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NiteRider
Digital Pro-12 Light
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Submitted by
Nathan Wood
a
from Anaheim, CA
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | South Bay Bicycles in National City, CA | | Strengths: | Impressively bright when it worked. | | Weaknesses: | Price, reliability (light no longer works, period!) | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Univega mountain bike with full suspension that I only use
for the street. Full suspension because our roads suck. | | 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 price points. Not to mention my own experience with them (which isn't over) that is shared by many others. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike b
a Cross Country Rider
from Sodom of the North
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | boggs | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$275.00 | | Purchased At: | avenue cyclery sf | | Strengths: | it's bright.
ability to cycle through 6-9-12 low beams.
ease of operation/mounting
lightweight
reasonably long run time
| | Weaknesses: | THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT YOU GET FROM NITERIDER.
NITERIDER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TELEPHONE SYSTEM.
the system is apparently not waterproof
the original chips in the controller unit were ganchy | | Similar Products Used: | niterider classic (3 yrs)
turbo cat's original dual beam system (2 yrs) | | Bike Setup: | ibis alibi hardtail set up as a classic cross country racing bike | | Bottom Line: | i don't want to harsh on niterider too badly because this is a pretty good light system. (when it's not raining) however, i feel compelled to savagely curse them every time i think about my very last experience using my very EXPENSIVE dual beam niterider light system.
i was riding to work in san francisco during a heavy rain storm on monday, november 12. i was using my six watt beam in order to be seen during the heavy rain. everything was OK until i arrived at our warehouse, when i noticed both my beams were on after i had shut the system off. i went to switch my lights off, only to discover that the left side (20w) bulb would not shut off whatever i did.
i tried to call niterider in san diego to discuss this problem with them, but thier phone system was down. i nor my local independant niterider dealer have been able to reach them by telephone since.
their response to my email detailing what happened was a form letter.
i have sent this very same system back to niterider before, for basically the same reason--problems with the switch/chip/controller whatever after or during riding in wet conditions. (i had to ride a very difficult trail at night in the rain when the thing failed the first time)
NOW THEY ARE TELLING MY BIKE SHOP (not the shop where i purchased it, but a niterider dealer) THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THE LIGHT BECUASE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THAT NITERIDER DOES NOT STOCK THE REPLACEMENT PARTS TO THIS SYSTEM ANYMORE. what kind of crap is this?!?!
instead, they're offering me a credit--a hundred and fifteen dollars towards the purchase of a new system.
other than what i've described above, the digital pro twelve is a pretty good system. however, i'd take into consideration what i've written above and what the previous reviewer has railed about before purchasing a niterider product. keep in mind that i have owned a niterider classic in the past as well and have experienced the same problems with their warranty and customer service departments three years ago that i've experienced today.
the bike shop i deal with now is so disgusted with niterider that he is considering dropping them and selling another line of lights. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Donal Fitterer
a Cross Country Rider
from Ithaca, NY
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Shindagin | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Swan Cycles | | Strengths: | When it works correctly, plenty of light.
Looks good in the daylight | | Weaknesses: | Unreliable.
Intermittant.
Poor support.
| | Similar Products Used: | Cateye Vistalite | | Bike Setup: | Seven Cycles Ti, XTR, Time pedals, Girven fork | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy any niterider system. I sent my light in at the beginning of September. It is now the middle of November and they said it they wouldn't look at it for at least another 3 weeks! My LBS let me borrow the same lite system and it suffered the same symptoms: lights go out during rough technical sections, lights would blink on and off on rooted sections. The 2nd bulb would stop working. Found out yesteday that NiteRider has to recall a bunch of their chargers because they are wired backwards! I sent this same light back for repair a year ago. Took 2 months for them to send it back. Worked to the end of last season. Bought a Cateye Stadium 3. Will review in a month or two. Stay away from Niteriders! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Meier
a Racer
from Saint Paul, MN
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The Manhandler | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Penn Cycle | | Strengths: | Even the availability of charging facilities at 24 hr. venues is dubious because the operator probably won't show up for work. | | Weaknesses: | IS THERE AN ECHO IN HERE? 1)Price -- get yourself a nice new wheelset instead; 2)Function -- consistent failure at the furthest point from the line despite perfect function during trial laps in daylight; 3)Service -- send your unit in for routine work and expect it back before the end of NEXT season (if your phone calls are persistent enough). | | Similar Products Used: | NightPro -- buy one. | | Bike Setup: | Stock Supercaliber w/ minor mods. | | Bottom Line: | I recommend going to great lengths to avoid any sort of business relationship with this company.
Seriously, I rarely experience sentiments like these, and
wish only to help others avoid similar frustration.
