The Digital Evolution 15 watt Single beam system with 4.5Ah NiMH battery is NiteRider's newest system and is a "total solution" light system. This system can do it all. Mount it on your handlebar for those times when you need the light on your bike, or mount the light on your helmet so the light goes where you look. Includes everything you need to use both ways.
Submitted by
Robert
a Cross Country Rider
from Wisconsin Date Reviewed: July 27, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$130.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Good brightness and light field. Fast charge.
Weaknesses:
sort of awkward design. You're supposed to disconnect when not in use, but the exposed battery leads are subject to easy corrosion. Short battery life.
Bike Setup:
Giant Yukon '07
Bottom Line:
Ummm, well, I really like the light so far. But the reviews are scaring the crap out of me. I opted to buy on Ebay and not pay $250 through REI, though now I'm wishing I had taken the unlimited guarantee. So far so good though. Only problem is that the battery mounting is awkward. I have it facing up on the top bar because All of my cables are on the underside. I wish there was some sort of hanging cap for the end of the battery connector because the copper leads are exposed to the elements. I actually was looking at the cygolite LED systems. I would have rather had an LED or even an an HID system just because I like the cleaner light. But I found this one on Ebay, and I, against my instincts, bought it without reading reviews. This is all speculative though, I have had the light a few months now and have had no problems. I'm sure I'll be back sooner or later to rereview this thing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam
a Weekend Warrior
from Durham, NC Date Reviewed: October 24, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$239.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
beam pattern and brightness, lamp durability
Weaknesses:
build quality (electronics)
Similar Products Used:
Night Hawk, Trail Rat, PT Apex (headlamp)
Bike Setup:
Mag. hardtail and SC Bullit
Bottom Line:
follow up review. I returned it to REI for a full refund a year later. The remote switch completely failed. I tried everything I could do without returning it. I had a couple cases where the light would sit in the charger and stay almost drained. This problem was temporary. I rode with this thing at a night ride at Tsali, so I wanted the remote to kick it down in power to conserve the battery. Would have been a nice feature if it worked. I got tired of fussing with the button on the light head and left it at low power and used the Princeton Tec Apex as my primary beam. The Apex was much better than expected btw, I highly suggest it as a durable backup or head beam. it was bright enough to be a stand alone light at tsali. spot beam is very focused though. As for the evolution, only buy it if you KNOW you can return it. It seems like a sketchy light to me, but is good when it works. there are much better options for $240 too.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from Oakland Date Reviewed: September 19, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$195.00
Purchased At:
Missing Link - Berkeley
Strengths:
When it works, it is so cool. At least, if my memory serves... it's been so long since it worker properly...
Weaknesses:
every bad thing you've already read on here. first the gauge goes, then the whole thing croaks
Bike Setup:
full-on touring
Bottom Line:
absolute piece of crap. i hate to admit it, but i did read the reviews on here... what the &*(% was i thinking??? this light is the best i ever have had for about 10 rides. after that it fails so predictably and so completely. junk, junk, junk. even if they were to give me my money back for this one, i will never buy another product from them. having had so much bad feedback, how could they in conscience continue to ship and sell this crap?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam
a Cross Country Rider
from Durham, NC Date Reviewed: July 15, 2006
Favorite Trail:
beaverdam
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$239.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
fairly bright, solid beam pattern, durable head unit, smart charger
Weaknesses:
price, run time
Similar Products Used:
nite hawk 10w single beam, home made stuff
Bike Setup:
litec magnesium hardtail, Z2, magura rim brakes, XT/raceface etc.
Bottom Line:
I rarely buy anything without reading reviews, but I was pressed for time (night ride sun, bought sat) and bought this system at REI since they'd take it back no matter what happened. I HAD to have a smart charger. my nitehawk was a pain in the neck to charge. The ability to return the light to REI seemed nice too. I must say I've been surprised with this light. After these reviews I was expecting the thing to go right back to REI, but it's held up to some weird stuff. My apartment got flooded and the entire unit, wall charger and all was floating. It ran fine after that. I've dropped the head on cement and it's been okay (really lucky there). I did have one case where, like many of you have said, the light went out after about 5 seconds while 'fully charged'. I disconnected everything, recharged it and it ran fine. The 15w beam has been more than enough for trail riding IMO. Any more light and it takes the fun out of it...like riding with Hellas. Battery life is my only real problem so far. It gets just under 2h of run time at 15w. That wouldn't be too bad if the 10w mode was a significant improvement...it's not, only about 2.5h at best. Now I guess this is fairly normal for halogen systems around 15w, but with the Cateye double shot going for over 5 hours and the triple shot doing like 3.5-4, I wish I had bought one of those. I don't work for REI or anything, but if a company is willing to take back a product no matter what happens, that helps a lot. I would have been real upset if I ordered this online and read these reviews. But go figure, I have the option of returning it and it's been running just fine. Overall, this has been a bright, solid light for me. If your ride is 1h50m or less, it does a great job.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
DAT
a
from Houston, TX Date Reviewed: June 25, 2006
Favorite Trail:
varies
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$219.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bicycles
Strengths:
Great when it works
Weaknesses:
Unreliable
Bottom Line:
I had my light repaired...Nite Rider indicated I had a bad data line in the headlamp cable. I had to pay to ship it to them, but they repaired it and shipped it back to me at no charge. It was still under warranty. They said everything else checked out fine and that my battery and charger were 'just like new'. Well, I have used it three times since getting it 'repaired' and it really doesn't hold a charge anymore and continues to be unrelialbe. I contacted Perforance Bicycles and they will give me a full refund as I no longer wish to deal with this unreliable system. I am now the proud owner of a Light & Motion ARC NiMH system. I will give a review of that light when I have used it for awhile. Based on reviews at this site, it should be a lot more relible than the Nite-Rider. I got 15% off at Performance too...they have been great and I highly recommend them as they have a satisfaction guaranteed policy on everything they sell. I still give Nite Rider 2 chilis because when it worked it was great. For the value though, only 1 chili as it should work longer than 10 months!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
D. T.
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, TX USA Date Reviewed: May 20, 2006
Favorite Trail:
varies
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$219.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bicylces
Strengths:
Great light when it works; easy recharging; easy handle bar placement; lights up the trail wonderfully!
Weaknesses:
Expensive; it failed with no warning; unreliable since it failed. After only 10 monhths I expect this light to still perform, especially after having paid over $200 for it!
Similar Products Used:
Cateye bike light (not enough lighting power for the trail I commute on - backup emnergency light only)
Bike Setup:
Marin mountain bike & Giant TCR road bike
Bottom Line:
Bought it online about 10 months ago. I commute 2 days a week to work and ride through a very dark park in the wee hours of the morning. This light was awesome and has been invaluable on my rides to work until this past week. After charging as normal (the charger indicated the battery was fully charged) I set off on my bike this past Friday (Natl bike to work day) only to get the dreaded red light with three blinking green lights on the fuel gage. I shut it off and used my very weak back up light until I got to the park. I turned on the Nite rider light again and much to my surprise, the fuel gage showed 4 solid green lights and the light was working fine. Halfway trought he park the light went out without warning (scary!). I searched the web and found all these comments that seem eerily familiar to me now. I called Nite Rider and they issued me an RMA # and said send it back and they will repair or replace it since it is still under warranty. I will update this review when I get the light back. Only 2 chilis until I get the light back adn see if it works and is reliable in the furture. Otherwise, I may ask for a refund.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Derek
a Cross Country Rider
from Califoria Date Reviewed: February 25, 2006
Favorite Trail:
trip to go get some bawls energy drinks
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
bikes plus
Strengths:
Bright. Good battery life. Fast charger.
Weaknesses:
The conectors noever stay conencted. My optional switch conenctor broke of in the unit, and was pryed out with plyers. Niterider sent me a new one. Now, it seems theres a break in the data cable and the fuel guage goes nuts. I should have read the reviews, but i didnt.
Similar Products Used:
Trail Rat 2.0
Bike Setup:
Trek 6500 disc
Bottom Line:
I wouldnt buy again. Nite rider service seems sexy so far. im waiting for an rma numbe rot send it in.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Randy
a Weekend Warrior
from Reston, VA, USA Date Reviewed: January 20, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$190.00
Purchased At:
Sunrise Cyclery
Bike Setup:
Ironhorse warrior expert
Bottom Line:
Bought product in August, worked as advertised until first cold period when fuel gauge went psyco, light worked w/ busted guage until 18 Jan when light stopped, never to start again. Emailed niterider re problems - niterider will repair for a $30 as warranty expired, but will take 6-8 weeks to get light back. Will never buy another niterider product.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Racer
from Salem, CT Date Reviewed: December 28, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Hartman Park
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
It is pretty handy as a back up flash light around the house when I can't find that $5.00 Walmart flash light. Matter of fact I'd be better off, duct taping that to my handlebars.
