NiteRider Classic Select light @ Performance

[aliensporebomb]

Okay, we got this for my wife and we used it this morning - it's pretty bright.

But, the battery is intended to be velcro mounted to the underside of the top tube.

But her bike has a brake line going on the underside so we had to put the battery in
her water bottle cage. Not an ideal solution.

Anyone have ideas short of putting it in a pocket somewhere? The cable is rather
short from the battery to the switch which controls the light so the best way to
make it work is somehow figure out a way for it to hang under a tube without a
cable. But both the top tube and downtube on her bike have cables either for
braking or derailleur.

Someone else has to have had this issue. Ideas?

[diesel_dad]

I have the same issue on my Long Haul Trucker. I used a piece split cable loom to cover the brake cable and all is well. Split cable loom is used for automotive wiring.

Cheers.

[Portis]

Don't want to steal your thread, but can you comment more on the light? I was looking at this light. It's only 6 volts so I wonder how bright it is.

[bmclaughlin807]

Install cable housing on the cable in that section and fasten the battery over it.

[tdister]

I am not sure whichstyle cable it uses, but NightRider should have an extension cable that will fit it.

If you are unsure which it needs, I would give them a call Monday.

[aliensporebomb]

I'm going to take pictures of the beamshots of this light versus my HID, my led blinkies and other
light sources for those interested soon and I'll create another youtube video too.

Extended cable might help. She was not thrilled about having to carry something else - it would
be ideal for the battery weight to be dealt with on the bike end.

The suggestions here are sound though so I'll see what I can concoct. Also, a friend of mine has
a nightrider light (same battery/charger, different light) and will see what he does.

[Portis]

Where's the pictures?

[aliensporebomb]

No lights:
http://pod.ath.cx/hid/backyard-without-lights.jpg

One Cateye EL300:
http://pod.ath.cx/hid/01-one-el300.jpg

Two Cateye EL300:
http://pod.ath.cx/hid/01-two-el300.jpg

Niterider Classic Select low beam (10 w):
http://pod.ath.cx/hid/niteriderclassicselect-5w.jpg

Niterider Classic Select - 15 watt flood:
http://pod.ath.cx/hid/niterider-classicselect-15wflood.jpg

Niterider Classic Select - 25 Watts (10 watt spot + 15 watt floor):
http://pod.ath.cx/hid/niterider-classicselect-25watts.jpg

Compare to Trailtech Eclipse 13W HID:
http://pod.ath.cx/hid/03-one-trailtech-eclipse.jpg

Another view of the Trailtech:
http://pod.ath.cx/hid/03-one-trailtech-eclipse-view2.jpg

Hope that helps. The wife has been riding with the Niterider and I'm
using the Trailtech. Together, we're the best lit up couple commuting
in our town I suspect. We get wide berth from vehicles and you have
not seen our taillights yet.

[chtorr]

Will this light last 2 hours on high?

If the battery lasts 2 hours I might get it for country riding around my area. Seems like a bargain, depending on that.

[tsl]

It wasn't obvious to me at first, but my NiteRider battery fits hanging from the stem or the bars.

These locations are preferable to me since I found the Velcro strap is an excellent paint stripper. My top tube will never be the same. Stem and bars are easy to paint.

[seeker333]

http://pod.ath.cx/hid/03-one-trailtech-eclipse-view2.jpg

Hope that helps. The wife has been riding with the Niterider and I'm
using the Trailtech. Together, we're the best lit up couple commuting
in our town I suspect. We get wide berth from vehicles and you have
not seen our taillights yet.

Has it crossed your mind that perhaps the 12 deg version of the TT may be more "illuminating" ?

The L&M hid, for example, is even wider angle, really intended for off road where wide angle is crucial to locate hazards. People use these on the roads too.

BTW - I believe the TT Eclipse is actually the mr16 version HID (30w), not the mr11 version. Batteryspace has misapplied the name to all the TT HID lamps they sell (but then, BS does a lot things like that - they sure need an english-speaking CS rep - i think that's half their problem).

[aliensporebomb]

The Niterider runtimes:

10 Watt - 2 hrs 15 minutes
15 Watt - 1 hr 45 minutes
25 Watt - 1 hour

A bit meager for the charge time involved (nine hours) but decent output
for sure.

The 12 degree version of the TT could indeed be wider, as it is you don't really see that the 6 degree spot actually illuminates two road lanes wide. I wish I could take a pic of that decently.

Actually, here is a picture of the marketing material that came with the TT:
http://pod.ath.cx/hid/marketing.jpg

Apparently all Trailtech HID lights are called Eclipse, not just the 30watt version.

[aliensporebomb]

Some interesting things have developed:

A friend of mine has a Niterider Trailrat which uses the exact same battery and charger.

I wonder if there wouldn't be a way to equip her bike with a better, longer lasting battery
and better smart charger? The lights themselves are pretty well built and clamp to the
handlebar nicely - they don't drift up and down on the bars like some inexpensive lights.

We did manage to mount the battery to the frame with the velcro by gently angling it
slightly away from the cable that routed under the top tube.

But we also think there should be a better way - thanks for all the hints, everyone.

One idea would be a spare battery to allow for not having to charge the battery every
time you do a commute..

But the fact that the company still produces dumb chargers in 2007 is goofy (my HID
battery has a smart charger that determines charge/battery temps and slows the charge
to a trickle and then shuts the current off when the charge is completed ans has LEDs
for this purpose to tell you what it is doing).

The Niterider charger is basically set up to charge until oblivion comes and could wreck
a battery if you leave it connected longer than the prescribed 9 hours.

[bfromcolo]

This light is on sale at my local Performance store for $129.99, I will need about an hour of runtime for my commute once the Fall time change hits if I am to continue riding. Most of my route is unlit MUP. This looks like it should fit the bill nicely.

[thereverendbob]

Okay, we got this for my wife and we used it this morning - it's pretty bright.

But, the battery is intended to be velcro mounted to the underside of the top tube.

But her bike has a brake line going on the underside so we had to put the battery in
her water bottle cage. Not an ideal solution.

Anyone have ideas short of putting it in a pocket somewhere? The cable is rather
short from the battery to the switch which controls the light so the best way to
make it work is somehow figure out a way for it to hang under a tube without a
cable. But both the top tube and downtube on her bike have cables either for
braking or derailleur.

Someone else has to have had this issue. Ideas?

I would vigorously avoid purchasing any equipment made by Niterider. Search for my thread on the subject, on this forum.

See ya,
Bob