These people do everything except leave a flaming bag of dog caca on your front porch. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian Kaiser
a Cross Country Rider
from Reno, NV 89523
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Motherlode Bicycles | | Strengths: | tons o light, burns forever, BUT... | | Weaknesses: | As a followup to my post here 6/00, I raced with this light in another 24 hr race and, again, the light went bezerk somewhere around midnight, making me go bezerk somewhere around 1a. This is unacceptable in any product at this price point. Last summer Niterider had this light for 2 months fixing it and it came back in the same condition, this summer, it has been at their shop for a month and I still have not heard from them. The 24hr of Tahoe is coming up in 3 weeks and I seriously doubt I'll have my light back in time...looks like I'm borrowing from someone (again). It's one thing to have your product fail, yet another for the company to hardly stand behind it. OK, they're a small company with minimal staff...Fine. Replace the damn light and be done with it. Instead, my light has spend the past 2 summers out of my possession awaiting repairs. This sucks. | | Similar Products Used: | Niterider Classic, headtrip, etc.
| | Bike Setup: | 98 Rocky Mtn Thin Air | | Bottom Line: | My light is a total piece of crap, but everyone I know has Niterider lights that function OK so maybe it's just MY piece of crap. Beware, though, that should you require service from Niterider, you may be in for one hell of a wait. For my money, I'll tape $200 worth of KMart flashlights to my bike for the upcoming race and see how THEY perform. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian Kaiser
a Racer
from Reno, NV, USA
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Hole in the Ground | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Bright, long-lasting light. Tons of choices regarding how much light it puts out meets all conditions. | | Weaknesses: | The light failed on both of my night laps during the last 24Hour race I did at Tahoe. It would start cycling through all of its settings (including off) which is WAY scary when you are downhilling at 30 mph at night. Night Rider was at the race, and they gave me another battery to use but I encountered the same problem. They kept the light for two months getting it fixed, and hopefully it doesn't happen again, but I have not had the opportunity to try it out in the cold. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain Thin Air and Hammer Race (single speed) | | Bottom Line: | Awesome light, but very expensive (what isn't) and stranded me twice. Properly functioning, though, this is one nice unit with high quality-feeling parts and connections. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jer
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco, CA
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Bright
Bulletproof
Charger won't kill your battery
Long Run Times | | Weaknesses: | Heavy
Expensive
Useless dual beam | | Bottom Line: | This is an ok light if you have the money. If you're on a budget, I would think that other lights would do the same job for much less.
The dual beams are a mixed blessing. It's always nice to light up everything with the 20 watt flood. The 12 watt spott has an ok beam pattern, a bit too focused to see anything beyond the spot of light. The big problem with the dual beam is that they are always pointed in the same direction. Using both beams at the same time is horribly wasteful; it drops battery life to an hour or so and produces no more visibility than the 20 watt flood.
The waterbottle battery pack weighs a ton, and takes up just as much space. If you use this light to run errands at night, involving a lot of getting off your bike and locking it up, you need a backpack. Then again, the light is durable. I've dropped the battery pack and the light housing a couple of times, and biked in pouring rain. No problems.
If you're gonna spend so much money for this light, you might as well get the taillight. The one thing NiteRider got right was the taillight, which is bright enough to be seen at daylight. People have commented on its brightness, and it can be seen in a huge arc, since the housing is transparent. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
cocheese
a Cross-Country Rider
from Shreveport, LA
Date Reviewed: July 2, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Brightness
variable burn times
sos feature
lightweight
quality | | Weaknesses: |
price | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bike Setup: |
Litespeed
Judy SL with Englund Air | | Bottom Line: | This thing really will light up the trail like a landing strip. There are many different burn times from which to choose allowing you many options. The SOS feature is something that would REALLY come in handy if you needed it. I hope I never need to use that particular feature of the system, but if I did need it...well, it could save a life! The sheer quality of this system is really something to behold. The price is high, but you are paying for what is essentially a superior product from a reputable company that I'm sure will be around for a while. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DC
a Cross-Country Rider
from DC
Date Reviewed: May 3, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Bright, tough, excellent service & support | | Weaknesses: |
Mount design still needs work, but... | | Bottom Line: | Some time ago I followed up a favorable review with a lousy one after an evening ride that was greatly hampered by having to constantly reposition the lighthead which would slip down after every bump. A short time later I posted a makeshift solution involving a rolled up rubber shim shoved under the lightheads clip which, after it ages a bit, no longer holds firmly in the mount holes without help.
In response to this I got mail from John Haywood at NR who sent me a redesigned clip that he said should help the problem. It's the same clip, but with a thick rubber square glued just below where I had put the shim (for the record I did try to put the shim the same place NR put the square, but I lacked a glue strong enough to keep it there).
I am pleased to report that the new clip seems to be holding up much better than than the old ones did. The rubber makes it a bit harder to slide the light up on the fly, but it's better than my shim was.
