NiteRider Digital Bike Lights

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Sep 18, 2003
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I will be purchasing several lights in the near future and was wondering if these are really worth $240 per unit?

Is there a better light on the market right now?

Thanks.
 
Our department has been using Niterider for some years. They seem to be the best compromise between cost and effectiveness. You can go way cheaper, but I've tested several inexpensive units and they are not effective at letting you see.
You can go way more expensive, as with the Cateye "stadium" light, but you're talking serious bucks. Kind of for the dedicated night trailrider or adventure racer.
The cheap LED lights do allow you to be SEEN, so if that's your primary consideration they're fine.
But if you want to be able to see where you're going, you need a bit more illumination. The model we buy has the dual lights, one high beam, one low, or both together. Battery life is OK, we find maybe an hour on high, and 2/12 on low. Like most batteries of this type, when they die, they die quick.

The units are well made and durable, and factory support is excellent. They switched a bunch of our older units over to the newer chargers and plug setups without charge.
 
Since an officer was instrumental in helping me out I have decided to donate some equipment, and this is what they have decided they needed for the bike patrol.

I did not know how dated this equipment might be, and know you need good stuff to be out there, so I just wanted to check.

Would you happen to know of a source that carries a good price on this equipment?

How much would the next step up cost?

It looks like I may be buying 3 or 4 of these in the near future.

They are using Raleighs and Cannondale, which I have personal experience with. They love the bikes they have. It makes me want to get mine back out after so long.

What type are y'all using? Do you have a horse mounted unit?

Thanks for your help.
 
Can you guess where this thread is going? That's right!!! Gadgets & Gear!!! Hooray for the Gadgets & Gear Forum!!!
 
Oops! Sorry 'bout that. I guess I did not scroll down far enough.

Thanks.
 
Terry Newton said:
Oops! Sorry 'bout that. I guess I did not scroll down far enough.

Thanks.
It's ok. I get them every now and again and I kinda figure it was from not scrolling down far enough. Heck, I even had to move one of my own threads once for the same mistake!!! How embarrassing is that?!!!
 
With local bike patrol units, Trek is king. The Trek "police Service" bike comes with an excellent spec, and has proven to be trouble-free and reliable. They are generally available for about 900.00 new.

We have a number of Smith & Wessons. These are bikes made by some firm with a Taiwan-produced frame and standard specs in a couple of different grades. The low grade ones are POS... (that's what we bought; they were inexpensive and have been a constant headache.) No doubt the upper-grade jobs are OK.

I'm currently riding a much older steel-frame S&W which has been trouble-free for about 7 years. Shimano XT components...
I have not had a chance to inspect the offerings from Raleigh, but a couple of local departments have a few.
 
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