Weaknesses:
I echo every negative comment on this review. I wish I would have read these before the purchase, but I trusted the LBS and the Niterider name. I only had about 10 rides on mine. The first three rides it worked great. Problems: cable separted from strain relief, cuts out, fuel gauge just goes wacko, the nightrider description by a reviewer hit the nail right on it's head. This products just plain sucks, and needs to be recalled
Similar Products Used:
Old Niterider classic.
Bike Setup:
SC Superlight
Bottom Line:
Save your money and don't buy!!!!!! I don't know if I'd give it 1 flammin chili. I hope NR reads these.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Anthony Rutland
a Weekend Warrior
from Saratoga, CA. USA Date Reviewed: November 18, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Boggs Mountain
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
None
Weaknesses:
Everything. Connectors. Reliability....etc.
Similar Products Used:
Light & Motion Solo
Bike Setup:
Fisher Sugar 3+ Disc
Bottom Line:
Bought this system on sale. Should have been my first clue to the impending hassle. First sys. came with wrong battery and charger. Second system the charger just blinked red constantly as the battery would NOT charge.
Took it back, got my money and drove two blocks down the street to Calmar cycles and picked up a l&m solo for 124 bucks! 13W of decent halogen light and I love it!!! Cant wait to save up for a L&M HID. Salesman says he doenst carry NR for a reason...they suck!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a
from Knoxville, TN, USA Date Reviewed: November 2, 2005
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$230.00
Purchased At:
Bike Zoo
Strengths:
It was bright when it worked.
Weaknesses:
After about a month, the light just would not stay lit. I tried several times to get it fixed. I took it back to the bike shop, and they said they could not ind anything wrong with it, but it definitely did not work for me. Brought it back again and they sent it off to Niterider. It came back with a note saying it was fixed, but same problem. ( Is it just me or what?) I would charge the battery overnight with Turbocharger, then connect it and the light would stay on for 5 seconds and then go out. I took it to a battery store and they said the charger checked out okay, and it was probably that the batteries had gone dead. Had them replaced (cost $50), brought it home, same problem. So I figure there is a short or something in the light's electronics.
Similar Products Used:
Cateye with light sticks, LED lights
Bike Setup:
Trek 8700
Bottom Line:
It does not work. A total waste of money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve
a Racer
from Milwaukie, OR, USA Date Reviewed: October 27, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Eight mile creek
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Nice bright light, light weight
Weaknesses:
Smart battery
Similar Products Used:
This is really the only one
Bike Setup:
Road
Bottom Line:
I actually have the Digital Head Trip, the precursor to the Digital Evolution (my newer batter is from the Digital Evolution product). I wanted to post this because of the most excellent customer service I have recieved from NiteRider. I bought a second battery (the newer smart battery) for my head trip because my old one was not lasting as long as it used to. I had problems with the darned thing shutting off at the most inopportune times and I must say that NiteRider just about completely rebuilt my cord (new ones here actually), the connections on my light and the case and computer chip in the smart battery, all at no charge and the light I've had for much longer than warranty. I recently started using it again and the battery shut down going uphill again so I sent it back again but they are doing a rush job for me and they are still some of the easiest people to work with I've encountered. I rate them some of the highest in customer service.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ted
a Cross Country Rider
from Westland, MI Date Reviewed: October 16, 2005
Favorite Trail:
All
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$133.00
Purchased At:
NiteRider
Strengths:
Fuel Guage, easy to adjust on gthe fly.
Weaknesses:
Battery & Cables
Bike Setup:
Cross Country
Bottom Line:
I bought this and a Classic Plus from NiteRider when I sent in my first headtrip for warranty work. They sold them at cost as they were behind on warranty repairs.
I am giving up on NR lights. I have used only a few times over the past few years. 2nd ride this year the battery flew out of my pack and no longer works. The Surelock connectors are difficult to connect yet seem to come apart easily on the trail.
Durability does not match the price and functionality.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
A.J. Dillard
a Cross Country Rider
from Elgin, IL. usa Date Reviewed: September 28, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
price point
Strengths:
when it worked, it was adequete
Weaknesses:
cord connection to battery is subtle at best - not to be tried in the dark - random fits of strobe and then black - not for the faint of heart
Bike Setup:
cyclocross commuter
Bottom Line:
the two year old manufacture's date on the box should have been my first clue that things were going to go badly - i'm going back to my led light until i can replace this unit - it is dangerous - do not buy/use this product as your only light - with all the similar complaints i'm reading here, i can't imagine how niterider can allow these to be sold - there is obviously something inherently wrong with these controllers
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
gear
a
from Beverly,MA,USA Date Reviewed: August 23, 2005
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$230.00
Strengths:
Nice bright light, can be used with great taillight
Weaknesses:
Connectors absoutly suck, come apart at worst possible moment, can't get them together unless in a well lit room. Battery can have problems.
Bike Setup:
use setup on MTB and commuter bikes
Bottom Line:
The light itself is great but the battery is flakey (returned the first one) and the connectors just plain suck. They come apart on their own and you can't connect them without being in a well lit place.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ricardo
a Weekend Warrior
from Texas Date Reviewed: July 27, 2005
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
pricepoint
Strengths:
it is bright and looks nice when it works. light
Weaknesses:
It is JUNK. I tried to use recently and it is not working anymore. Is is prolly the battery that is not working but I have used this light less than 10 times!!!!
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
titus racer x 100, fully loaded with goodies.
Bottom Line:
JUNK!!! Do not buy this light set
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Kenley
a Weekend Warrior
from WA Date Reviewed: June 15, 2005
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
VeloCycles, Seattle
Strengths:
Works well for the first week or so.
Weaknesses:
Light fails, fuel guage fails, very difficult to diagnose the apparently inevitable cause of failure. Dealer's don't want to touch it once its gone bad.
Similar Products Used:
Light & Motion Arc Lion
Bike Setup:
Merckx cyclocross commuter
Bottom Line:
Garbage. This light is an experiment in marketing flash v. reliable engineering and product testing. Whoever is behind this at NiteRider has gained $1 M in revenues at the cost of $10 M in company reputation.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Apple Valley, CA, 92307 Date Reviewed: May 8, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Anything around Bell Mountain
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA
Strengths:
Easy to mount, Fuel gauge works great, Charges fast and tells you when done, Thumb switch great for dimming to save battery without letting go of bars.
Weaknesses:
Brightness is ok, I wouldn't buy a light with less watts.(I would love to have an HID but don't want to spend that much) Not very tough.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Giant Warp DS2
Bottom Line:
This light system is great when it works! I ride about 40 to 50 miles a week about half on rough desert trails. All the features like the fuel gauge, the thumb switch, a good light pattern(I use 15 watts all the time and wouldn’t buy anything with less watts), and how I was able to mount everything to the bars and stem are great. I mounted the battery on the bars because I read all the bad reviews and I didn't want any cable slap or a line from the frame to the bars flexing all the time, but it didn't seem to work. It was on the bike all the time even when charging. It worked great for 6 months but one morning I plugged it in and all it would do is flash the red and one green light on the fuel gauge two times and then nothing! I called Niterider and they said I would have to send it in (customer service was very good) 4 days after I sent it they called me and said my battery had the old style cable and it was broke but they would upgrade it for free. They said my bulb was also bad and that cost me 20 bucks. Two days later I had my light back and it has worked so far. From now on I am not going to leave it on the bike unless I know I will need it, I don’t ride in the dark that often and I figure why beat it up. I will give it 5 chilis for value because of all the great features but only 3 chilis overall because I think it should be a lot tougher for the 200$ regular price. I will post if it busts again!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
m
a
from m Date Reviewed: April 16, 2005
Submitted by
Simen
a Weekend Warrior
from Ljubljana/ Slovenia Date Reviewed: April 12, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$189.00
Purchased At:
Beyondbikes
Strengths:
It's versatile and light.
Weaknesses:
Cable connectors are its weakest point. Just a small cable bend and it looses the contact and led indicators start to blink like Haselhof's Niterider.
Similar Products Used:
NR Storm and Classic Plus
Bike Setup:
Spec Enduro 05 with CK headset, Mavic XL, Maxxis Ignitor...
Bottom Line:
So far pretty reliable for me despite other posts. I use this light mounted on my handlebar in combination with NR Storm on my helmet. Battery life is as advertised but shorter in cold, of course. I managed to solve the problems with the connectors by taping them to the stem and the other one to the frame so they don't move. Also battery life indicator isn't completely reliable. The last quarter of its life is much shorter than first three, but I got used to it and I don't really care anymore. If I could change anything I'd simply cancel one cable and rather have a light unit with long cable and a battery with existing cable length.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dirtbag
a Cross Country Rider
from Reno, NV Date Reviewed: April 1, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Flume
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Light's up the trail when working.