Alas the shim doesn't seem to be compatible with my solution to the mounts lack of adjustability which was to swap the front of the handlebar mount with a more adjustable helmet mount. After a few rides the swapped part broke, probably because it had a tighter curve than the old and couldn't handle the stronger clip.
Still, kudos to NR for for watching, responding, and apparently acting on a customer suggestion. 6 stars if I could give them for great support on what is still a damned good light. Though if anyone from NR is listening I have ideas for a mount design that would fix _all_ the problems... :)
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Submitted by
Henri Throop
a Cross-Country Rider
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: May 1, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Similar Products Used: |
Vistalight, Performance | | Bottom Line: | Feature-wise and quality-wise, this is the best light on the market. It's bright,k reliable, and durable. The company replaced a mounting bracket that broke after two years, no charge. The rear flasher is bright and well-designed.One point off for the high price and the lousy mount design. I had to doctor mine up so it would even point straight ahead.
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Submitted by
John Gilkenson
a racer
from Alpharetta,GA USA
Date Reviewed: February 9, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Awsome light!The light withstood many bumpy obsticals.It
does no run for very long on that battery.It lit up the
nite sky and out shown my friends vista light.I reccomend this light to any serious night time rider. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
evan martin
a cross-country rider
from virginia beach, va
Date Reviewed: December 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
this light is the brightest and the most durable bike light i have ever seen. i use a lot, even on the trails and i have no complaints. i'll never worry about someone hitting me with their car because my light wasn't bright enough. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don
a cross-country rider
from DC
Date Reviewed: October 18, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Problem 1: The little curved bit of plastic in the back of the lighthead doesn't hold its shape and eventually (actually pretty quickly) bends forward, becoming unable to firmly hold the peg in the mount holes - in fact, it actually pulls it out. This cause the lighthead to slip down, most often in the kind of terrain where you most need the light and where you are least able to futz with the mount.Solution: A rolled up rubber shim shoved between the lighthead and its attached clip keeps the clip firmly in the mount hole. This makes the light harder to move when you _want_ to move it, but different shim thicknesses/hardness/materials should find one that leaves the light adjustable enough without letting it slide freely.Problem 2: The handlebar mount only has three widely spaced positions, which can usually be described as too high, too low, and useless.Solution: Nightriders helmet mounts use a series of shallow ridges rather than 3 deep holes to hold the light. This allows finer adjustment but the shoddy clip design would never be able to grip the ridges under handlebar vibration, which I assume is why NR uses the deep holes there. But with a shim shoved in the clip it holds fine, and because the clip needn't be pushed forward as far to move the light, the light head is easier to move when you want to move it than it would be with the deep-holed mount. In fact for me pushing against the back of the clip nicely drops the light down one notch, no fuss no muss. Raising it up is slightly less elegant, but still worlds easier than with the original mount.SO - swap the front of the handlebar mount with the front of a helmet mount, shove a rolled up shim under the clip and VIOLA. The lighthead is now adjustable in usably fine increments, and no longer slips (ok if you REALLY bump it drops one small notch). So my question is: if NRs mount problems can be fixed with a rubber shim and a mount they themselves already make, why is it so hard for NRs highly paid engineers to fix it?I am now completely happy with my Nightrider, but they still get one chili off for making me finish their mount design without putting me on their payroll.
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Submitted by
Ron
a
from Annapolis
Date Reviewed: September 14, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Not much else to add to the great reviews here on this lighting system except to say that I've gotten pulled over a few times by motorists who ask in amazement where I got my rear tailight. I continuely hear that they've never seen anything brighter. 10 chilis for the whole package. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kris coyne an Up and
a downhiller
from Colorado
Date Reviewed: September 11, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
It is truely rare to make a purchase this expensive and have it exceed my expectations. This light is exceptional. I rode with it for the first time last night (I will re-post if I have any problems with it)and I was amazed. I rode a variety of trails ranging from smooth, twisty flats, to technical climbs to staircase-like decents. With five light settings and three mounting angles, it is possible to select a light setting or a mount angle on the fly to fit any conditions I came across. I had no problems with the mount shifting positions. In fact, I rode down technical sections and went off kickers to try and bounce the mount--no problems. Night riding is definatly a pay-to-play sport. Based on my experience the NiteRider is worth the price of admission. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a racer
from SF,CA
Date Reviewed: July 30, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
The other night a group of us went for our Tuesday night ride. We usually have an assortment of hammer and knot heads. There's typically a couple of riders that want to blast, and a couple that hang back for any number of reasons.On this ride, fresh from Mammoth, it seemed that every one wanted to roll. At our summit lookout, I was checking out our various lighting systems. It seems that over the past couple of years, most of us have ended up with Nite Rider products. The few that don't either don't have the money or can't justify buying another light. Not one f them didn't agree that Nite Rider's the best stuff out there. I have a Digital 12 and gave older dual model Nite Rider to my girlfriend. I'm not sure what Don is talking about in his review, but he probably isn't either. While the mount may not be superior, how can that taint the whole purpose and review of the product? And as for being able to ride agressively and see, while I may not be the racer I once was, a couple of these guys are well on their way to being the one I never was; and all of us seem to get down the mountain with the Nite Riders.In fairness to Don, I get pissed off too when an expensive product isn't first class in all catagories. And it's true, the mount on the Nite Riders isn't as good as it could be. It is however, light, foolproof, and cheap to replace. I think the biggest problem with lights on MTBs at speed is the bouncing that bike and rider take affects the lights as well. Nothing that I'm aware of - besides a steady cam mount like Hollywood uses - will solve that problem. In the meantime, for my money, Nite Rider is the Bomb. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don
a weekend warrior
from DC
Date Reviewed: July 30, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Ok I hate to do this but I'm fed up. Now that the warm weather is here I've been riding my bike places other than the simple daily, on-the-roadway commutes that prompted me to get the light last winter. And sad to say, my Nite Rider pisses me off.
