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NiteRider
Digital Evolution
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Submitted by
beau stephenson
a
from portland or usa
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | river city biks | | Strengths: | solid construction, thoughtful features | | Weaknesses: | quality control, poor product support | | Similar Products Used: | cateye | | Bike Setup: | fancy bike | | Bottom Line: | The tragedy is that this light is truly an exceptional product, but there is no way that I will pay this kind of money again for a product so unreliable and backed by service so mediocre. It's just not worth it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Danvers
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikes USA | | Strengths: | Digital Evolution - 15w with Fuel Gauge and multiple light levels. Multiple uses besides Bicycling when used with the explorer Headband. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | NiteRider Classic | | Bike Setup: | Giant | | Bottom Line: | I've been using Niterider's Dive Lights for about 10 years. They are well known in the Diving Industry to be the best dive lights made. When I got into Mountain Biking about 3 years ago I, of course, bought a Niterider Light. My Niterider Dual Beam Dive Light is my favorite piece of dive equipment in my dive bag. And same with my biking equipment, Niterider makes great lights. I love riding at night and with a good bike light makes all the difference.
I recently bought the Digital Evolution to add a helmet mounted light to my setup (I have the Niterider Classic 12w/20/32w on my handlebars). The Digital Evolution is a great light even if it was the only light I was going to use. I use it on low beam for setting up my equipment and the 15watt for riding. The fuel gauge is great to have also.
I live in San Diego and have been to the Niterider several times over the years and have been given the tour and I am very surprised to read negatives in this forum about Niterider. They have about a 15,000 to 20,000 square feet building with Engineering Dept, Customer Service Dept. Sales Dept. Accounting Dept. Quality Control Dept. Shipping Dept. Wharehouse Dept. and have about 30 to 40 assemblers building lights on white formica counters. Very impressive!! I have always been taken care of like I was a king by Customer Service at Niterider.
I highly recommend any light by Niterider. Don't believe the reviews, anyone can post a review on this forum, and something is fishy. Trust the reviews done by magazines or ask someone that you know that owns a Niterider Light or ask the bike shop who they recommend. All my friends use Niterider Lights and have the same very high opinions. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nathan W.
a
from Anaheim, CA
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | bike shop in National City, CA | | Strengths: | Will teach you what not to do with $300 (hopefully you'll learn the first time).
Reliable. You can rely on this light not working. | | Similar Products Used: | NONE: Other stuff actually works. | | Bike Setup: | Bike with non-functioning, overpriced headlight. | | Bottom Line: | This light acted up from day one. The first time I disconnected the battery from the light to put it in my bike bag so I could walk around without the light accidentally turning on caused the LED indicator to drop to just a fluttering red when the battery was reconnected.
However, the battery was fully charged. The light still worked, just no battery indication. I lived with it like this for quite some time because I needed the light for commuting. THEN IT GOT WORSE! I would be riding to work in the early morning dark with a full battery indication when it would drop to a flashing red LED with the headlamp at it's lowest setting and I couldn't change it. This is after only 15 min. at the 12 watt setting! I still used it for awhile with these annoying problems that eventually became 100% consistent. They would happen all the time. I finally took it back to them explaining the symptoms to one of their so-called enginneers. He took me to the back where they build the lights because he wanted to show me a new, more expensive light. It was a small, unimpressive facility in one of those small industrial complexes that it shares with other small businesses. I understood why my light sucked so bad after seeing where it was built. Everything is done by hand which is fine if you have skilled labor. NiteRider obviously has unskilled labor and ABSOLUTELY NO QUALITY CONTROL DEPARTMENT! I suspect hasty assembly to keep up with the demands of unfortunate consumers like myself.
Anyways, I was told I needed a new battery which I paid for because the warranty was up (about $50). When I got it back on the bike and went for a ride, I found that the problems were still there, no change. This means that they never tested it before giving it back to me! In fact, I suspect they didn't even look at the light; just sold me
another battery. This p**ses me off!!