Weaknesses:
I can think of many four letter words to describe this product but one that comes to mind right now is JUNK! Please save yourself the time and agony of dealing with these rip off artist. The actual light and battery by themselves are probably great quality and serve their purpose well. It is the retarded design of the cables that present the problem. The customer service at Niterider is garbage. The people that answer the phones are Dips***s. Your piece of s*** cables will be replaced with piece of s*** cables. This is simply a company that send blueprints to some junky Chinese factory and then stamps a big price tag on the product. I hope this company goes out business soon for sake of future generations of mtn. bikers.
Bottom Line:
Duct taping a mag light to your helmet is more reliable than this product. Imagine going 25mph down a hairy rocky trail and then suddenly it's pitch black. Nite Rider SUCKS.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
oldsquawky oldsquawky
a Cross Country Rider
from san francisco Date Reviewed: March 25, 2005
Favorite Trail:
all
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$240.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
bright when it worked
Weaknesses:
has a mind of its own/ goes dark on a full charge battery
Similar Products Used:
penlight battery cateyes
Bike Setup:
klein attitute comp
Bottom Line:
This light worked well for about three months and then became completly unreliable. I reckon I only used it about fifty times before it became unsafe. I'd be riding on a glass smooth bike path with a full charge battery and the POS would just go dark, no going to low voltage setting, it would just die a quick death. My girlfriend gave it to me as a gift so I can't complain about the absurdly high cost but I can whine about Niterider not haveing a 800 number, really cheap of them. This must be a ongoing problem with this model since their customer service guy didn't even want to here my story he just gave me a return authorization number straight away. Niterider repaired it and had it back to me in less than two weeks. The repair sheet said they replaced the data cable to the lamp. I had been putting the lamp in my bag during the day but I never coiled it or crammed stuff on top of it in to bust it. For over $200, it sure is flimsy if ordinary storage is all it takes to fry it out. I'm out the UPS cost to ship it to Niterider and I got the joy off finding my way home three or four times in complete darkness. Good turnaround time on a repair dosn't overcome the hassle, I wouldn't try Niterider if I were you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mitchell Dustin
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston Date Reviewed: February 9, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Tyler/Smithville/Cambodia
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
BikeSport
Strengths:
Power gauge on headlamp, bar mount, battery life
Weaknesses:
cost, bike mount battery(new design)
Similar Products Used:
na
Bike Setup:
Specilized Epic Marithon/XTR/Cross Mav Disc rims ad hubs, bla bla ,,, bla and more bla,,,
Bottom Line:
I have really enjoyed this light! I am making this review because I am wanting to get another one to wear on my dome and thought about getting the storm. I am very surprised to see the bad reviews of this product and consider myself lucky that the light has performed as I had expected. Light has never gone out and batter life on low beam is 4.5 hrs down to 1.5 hrs on high. Battery mounts on bike frame, light on bar, works like a champ. Looks like buying this product is a roll of the dice but,,,,,,, appears that they will work with you to fix!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jack
a Cross Country Rider
from huntsville, al Date Reviewed: February 8, 2005
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$215.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Bright, light weight, liked the battery life indicator. Used it commuting so it was used twice daily for most of the winter months. Never failed when I needed it.
Weaknesses:
Owned two and each only lasted one year...but it was probably because I ignored them (didn't charge them) April-Sept.
Similar Products Used:
Trying a Jet this winter and so far I really like it.
Bike Setup:
Used mostly on a Trek 6700 set up for commuting, although they were also used on road and mtn bikes.
Bottom Line:
- Thought I'd try a Jet and take better care of it during the summer, i.e. recharge it occasionally. - I kept reading bad things about NiteRider customer service but I sent both of my lights back to them with different problems and NiteRider replaced them within a couple of weeks...no problem. They answered the phone quickly, were courteous, gave me an RMA number and followed through with new/repaired lights. Couldn't have been better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Manuel
a
from Washington, DC, USA Date Reviewed: December 27, 2004
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$230.00
Purchased At:
Spokes, Etc. Alexandria, VA
Strengths:
Fuel gauge
Weaknesses:
A few cable problems.
Similar Products Used:
Niterider Classic
Bike Setup:
Giant Cypress DX and Specialized Sirrus a1
Bottom Line:
This is a followup to a previous post about a year ago. I was contacted about the problems I had with the light. It was repaired for a second time and I have had no problems since then. However, I should admit that I have been using my Niterider Classic light system primarily for the last year. About two months ago, I used my Digital Evolution system for two weeks while I was waiting for a replacement bulb. I had no problems with the fuel gauge or the light. Given the prompt customer service response to my post on this board and the problem free operation since then, I would increase my overall rating one chili. It now serves as a backup light and the light for my second bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Racer
from Albuquerque, NM Date Reviewed: December 22, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$180.00
Purchased At:
Beyond Bikes
Strengths:
Nice beam. Multiple power setting although gets very yellow at 6 watts -- useful for longer run times.
Weaknesses:
The connectors -- particularly on the bttery itself. This appears to be where most of the problems lie and I would bet that this is the problem most people with negative experiences are having. See below.
Similar Products Used:
Digital Head Trip 1 and Digital Head trip 2.
Bike Setup:
N/A
Bottom Line:
I actually have a couple of these lights as I have ones for both my wife and myself and managed to pick up a couple of extra units really cheaply on ebay. So I think I can give a pretty good account of the problems with this model. To start with I have a Digital Head Trip II with the older connectors. There is no wire coming from the battery OR the headlamp in these lights. The cable connects directly to the battery on one end and the lamp unit at the other. I have NEVER had a problem with these lights. Now on to the Dig. Evo. I HAVE had problems with this model. All appear to center on the battery and the connector coming out of the battery. I have 2 batteries that both give false readings at the headlamp. With some experimentation I found that this was because the signal line in the battery cable had broken. In one case I was able to bend the wire at just the right angle and tape it in place. This battery now works fine with all my headlamps (Dig. Evo. and Dig. HT 2). The other battery actually had a break in two places and I could not play the bend and tape trick with it. I will eventually send both back to NR for repair. More on NR service later. I know that NR claims that the reason they went to a new battery connctor was for reliability. And maybe that is true. But the simplicity of the older system, and the fact that the wire was completely separate from the battery OR the lamp was a BIG bonus. Wire breaks you are out $20 for a new cable. Pretty simple. Not so easy with the Dig. Evo. Another complaint is that while I have used my Dig. HT 3 for years and have NEVER had a problem with the cable, it appears that the wires in the Dig. Evo. are much more prone to breakage than the wires for the older lights. As stated previously, I have never had a problem with the older batteries or cables and they work fine both on the Dig. HT 2 and the Dig. Evo. I just wish that I could still get these batteries! Also, if I could only open up the darn battery I could fix it myself, but the new multimount batteries come with a security keyed style hex bolt/screw. So the bottom lineis that from my experience the lamp unit is great, the battery connectors suck.
NR Customer Support. I sent in an old Dig Pro 12E that was way out of warranty (again an ebay purchase that I knew was not working when I bought it -- part of a package deal). It took them 4 weeks (Christmas rush I suppose) but they fixed it without charging me a cent. So, while I agree that they are slow, they did stand behind the product. One other thing to note -- forget emailing them questions. You will NEVER get an answer. But everytime I have phoned them Ihave gotten through with a minimal wait and they have been very helpful.
I would give it 5 stars based on the headlamp unit and 2/3 stars based on the battery. As a compromise it gets 4.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Peewee
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston Date Reviewed: October 27, 2004
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$220.00
Purchased At:
Houston
Strengths:
1)it's rechargable 2)different brightness settings 3)helmet/bike mounts included and you also get the extension cable...
Weaknesses:
1) Fuel Gauge works at first, but eventually it will go craZy 2) Light can turn off (on it's own) with a full charge 3)it works right, when first you get it, but eventually it gets a mind of it's own.
Bottom Line:
This is my second digital evolution, the first on I owned was replaced (by niterider) for the second one. This light should be discontinued because it apparently has some major design flaws.
I don't like riding at night thinking I am safe with this light, because really I am not. With this light I don't feel safe while riding at night. Sometimes 5-10 minutes into powering on the light, it shuts off automatically. I don't trust this light enough to use off road anymore, and it isn't really safe for roadriding at night because it doesn't work like a 200$ light should. Car's can't even see me coming down the streets (in the dark) when the thing isn't working.
Stay away from this particular niterider product. I have heard most of their other products work really well, but this light really isn't worth the money
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
james
a Weekend Warrior
from nelson B.C. Date Reviewed: October 19, 2004
Favorite Trail:
hitman
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Sacred Ride
Strengths:
Beam is great when it works.
Weaknesses:
Light goes out whenever it feels like it,very quirky. Connectors are very poor quality.
Similar Products Used:
Older BLT
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Bullit with all the good stuff.
Bottom Line:
I can't believe this company makes underwater scuba lights. My light,which has always been mounted on my helmet,is completely unreliable. It has never worked properly since new. The extension cable was the first part to give up. After replacing the cable it worked fine for about three rides then the end of the remote switch fell off. I bypassed the remote switch but the unit still shuts off by itself. It's an overpriced piece of electronic junk! If you like to ride at night don't buy a Niterider.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Vince
a Cross Country Rider
from Highlands Ranch, CO Date Reviewed: October 8, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Porcepine Rim
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$220.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bicycles
Strengths:
Good beam pattern...when the it works.