Even on paved bike trails, the slightest bump or the least imperfect ramp, taken at even slow speeds, bumps the light from wherever I had it pointed to the lowest notch. Once I leave perfect pavement, I spend more time pointing, repointing, and readjusting the light (which besides being annoying and slowing me down, is dangerous) than not. I find myself constantly having to slow down, not because I can't see, not because I or my bike can't take the terrain at reasonable speeds, but because that stupid mount has to be babied over every little rough spot. Whats the point of being able to see everything with daylight-clarity if someone with a $20 vistalight can pass you because HE doesn't have to slow down to futz with his mount?For a light that expensive and otherwise well engineered, the mount ought to allow infinite adjustment of the light head angle (3 widely-spaced click stops is an irritating joke) and dammit, it ought to be able to keep the damned lighthead pointed where I pointed it. The light kicks ass, and if you never intend to leave the roadway its a wonder. But if you plan to take it anywhere you might run into a bump, look elsewhere until NR realizes a gumball-machine grade mount just doesn't cut it on a $300 light.
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Submitted by
Mike
a weekend warrior
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: June 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Many good things have been already addressed regarding NiteRider lights. The durability, quality. etc. These all are pretty evident, although I did want to address this just a bit. I have seen a few reviews which complain about the mounting bracket. I am an avid off-roader, and a police bike officer/trainer/consultant. I originally purchased several Commuter dual beam systems about 5 years ago. The mounting brackets has a slight problem, and they contacted me and replaced them with a new version. I personally ride about 3,000 miles/year on-duty, and another grand on days off. During an average shift, I go up or down curbs and stairs over 100 times. I occasionally launch off 3-4 stairs at once. You would think this would give the light a pretty good workout. Myself, and fellow riders have not experienced any problems with the brackets. I do have to say that we have only had to replace only one bulb in 5 years. These bikes are used 24 hrs/day. I now currently use the police code light system. This light includes a clear light, a red light/flasher, and an integrated 115db siren mounted to the light head. Even with the added weight of the siren, I still have not had a problem with the light staying in place. For you non-believers, I do a bunch of off-roading with the same system on my other bike. It is only rumor that bikecops only ride on the street. That is just the part we get paid for. I work 3/days per week. That leaves 4 days for playing!Bottom line - Not a better system on the market. If the biggest gripe is the bracket, no problem here. As far as the price - You get what you pay for!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a racer
from SF,CA
Date Reviewed: June 24, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Rather than cover what's been gone over and over again: it's well made, puts out the light, tough, relaible, etc., I rather simply agree with all that and add a simple comment about the fuel gauge. A group of us take a night ride one night each week, and a couple when there's full moon conditions. There's usually six to ten of us and a pool of twenty or so different riders. Virtually every lighting system is represented. With so much light being poured out, visability is rarely a problem. What is a problem is monitoring and regulating battery power. It seems that I am the only one that can figure out how to make my light last the trip yet use it to its maximum. And having the economy mode further adds to that capability. Like the others, I think that there are nits and bits that could be improved upon, but if the rating is based on what's currently available, the Digital 12 is clearly a five chili product.If you are looking for a great light but can't come up with the tab for the 12, think about the Digital 6. I feel it's better than anything thing else for the serious night rider, including the standard Nightrider dual beam system (without the light meter and economy mode). | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Simon
a racer
from Los Angeles
Date Reviewed: June 23, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
O.K. - This is maybe not the coolest looking device on the market, no fancy CNC milling here, but it's for shure the toughest light you can buy. I know, this bulky, ugly lightmount that sits on your handlebar all the time doesn't go very well with the rest of your custom parts - but the nice thing about this mount is, once dialed in you never have to worry about it - which is not exactly true, since the light mount is a constant source of trouble. In my case it is responsible for my worst crash I had since I'm riding on californian dirt.But there's a cure for that - take off the little plastic piece on the back of the reflector housing, and heat it with a heat gun (low setting), then with a plier you bend the tab a little to give it more preload - cool it down in cold water while still bending the tab till the whole part is cold. Also put some Finish line Grip Shift grease or Jonnisnot grease on the sliding parts - after that treatment it will slide up and down easily and the tab locks into position with a positive click.The only other thing that needs to be improved is the tiny little switch with no feedback - everthing else - TOP NOTCH! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
david
a weekend warrior
from KIRKLAND, WASHINGTON
Date Reviewed: June 2, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I was a little reluctant to spend $258 (I got a *good* deal) on a
seldom used product, but I'm glad I have. This thing really puts out the light!
