my LBS and recieved them much quicker. I love this light when it works. My old NiteRider lead acid battery midel seems sooo..dim in comparison. Anyway I'm satisfied.I have the Helmet mounted version and I can see so much better now. I'm totally spoiled by the amount of light.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tony
a Weekend Warrior
from Oshkosh, WI USA Date Reviewed: January 30, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Kettles (for now)
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Internet
Strengths:
Reliability, Value, and Performance.
Weaknesses:
None Yet
Similar Products Used:
Cheap $20.00 Lights.
Bike Setup:
Giant XTC DS-1
Bottom Line:
This light will turn night into day. It is worth the money and will be more than enough for the coming years even if something better does come out. It will not be replaced that easily
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mike
a Racer
from tucson AZ Date Reviewed: January 23, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Car stopping power, extremely bright, effective smart charger, long burn time
Weaknesses:
price
Similar Products Used:
solo logic
Bike Setup:
my road bike was a quantum race. my race bike is a fisher hardtail
Bottom Line:
I got this light as a replacement to my solo logic which was destroyed when I got hit by a truck that ran a red light. I ended up getting the helmet mounted one so that I can shine it at any vehicle that makes me nervous. This light is so bright that cars really do slow down and give me more respect. HID lights have the most "car stopping power" of any lights out there. My dad says that I look like an alien invasion comming up the driveway at the end of my rides. I haven't had a chance yet to try the light out on the trails so I don't know how much contrast I will be giving up by going with the helment versus bar mounted light. If you are on the roads at all at night don't even flinch at the price. It's a lot cheaper than a trip to the ER. Oh and the light pattern is nice, the charger works well, the battery lasts as long as they say it will, its well designed and all that other stuff.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mr_spin
a Cross Country Rider
from san jose Date Reviewed: January 22, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$330.00
Purchased At:
beyondbikes.com
Strengths:
Amazingly bright, with a wide coverage pattern.
Weaknesses:
Power switch is annoying to use. The bar mount has a swivel on it, so you can bump the light off center.
This is an awesome light and the only one you will need. It is so bright, I've ridden technical singletrack in a pitch black forest with total confidence. Originally I thought I would need a helmet mount in addition to the ARC on the bar, but not anymore. When I ride side by side with my buddies and we all have our lights on, it's like riding in daylight!
My complaints are minor. First, to turn the light on, you have to double click the power switch. This is a little awkward because you have to press fairly hard, so your thumb is the obvious choice of fingers to use.
Second, the bar mount has a swivel base, so if you accidentally bump into the light, you can knock it off center. The light is so bright and wide, it's not a big deal most of the time. Just reach over and repoint it. I do like that the swivel adds a bit of "give" to the light in case of a crash, which may prevent breakage.
I've seen this advertised for $50-70 more than I paid for it, so it seems that I got a killer deal from beyondbikes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Charlie
a Cross Country Rider
from West Lebanon NH Date Reviewed: January 19, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
380
Strengths:
Bright, light, good charger, good mounting system, apparently reliable, works well in cold.
Weaknesses:
For road use, the beam pattern is not ideal; charger doesn't quite to the right thing with a cold battery.
Similar Products Used:
planet bike halogen, homebrew lights
Bike Setup:
MTB converted to a winter commuter bike (Nokian studded tires, etc.)
Bottom Line:
I'm not a cross-country rider as I checked on the form--I'm a commuter (on road). But this seemed to be where this light is discussed so I'm posting my review here anyway.
This light is great--it allows me to see the road surface clearly, even in the worst part of my commute, where the horizontal and vertical curvature of the road conspire to aim oncoming headlight into my eyes, and there are cracks in the pavement and storm drains as well as different varieties of ice to look out for (in the winter). Also, it does just find after sitting out in the cold all day, so I don't need to remove it from my bike during the day. Even at ~0 F.
I had trouble chosing between Light and Motion and Niterider. I liked the fact that the Niterider light seems capable of being mounted on handlebars or helmet with only a new adaptor, and I liked the fact that its beam is adjustable. But the MTBR.com reviews of the Niterider HID included a fair number of people who'd experienced failures, and when I asked for a demo at the bike shop, their demo unit was not working and they didn't know why. So I took that as a bad sign and went with Light and Motion. I also got the sense from the MTBR.com comments that L&M has better customer service (and they've certainly been helpful and prompt when I've emailed them). Another advantage of the Light and Motion design that I hadn't realized before I bought it is that the up/down aiming is not disturbed when you take the light off and put it back on, so you needn't fuss with that each time, which you do with nightrider.
It's very impressive how small, light, and neat a package it is. The head is barely any bigger than the 15 W halogen light I had before, and I think it might actually be lighter. It mounts and aims nicely and easily.