Weaknesses:
Unreliable product. First ride on an easy trail and the light went out! Good thing I rode with spare helmet mount light to make it back home.
Similar Products Used:
Nite Rider Evolution - non digital. This light had problems with faulty cable connections.
Bike Setup:
Specialized S-Works pro
Bottom Line:
This is the second Niterider product I owned that was unreliable. If you spend $200.00 plus for ANY product...it should at least work! Don't fall for the "race" support garbage they tell you at the 24hour races. If you can't see the trail, what good is the light? Read the other reviews and purchase a light that is "reliable."
The only good thing about this particular model light was that I happened to buy if from Performance Bicycles, who gladly refunded my hard earned money!
Buy this light ONLY if you fall for the "race" support stuff during 24 hour events!
Do not buy this light if you need reliability. Sorry guys but you missed the mark on this one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael S.
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle Date Reviewed: October 7, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Aurora Cycle
Strengths:
When not randomly going out, provides a nice, even light.
Weaknesses:
Randomly extinguishes itself, even on a full charge, even when all plugs are connected. Has been back on warranty once, was fixed in theory, and now randomly goes out again. Also uses American Standard Allen Bolts-- WTF????? I guess metric isn't standard yet. Who knew?
Similar Products Used:
Light and Motion
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Id.
Bottom Line:
This light is horrible. I cannot use it as it randomly goes out. Try flying down singletrack at night at 30mph not knowing if your light is going to go out. I can't do it anymore, and have purchased my last Niterider product. I highly suggest if you are looking for a light you purchase from Jet or Light and Motion. None of the people in my crew who ride those lights has had problems. This is, perhaps, the worst bicycle accessory I have purchased since 1983. I might as well have used the $200 as fire starter.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan Roach
a
from Long Island N.Y. Date Reviewed: September 27, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Ones with dirt, rocks, & some trees
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Good bright lite for those moonless night trail rides, Battery life is very good and it charges up extremly well. Multiple mounting postions, on both bars and helmet. Setup is extremely easy, with little trouble.
Weaknesses:
None as of yet but see below for the reason!
Bike Setup:
Specialized Stumpjumper FSR XC, and Kona Stinky but this bike rarely sees the light
Bottom Line:
I have yet to experience any of the power problems or battery problems that most reviewers have had. I suspect that is becuase I do NOT use this light on my handlebars but rather as a helmet light. It has yet to fail me ever, the reason why I belive this light is not good to be used is because of two reasons. One is that the battery has a digital power management system, so I believe that when the battery is knocked about on the frame it is damages the internal power management system. Two is the the wire connectors that hook the battery to the light. If the wires are not connected just right the power management system will see it as a power drain and then turn off the light or power it down. These reasons that I only use it as a helmet light and have had no problems with it. I also like a helmet light better than one on my handlebars. Other than that it is a great light and would suggest it to anyone who is looking for a good lighting system, not willing to break the bank on HID and would only use it as a helmet light. I have used it allot this season and have had no problems with it. I got it at a great price brand new. Try one out it makes an awesome helmet light but do NOT use it as a handlebar light or you will have problems with it. Other than that it's great but not outstanding a buddy of mine has a Blowtorch and that makes this one look like nothing, HID is nice but if you can't afford it Halogen provides enought light for simple night trail riding, if your into racing spend and get a HID but if your looking for a little night trail riding this is a fine light for a helmet light I can't stress that enough! PEACE!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Oriel
a Weekend Warrior
from Hamilton, ON, Canada Date Reviewed: September 20, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Hilton Falls
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
Cambria bike outfitters
Strengths:
nice when it is working
Weaknesses:
Niterider, their customer service, reliability.
Similar Products Used:
Jet, BLT, homemade versions
Bike Setup:
Santa cruz heckler
Bottom Line:
I recently shipped a system to NR b/c their battery blew on me (about 6 months of actual service use) and asked them to ship the light back to me via USPS, and even volunteered to pay the difference in cost b/c they always use UPS. The lady assured me that there was no problem and that the light system would be sent back to me properly at no extra charge. It has now been 2 1/2 weeks since NR supposedly shipped my item back to me and I have not yet received it. Whenever I call them, all I get is the runaround, some buck passing and unreturned voice messages. This is the last time I buy niterider!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Toby Welborn
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX Date Reviewed: April 19, 2004
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$198.00
Purchased At:
PricePoint
Strengths:
Quick Charge Bright Enough
Weaknesses:
No problems yet except for the mounting bracket
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Bianchi Denali (beefed up to suit my fancy) Bianchi Cuss Bianchi Pista
Bottom Line:
I've had this light a long time and can't say that I have ever really had problems with it. In general, its been okay and reliable (i.e. it hasn't flashed off like the previous posts). I have generally gone for two to three rides a week in the dark during winter and two in our blistering hot summers. I have had no problems with the battery or with the light bulb (excusing one stupid wreck with a tree). It definitely isn't a HID system but it works like I expected it to.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nevin
a Cross Country Rider
from Augusta Date Reviewed: February 2, 2004
Favorite Trail:
the one home from work
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
bright, when it works
Weaknesses:
it doesn't work, goes out unexpectedly, lousy customer support, expensive piece of junk
Similar Products Used:
cheap L.E.D.s are better
Bike Setup:
Cannondale T1000 for commute
Bottom Line:
All other (bad) reviews of this product are right on, this is a definite mistake. It stopped working reliably after 6 months, mostly due to bad connectors and shorts. Sent it back to no avail- the company sent back a unit that was no better than what I sent in. It's worse than bad, it's dangerous if you're moving fast down a narrow trail and suddenly find yourself in the dark. I'm buying cheap L.E.D.s from now on, for a fraction of the price. At least they'll turn on!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
flint
a Cross Country Rider
from gresham, or Date Reviewed: January 25, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$22999.00
Purchased At:
River City Bikes
Strengths:
Good output when it works, good great charger. Lots of extras
Weaknesses:
It's a faulty model. Stay away from buying the Digital Evolution
Similar Products Used:
Trail Rat. Great dependable unit
Bike Setup:
Specialized Enduro
Bottom Line:
I'm sending it in for a second repair within a year. I've only used it a few times and it's never been abused. It seems to short circuit and the output power drops off. They replaced the cord last time, who knows what's wrong with it now. This headlight is a piece of junk! Buy something else. Those who haven't had problems are very lucky.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chuck cypert
a Cross Country Rider
from dallas, the metromess Date Reviewed: December 24, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Old Ore Road
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$210.00
Purchased At:
Richardson Bike Mart
Strengths:
I like the fuel gauge feature and all the mounting hardware and accessories that come in the kit.
Weaknesses:
No lateral adjustment, can't connect "smart" battery to my TrailRat without erasing the fuel gauge memory in the battery (at which point it has to go back to the factory).
Similar Products Used:
NiteRider TrailRat 2.0, NiteRider BlowTorch.
Bike Setup:
Beater SS built up for night laps at Arbor Hills.
Bottom Line:
I finally got one that works. The previous two units I have had in the last three months both failed, they were 2003 models but this one is a 2004. The have definitely sorted out some issues with the earlier version (see my earlier posts, or just about any of the other disgruntled users' posts).
NiteRider's personnel (both Tech Support and Sales Managers) have been very nice and understanding and offered to repair the other models but I could not stand the two-week turnaround so I just went back to the LBS where I got each and asked for replacements. They had heard the stories from other users and did not give me a hassle because the older lights had problems.
I was so impressed by their attention to my unhappy posts here that once I could tell this one worked I went and bought a Blow Torch for my commuter bike. I have had nothing but good luck with previous NiteRider products and will continue to believe in the company, but we have had our ups and downs this year.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doug Surowiec
a Racer
from New Brighton,PA Date Reviewed: December 21, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Ambridge Bike Shop
Strengths:
Very bright, solid construction
Weaknesses:
Fuel gauge, lamp head electronics
Similar Products Used:
Non-digital evolution, NiteHawk Viper
Bike Setup:
K2 Mod 3.0, Jamis Eureka
Bottom Line:
Sigh... I am so frustrated w/this thing I almost threw it in the dumpster. As per my previous post, unit would shut itself off for no reason. Sent in for repair, came back with bulb that was different from the original that I sent in, so it wasn't as bright. Now the unit changes light levels and goes into flash mode before shutting itself off. Does anyone know what this pattern means? RED AND GREEN blink three times, off, RED AND GREEN three times, etc.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ping
a Weekend Warrior
from Hong Kong Date Reviewed: November 17, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Jenson USA
Strengths:
Fuel Gauge and adjustable light levels, Fast Charger Light and Robust Head Unit Bright beam pattern....