One complaint, the cheap mount for the head. I broke the little plastic 'notch'
on the head, by simply laying the bike over and hitting the head! But Tech
support is superb! I called about this problem and they had a new mount sent
out to me that day for no cost. I received it 3 days later! I was impressed!
Buy this light! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brent Hoy
a cross-country rider
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: May 22, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Well,the first thing i did was to read the reviews that some of the rest of you have made, most seem to have covered the bases.However you all seem to over look the nice simple little things like the fibre optic cabe on the top ,so you can see what is going on.The light works extremely well I've used Nite Sun,BLT,Turbo Cat,my LBS is very helpful and let me try before I buy,after all we're spending a large amount of money on a low useage item.The only minor gripe that I have is that the bracket is rather cheap and nasty,compared to the high quality and excellent workmanship that has gone into the rest of the light.The only recommendnation that I would make is that the switch perhaps be rasied slighty so that it can be felt when used with gloves on.
The mount is a good idea,I set the light on the middle setting for commuting etc,and put it up on the top for nailing the single track,and blinding the wildlife,this works really well. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lawrence P.
a
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: May 18, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This is a followup to my review in November. I've had the Digital Pro12 headlight and tail light for more than 6 months now, and use it on average 4 times/week. Most of my use is on a 30k commute/training ride on roads ranging from well lit boulevards to pitch black bike paths to city streets in the 'hood. During the San Diego 'winter' I also used it a dozen or so times for single track night rides.Water resistance:
I rode through many hard rainstorms this past year, thanks to El Nino, and I've had absolutely no trouble with water leaking into any parts of the system. On one occasion I put my bike on the roof of my truck with the light mounted and drove for about 1/2 an hour at freeway speeds through a rainstorm. Moronic move on my part, but the Pro12 worked just fine afterwards. There is a comment below about a problem stemming from water getting into the switch/microprocessor housing, but mine has been great.Features:
The smart recharger and the fuel gauge totally rule. The last thing I want is worry about frying an expensive battery or running out of charge in the middle of a ride, and the Pro12 makes this a non issue. The fuel gauge tells me how much juice is left and the six wattage levels allows me to make the best use of that juice, given trail/road conditions and how much longer I plan to ride. I use the daylight flasher on foggy morning rides and it gets the attention of drivers at busy intersections. Installation:
Waaay easy. And once the handlebar mount is on, it takes me less than a minute to install the headlight and tail light and velcro on the cords and battery.Durability:
No problems.Tail light:
If you commute, get it. It is far brighter than any self-contained LED tail light that I have seen. Drivers see flashing red long before they pass you -- and probably long afterward too because their retinas have been seared by this tail light. I have the seat post mount. The light tucks nicely out of the way and fastens securely and quickly. The velcro straps attached to the tail light cord work great. Handlebar mount:
Not great. More than three angle settings would be nice. The mount/bar connection is fine if installed correctly, but the headlight/mount connection seems iffy. Once on a really jarring rocky downhills the headlight popped down into the lowest angle setting. It could have been my fault (maybe the light wasn't fully seated into one of the notches) but... Anyway, NiteRider obviously has some smart people working for them and coming up with a better mounting system should be within their reach. Its not a bad mount, but its not up to the quality level of the rest of the light.Run times:
Short during the first few charging cycles. They are much longer now, probably around NiteRiders specs, but I haven't bothered to actually time them (difficult when you change power levels frequently).Price:
This is an expensive light but, unlike a lot of expensive bike stuff, I think its more than worth the extra bucks. My LBS gave me a deal on the head and tail light that beat any mail order price. Suggestions:
This is a great light but there is room for improvement. I would prefer a system that doesn't require a long and well timed button-push to switch between the normal mode (12,20,32 watt) and the economy mode (6,9,12 watt). The one button system seems simple at first, but a two button controller would be easier and faster to use once you got used to it. I'd like to see a two button system that allows me to switch rapidly to a 'hi beam' from a lower power setting. This would be useful for getting a driver's attention and for quickly scoping out an unexpected dropoff, etc. when offroad.Also, I'd like to see NiteRider make a tail light for the DigitalPro 6. THAT would be a great combination.