Now I live in Anaheim which is about 2hrs. from NiteRider
in San Diego and the light completely crapped out today. Because of the faulty electronics and battery indication, I never know if the battery really needs charging or if the
overcharge safety feature works. But I plugged in the charger and got a full charge indication after it sat for awhile. So I unplugged the charger and went to turn on the light. It came on for a millisecond and went out, for good.
Now it doesn't do anything. I also have the tailight that
goes with this headlamp and because it's controlled by the same brain as the rest of the system, it no longer works
either. Now that I live farther away from the NiteRider
facility (I used to live close and they only have one!)
this is going to be a pain to resolve, if that's possible.
I will try to call them tomorrow (good luck!) and see what
they are willing to do for me. I may show up in person again. For anybody that lives close enough, this would be the best bet. I feel for the people who have to ship their
defective product for repairs that may not even happen because shipping comes out of their pockets. This can drag on and on and leave you with no hair.
Don't let the good reviews here sway you. People are more compelled to write a good review than a bad one. When you're angry you don't feel like reviewing a product you
paid for and found out you got ripped. I almost didn't write
this one. For the money this light costs it isn't worth the
gamble. Especially if you live far away from NiteRider.
Your light may or may not work as it's supposed to. It may
not work at all! It all depends on which employee had a part
in the light's construction and/or the quality of the electronics and other parts being used.
Because of this inconsistency with properly working products, I CANNOT RECOMMEND NiteRider to anyone, especially
considering their prices. Not to mention my own experience with them (which isn't over) that is shared by many others. NiteRider is probably too swamped with crap returned by law enforcement agencies to even think about
fixing anyone else's. Their stuff probably just gets replaced promptly. It should be this way for everyone who
shells out this much money for a bike light. You can learn
from mine and other's mistakes here. But if you're still
considering NR, then you know what they say:
A fool and his money........................ | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lenny Kohn
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Barbara
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | North Santa Barbara | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$249.00 | | Purchased At: | Super Go | | Strengths: | Digital Evolution
5 hour fast charger, 15watt super brite light, Fuel Guage, Helmet mount and Quick Release Handlebar Mount, Great Customer Service | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | NiteRider Classic | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale | | Bottom Line: | I've had a NiteRider Classic for 4 to 5 years and now have the Digital Evolution on my helmet. It is the perfect set up. I love having the 6w for getting my equipment together (saves battery life) and the 15w mode is really great for riding. I don't use the 9w much, I like full power when I'm riding. NiteRider has always had good Customer Service as far a my dealing with them. They were known for great Customer Service in the past. Sounds like they might have had a bad run of CS people last year, but when I called last month to get my Classic Battery checked out, they were very responsive, friendly and got my battery back to me in one week. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tim
a Cross Country Rider
from Brighton (UK)
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere on South Downs | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Evans Cycles in London | | Strengths: | [ this review is for the Digital Evolution lightset. there was no section for it.]
Light weight. Bright in 15 watt mode. Lamp head and battery are of sturdy construction.
The battery remaining gauge is a good idea. | | Weaknesses: | where do I start...
I took the lightset back to Evans three times before I got a smartcharger that worked. Not a very good start.
handlebar mounted remote dimmer switch connection is duff. Most of the time it didn't work and it eventually broke off.
Quick release handlebar mount for the lamp head comes undone after about half an hour of riding.
It never seemed to lock down properly no matter how much I tightened the latch.
The 5 and 10 watt light modes are no way near bright enough for riding off road. You will always end up using the 15 watt setting.
| | Similar Products Used: | None.- This was my first proper lightset | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight | | Bottom Line: | Very disapointed. Taping the lamp down was the only way to keep it attached to the handlebars. For £200 sterling I expected a better than that.
