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11-10-08, 07:50 PM
Well I am actually about 11 months into use of a dual 600L and 140L rear light combo. I first bought a single 600L and the rear 140L, but I felt like I needed a bit more front light, so I got the extra 600L kit.
REAR 140L REVIEW:
This has worked flawlessly from day one with one minor exception (see below). The light is intensely bright and can be seen very very well from nearly a mile back. I have gotten tons of complements from other riders that have seen me using them. 3 other people I know have either gotten them or are in the process of getting them. The mount works very well with the O-ring, and stays in place. The cord is long enough. The cord to battery connection is very good and very water protecting too. The battery lasts more than plenty on flash mode. It charges like it did on day one too.
The only gripe I have with it so far is that the pad under the mount and under battery is rather thin and wears out over time very easily. I have a carbon bike and the site where the light mount goes and where the battery sits have already scratched the paint significantly over the last 7 months. I would suggest doubling up the padding at least!!
600L REVIEW:
Since I have 2 different sets, each came with a charger and 2 of the 4 cell lithium batteries. So, 2 total chargers and 4 total batteries. The instructions for them were rather generic to all the different lights they sell, which may or may not apply to some of these. I would suggest model specific and better instructions. However, the things I really needed to know were clear:
1. Each light with a single 4 cell battery should last 3.5 hr on high mode.
2. Press the button on my left when looking at the back of the lights to start on high mode.
3. At about 3 hr of high intensity use, the left button will turn red and the light will flash warning that there is about 30 min. or so left of battery life.
4. Each battery is good for at least 500 charges.
I specifically went with DiNotte because of the battery life. My night rides last about 2 hr and 15 min. or so, but I wanted a battery life of at least 3 hr incase of mechanical failures or if I decided to extend my ride to about 3 hr or so. Given those requirements, these lights fit the bill perfectly.
Intensity:
For me personally, the single light was probably on the borderline of enough. Hence, the reason I got an extra one. The combination of both of the 600L on the front is perfect enough for me. One I point a bit closer to the front wheel and the other I focus a bit further up the road than the first one. The combo works perfect for me. Also, I do like the white nature of the lights. It did take a couple of rides for my eyes to get used to at the beginning. The light engines themselves don't get hot, which is a plus.
Clamping/mounting:
This was easy enough. The little rubber inserts used for the clamping brackets DO NOT glue themselves well to the brackets, and as a consequence I have lost them already. I hardly ever take off the mounting brackets though, and I do have carbon bars. They have not come loose, and easily maintain their position once in place. They also swivel up and down and sideways, which is a plus for initial adjustments.
Battery life:
This is where the bulk of my complains and dissatisfaction with this product has come from. My lights started to flicker and warm me of low battery at about 3-4 months into it, which progressively got worse to the point that it was happening at the 1 hr mark. Now, let me remind you I only use the lights 3-4 times per week at most, and since I have 2 sets of 2 batteries each, I alternate the batteries in use. So, at the 10 months mark, you can say each set of 2 batteries have been used the equivalent of 5 months at 3-4 times per week.
Problems:
A. One of my light engines seemed dimmer than the other from the get go. Since I was using them both combined, I never gave it too much thought to sending it back for repair/replacement. However, when it seemed that I was sending something in (read below), I took the chance to send it in for repair. They sent me a new one in its place at no cost to me. Actually, they sent me a loaner in the meantime due to miscommunication.
B. Given the issues with my batteries, They instructed me to send in the one light for repair and 3 of my batteries. The other I could keep in the meantime to continue to use while they send me new batteries. They did send me 4 new batteries and later instructed me to simply dispose of the last old battery. They also sent me 2 new chargers and had me send back the old ones. They suggested maybe they were bad and causing the battery problems.
Now, I have 4 new batteries, and original 600L light engine, and the new 600L light engine.
Ongoing problems:
The new batteries are warning at the 1hr and 45 min run time after a full charge overnight! I contacted them pretty frustrated about it and they said "it may take several charges for a full charge to set in". They also said the warning light may not mean that it only has 30 min, but it may have 2 hr of battery life left.:twitchy: Well, what good is that "warning" for if I have no idea how much life I have left??:mad:
Communication/customer service:
Needless to say, so far they have backed their product. Their communication was extremely poor though as in the process of all this I got about 7 different set of instructions on what to send back, what they will send, what they will do, what I should do, etc. Ultimately, we got on the same page despite emails and phone calls.
I am giving these new batteries a try for another week. So far, I am pretty disappointed. Do they get me through my 2 hr of riding in the dark? Sure they do, but I should not be happy of getting 2/3 of what I bought.:notamused:
Light? Very good
Battery life? Suck!!