Weaknesses:
Non existent customer service Reliability on key parts Surlock connectors aren't great. Quality of cables, easily kinked or shorted. 12" extension included in the kit is not really long enough to enable you to use as a helmet light (they should have included the 36")
Similar Products Used:
Cateyes
Bike Setup:
SC Superlight, AC1
Bottom Line:
Great system when it works.... but ultimately unreliable. My unit gave suspect reading, i.e. battery was full and then suddenly it would go to low power in shutdown mode...
I found the problem with the surlock connectors, and modified the female plug contacts and after that it was fine.
After using about a year, I had the same problem as a previous post, the cable had split on the battery rendering the system useless. This was even though the battery was still in excellent condition. The screws on the battery are proprietary meaning you must send it back to niterider to repair (even though you could repair it yourself easily).
7 emails to niterider customer service, and I've still had zero response, tried calling .... customer service is only from 8am to 3pm.. Now I have to wait till after midnight to call them....(in Asia)
They seem to have no facility to service international customers, if you are outside the US, DO NOT BUY THIS SYSTEM unless you have a strong distributor technical assistance...
I'll give the product 2 chili's as it's actually pretty good except for the above weaknesses, but zero for customer service and back up and a 2 for value, since this thing ain't cheap, and it really shouldn't malfunction after such a short time!
Look to the other posts and spend your money on a company that will provide decent customer service (Jetlite, Turbocat etc)... my friends who've had problems with their systems and these companies respond within a day.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Manuel
a
from Washington, DC, US Date Reviewed: November 11, 2003
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$230.00
Purchased At:
Spokes
Strengths:
Adequate light, three levels of light, nice gauge when working. Nice mounts.
Weaknesses:
Problems with fuel gauge, appears to be a short in contacts or plug.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Giant cypress, a hybrid
Bottom Line:
I bought this light two years ago in November of 2001. It worked perfectly for a year. The summer of 2002 after I bought it, my bike was stolen with the battery and mount attached. I ordered a replacement battery and mounts and it continued to work perfectly till early winter 2003. I had packed the battery into a water bottle that I cut open with newspaper so that I could mount it to the water bottle cage, and was again leaving the battery outside on the bike. So when I started having malfunctions, I thought perhaps it was because of this. (It was a colder winter and I was riding more often the second winter.) The battery didn't seem to be fully charging and I was having malfunctions with the fuel gauge. I was lazy and set it aside and used another plain analog 10W system I had for the rest of the winter. Late summer I sent it in to be repaired and Customer Service was great. One email and I sent the battery in and got it back in a few weeks with tech notes that they had replaced the board in the light. But I also noticed they had sent a different battery back with the light. I didn't think much of it, a battery is a battery, as long as it works. It worked fine for a couple of charges and then I started having fule gauge problems again. Like others I've had the light just shut down while riding. The fuel gauge is reading 50% full and the light just shuts off while riding down a dark trail. It appears to be a short in the plugs or the cable because a few times when the fuel gauge malfunctioned, "fiddling" with the plugs and cable near the plugs caused the fuel gauge to start functioning properly again. I have NOT noticed any corrosion, but there definitely appears to be some connection problem.
I am now mulling over whether to go through the trouble of sending the battery in again, or just forget it buy another. After reading other reviews here, I am leaning toward just getting a new light system.
So the battery worked great for over a year, but at $230, I expected more time of problem free operation. I could understand battery lifetime running out and having to replace that, since I use a light almost everyday in the winter, but I've never gotten to that point.
This is a fairly expensive light system. But it does have quite a few features, so I'll give it a value of 4 considering over a year of perfect operation of all features. Overall I give it a three. I don't think I should see two malfunctions in the second year of use, and the unexpected loss of light when the gauge indicates 50% power while riding down an unlighted trail is really unacceptable.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
IbisBreezer
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas, TX Date Reviewed: November 5, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Old Ore Road, BBNP
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$206.00
Purchased At:
Richardson Bike Mart
Strengths:
Bright white light, comes with all the doodads.
Weaknesses:
Didn't survive two rides. Too expensive.
Similar Products Used:
My first Digital Evolution
Bike Setup:
Beater SS.
Bottom Line:
OK, for the second time in less than a month I am on my way back to the bike shop to get another new Digital Evolution. The first one had the problem you see described in several review here, it shut itself off for no apparent reason and without warning. The light head was faulty as far as I can tell. The new one the batter lead wire has split where it comes out of the strain relief on the batter and now my fuel guage does not work.
NiteRider used to make the best products, now some of their stuff really sucks. My TrailRat 2.0 is a great light, it works flawlessly, but the Digital Evolution is an evil piece of crap.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bubba
a Racer
from Madison, WI USA Date Reviewed: November 1, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Blue Mounds State Park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$216.00
Purchased At:
Eric's Bike Shop
Strengths:
Bright, Ability to mount on bar or helment, run time is longer than rated. Connection seem solid and stay connected.
Weaknesses:
Electronics are unpredictable, battery power indicator does not work all the time
Similar Products Used:
Niterider non digital Evolution.
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Sugar 2+, Race Face Turbine Cranks, Everything else stock
Bottom Line:
I originally purchased the non digital version of this and used it on 3 night rides. It worked fine but the reason I took it back was because the manual says that if you charge it more than 9 hours you will damage the batery. P I am forgetfull and have an ever changing schedule so I wanted something with a smarter charging system so that I could plug it in and forget it. Also I wanted something that lets me know how much battery I have remaining
I took the non-digital evolution back and picked up this setup. The first time I charged it the charger would only charge for a few minutes then stop and go to ready mode, I hooked up the light and it only indicated that it was partly charged (1 green led). I hooked it in again and the same thing. I had to disconnect and reconnect the thing 4 times to get it all the way charged. The next 4 charges it worked as it should.
The first 2 times I used it it worked great one time I used it on techincal stuff on my head and the next time was on a rail trail on my bar. The third time I took it out it shut itself off without any warning. I turned it back on and the red light was on and the green ones were blinking, but it stayed lit for another hour. The next day I called technical support and they said that the battery and lamp were not "communicating" and that it should still work but would not know if the light would shut itself off again. They said I had to send it to them to get fixed.
Well I had another ride scheduled with a group the next night so I risked it and rode with it. The led lights were still blinking but I rode for 2.5 hours at fill power and it still was burining bright.
Another person in our group had a jet lite that cost the same as mine and it was twice as bright. I will be taking this one back and have alrady ordered the jet lite.
I guess I should have gotten the thing repaired and tried it longer but after reading the other problems people are having and my disapointment that a product would go bad after so few rides.
I give it 3 because it does have a good run time and the batteries are pretty light weight. Also the mounting hardware works great.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Troy Holland
a Cross Country Rider
from Griffin, Ga Date Reviewed: October 24, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Something with dirt and rocks.
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$215.00
Purchased At:
Jenson USA
Strengths:
Quality construction, none of the parts seemed cheap. Helmet and HB mounts. Rapid charger and digital brains. Good bang for the buck.
Weaknesses:
Documentation was a bit weak. Would like more tech. data about run times and battery charging. Battery mounting looked easy until I tried to work around my cables.
Similar Products Used:
none. first lighting system used, researched as much as I could. Still, a newbie's point of view.
Bike Setup:
gf - hoo koo e koo
Bottom Line:
The package arrives via FedEx. Opened it like a kid and was not disappointed. Liked the helmet and handlebar mounts after playing with them. All parts of the "lighting system" looked like quality stuff. No "made in china" feel to the entire set. Rode in the night for my first time with this light on my helmet. Deer standing in the trail looked like werewolves with their eyes glowing so brightly. Short 45 minute ride with my nerves and constitution failing before the light did. Tried to run the battery out on the way home, another 30 minutes at 15 watts. Went to work with the light on again the next day. Lost hope trying to drain the battery and just let it run while I was at work. Total run time was over 1 hour and 45 minutes. I need 2 of these to make me more comfortable. I will be putting one on the bars and the other my head.
Some of those below that flamed the NiteRider, would flame the Pope for a bad order at the local café if they could. Just use the product as designed and it will deliver butt saving light as you hammer your trail in submission.
As for the 4 flaming chilis – nobody is perfect. Ride hard!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Raymond, Maine, USA Date Reviewed: October 24, 2003
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Great marketing
Weaknesses:
Silly connectors, too smart for its own good, burn time below specs
Similar Products Used:
Nite Rider Digital Night Owl
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Blizzard
Bottom Line:
I've now purchased 3 Nite Rider digital lights. A friend bought 2 about the same time. EVERY one has failed and had to be returned to Nite Rider for service! 3 were for failures in the digital logic that led to the lights misbehaving - shutting down to backup mode with a fully charged battery, randomly switching to emergency mode, randomly switching light levels etc. One was a "smart" battery failure - wouldn't sync with the charger some how. Fifth is a bad connection somewhere in the battery pack. I really regret buying into the digital claptrap. Good customer service and extended warrantees are pretty useless when your light snuffs in the middle of the woods! Meanwhile our friends riding with simple (analog?) Nite Rider systems never have issues. Good thing too, sharing their photons was how I got out last week when 1 battery failed and the newly repaired one came up short on its burn time!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
IbisBreezer
a
from Dallas Date Reviewed: October 17, 2003
Shuts itself off while you are buzzing down the trail at night. Sometimes powers itself on when least expected. No lateral adjustment. Way too pricey.