This is also a lot of money to pay for a 15 watt flood system with a 1.5 hour burn time. That's what you buying when you take away all the fairly pointless extras.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a
from St. Louis, MO
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$240.00 | | Strengths: | Bright, Easy installation and easy adjustment, small batter size, and lite | | Weaknesses: | Doesn't work with wireless computers. | | Similar Products Used: | Cateye and Trek battery operated models | | Bottom Line: | It is a great light if you don't use a heart rate monitor or have a wireless computer. Most of the Niterider products conflict. The only models that do not conflict are the Classic, Trailrat and the Evolution (non digital). It is easy to install. Had it installed in just a couple of minutes after the initial 5 hr battery charge. Haven't tried using it with the helmet, but am sending it back due to the compatability issue with my computers. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Perkins
a Racer
from Irvine, CA USA
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Jax | | Strengths: | Easy to operate. Digital indicator makes it easy to know how much battery life is left. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F2000, Litespeed Vortex. | | Bottom Line: | It is the best product on the market!!! I have had my niterider system for three years and use it frequently through the winter months on the road and dirt. My water bottle mounted battery finaly gave out a few weeks ago and Dave Keil in the customer service was extremly helpful. I sent my system down to them and only a few days later I received a call back saying my battery was toast and that they could send me a new battery for $100. Based on my last experience with the product the $100 was well worth it. The new battery was back at my home in only a couple more days. I was very impressed with the customer service and with the product. I would never consider any other lighting system. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josh Logan
a Weekend Warrior
from Aspen, CO
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Digital Evolution | | Strengths: | 3 light levels, fuel guage, helmet mount, handlebar mount, all well engineered and thought out. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | 10 watt Niterider Head Trip | | Bike Setup: | Giant | | Bottom Line: | I love this light! I use the light for everything from night job as snow groomer to fun, mountain biking, hiking, etc. I'm a big fan of niterider lights for many years. You can't go wrong with their products. I especially like the extra light levels, the lower light levels come in handy for fixing a flat tire, etc. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Harry Hogan
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$249.00 | | Purchased At: | Digital Evolution | | Strengths: | Multiple light levels, accurate fuel guage, Handlebar Mount is awesome, 5 hour microbrute charger. | | Weaknesses: | I have no complaints. | | Similar Products Used: | I've used several niterider lights for seven years, all good | | Bike Setup: | NA | | Bottom Line: | I bought a Digital Evolution about 6 months ago and have loved it ever since. The system comes with a 5 hour smart charger called the microbrute charger. I bought the cigarette lighter adapter accessory because I like charging in my car. I also bought the Niterider Explorer headband so I can use the light for camping, hiking, working in my garage or whatever. I have never had any problem with the charger. I just bought another 13.2 Microbrute quick charger for my older DP 12E. Make sure you get an adapter for the older plug as they have changed connectors. I bought the Cigarette Lighter Adapter for that also.
I think it is awesome that you can use the same Charger for charging at home or in your car. I keep my Digital Evolution in my car always so I can use for a spur of the moment hike to catch a beautiful sunset and have a light to get back down the mountain.
The multiple light levels from 15w,9w, 6w, and 3watt are an excellent feature. On a camping trip last October the battery lasted for the entire 5 day trip by conserving the battery using the lower light levels, primarily 3w, I even read at night in my tent. The fuel guage helped me to know where I was at on remaining battery.
