Originally Posted by
Truckin75
Paid the bucks for a NiteRider a few years ago. Probs shortly thereafter, they replaced it under warranty (that's a good thing).
Now it will no longer recharge, and is therefore no longer usable. Also, the mounting bracket has deteriorated to the point that I need to use duct tape in order to prevent it from falling off when hitting bumps. NiteRider says they'll fix it (and I am confident they will), plus throw in a new mounting bracket, for 20 bucks. But based on the track record, I'm a bit leery of hanging with them/it as opposed to just moving on...
Options:
1. Pay the $20 and press on.
2. Stay "high quality" but switch brands (all suggestions on high quality brands and models welcome!)
3. Spend less than $20 on a brand new low quality light that uses AAA batteries, and be willing to replace the batteries (and/or the light) as needed
What do you folks think?
All depends on what you need. If you are riding in an urban setting where it's never really dark then that's a different problem than if you ride on a heavily wooded and hilly rural route like I do. Without a light, it can be so dark that it's hard to see much at all so quality, reliability and redundancy are paramount. I learned that lesson the hard way with a light that died on me and I had to pretty much walk home in mosquito infested roads. Not pleasant.
For me, I have a backup light on my helmet that I can use to shine cars that could be pulling out in front of me and as a redundant light. I use Lupine lights with a Wilma or Betty on the bars and a Piko on the helmet. Admittedly, that's a lot of light and not cheap, but the alternative made it all seem worth it.
I like to ride with a lot of light so that I'm considered a vehicle on the road. Blinkie style lights (head or tail) are worthless, IMO.
And it's true that batteries will last several years (it's a characteristic of the chemistry). The cheapie ones a lot less the better ones several years more.
My vote, because of where I ride, is for top end lights.
J.