[mahgnillig]

I've been doing some research on lights for night riding for when the temperature gets so hot here in Vegas that it's impossible to ride during the day. Neither my hubby or me have decent trail riding lights... just the little ones to make sure motorists see you when riding city streets at night. Since we'll be buying two of them, we obviously want to keep the price down as much as we can... preferably around the $200 mark per light.

I've seen a few threads here that mention Trail Tech lights and batteries from batteryspace.com. Most of the threads mention buying them both seperately and having to solder connections to make them work properly. I took a look on the batteryspace website and found this:

http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1398

It seems to be a complete kit including charger for $220. Are these designed to work together without any fiddling around with soldering and buying bits from Radio Shack? Ideally I'd like something that will work right out of the box. I've done some soldering and electrical stuff before, but not on kit that just cost me $200, and I'd prefer something that will just work right away (after being charged of course).

Any input from people who have ordered this kit would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

- Jen.

 

[ickyickyptngzutboing]

I'm looking into the Trail Tech HID system as well -- particulary the 13W Helmet Mount bulb $ controller along with the 14.8v Lith-Ion battery. My understanding is that those should work without modifications (not talking about the mount... seems like that you'll have to rig on your own). There were a few fellas who ordered the Trail Tech light and batteryspace.com battery a little while ago--I was following that thread, and it has since died (I was trying to see how the lights were holding up). Any information would greatly be appreciated by me as well...

 

[VegasSingleSpeed]

FYI, Batteryspace.com customer service sucks!

Sorry for the cross-post (I posted this exact account with bs.com in another thread...).

I purchased their HID kit with the Li-Ion battery. The Trail-Tech lamp is nearly identical to the Topeak Moonshine (I'm using mounts for the Moonshine ordered from Todson) and is a fantastic light. I have no complaints with the lamp.

I have plenty with bs.com. I ordered the HID kit on a Saturday when it was indicated as "in stock" (it had been out of stock earlier in the week). It should have been shipped Monday and delivered by Wednesday. I received the tracking number early Mon. morning and an e-mail confirming it was shipped later that morning.

Wednesday comes, but no light. I e-mail bs.com and they tell me the light is out of stock. I forward them their e-mail telling me it had shipped...I ask them, "how is an empty box that never leaves the building considered to be shipped?" I tell them that I am not angry that the product is out of stock, but I am angry in the principle that I had to contact them to discover it was out of stock. And oh, yeah, you guys told me it had shipped. I should have been told immediately on Monday that it was out of stock

Anyway, the light works fantastic...no, phenomenal...THREE TIMES!!! The battery pack dies during the third use. Maybe 2.5-3 hours total use with one charge in between. Zero voltage, zero continuity, nothing. I've spoken to 2 customer service reps, both have told me different return policies. One has tried to tell me that it is the protective circuit on the PCB that is at fault and that unplugging it from the charger for 30 seconds will reset the battery. BS bs.com. Not only does your customer service suck, but they don't listen to the customers. No longer is the day that the customer is always right.

So, if you go ahead and buy the bs.com HID kit, bear these things in mind. 1) the TrailTech lamp is a great lamp (see MTBR review of Topeak Moonshine lamp for example). 2) opt for the NiMH pack...they are heavier, but more robust. The Li-Ion pack requires some protective circuitry that may make it finicky...fine if you purchase a premium Li-Ion pack from a premium company; but in my limited experience with cheap Li-Ion packs (n = 1), I cannot recommend those from bs.com; 3) pray that you do not have any problems so as not to bring upon yourself the wrath of the bs.com customer service.

Your experience may vary

 

[ickyickyptngzutboing]

I just ordered the lighting kit with the Li-Ion pack and I got the 14.4v NiMH battery as well. You should have posted earlier--I have a race next weekend (12 Hours of Lodi) and I plan on using these lights; I'm paying extra for the 2 day air shipping--I better get the light fast. Looks like I get to be a royal pain in the ass to these guys to make sure this is shipped out. I'll let ya'll know how I make out...

Oh yea, did they send you the spot or flood bulb with the light?

 

[undertrained]

The light is awesome, haven't had any problems with the battery. It took a 2-3 weeks for shipping but thats because of canadian customs. I definetly recommend.

 

[ickyickyptngzutboing]

Undertrained, did they send you the spot or flood bulb?

I remember reading somewhere you have to specifically ask for the flood bulb--but I'm not sure if that was from Trailtech's website or batteryspace...

I'll try to locate that thread...

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=78470&highlight=Trail+Tech

 

[VegasSingleSpeed]

I'm under the impression I received the flood bulb. I asked them before I purchased and that is what they told me. However, having nothing for comparison, I could have the spot-bulb for all I know

 

[ickyickyptngzutboing]

Just talked w/ Batteryspace.com CS...

I called at 1239 EST, (0939 PST, only 9 minutes after they start answering calls) so that I could get an immediate answer. Turns out they only sell the spot bulb; I specifically asked if I could get a flood bulb and I was told the light was the 6 degree spot only. That's fine with me, as I'll be using it on my helmet and I'll have a LED light on the bars for the close up stuff. Also, everything is in stock--and they said it will be shipped out today. Now we'll see if it comes through...

 

[VegasSingleSpeed]

That's funny...when I e-mailed them over a month ago regarding a HID kit they were selling on EBay, their answer was that it was a "flood" lamp I still have the e-mail, too.

I'm seriously tired of these clowns. Sure I saved a bunch of money up front, but I've spent an additional $70 for a new NiMH battery pack, and I'll have to waiit who knows how long to get the Li-Ion battery back. If I decide to keep the Li-Ion battery, I'll probably do the capacitor band-aid that Heatstroke has detailed in the DIY/Trail Tech HID threads.

You should seriously consider doing this, too...or don't be surprised if you have to ride a half-lap in the dark

 

[undertrained]

I received the spot bulb. Wouldn't need anything wider as its on my helmet.

 

[Lumbee1]

Does anyone have nighttime shots of this kit?