Overall:
The Pro12 is not perfect, but it gets 5 chilis compared to other lights on the market. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gerry
a weekend warrior
from MA
Date Reviewed: May 15, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
A weekend warrior that rides 5 days a week on a trek Y-3, this light is perfect except for the price. Hey you can't have everything. I bought the light so I can ride in the winter. It works great even at 0F, or 70F in the rain. The optional tail light is blinding.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a weekend warrior
from Orem, Utah
Date Reviewed: May 6, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
About fifteen years ago in Indiana I was struck by an automobile during a ride at dusk. The reflectors attached to my bike apparently made little difference. I have taken up riding again and ride around the city and area mountains with my daughters(10 minute ride to Provo Canyon). I will always recall the surprise of being hit and the helpless, out of control feeling that a bike rider has against a large automobile. With this memory I decided to purchase a serious light system with a bright tail light to provide some servicable visual enhancement for my daughters and myself.The Digital Pro-12 has certainly fulfilled my needs. It is the only light system on the market with a tail light worthy of the name. In group rides the other riders have actually asked me to turn my tail light off. The head light projects all the light I would ever need to find my way in pitch black or fog. The forward strobe and rear flasher are superb during the day, very visable and bright during bright sunshine. The Digital 12's various settings give a wide range of choices for varying conditions of weather and darkness. The different light settings also allow efficient use of the battery for protracted trips. But probably best feature of all is the plug and forget re-charging system. This is a 90's necessity in a society of rechargeable lifestyles and warp-speed schedules. (Try to count how may rechargable items you own). I give the Digital Pro 12 a high marks for design, quality, and features but low marks for the owner's manual. The table of contents on my manual had incorrect page listings, instructions that were poorly thought out and product descriptions were incomplete. (A button on my tail light was never listed nor was its use).High marks for this well made product. (Fix the manual!)
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ron
a cross-country rider
from charlottesville, va
Date Reviewed: April 16, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
if you are in the market for a high-end trail light, the digital pro 12 is an excellent investment. i bought mine in november 97 to extend the season into the dark winter months, and it has never let me down; it was used at least 2-3 times a week, regardless of conditions. the digital control is outstanding as a plug-and-forget charging system. quite simply, this is one of the most advanced lighting systems $$$ can buy. the battery life is excellent and you can literally stay out for hours, if you choose. the digital power management system is easily the best on the market... one could get stranded in the dark only if one is exceedingly stupid.my only complaint is that the handlebar mounting unit, while lightweight and effective, seems a bit flimsy and cheap. it tends to loosen a bit, so you may want to check it every now and again. it was also exceedingly difficult to mount to the handlebar. i have a specialized commuter light that mounts to the handlebar in a similar fashion, and that little piece of junk only cost me $20.00. also, the mating of the light itself to the mount sometimes poses a problem: the teeth in the light mount and the grooves on the handlebar mount mate nicely, but they are not very deep... i've had the light pop off the mount once or twice during a rough, speedy descent-- not very confidence-inspiring at night. it'll bite into the mount, but you have to make sure that the teeth are seated securely in the grooves (the manual makes a good point about this). the mounting needs to be redesigned somewhat for a more positive lock onto the lighting unit. for $300, you shouldn't have to worry about the mount! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Runcy
a cross-country rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: April 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
After spending three years with a Cyglolight that had a 10 watt and 20 watt dual bulb set up and a max 2 hour and 45 minute run time, I love the new Digital Pro 12! I got the 12 over the Digital Pro 6 because it has a larger capacity battery and a remote mounted thumb switch that were the deciding factor over the 6, not the additional candle power. It really is a well thought out, well put together package. It's raedily availble, as are replacement parts if there are any problem. I have seem some lighter, just as high capacity lights, that are harder to find and get, and harder to fix, cost the same, and don't have the smart charger and microproccessor control that made this my choice. I have found the 6 watt setting nice for moonlight, slow up hills and the section of road I have to ride to get to the trails, so that I can have all of the light I need for those rocky decents and ledges that we get in Texas hill country. If you can afford it, it's one ballsey light!