Similar Products Used:
None tried or even considered to be in the same league.
Bike Setup:
Beater single-speed for nighttime laps at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve.
Bottom Line:
I purchased this light because I have an old (6+ years) NR product that is still ticking like new so I expected the same level of reliability. WRONG. This light has been squirrely since I got it. You may be screaming down the trail and suddenly find yourself in the dark. The unit will turn itself off, then back on, then off again for no apparent reason. Once it turned itself on and would not shut off until power cord removed. Weird. This problem seems worse with battery fully charged, after it has turned itself off about 4 times and you are down on battery a little it seems to work just fine.
When it works it is awesome, but it will definitely scare the hell out of you when it quits. I went back to the bike shop and asked for a replacement after finally getting agreement from NR customer service that there is a defect in the first one. They told me 2.5 weeks turnaround for another and I didn't want to wait since the weather here is finally down to around 70 in the evenings. I'll run a few charge cycles through the new one and if it is working I'll post another review.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doug Surowiec
a Racer
from New Brighton,PA Date Reviewed: October 17, 2003
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Ambridge Bike Shop
Strengths:
Very bright,good beam pattern, like the smart charger,although the microbrute device is INCORRECTLY labeled. It does NOT flash green when on trickle charge. Niterider's hotline told me this.
Weaknesses:
Behaves itself when mounted on bars, but when you use the extension cord for the helmet mount, unit turns off quite a bit(bad connection or chip, don't know which?)
Similar Products Used:
Nite Hawk Viper
Bike Setup:
Jamis Eureka
Bottom Line:
Apart from the weak extension cord (and that's enough, if you've ever hit 30mph, and then have no forward vision) Niterider needs to work out some bugs. Should have just paid extra and bought the Storm HID.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark Lebowitz
a
from Chicago, IL, USA Date Reviewed: October 9, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Street
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$230.00
Purchased At:
The Pony Shop, Evanston, IL
Strengths:
Bright beam with good dispersal pattern, compact NiMH battery, smart charger.
Weaknesses:
Poor-quality cables that keep shorting. Digital features don't justify the high price.
Similar Products Used:
NiteRider Super Sport
Bike Setup:
Mostly stock Cannondale hybrid, set up for commuting
Bottom Line:
I started out loving this light. It's bright, compact, and relatively convenient to mount and dismount from the bike. It came with a helmet mount, a concept that I liked although I never actually used it. I think it's a stretch to say the battery could be carried in a jersey pocket (too heavy for that), but for quick setup, its heavy-duty Velcro strap secures it to the handlebar stem. (I mostly used this light without the remote switches and long cables.) Run time at maximum power is about 1:40, which is more than enough for my purposes. The smart charger can charge the nearly-spent battery in about 4 hours, top off the charge in 1-2 hours and won't overcharge. The quick-release Cam-Lok mount is reasonably easy to use and a big improvement over older NiteRider quick-release mounts. I couldn't ask for a better beam dispersal pattern.
Alas, this light has a major drawback: the cables are highly prone to kinking and shorting. In my experience, this happens after about 2 months of regular use (4 days a week, for those evening commutes in the spring and fall). The most vulnerable point appears to be the cable attached to the battery. Unfortunately, this is not a problem that can be fixed by the user. The light must go back to NiteRider for repairs. NiteRider deserves points for excellent customer service, and in apparent acknowledgement of this problem, they don't seem to adhere to their officially stated policy of charging for the repairs after the warranty period expires.
The bottom line for me, though, is that even excellent customer service and a generous repair policy doesn't make up for an unreliable product. My local bike shop has agreed to give me a partial return credit for my Digital Evolution, and will soon replace it with some other brand of light.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Harry
a Weekend Warrior
from Bethesda Date Reviewed: June 18, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$150.00
Strengths:
Long battery life, bright light. Customer support.
Weaknesses:
Microprocessor in the lamp crashes sometimes; need to "reboot" by disconnecting, reconnecting battery. Hard to connect cables in the dark; connectors are "keyed," but that doesn't seem to help.
Similar Products Used:
Cat-Eye
Bike Setup:
Commuter road bike.
Bottom Line:
I've used this lamp daily through the winter and spring in the worst kind of weather and it has held up really well. However, it appears that some water entered the head and shorted out a circuit a couple of weeks ago. NR fixed and returned it in record time, and kept me informed of every step of the process. Excellent customer service.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
George W
a Weekend Warrior
from Lufkin, TX Date Reviewed: June 5, 2003
Favorite Trail:
the one I'm on!
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
price includes 4 batteries, bought used from race partner
Strengths:
Pretty durable, hasn't crapped out yet and it's been through some bad weather and hard falls. Seals seem to be holding up well - no condensation or moisture retention so far, and this light system is a few years old.
Weaknesses:
Batteries don't last NEAR as long as manufacturer advertises. That is VERY frustrating. Battery swap-out is clumsy on the trail. Esp. the conductor wire "quick" connection into the light body is difficult. Just try doing that when it's completely dark, when your heart is going 165bpm and it's so cold you can't feel your fingers. Or when it's 100 degrees and you're being eaten up by mosquitos.
Similar Products Used:
Petzl
Bike Setup:
'03 Trek 8000 completely stock except Time ATAC pedals and Panaracer tires.
Bottom Line:
I bought this light system used from one of my race partners, who in turn bought it used from a friend who's a race promoter. The system is a good 'un overall, and I would recommend it to anyone who needs a reliable light setup but who cannot afford the bucks to buy a Storm (Nightrider's top-of-the-line system). New these things are pricey, so you might want to check out opportunities for used ones on eBay or from friends. NightRider does provide good service, and they stand behind their product, so tech support and warranty work is reliable.
Notes on Ratings: Value rating is only 3 steamin' turds cause NightRider is way too proud of their product new. The solution to that is to buy a used one from someone you can trust - that's the best value. Overall rating is 4 flamin turds cause performance is reliable, but the battery swapout is clumsy on the trail. The Storm is a better performer and the system setup is better so it would rate 5 chili's, but it's WAY expensive.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from Cheltenham, Glos, UK Date Reviewed: June 2, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$270.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Compact battery & head. Battery very light. Pack fits well. Good beam pattern. Good mount though quite complicated. Car charging cable available. Bar or helmet mounting. Both supplied.
Weaknesses:
Expensive. 6W mode pointless. Electronics in head means it cannot be used for "homebrew".
Similar Products Used:
Niterider evolution. Vistalite 4XX. Various homebrew.
Bike Setup:
Stumpjumper pro
Bottom Line:
Have been using two of these lights for well over a year once or twice a week for off-road night riding. One has been bar mounted with the remote the other on my helmet...battery in rucsac.
As expected the light with the battery in the pack lasts longer. The electro-chemical reaction is more effecient in the warm. But the bar mounted light is good for 2 1/2 hours. Helmet hount isn't wonderful, but does the job. A bit of velcro on the helmet helps it to stop moving. Would be nicer if the mount were higher (as in L&M) to stop the helmet moving when going down the rough stuff.
A car adapter is available. Good for 24hr racing.
Remote is good for being able to change power without removing hands from bars.
Takes a couple of seconds to turn on.
Like others have mentioned...after recharging the battery is it sometimes necessary to run the light, re-connect the battery to "reset" the power meter.
Doesn't like have the two batteries swapped. Really messes up the power meter. Thus, each set is colour coded with tape.
Connectors are okay.
Flashing mode is very good for road use. Drivers have no excuse.
Has soft-start such that a cold bulb doesn't pull a huge current thereby blowing the bulb.
Replacement bulbs and batteries are very expensive. The bulb is ~£25 and the smart battery ~£110. Haven't had a bulb die yet. [Touch wood] When the battery dies it would be cheaper to buy the replacement cells and do the repair oneself. Spares are very hard to get...especially here in the UK. Does not work with the non-smart battery...in any way.
Only had two failures. The mains adapter for the charger and the remote braking off at the plug. RAW replaced the head unit and remote. Nice of them.
Bottom line...is it worth the money? Yes and no. The evolution is virtually indentical without any fancy electronics or smart charger. Simple switch, so little to go wrong. No fuel gauge, remote or soft-start though. Also, I like the smart charger. If there were a evolution plus [that is, with the smart charger] that would be the way to go.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
s_u
a Weekend Warrior
from Oakland, CA Date Reviewed: May 12, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$190.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Helmet & Bar mount, small 6v NiMH smart battery, fuel gauge, 3 light settings.
