Description:The Blackburn System X4 light is a superb choice for a primary light while on the roads commuting or riding, or as a second light while mountain biking. The redesigned Li-lon battery pack lasts up to 4 hours at 100% intensity and stays at the full brightness for all of it! The Blackburn System X4 can be mounted to your handlebars and is powered by a Luxeon lamp at 85 lumens.
Submitted by
cbkcbk
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco, CA Date Reviewed: July 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Folsom Street
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Warranty replacement
Strengths:
Smaller, lighter battery than the X3.
Weaknesses:
Designed by monkeys! Cheep Cheep!
Similar Products Used:
Blackburn X3. Niterider Classic. Niterider Trail Rat.
Bike Setup:
Van Dessel Gin and Trombones.
Bottom Line:
History: I bought the X3, the predecessor to the X4, about two years ago, and wrote a review on MTBR. What I loved about the X3 was the separate, sturdy connector port for the charger, so you don’t have to worry about wearing out the mini pins for the headlight by constant unplugging and re-plugging. I loved the usefulness of the battery charge indicator light on the batter, which was visible on the side of the battery. I hated the large size and ugly appearance of the X3’s battery, which was designed by the Pontiac Aztec team.
Later, I learned that the X3 had another flaw. The way-too-thin bracket at the bottom of the headlight breaks after about 3000 miles of road vibration. The first time the plastic broke, Blackburn replaced it with another X3. The second time it broke, Blackburn replaced it with an X4.
I was delighted to see that the X4 now has an appropriately small, lightweight battery. But seriously, what kind of banana leaf were the designers smoking? They went backward on two key features that I had loved about the X3. If you mount the battery of the X4 below the top tube, the top tube blocks access to the battery re-charge port. So now you have to remove the battery in order to charge it, which takes time and patience due to a clumsy mounting strap that works poorly with top-mounted cables. And the indicator light has been upgraded with a retro-rocket look. Unfortunately, this fabulous new indicator light is now located directly below the top tube, so you cannot see it while you are riding. To top it off, the headlight bracket design has not improved since the X3, so I expect it to break after another 3000 miles.
Question: did the monkeys try this light before they put it out to market? Don’t pay money for this light. (For a warranty replacement, it’s not bad.)
By the way, angry commuter was not a choice, so I had to pick "weekend warrior to describe myself."
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tommy
a Cross Country Rider
from Kansas Date Reviewed: January 10, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Clinton Lake
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$125.00
Purchased At:
Price Point
Strengths:
Light (not heavy) Light (plenty of it) Easy to mount Fast, smart charging system Inexpensive.
Weaknesses:
Cord is too short to put battery in pack when helmet mounted.
Similar Products Used:
Performance analog light, homemade LED light set-up
Bike Setup:
Whatever I'm riding that day.....
Bottom Line:
So far, this has been a great product. I have the light and battery mounted on my helmet, and it is not too heavy to be a burden. The charge seems to last planty of time (it's claimed to run 4 hours on 100%). It puts out enough light for how I ride at night, which is mellow. Fast riders may need a HID, but the X4 is enough for the average guy, in my opinion. I'd buy another. Plus the price is right.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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