All my friends have niteriders and they all feel the same about the lights, AWESOME. My opinion is that a few people have a had problems but that the majority of the people that own Niterider Lights are very enthusiastic about them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Klevorn
a Cross Country Rider
from Michigan
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | North Country | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$249.00 | | Purchased At: | Digital Evolution | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | Durability, customer service, customer service, price. | | Similar Products Used: | Nite Sun, Mag-light | | Bike Setup: | Gary FIsher Big Sur | | Bottom Line: | LIght broke after 3 times use, and has been in repair for 6 weeks. Circuit board failed, and light went haywire. It's a simple replacement issue. No one answers their phone, and you get placed in voice-mail hell, un-toll-free, for over 20 minutes. THey don't respond to email, for this kind of money I could have bought two toher systems and had a back-up. If I could rate it a zero I would. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dan mahlmann
a Weekend Warrior
from olney, md
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | gambrills/patapsco | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$189.00 | | Purchased At: | pweformance | | Strengths: | Not sure yet I'll update if possible | | Weaknesses: | only works for 5 sec-really
| | Similar Products Used: | battery operated cateye | | Bike Setup: | trek 7k, gti drive 2 k | | Bottom Line: | I asked for ratings on this before I purchased. Someone responded "stay away". I did not listen- Foolish of me.I thought the 2002 product might be better. I took first unit home, charged it per directions,turned it on worked for 3-5 sec. went out. wiggled connectors-came on-went-out,etc. returned to store ,tried every other connector from every other unit they had in stock, none worked. Had another shipped from online store, took home, see above comments, except this one never came back on after 5 sec. I dont know for sure- appears the wires & connectors are the problem. Hoping to get a cashiers check from store to purchase a Turbocat. Niterider should be sued for marketing a product as misleading as this.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ann
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle Wa
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$230.00 | | Purchased At: | Universal Cycles | | Strengths: | Sounds good in the ads. | | Weaknesses: | Connectors that are almost impossible to connect/disconnect.
Remote switch connector didn't make good contact.
Battery worked first time then failed. | | Similar Products Used: | None. Still using a quad-AA that at least works. | | Bike Setup: | Fisher Utopia | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the new NiteRider Digital Evolution which doesn't have a separate category (why? - I requested one).
I got this light even though I was weary from some of the other reviews because it had all the features I wanted. Alas it didn't work.
It took everything I had to get the battery/light connector to connect and disconnect.
Next the remote switch didn't work. I found if I pressed the connector just right the light would come on but then went off when I let go.
The first time I charged up and used the battery it worked fine. The next time it charged up fine (according to the guage) but immediately went out with the guage saying the battery was totally discharged. So I charged it up again and the same thing happened.
So I sent it back but man did Univeral Cycles give me a hell of a time trying to cover for NiteRider and talk me into another one. But after my experience and the other reviews of their new models, there was no way. Hoped a light would majically appear over the holidays but no such luck so I'm still looking. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from The Dalles, OR, USA
Date Reviewed: December 21, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Discover of Hood River | | Strengths: | Brightness and burn time (Blowtorch) | | Weaknesses: | RELIABILITY, and the WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE I have ever encountered. | | Bottom Line: | I bought the high dollar HID Blow-torch.
I road about 5 times on the road, then hit a mellow mtn bike trail. After the trail ride, I hit the power button to shut it off, but the switch apparently didn't work. After pulling the cord, I found that if I plugged it back in, the light would come on about every 5th attempt, and the power button had no effect. I called the customer service number that evening, which announced their buiness hours, so I decided to call back.
I called back during business hours, but got a voice mail box. I described the problem, and left my phone number (which has an answering machine) hoping they would call back with a warranty return number (that the manual says is required to send something in for warranty repair).
The next day, I hadn't got a call back. I called NR again, and got the same mail box. I described the problem again, and left home and work phone numbers. I got no reply.
The day after that, I called again, and selected a different option in the automated answering system. I got a voice mail box, and I left yet another message. That day I got a message from a woman at NR asking me to call back, and leaving a phone number (and not providing a warranty return number or any other information). I called, and found it was the same phone number, so I left yet another voice mail.
That was 14 days ago, and they never did call back!
Then I went back to the shop, where they didn't seem a bit surprised by my experience with NR. They exchanged the light. In the middle of the first ride, the second light started having problems. If you turn it on, often just the power switch will glow (indicating the unit is on) but the light won't fire. Other times, the light would fire up, but only for as long as you had your finger on the switch. After several tense minutes on the trail (11 miles from the road), I finally got it to light and stay lit.
I took it back to the shop, and they gave me another head unit. I haven't had a chance to use it yet, but if it doesn't do better, I will trade for a different brand.