But it's not quite perfect, at least for my usage. Here are my complaints:
-The beam pattern is a very bright narrow spot and a wide bright flood, which I guess is good for off-road but I don't find it ideal for road use. Light and Motion tell me that it is really designed for off-road, and that is why they use the beam pattern they do. It still works out OK for road use--I can aim the bright spot far enough ahead that I have plenty of time to react to whatever it illuminates, and the flood is bright enough to see the nearby road surface well. But because the pattern is completely symmetric, it does as much to light the highest branches of the trees above as to light the road right near my front tire. Unlike for off-road, I'm not too worried about tree branches on my commute. There's enough light anyway, so I wouldn't care too much about light wasted above my head, except that when I ride through a college campus where there are lots of pedestrians, I see them squinting and grimmacing as I pass.
HID automobile headlights have more sophisticated optics-- lenses and refelctors to shape the beam to illuminate the road without wasting light elsewhere or blinding oncoming cars. And they have a shield over the lamp itself so nobody's eyes are hurt looking at it. The ARC has only a reflector and a flat glass cover, not a lens. One of the advantages of an HID lamp is that the light originates from almost a point source, so it is possible to get very precise control of the beam. It is a shame that there apparently is no bike light that really takes advantage of that and optimizes the beam for on-road use.
My solution was to make a shield out of half a toilet paper tube, with metalized mylar taped inside. I put this over the top of the lamp, to deflect the light that would otherwise go up into pedestrians' eyes. It has the side benefit of making the ground in front of me brighter, although the wrinkles in the mylar hurt the otherwise perfect unformity of the light, so I may need to make a better shield (toilet paper tubes don't hold up well in the rain anyway). I also need to make sure whatever I come up with doesn't compromise visibilty to automobiles, although that is not likely to be a problem. It is WAY brighter than an LED blinky.
-When I get home with a cold battery and connect it to the smart charger, it detects that the battery is cold and doesn't start charging it. That's great--I'm very glad that it is smart enough not to go ahead and damage the battery. But the problem is that it enters the error mode when that happens, and stays in that mode even once the battery warms up. So I need to go back to my garage after an hour, unplug it, and plug it back in again to prompt it to try again. Not all that big a deal, but it's an extra hassle every single day, and something I'll forget to do.
I think I will buy a timer and set it up so that it starts charging at midnight or so, which ought to be well after I get home but will still leave time for a full charge before morning.
I had two other concerns that Light and Motion assured me I should not be worried about:
-The instructions and an extra sticker in the box warn that it is unsafe to leave the light plugged into the battery when it's not in use--a fire hazard. I thought this meant that if I parked my bike with the light plugged in I was risking a fire. But when I asked Light and Motion, they said that is really only an issue if it's off the bike (I guess that if it turned on sitting in a pile of bike clothes or something it could get hot enough in normal operation to set them on fire, whereas sittting on the bike it is unlikely to get accidentally turned on and it wouldn't start a fire anyway).
-The connector seems good and well sealed, except that it is sitting on top of the battery and it seems like water might be able to collect around it and that would be asking for trouble even with a good seal. I was thinking of rigging a miniature umbralla for that part, but LIght and Motion assured me that I needn't worry about it--they've had good success with the seal and no problems with water collecting. We haven't had liquid water around here for a while so I can't say from experience yet.
Overall the most important thing, and what makes it well worth $400, is that it makes it possible for me to bike home without fear of what I can't see on the road surface, and that it runs fine even when the battery is at about 0 F. It's really nice to have my speed on the descent limited by cold cheeks rather than by fear.
I'm a little disappointed that after I spent $400 to avoid a DIY project making my own superbright lighting system, I now have two DIY projects: setting up a timer for charging after the battery is warm, and making a hood to change the beam pattern to something more appropriate for road use. But I guess I should be happy that someone is making a nice, high-quality product that is close to what is needed for year-round commuting, even if it isn't exactly optimized for that use.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Larry Nelson
a
from Santa Monica, CA, USA Date Reviewed: January 13, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Beyond Bikes.com
Strengths:
Bright, wide-angle light with good color. Lightweight. Well made.
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Homebuilt light systems. Nite Rider, Cygolite, Cateye, generators, leg lights.
Bike Setup:
1987 Ritchey Ascent, basically stock.
Bottom Line:
Some characteristics of this light that haven't been described yet: 1. Color. It's easy to recognize what you see with this light because of the full-spectrum lamp. What you see with a tungsten lamp takes more time to recognize. This increases my confidence. 2. Wide angle of light dispersion. You can see what's to the sides with enough detail to, again, recognize what you're seeing quickly. 3. Respect from motorists. They may not know what I am when they see that light coming, but they certainly don't treat me as if I'm a bicyclist. Anyone who rides in Los Angeles knows this is a very good thing. Cars stop and wait for me. I end up using the light even in daylight for this reason. In short, I now have a light that makes riding at night enjoyable. I've been working on this for about 40 years, making my own lights and trying others. This is the first good one. If you want to ride at night, do yourself a favor. Yah, it's ridiculously expensive, but there's nothing else like it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave T
a
from Salinas, Ca. Date Reviewed: January 13, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Any trail, any time
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Bobcat Bicycles
Strengths:
Quality light output - 3+ Hours and no more wondering what's on the other side of that shadow, Long & consistent burn time. Relatively light weight and best of all - QUALITY Customer Service.
