Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.DXchulo
11-21-07, 10:10 AM
I bought the NiteHawk Emitter AL (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=22986&subcategory_ID=4320) for ~$100 at the beginning of the year. I was looking for a brevet/commuter light and I liked the fact that it had long battery life and ran on AA batteries. The light was no crazy-bright HID, but it suited my purposes very well and I was happy with it for most of the year.
Fast forward to fall and I've been riding in the dark much more often. Now the light is crapping out on me. It all started after a particularly wet day when I couldn't turn the light off at all. I would hit the switch and it would dim down to a lower level than the normal low setting without turning off completely. I let the light dry out and the problem went away. I didn't think much of it at the time.
The same thing happened a few more times and I started thinking about getting a new light. I've been using my both my backup light and the Emitter at the same time, which could be a recipe for disaster if something crazy happens. Now the light is behaving even worse. Instead of two modes, I'm only getting one. When I first turn it on it is very dim and flickers. There is moisture trapped inside the light that will not seem to come out no matter how long I dry it.
Is there anything I can do about this?
Meanwhile, anybody recommend a good light under $50? My backup light is this cheapo Ascent Jet Set (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=19272&subcategory_ID=4322), which seems to be enough light for my environment. I'm thinking about getting one of the Cateye Opticubes. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
FWIW, this review (from MTBR here (http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Lights/product_129399.shtml)) matches my experiences exactly (and no, that's not my review).
where to begin? Same as oter reviewers the on/off button was almost unusable - i ahd to take off glves and use a key depress it....o and my low output started flickering constantly during use...then it started letting water in...cabel too long too.
Fast forward to fall and I've been riding in the dark much more often. Now the light is crapping out on me. It all started after a particularly wet day when I couldn't turn the light off at all. I would hit the switch and it would dim down to a lower level than the normal low setting without turning off completely. I let the light dry out and the problem went away. I didn't think much of it at the time.
The same thing happened a few more times and I started thinking about getting a new light. I've been using my both my backup light and the Emitter at the same time, which could be a recipe for disaster if something crazy happens. Now the light is behaving even worse. Instead of two modes, I'm only getting one. When I first turn it on it is very dim and flickers. There is moisture trapped inside the light that will not seem to come out no matter how long I dry it.
Is there anything I can do about this?
Meanwhile, anybody recommend a good light under $50? My backup light is this cheapo Ascent Jet Set (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=19272&subcategory_ID=4322), which seems to be enough light for my environment. I'm thinking about getting one of the Cateye Opticubes. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
FWIW, this review (from MTBR here (http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Lights/product_129399.shtml)) matches my experiences exactly (and no, that's not my review).
where to begin? Same as oter reviewers the on/off button was almost unusable - i ahd to take off glves and use a key depress it....o and my low output started flickering constantly during use...then it started letting water in...cabel too long too.