Nite Rider has to have the ABSOLUTE WORST customer service I have ever encountered. Brightness and run time are great, but RELIABILITY IS LACKING.
Why don't they let us post a rating less than 1? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Edward Baguer
a
from N. Newark, NJ
Date Reviewed: December 13, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Rocky Point | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Speedgoat | | Strengths: | Different light levels. Mounting options | | Weaknesses: | Battery design. Customer service. | | Similar Products Used: | Vistalite Hype-15? | | Bike Setup: | Litespeed Toccoa | | Bottom Line: | The light works well enough when new but the design of the battery stinks. There is a wire connector that sticks out of the battery instead of having a wire plug into the body of the battery. I have had mine since the week after Interbike and yesterday I discovered a short in the wire sticking out of the battery. I called NiteRider and they told me that the turn around time would be about 4 weeks. Jesus, they should just send me a new battery as soon as they receive my battery. Had I known they put so little emphasis on customer satisfaction, I would have gone with another companies product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Foxboro, MA
Date Reviewed: December 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$229.00 | | Purchased At: | SupeGlo | | Strengths: | Digital Evolution - no strengths, except perhaps the packaging. Thre product looks cool, and all the advertising suggests it's the best. | | Weaknesses: | Product didn't function properly out of box. After reading the many Niterider reviews, I've decided never again to buy a niterider product. As someone else said, when you're paying big bucks for a product, it should function properly, or, it's an okay product, unless you actually plan on night riding!!
| | Similar Products Used: | None - thanks to mtbr and the many positive reviews, i'm going with the dual system offered by TurboCat.
| | Bike Setup: | Specialized FSR Extreme | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy this product. Be extremely cautious when purchasing any Niterider product.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ricky J
a Cross Country Rider
from San Luis Obispo, CA USA
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything Flagstaff | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Compact, bright | | Weaknesses: | H.I.D. light reduces contrast and trail detail visibil-
ity, helmet mount only | | Bike Setup: | Ventana Marble Peak FS | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the NiteRider Storm HID system. What
a terribly disappointing product! I wanted to get into
nocturnal riding this year with friends, and they gave
NiteRider products a strong thumbs up from past experi-
ences. I was wooed by the Storm's allegedly longer burn
times and high outputs- who wouldn't be? I called their
customer service line and they said it would be my best
choice. A few days later I had one and wow did it pump
out the candlepower- a somewhat bluish-violet beam. Two
friends (one with NR Classic dual beam 12V, the other on a six volt single beam) & I tried Poly Canyon. They
commented about how my pattern washed out theirs, and I
noticed an almost complete lack of shadowing on the tr-
ail: this meant that bumps, dips, and ruts became near-
ly invisible and I often found myself riding into them
unawares! The other two guys' lights revealed all these
obstacles with ease, so long as they rode outside my
pattern. We stopped and played with positioning and no-
thing we could do made the Storm perform as well as the
old school halogens. Less light but FAR better visibil-
ity...go figure. Finally it was suggested that I switch
off and follow them home. I did. We were puzzled and I
contacted NiteRider. They asked me to return it to them
for inspection and it checked out OK. At this point we
spoke again and they said this light's "a matter of ri-
der preference." (is there anyone who prefers low cont- rast and washed-out detail? Please contact me!) I told
them that no such thing was ever mentioned to me when I
inquired before purchasing, and if this IS the case, an
exchange for one of their halogen units would be accep-
table to me because the Storm doesn't provide safety at
night on the trails. They refused saying it's between my bikeshop and I. The shop gave me a credit on return but felt like NR wasn't standing behind their products.
I agree. I know NR have many happy owners (including my
pals remember) but we all agree that in addition to the
product needing lots more R&D their customer support is badly lacking. In fact, my two friends are owner and a
mechanic of another shop and will no longer recommend
NR products to customers. And they were very pro-NR be-
fore this experience. That alone speaks volumes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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