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
A. Penniman
a cross-country rider
from Montpelier, VT U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: April 1, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Great system! Love the light, battery lasts for a decent amount of time, good tech. support from NiteRider when something does go wrong, reasonable performance in sub-zero temperatures, rugged construction. My thumbs up for this light!I love the disco-tech daytime lights, very trippy when riding in well-lit areas. :)
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Man, this 50 word minimum is bogus. What happened to clear and concise and
quality not quantity? Blah, blah, blah. I've said all I wanted to say about the light and now I'm forced to ramble on about nothing. I had to retype my review because I only wrote a 38-word summary before. Bogus. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
celly
a cross-country rider
from Calgary, AB, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 28, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This lightset is well made and feel real solid. I did a ride in North Vancouver in December and it was a drizzly night but rain was nothing out of the ordinary. The lightset lasted me for the entire ride. Next morning I tried to fire it up and it was all wacky. I noticed some condensation in the contol unit that was cause for alarm. I contacted NiteRider via email and to their credit, they replied late at night and gave me the address of the distributor in Vancouver and I left it with them. Seven weeks later I got it back and it's fine.For the $$$ I didn't expect problems. I appreciated the prompt replies to my inquiries but 7 weeks was a bit slow for a product that cost me in excess of $400.I like the product a lot but a 5 chili review based on my experince would make zero sense. Maybe down the road I'll change my mind. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dc
a cross-country rider
from dc
Date Reviewed: January 13, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
My evening commute is in the dark but now I look for excuses not to go
straight home. Though 9 or 12 watts is usually enough, on a full 32 watts the
light is bright enough to take most downhills without braking and even cut
through a wooded (but paved) bike trail at near-daylight speed.The battery gauge tells you how much juice you have to play with, though
because it calculates rather than measures battery level (which isn't
unreasonable given how NiCds discharge) unplugging the head from the battery
throws the gauge off, so avoid that. The gauge also controls charging,
cutting back the charge current to a non-damaging trickle when the battery is
full. If the battery gets near dead (as determined by a drop in voltage, not
the gauge) it drops into 6-watt mode until the battery goes completely dead,
then refuses to run until charged. This is a battery preservation feature
that, thanks to the gauge, shouldn't be needed too often.The various light settings are great for making a charge, night ride, and
ultimately the battery, last longer. The layout of the modes is very sensible
making it trivial to change on the fly. And the whole thing feels built like
a tank.The mount needs work. On the fly up and down adjustment of the light head for
faster or slower stretches is cumbersome, the three locking positions are too
far apart to give precise control and don't always lock well - the light tends
To slip down on larger bumps.Still, it's worth the steep price. I agonized for weeks over spending $280
for a light, but have no regrets. 5 stars.Addendum: Between the time I typed this and the time I posted it a commute
home in moderate rain ended with the bulbs refusing to shut off and the
controller flaking out. It only partially recovered after drying out. NRs
documentation and bike store techs all told me rain shouldn't affect it, so I
assumed I got a defective one. The replacement has survived one milder rain
so far, but there is moisture visible on the inside of one of the LED windows
in the controller. The design is _supposed_ to be impervious to rain but I
seem to be having trouble getting one that lives up to that spec. One star
off.
The optional taillight that goes with it is VERY bright, clearly visible
during the day, and a mode on the Digital Pro-12 that runs only the taillight
coupled with the taillights low power consumption makes it nice for use in
daylight traffic, giving an edge against all the other things that compete for
motorists attention. If daylight visibility is important to you, this light
may be worth it's price.But in nighttime conditions I'm not convinced the added brightness makes me
much more visible than the much cheaper VistaLight blinker, at least not
enough to justify the cost and the dependence on the Digital Pro battery,
which is more likely to get drained than the pair of AAs that a VistaLite can
run on forever.It also looks like they just used one of their existing headlight housings for
this light. It has the same three-position adjustable mount that their
headlights do which is kind of goofy on a taillight. I have the rack mount
version and don't like how far the light protrudes from the rack - it looks
too likely to break off or bend in a spill. If it's just some electronics and
the LEDs it could have been designed with a flatter profile which could have
also allowed it to be clipped to seat packs. And the cord is coiled at the
light end which is fine for a headlight but not a taillight since it's the pop
plug end, where the taillight cord connects to the headlight, where stretch is
required while a straight cord near the light would have been easier to route
around the seatpost or through the rack.Lastly, the light is removable from the mount, but not from the cord. Running
the cord from the light to the battery plug and making sure it won't rub
against the rear wheel and the like takes longer than I'd put in the category
of easy removal. It would be nice if the cable pop-plugged into the light
so I could leave the cable fastened to the bike and take just the light.My LBS stores post-holiday sale brought this down to $48 and got me a $40
refund on my Digital Pro-12 which was still under their low-price guarantee
period. So in effect the taillight cost me $8, which I couldn't pass up. :)
But I doubt I'd have paid $60 for it. It loses one star for being in a
headlight case rather than a properly designed taillight case, and another for
costing so much, especially for a non-standalone light. Add one star yourself
if you really really need a daytime visible taillight.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tommy goggia
a cross-country rider
from maui, hawaii
Date Reviewed: January 4, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Though not much brighter than the Night Sun it replaces, this lighting system is much better. It has 6 levels of whiter light (compared to the Night Sun).