Weaknesses:
Pricey - but you get what you pay for.
Similar Products Used:
High-End Nightrider stuff
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Superlight - 03' XTR, Fox suspension, WTB tires & seat.
Bottom Line:
With the best customer service not only in the Light Industry but in nearly the whole bike industry, you can't go wrong. Yes, they are spendy but really worth it. As said before - You'll forget about the dent in your pocket book after a nightride or two.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a
from San Diego Date Reviewed: January 8, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Bottom Line:
This is an update after several months of at least weekly singletrack trail riding as well as daily commuting. My wife summed it up pretty well when she said she sometimes forgets she's riding in the dark, even on technical stuff.
The cable cover slipped loose from the housing on mine, but the exposed wires seem to be well anchored. I e-mailed L&M about the problem and they called me back within 10 minutes to tell me to send it in for repair. They also said that as long as I kept the wires dry I could wait until after daylight savings starts in the spring to send the light in so I wouldn't miss any riding.
These are excellent lights. My one problem is minor compared to the complete failure I experienced with a certain other light. These lights are also backed up by the best customer service imaginable. Have you dealt with any other company that routinely called you back within 10 minutes? If you buy these lights, you'll ride more, and that is the bottom line.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dick Nixon
a Racer
from Noblesville, IN, USA Date Reviewed: January 4, 2003
Favorite Trail:
The one I'm on
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$370.00
Purchased At:
L&M website
Strengths:
Brighter than my car headlights, in fact it is so bright that all the cars dim their high beams for me
Three hour burn time is long enogugh for 50+ mile rides after dark or before sunrise
Broad even beam pattern makes you forget it is dark out
Purple color makes cars think they have encountered an alien spacecraft
L&M product support has always been easy to contact, polite and helpful, although I never did send the unit back (see Product Weaknesses)
Enough light to see well in the rain!!!
Works great in extreme wet, snow and cold, (I have used it with no problems at 7 deg. F.)
Weaknesses:
Internals of the light are not well integrated with or affixed to the housing, I had to take mine apart and line up the little button on the PC board to the button on the housing to make the light come on and off reliably (it works great now but was horrible at first), also had to improvise a strain relief and anchor the cord to the unit to keep the wire from comming out of the head unit (a little heat shrink tubing and a wire clamp go a long ways guys)
Similar Products Used:
Cateye LED (great around town but not enough in the rain or out in the country, put one on your three speed)
NightSun, don't even get me started on these Bozo's, they told me when my battery coroded in 2 months that it was my fault for using it in the snow! That was easy for them to say from LA but I commuted in Boston at the time (can you tell I am still bitter?).
Bike Setup:
Fixed gear snow bike with 2.5" tires and chanins Klein Quantum Race Campagnolo Record 10 Raliegh Grand Prix with coaster brakes and fenders SLX 52X17 fixed gear outfitted with front brake
Bottom Line:
If you ride at night more than once in a while you need THIS light. They are rugged, bright and well supported. There is nothing else out there that is this simple, effective and reliable.
GET ONE!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jerry White
a Cross Country Rider
from Mission Viejo, Ca Date Reviewed: December 24, 2002
Favorite Trail:
San Juan Trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$349.00
Purchased At:
supergo
Strengths:
light is so bright you think you are riding in daylight when looking ahead at the trail. long burn time. side to side adjustment on light mount (nightrider doesn't have that)
Weaknesses:
forking over the cash, but after the first ride the pain in your empty wallet goes away very quickly
Similar Products Used:
nightsun team issue
Bike Setup:
specialized s-works fsr king hubs fsa carbon cranks monkey light bars thompson stem and post
Bottom Line:
after just a few rides I can't ever invision riding with another light. on technical downhill singletrack you can see the next turn because the light gives close to 180 deg coverage. The only down side is now my riding buddies are complaining about how dim the lights on their bikes seem next to mine. tooooo bad!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scotty B
a Cross Country Rider
from Coarsegold, CA Date Reviewed: December 23, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$370.00
Purchased At:
CO Cyclist
Strengths:
Bright, bright, bright. Good mounting system. Two power settings. Long burn time.
Weaknesses:
None. You get what you pay for.
