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Specialized Preview Plus

MSRP $
# of Reviews 12
Average Rating 2.83/5
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Submitted by Doug a Weekend Warrior from Toronto, ON
Date Reviewed: June 24, 1999
Favorite Trail:
undecided
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Bright Headlight
Weaknesses:
Cheap construction, VERY BAD clip for rear light
Similar Products Used:
CCM Rear light
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Big Sur (Mtn)
Steve Bauer Chinook (Road)
Bottom Line:I mainly used this set of lights on my road bike. However, the rear light has a VERY BAD clip that does not clip tightly on anything. Finally after having the rear light popped off my bike several times...it finally saw it's death the other day when a car crunched over it. Now I have a CCM rear light and the clip is much better and the light is brighter too.The headlight is bright, but still cheap. A couple of parts have chipped off but is still usuable. I would just recommend cheaper CCM stuff.
Overall Rating:2

Submitted by nate a weekend warrior from canada vic
Date Reviewed: January 28, 1999
Bottom Line:

chesse ball construction bought for $25 canadian its bright kind of a pain in the mounting area due to the fact it mounts to water bottle bracket use duct or ellectical tape to renforce light
Overall Rating:2

Submitted by Bill Hilow a cross-country rider from USA San Francisco
Date Reviewed: October 27, 1998
Bottom Line:

This light is basically a toy. I bought it a couple of years ago while in college so I could ride with my roomates who being the elite bastards that they are had Vistalites. This light was brighter. When riding in unison with my buddy Sean, We put out just enough light to pass for a couple of bikes out on a night ride.
Dropped it once while changing batteries (purchased the specialized rechargables with the light, total frigging rubbish)on the street. That was the last time it worked properly. The tabs that hinge the the upper case to the body broke off thing worked erratically, read strobed for the next two years.
To be fair this light is very bright and very power hungry. Shit construction, not made for the off road set. I finally got a job that pays well enough for me to get a real light, NiteRider Classic dual beam mother@#$@#s!!!! Read my review.
Overall Rating:1

Submitted by Tim Reynolds a cross-country rider from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: August 8, 1998
Bottom Line:

I do a lot of adventure biking, 6 - 8+ hour rides in areas where you can get lost pretty easily. I have owned this light for over two years now and take it along on longer rides where I might get lost or just run out of daylight. I have also used it for overnight bike camping trips. For these uses it is perfect. It is relatively light weight, durable and compact - fits easily into a camelpack. I have used it about a half dozen times to complete my ride in the dark, and even when I have not needed it, it provided peace of mind knowing I would not end up stumbling around in the dark. TIP: If you plan to use it this way then make sure you fill it up with LITHIUM BATTERIES - they weigh half as much and last three times as long (they also cost twice as much, but they're worth it).
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by cheryl george a weekend warrior from napa ca, usa
Date Reviewed: October 11, 1997
Bottom Line:

Specialized has great customer service. They replaced my faulty/shorting out ProView 5.0 (5W 4 C cells in the same case as the light-bad for jarring mt. biking) for the newer model PreView 50 (5W 4 C cells/water bottle cage mount batteries). I'm pleased with its price/performance. Although if you do lots of night riding-it does eat up the batteries. Use rechargeables & bring a spare set if you're out for more than 2 hours
Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Allen a weekend warrior from Singapore
Date Reviewed: September 13, 1997
Bottom Line:

Works well enough, though tough on battery, exhausted one set in less than 2 hours of riding.......
Kind of expensive too
Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Martin a weekend warrior from Prag, Czech republic
Date Reviewed: May 13, 1997
Bottom Line:

With 4 NiMh acumulator 1000mAh is perfect.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Peter Spiro a from Toronto, Ontario
Date Reviewed: March 31, 1997
Bottom Line:

These lights are pretty good intermediate lights, good for use around the city, and bright enough to make sure cars notice you. They do eat up the batteries, so you have to use rechargeables. They go for about 2 hours on one charge. I got them on a big price reduction for $20 Cdn. Probably not worth the full price. The LEDs are pretty useless, especially with rechargeables.
Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Ryan Amirault a cross-country rider from Plymouth, MA
Date Reviewed: March 28, 1997
Bottom Line:

This light is alright. I use it as a backup for my night pro light. The specialized sucks for the money considering that my night pro costs only $50 ,
when the specialized cost $25, and the night pro comes with a water bottle battery and 16 watts of bright light. If you want to get a good light for the money, buy the night pro.
Overall Rating:1

Submitted by Adam a weekend warrior from Canada
Date Reviewed: March 24, 1997
Bottom Line:

I don't think this light is that bad. It goes through batteries quicker than anything, but overall, its pretty good
Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Jason Ang a weekend warrior from Singapore
Date Reviewed: March 8, 1997
Bottom Line:

The lights are not bright enough and power comsumption is high
Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Robert Lipscombe a cross-country rider from Surrey, BC Canada
Date Reviewed: March 7, 1997
Bottom Line:

I purchased the Preview Plus (Alkaline version) last year. There are two LED's, one red and one
green, to indicate the battery strength.The first one was returned because the green indicator didn't come on. The light was return to
Specialized and, after a few weeks, was still not back, so I got a new light from the bike shop.Again, the LED didn't work. I hoped that it was only the LED indicating the battery was good and
not the other one as well because the shop where it was purchased is nowhere near where I live.Well, one night, fortunately not far from home, the light went from (I think) bright to so dim that
when I got home and turned it on inside a totally dark room facing a white surface less than three
feet away, I could not see the light at all.About a month ago, I e-mailed Specialized asking about the LED problem on the two different
lights as well asking about purchasing the Nicad battery pack to save the cost of constantly
replacing the 4 C-cell batteries. I still have not received any response.Other than the fact that with good batteries, the light works very well, I am extremely disappointed
with the (lack of) service and the quality of the construction relating to the LED's not working.I light itself I give a four star, but the service and quality get only one star, which I figure will
average to about a 2 star overall rating.
Overall Rating:2




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