Weaknesses:
Terrible QA - Condensation in lens, consistently only works for 15min then shuts off.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Superlight
Bottom Line:
Bought this light on sale at Performance for a 24 hr relay race and decided to test before the race. Seemed to charge properly, when turned on noticed water vapor in lens which soon burned off but did not speak well of gasket seal. Light worked for 15 minutes on high with all 4 green led's on fuel gauge then went to 1 flashing red reserve power mode. Tried to charge again overnight as read some reviews noting bad indicator on the smart charger and tried again the next morning. Same thing - condensation in the lens and died in 15 min. Needless to say based on similar comments on mtbr and my experience this thing goes back immediately. Bought the JET i6 Barmount instead and will write a review for that after testing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
eelpie
a Cross Country Rider
from virginia Date Reviewed: May 6, 2003
Favorite Trail:
varies
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Long burn time, brightness is good, trickle charger, relatively lightweight, fairly reliable, bar and helmet mount options, durable light housing.
Weaknesses:
Plugs are difficult to connect without light, battery doesn't mount well to thin steel tubes (designed for fattie aluminum), finicky, crappy bar and helmet mounts, battery is bulkier than the original "deck of cards" sized battery, no storage bag.
Similar Products Used:
NiteRider Extreme, though this is bar mount only.
Bike Setup:
On-One Inbred (SS)
Bottom Line:
A good--not great--light. Seems to last a long time even on high setting. Reliable once it's on. The micro brute trickle charger is sweet and charges safely and quickly. Very durable light housing. Sometimes have to plug the light into the battery, then unplug it, then plug it in again to get it to start off in high wattage mode (finicky). Sometimes the flashing power guage in the button wigs out arbitrarily (my buddy's cycles like Christmas tree lights regardless of the charge). The helmet mount is just a velcro strap that is way too long, regardless of your helmet type (can be cut shorter, however), and is a pain to put on and get set right where you want it; the quick release bar mount is overly complicated and bulky, with several little parts that can fall out and hide in the darkness (hey NR, this light is used in the DARK!). Have had several false "full charge" readings where I get to the trail and the light dies in ten minutes. I think NR tends to rush out products before they are properly tested, in effect making the consumer do the R&D. No storage bag in inconvenient when transporting the light.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff Small
a Cross Country Rider
from Dundas, ONT, Canada Date Reviewed: May 5, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Waterdown
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Freewheel
Strengths:
The smartcharger is great. It knows when to stop charging so it dont damage the battery. Keep it topped up by leaving it plugged in. I also like how tight the connections are. This is good cause i dont want my wires coming loose when i'm riding.
Weaknesses:
Sometimes it says its not charged when i know it is.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Irrelevant
Bottom Line:
This light is awesome. I rode 24 hrs of Adrenaline at hardwood hills and i rode for 6 hrs( 1.5 hrs at a time, 4 laps, and i did 2 night laps.) By using the 3 settings, you can adjust for the lighting conditions and save power and your light lasts longer. It is very easy to change the light settings. This light is so small that you can use it for other things too. I really recommend get the strap so you can use it for mtn climbing, hiking, GTing, skiing, and skating. Hell you can even use it for working on your car.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Biker Girl
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA Date Reviewed: March 7, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Performs as advertised, I've had no problems whatsoever.
Weaknesses:
It does take more effort to plug the battery into the light than you would think.
Bike Setup:
N/A
Bottom Line:
I'm very happy with my purchase, I would recommend this light to those riders who want a great light and are willing to pay for it. This light has allowed me to ride at night during the winter without worry, and it has earned my confidence. I have ridden in the rain and through the mud with this light (it's Seattle, at night, in the cold) all winter long, and have had no problems at all. Burn time is close to advertised. Charger is a godsend, plug it in and forget it. Battery gauge is indespensible, I always know how much I have left and can choose usage accordingly. After having the luxury of three watt settings, I could never go back to just one. A few times in the fall I even used this light to mow my lawn in the evening after mounting the light and battery to the mower, it worked great! My only complaint is that the plug should be redesigned, it is hard to line up the little flat area on the plug female and male ends when your hands are cold, and you really just want to get your gloves on and get out and ride. Minus one chili for the high price, it is pretty expensive.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Newton, NC, USA Date Reviewed: March 5, 2003
Favorite Trail:
still dirt
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
LBS
Bottom Line:
This is a follow-up to a review I posted on 1/29. Since that time I have had a good deal of correspondence with Vanessa and George Herman at NiteRider. This is not so much as a product review as it is a customer service update. I have seen Vanessa's name mentioned on the many postings here and almost always in a positive light. I know why now; she truly is the greatest! She and George Herman (who got involved in my problem while Vanessa was out for a few days) truly bent over backwards and went way beyond the call of duty to resolve my problem and renew my faith in the NiteRider name. How they resolved the situation is strictly between me and these good folk. Let it be known that I am very well pleased with the outcome and I am letting this be known on this forum since I previously used it to be very critical of NiteRider and I feel it is fair to them for me to come here now and make ammends. My hats off to the customer service at NiteRider and by the way, I can see where I am going. Vanessa and George, once again a public thank you, you both have been great!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew Haliburton
a Racer
from Portland, Oregon, USA Date Reviewed: March 3, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Not relevant
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$220.00
Purchased At:
River City Bicycles
Strengths:
Multiple mounting options; compact battery; handy fuel gauge (widely-publicized as the primary design flaw); beam coverage; pulse mode (several motorists have stopped and praised it).
Weaknesses:
Utterly unreliable; poorly designed cable connectors are clumsy (almost impossible to connect in the dark or when wet); mine has never met the manufacturer’s claims for burn times under real-world conditions; expensive.
Similar Products Used:
Multiple units of the same product (after multiple warranty returns)
Bike Setup:
Not relevant
Bottom Line:
Reliability was obviously not included in the design brief for this sorry object. I bike commute daily; in the winter months I need a reliable light; in just twelve months, mine has spent about six weeks “under repair”. Riding home in commuter traffic without a light is DANGEROUS…ask me – it’s happened to me three times with the Digital Evolution!
I should have guessed that a company with an incorrectly spelled word in its name would have trouble developing something called the Digital Evolution. I seriously doubt whether these people could design their way out of a paper bag.
Having to deal with them (and you will) is just not worth it. Here’s an example: The moron in tech support said that the light needed to be re-booted like a computer – they’d be better off if he were “booted”.
Imagine hitting the trail on a well-planned, two-hour night ride – and your light fails halfway through, leaving you stranded (welcome Digital Evolution!). Don’t take a chance on it – you’ll be bringing on a whole lot of grief and tossing away $220.
My career as an engineer would be over if my products performed like NiteRider’s Digital Evolution has.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dwight Carter
a Downhiller
from Sun Valley, Id Date Reviewed: February 22, 2003
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$230.00
Purchased At:
Super Go
Strengths:
Small, lightwieght and powerful. The 15watt high beam is unreal! 4 light levels total, plus locator beacon. The light levels and mounting system make this system very versatile. 5 hour smart charger.
Weaknesses:
None that I can find after 2 years of intense use.
Similar Products Used:
NiteRider 15 watt Cyclops I had for 6 years before the Digital Evolution.
Bottom Line:
I love this light. I use it for everything from bicycling to camping, working in the garage, you name it - this light can be used for any night time activity. It is the most awesome light I have ever seen. Fuel Guage, 4 different Light Levels, easy interchangeable mount allows using it on a Bike Helmet, Handlebars, Explorer Headband (a must have accessory). It comes with a Bike Helmet Mount, Handlebar Mount, a detachable Remote Switch, 5 hour quick charger, extension cable for helmet mounting. I highly recommend this light.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Josh Logan
a Downhiller
from Aspen, CO Date Reviewed: February 20, 2003
Favorite Trail:
any that lead to happiness
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
LBS Aspen
Strengths:
3 light levels plus walking mode, fuel gauge, lightweight, small yet extremely powerful
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Niterider Classic
Bike Setup:
Giant
Bottom Line:
I use this light practically every night in the winter because I work as a snow groomer. This is my second winter of use with this light and it never fails. It's reliablity just amazes me. I use it with the Explorer Headband for work. In the summer I use it for mountain biking also very regularly. I use it with the helmet mount as I use a NiteRider Classic on the bars. I can't find enough good things to say about the Niterider lights. I recommend them above all others by far. The other lights just look hokey in comparison, i.e. Lights and motion and Jet Lites, Turbo Cat. Everything about the Niterider is best quality.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Lag. Niguel ,Ca. USA Date Reviewed: February 6, 2003
Favorite Trail:
San Juan
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
present
Strengths:
well built, versatile, easy to set up
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
old niterider
Bike Setup:
Heckler
Bottom Line:
Charge the battery, put it on your bike and ride..The set up is quick and easy, it has a good burn time, is very sturdy, i've ridden in heavy fog/damp conditions with no problems.And it's very versatile, I've used it on my helmet and on the bars, both work very well.. It's a good all around light system...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Shannon Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, Ca., USA Date Reviewed: February 6, 2003
Favorite Trail:
National-Hobert Southmountain, PHX
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
N/A
Strengths:
Fuel gauge is a great thing to have for a serious rider, as is the ability to vary wattage output to extend burntimes. Multiple mounting capability is a nice feature, as is the small battery that may be mounted just about anywhere on your frame. Personally I position mine on my bikes stem, I works great there and I don't notice the weight. Smart chargers are a great thing for dumb guys like myself, it helps me not destroy my battery through overcharging.