Similar Products Used:
Niterider HID Storm
Bike Setup:
SC superlight
Bottom Line:
I have had no problems seeing enough trail with this helmet mount light. I received the Niterider as a gift but exchanged it for the L&M due to positioning the Niterider properly required me to sinch down my helmet strap so tight I found myself choking. If this much money is going to be spent I want perfect! The L&M is just that. I haven't ridden long enough to burn out the battery yet. I usually climb with the lower setting and start to descend and forgetting that I had another setting up. This lamp is just bright! It doesn't require an uncomfortable helmet adjustment and lights up the trail great! If you are going to spend anywhere near $350, might as well spring the extra $20-30 bones and get the best!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Zatoichi
a Weekend Warrior
from Sacramento, CA Date Reviewed: December 22, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$399.00
Purchased At:
Light & Motion
Strengths:
Super bright, lightweight, great helmet mount, smart charger
Weaknesses:
First one didn't work (see below for details) Little difference between high/low settings Pricey
Similar Products Used:
Nightrider (tested or demo'd only)
Bike Setup:
Cannondale M700, Manitou fork, Control Tech bar ends, Avocet saddle, Specialized Nimbus Armadillo tires
Bottom Line:
I originally planned to buy the Cabeza Logic, but couldn't find anyone who had them in stock, including L&M. So, with winter on the way, I opted for the ARC Cabeza. Very, very nicely designed package-small, light, helmet mount has adjustment for angle, battery fits nicely in rear pocket of my Camelbak. Puts out an amazing amount of light for such a small unit-it's possible to ride on pitch-black roads with no other illumination, something I had my doubts about.
From the outset, I had problems with the switch-sometimes it would take a bunch of attempts to get the light to fire, although the switch would always light. Back it went to L&M, where the techs cleaned some excess solder off the board. On its return, the problem came back, even worse. I called Chris at L&M, who assured me they'd make it right. I shipped it back FedEx (on their account), and got back a new light in a matter of days. This one, I'm happy to report, works perfectly, all the time. It looks from the recent reviews as though others are experiencing the same problem. If you are, don't hesitate to call Light & Motion, as they will take care of you. Now that the switch problem is fixed, I can recommend this as an outstanding product. It's enabled me to keep riding this winter rather than being couch-bound, and that alone rates five chilis.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
pgo
a Cross Country Rider
from austin Date Reviewed: December 19, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$375.00
Strengths:
Bright bluish-white light, long run time, smart charger, broad beam with few shadows and good depth perception.
Weaknesses:
coupling light or battery to charger is fiddly and difficult (hard to do in the dark). Bulb ceased working on second ride (it would fire, but not ignite), good service from L&M but I was without the light for a week or so. Long term durability still an open question. Expensive.
Similar Products Used:
CygoLite Night Explorer NiCad
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz
Bottom Line:
Great light when it works. Funtion is probably best on the market. Other issues are minor if it keeps working. Lights the trail better than any I've seen and convenience of quick charging and long run time can't be beat.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Old Gerr
a
from Atlanta, Ga Date Reviewed: November 28, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Co Trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$349.00
Purchased At:
Co Cyclist
Strengths:
Bright Clean Light. More features than competitor NiteRider HID. -Horizontal swivel DOES matter. 2 different light settings do matter. I use it on the road and can easily signal cars that I am using the low beam. - Non-coiled cord really is easier than coiled once you know what you are doing with it.(always have had coiled before.) -- Very bright and clean equiv. to around 25 watt. -- Water bottle battery is small and I easily mounted it under the seat rather than give up a bottle cage.
Weaknesses:
Double click to turn on, even when light is cold often does not work. The button lights up, but not the bulb ! I have to do it 3 or 4 times.
Similar Products Used:
Various NiteRiders, Vista Lights, etc.
Bottom Line:
Great light. Best I have ever had and I have had a few over the past 17 years. Double click lightup thing is weak, but still much better engineering than NiteRider. I wish the configurations were more flexible. No handle bar mount with the helmet mount system and vise versa. My old vista light came with both. Cleanest, brightest (for how long it last), smallest battery pack of any system I have ever used. Unfortunetly, I really do not want to give it up to get the double click, digital logic fixed, cause I use it 3 times a week when the weather is good.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Geoffrey Khotim
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix Date Reviewed: November 22, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Trail 100
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$322.00
Purchased At:
Supergo Markdown Sale (in store)
Strengths:
Light, powerful, ease of use, horizontal adjustment, charge time.
Weaknesses:
Price.
Similar Products Used:
First light.
Bike Setup:
Superlight R.
Bottom Line:
Finally decided to drop the bones and get a light. Had trouble deciding between the bar or helmet mount. Got the bar mount and am very pleased so far (only used twice). Heard and read great things about this light; all seem to be true. Small powerful light. Worth the bones because you only need one light. Supergo sale sealed the deal.
$ 409.99
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
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