Quality cables, daylight flashing mode, smart recharging, battery level
guage, fiber optic level indicators, all make this a better/more versatile system. The optional tail light has got to be the brightest
I've ever seen. You get what you pay for..pay plenty....get plenty. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack Downs
a cross-country rider
from Grantsville, WV
Date Reviewed: January 1, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
What a system! I have been using the XCL system for 2 years and it has only had one flaw (the first ride I made in a little drizzle, it locked to one setting) a quick call to tech support, sent back to the factory and one week later I was up and running. With the Nite Rider tail light, I have had traffic stop when they came upon me! Riding with the taillite on single track does draw some unfavorable comments from fellow riders (they can't see!). Had to take it off at the 24 hour of Canaan! Save yourself a lot of money and frustration and get the best from the get go! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Burrito Bob
a cross-country rider
from Middletown, NJ
Date Reviewed: December 24, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I ride off road, at night, about 1-2x a week. So far, my older XCL is
great. Drop it down to econo mode for the fire roads, crank it up
when you need it. The only thing that I would like is to possibly
a) switch the power ratings (i.e. make the flood 12, and the spot 12-20).
b) I'd love it if they added the econo 9-watts mode into the `regular'
power cycle. Normally, you can go 12 (spot), 20 (flood), 32 (both).
I'd like to add the 9 (spot/econo) into the mix.FYI, the only difference between my older XCL and the newer Digital-12
that I've noticed is the two LEDs on the tops of the lights. This does
make it substantially easier to figure out what mode you are in. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ted
a cross-country rider
from Oakland, Calif., USA
Date Reviewed: December 10, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I've only had the light for a few weeks, but so far it's great--its electronic circuitry seems to make it much better than my old Commuter Premium. It'll be interesting to see whether the battery lasts longer than on my Commuter Premium, which may have been killed prematurely (after about 3 years of use) by overcharging. The only suggestions I would offer NiteRider are: (1) it would be nice to be able to adjust the beam vertically without having to loosen the handlebar-mount screw; and (2) I would like the 20-watt beam to be less of a flood and more of a long-range pencil point. Overall, however, the construction and design of this light are outstanding. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
F DAUGHERTY
a cross-country rider
from HUNTINGTON BEACH CA
Date Reviewed: November 27, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Only been on a few rides. Throttle it down to 6-9 watts for the climbs, run it brighter for the downhills, battery lasts great, plug it in the wall and forget it until the next time, it will be perfectly charged. Yes, the charge times are on the long side, but if everything in my life worked this perfectly...Yes, you do get what you pay for. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Maurizio Marra
a cross-country rider
from Italy
Date Reviewed: November 22, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
By far the best light system around, even if a little bit expensive, and the customer service is great! I have it repaired for a faulty switch in three weeks sending it overseas from Italy to S. Diego and back, and the guys I contacted at NiteRider were very, very kind.
There are only two disappointment: no dealer in Italy, so the only way to put hands on it here is to order it via Internet mail orders, and it doesn't make coffee! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon Dreyer
a cross-country rider
from Lexington, MA
Date Reviewed: November 22, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I like the Digital Pro-12. Lots of light levels, foolproof charging, sturdy (including cables), apparently water-resistant. One problem for commuters, though. The book says it takes 15 hours to fully recharge an empty battery, which is impractical for most commuters. So ride times tend to be more limited by charge time than by battery capacity. At those prices, they really should include a faster charger. (To be fair, I don't know how long their competitors' batteries take to recharge.) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lawrence P.
a
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: November 17, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I've only had my Digital Pro12 for a month but so far its awesome. Not just bright, but loaded with smart features including the 'gas gauge' and the smart charger. It makes my old TurboCat seem like a crude toy. I use the Niterider almost daily for commuting. The optional tail light really is bright; $50 for something that can save your life is a good deal. Initially the run times were much lower than claimed by Niterider but they quickly improved as the battery broke in. Note: Keep your helmet light because even with the Pro-12 it will be handy on tight single track. And check your LBS: I bought mine at a local shop at a price below mail order after a little bargaining. I'll give it 5 chilis based on my short-term experience. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Watson
a cross-country rider
from Vancouver, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 17, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
If you can afford it, there isn't a better light on the market. The computer controled charging will eliminate the problem I had with the earlier version of the Classic. the batery gave up when I left it on charge too long.Great for wet nights with its great illumination in dark areas, and its extended run times on less bright settings | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carl Coscia
a cross-country rider
from MPLS, MN USA
Date Reviewed: November 13, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Great product but a little pricey. This is the best light for any 24 hour race.
The ability to turn it down to 6 watts and get 6 hours from the light is great. Combined with a head mount unit you can really fly at night. Buy one and you will not be sorry. You get what you pay for. | | Overall Rating: |
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