Weaknesses:
Along with an increased number of functions comes an increased possibility of having an issue of some form. It doesn't mean you will have an issue, I have never had a problem with my highly abused Digital Evolution, but like anything in life, nothing is perfect and dookey happens from time to time.
Similar Products Used:
All of the other guys systems, they work great too. (ours taste better though, but I am a little biased)
Bike Setup:
Haro EX1, great bike, I highly recommend, great climber and descender...but I digress
Bottom Line:
It is highly irregular that a manufacturer write a review of their own product, that being the case, you are certainly welcome to disregard my "review" portion, but after having written back and forth with the rider that wrote the review you see below, I felt that he deserved a direct and public response. I think that it'll be informative and helpful for current or future owners of NiteRider Digital Evolution light systems.
1. The connectors within our plugs are indeed made of very corrosion resistant material: gold plated beryllium copper.
2. Is it possible for water that is laiden with salt, various ice/snow removing chemicals, and whatever else gets flicked up from a slushy road, to get past your fenders and onto your light system to collect inside your plug and cause problems? Yes, this is not one of our dive systems, it is water resistant for sure, but not water proof.
3. This possibility can be alliviated by taking some preventative measures at the light head to battery connection. One possibility is to dab a little anti-moisture type cream into the connector to keep the watery gunk out in the first place. On top of that I would put a strip or two of electrical tape over the juncture to to add a little extra protection.
4. Does the need to perform periodic maintainence on a light system or any given piece of equipment make it worthless or fundamentally flawed? No, if that logic were to be employed to a bicycle chain, all chains are worthless due to the need for occasional lubrication and cleaning. Also a chain will have different requirements if used in Alaska in the snow or Arizona in the dust. Differing evironments will require different maintainence and preparation. NiteRider will continue to investigate new and better ways to make a plug more weather proof, in the mean time given some thought and effort towards prevention of build up of gunk inside the connector, it will generally work perfectly. We see systems come in occasionally that simply need cleaning and work great after a good scrubbing. Not always, but usually. To clean them simply use a little alchohol (I prefer Corona's fine product) and a toothbrush and gently scrub the connector clean, do it as often as you feel is needed as it would vary depending on what part of the world you're in.
5. Any light system that has gunk build up inside the connector after riding day after day in wet, salty, chemical filled slush, even if its only been a month certainly can begin to not have a good connection between the light head and battery - thereby causing some wacky performance issues, no doubt. Generally speaking our plugs work great if kept clean. Are there other good designs out there? Sure but right now we feel like we have the best one for our systems.
6. NiteRider Digital Evolutions are in the hands of literally thousands of riders all across the entire United States and the world for that matter. It is possible for this company to have a light leave here after having been checked for function as every single system is and get out into the world and break for some reason. For that circumstance we have a great Custmer Service department headed by a young lady named Vanessa, if you need an issue rectified or just have a technical question she can be reached at Vanessa@NiteRider.com or 800-466-8366 as can the rest of her department.
7. The bottom of the Bottom Line is this, read your owners manual, regardless of what light system you purchase, and do your very best to maintain your expensive piece of equipment particularly if you live and ride in a tough neck of the woods. We try our best to produce the toughest mountainbike lighting systems on the market. The other guys make great lights too but our lights taste great, AND are less filling!
Happy NiteRiding, Shannon Scott Imperial Sales Overlord (okay..Sales Manager) NiteRider Technical Lighting Systems
P.S. I'm giving the Digital Evolution four chili's overall because until NiteRider releases the oxygen and dirt powered, 300w, infrared, terrain mapping, crash sensing (with alarm), light system - I think there is always room for improvement.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Philip
a Cross Country Rider
from Kodiak, Alaska USA Date Reviewed: February 5, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$220.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Fuel gauge is a really cool feature (and ironically the system’s downfall). Good charge time. Lots of light levels and flash modes. Compact and light battery. Good frame attachment systems. Compatible with the best bike tail light on the planet.
Weaknesses:
Horrible plugs. Embarrassingly sensitive to moisture. Electrodes corrode immediately in humid weather. Fuel gauge system malfunctions and reports a dead battery even after a full charge, rendering the whole advantage of a “digital” system totally moot. Remote button plug-in so tight you will destroy the plug trying to remove it.
Similar Products Used:
Original NR dual beam, NR Classic Plus (generation I), NR Classic Plus (generation II), NR HID. About every high zoot NR ever.
Bike Setup:
Commuter or my XCE
Bottom Line:
I am moving this review over here where it belongs from the non-Digital Evolution review page (this page did not exist when I first submitted this review).
This is the second Digital Evolution I have had in 3 months, and it has died, just like the first.
After a month of use, my first light reported a drained battery (according to the single red LED on the fuel gauge) even after a full charge cycle. It still enjoyed a normal burn time, but indicated that the battery was always empty. That negates any advantage of the fuel gauge, and you are paying a lot for this feature.
I exchanged the system for a new one. The second just died after about 6 weeks. It seemed to develop a short in the data wire which carries info between the battery and light where the fuel gauge is located. The result was that even after a full charge, the digital system read the battery as dead and would not allow the light to burn brighter than the dimmed emergency “walk” mode (this symptom is somewhat different than the first light’s malfunction). More recently it seemed to assume the “on” button was continuously pressed, and it would switch on spontaneously and cycle through the various flashing modes until the battery truly was dead. This behavior was quite erratic. I could leave the light on the bike for hours with no problems, then for no apparent reason it would suddenly turn on and go through flashing modes. I could not leave the batter attached to the light while unattended for fear of returning to a drained system.
These problems may be related to operating the lights in wet weather. I use my lights I the rain frequently for commuting. It was never submerged in water. If you live in Arizona, you may have better luck. The amount of corrosion on the electrodes in the plugs is incredible though. After two weeks it looked like I had gorgonzola cultures growing in the plugs. I have been in touch with NR and they reported that they use very corrosion resistant electrode materials. Hmm... At this point I attribute a lot of the problems to a disruption in the data stream between the battery and the brain in the light due to contact corrosion. This after a single month! NR service was very conciliatory, but what is the point of replacing a fundamentally flawed system with it's clone? It is a design and material issue.
I have ridden NiteRiders for 11 years and this is certainly the most worthless system they have produced yet. It seems the longer they are in business the worse their products get. I have owned a Classic, Classic Plus, Classic Plus with the new 3 wire plug, 2 Digital Evolutions, and a HID. The digital systems are a total waste of money and introduce such a host of sensitivities and problems I am a little surprised that even NR had the poor judgment to let them get to production. Thank God REI sells Light and Motion lights. Returns department here I come (again)…
I'll give 1 chili for value because the the features which make this light soooo expensive are its Achilles heel.
I'll give 2 chilis for overall because if this thing would actually work for a reasonable amount of time, it would have potential to be an acceptable light (I think the fuel gauge is a cool idea- only if it worked...).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Newton, NC, USA Date Reviewed: January 29, 2003
Favorite Trail:
dirt
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$240.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Quick charge time
Weaknesses:
Light has spent more time with manufacturer than with me. I've only used it once since I've had it and I'm very disappointed with the service NR has provided so far. Everyone is nice enough, but at 3000 miles it's hard to look someone in the eye so they will know how really pissed you are that you spent a lot of money for something your unable to use. Way over price for the performance I've seen so far
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
In the dark, light doesn't work.
Bottom Line:
The light has not worked properly since I bought it. Even after a long trip to the NR people it came back worse than when I sent it and they screwed up and forgot to put the light in the box when they shipped it back to me. The issue is still in the process of being resolved but at this time I am not impressed by the NR service people at all. If and when the problem is resolved I'll report back.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
KT
a Cross Country Rider
from New York Date Reviewed: January 28, 2003
Favorite Trail:
rocks are good
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Bike Junkie
Strengths:
Brightness and whiteness, good burn times, remote swtich, 2 mounts are handy
Weaknesses:
small prob
Similar Products Used:
Digital Headtrip, BLT Gamma Ray 40
Bottom Line:
First I'll state the problem as brief as possible. Light started flickering, loose connection with battery cord. Company replaced and sent back, works fine, took a few weeks, no biggy. Company was cool along the way. I've used this light a considerable amount, at least 40 times, probably more, and in a multitude of conditions good and bad. The brightness and whiteness of it is much better than the previous Headtrip models. Most times I get a near 10 minutes more of burn time than the stated 1:45 @ 15W. Use primarily as a bar mount, but when out on an easier ride, like to throw it on the head because of the better light. Fuel gauge is cool if used on bars. Quality construction, solid product.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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