REAR 140L REVIEW:
This has worked flawlessly from day one with one minor exception (see below). The light is intensely bright and can be seen very very well from nearly a mile back. I have gotten tons of complements from other riders that have seen me using them. 3 other people I know have either gotten them or are in the process of getting them. The mount works very well with the O-ring, and stays in place. The cord is long enough. The cord to battery connection is very good and very water protecting too. The battery lasts more than plenty on flash mode. It charges like it did on day one too.
The only gripe I have with it so far is that the pad under the mount and under battery is rather thin and wears out over time very easily. I have a carbon bike and the site where the light mount goes and where the battery sits have already scratched the paint significantly over the last 7 months. I would suggest doubling up the padding at least!!
600L REVIEW:
Since I have 2 different sets, each came with a charger and 2 of the 4 cell lithium batteries. So, 2 total chargers and 4 total batteries. The instructions for them were rather generic to all the different lights they sell, which may or may not apply to some of these. I would suggest model specific and better instructions. However, the things I really needed to know were clear:
1. Each light with a single 4 cell battery should last 3.5 hr on high mode.
2. Press the button on my left when looking at the back of the lights to start on high mode.
3. At about 3 hr of high intensity use, the left button will turn red and the light will flash warning that there is about 30 min. or so left of battery life.
4. Each battery is good for at least 500 charges.
I specifically went with DiNotte because of the battery life. My night rides last about 2 hr and 15 min. or so, but I wanted a battery life of at least 3 hr incase of mechanical failures or if I decided to extend my ride to about 3 hr or so. Given those requirements, these lights fit the bill perfectly.
Intensity:
For me personally, the single light was probably on the borderline of enough. Hence, the reason I got an extra one. The combination of both of the 600L on the front is perfect enough for me. One I point a bit closer to the front wheel and the other I focus a bit further up the road than the first one. The combo works perfect for me. Also, I do like the white nature of the lights. It did take a couple of rides for my eyes to get used to at the beginning. The light engines themselves don't get hot, which is a plus.
Clamping/mounting:
This was easy enough. The little rubber inserts used for the clamping brackets DO NOT glue themselves well to the brackets, and as a consequence I have lost them already. I hardly ever take off the mounting brackets though, and I do have carbon bars. They have not come loose, and easily maintain their position once in place. They also swivel up and down and sideways, which is a plus for initial adjustments.
Battery life:
This is where the bulk of my complains and dissatisfaction with this product has come from. My lights started to flicker and warm me of low battery at about 3-4 months into it, which progressively got worse to the point that it was happening at the 1 hr mark. Now, let me remind you I only use the lights 3-4 times per week at most, and since I have 2 sets of 2 batteries each, I alternate the batteries in use. So, at the 10 months mark, you can say each set of 2 batteries have been used the equivalent of 5 months at 3-4 times per week.
Problems:
A. One of my light engines seemed dimmer than the other from the get go. Since I was using them both combined, I never gave it too much thought to sending it back for repair/replacement. However, when it seemed that I was sending something in (read below), I took the chance to send it in for repair. They sent me a new one in its place at no cost to me. Actually, they sent me a loaner in the meantime due to miscommunication.
B. Given the issues with my batteries, They instructed me to send in the one light for repair and 3 of my batteries. The other I could keep in the meantime to continue to use while they send me new batteries. They did send me 4 new batteries and later instructed me to simply dispose of the last old battery. They also sent me 2 new chargers and had me send back the old ones. They suggested maybe they were bad and causing the battery problems.
Now, I have 4 new batteries, and original 600L light engine, and the new 600L light engine.
Ongoing problems:
The new batteries are warning at the 1hr and 45 min run time after a full charge overnight! I contacted them pretty frustrated about it and they said "it may take several charges for a full charge to set in". They also said the warning light may not mean that it only has 30 min, but it may have 2 hr of battery life left.:twitchy: Well, what good is that "warning" for if I have no idea how much life I have left??:mad:
Communication/customer service:
Needless to say, so far they have backed their product. Their communication was extremely poor though as in the process of all this I got about 7 different set of instructions on what to send back, what they will send, what they will do, what I should do, etc. Ultimately, we got on the same page despite emails and phone calls.
I am giving these new batteries a try for another week. So far, I am pretty disappointed. Do they get me through my 2 hr of riding in the dark? Sure they do, but I should not be happy of getting 2/3 of what I bought.:notamused:
Light? Very good
Battery life? Suck!!