canonball

I am preparing to begin my commuting adventure in August. I work 31 miles away from where I work.
I don't mind the mileage because I am a newbie racer and I need to put in time on the saddle (plus I would rather ride my bike than drive the !@#$%*& car). One problem I will be facing is that I will need to leave around 5:15 am to make it to work on time - thus the light question. I just need to know if this thing - nite hawk 10 watt light- will do the trick or is it too weak? Also, after seeing the "light upgrade" threads is it possible to put a different bulb in and have less run time? Nashbar has these things on clearance for 40$ and if they are any good at all I'm going to buy one. Thanks for the help!

Merriwether

The 10w halogen light is enough for commuting. Many people get by with less. You won't be able to travel safely at daylight speeds on unlit roads, but you can approach those speeds sometimes and certainly can travel enjoyably and efficiently.

$40 is a good deal for a rechargeable battery halogen system. Bear in mind that you won't be able to get replacement components for this system a year or two down the road from Nighthawk-- that's why these things are on sale, after all. But for $40, so what? If you're still riding when your battery dies you can reevaluate then.

If you want a commuting light, and you want to do it cheaply, this one is a good deal.

Jean Beetham Smith 

I have found NiteHawk lights to be reliable. 10W is enough for roads you are familiar with, even in unlighted areas. The parts you replace on lighting systems fall into one of 3 categories: bulbs, batteries, and wiring harnesses. To a surprising degree, the bulbs are often interchangeable. Batteries and wiring harnesses can be cobbled together. You really can't buy the parts to build a system for less than $40, I'd go for it.

LittleBigMan

Sounds like a good deal. The bulb should outlast the battery, and the battery will last a long time if you take care of it properly.

DanFromDetroit

I own one of these and use it for commuting in the city, mostly in the winter time. It works well and provides enough light for my purposes. I would not recommend it as the only front light you have in a more rural setting.

PROS:

• inexpensive
• simple mounting hardware. supplied velcro strap ended up being used to strap the connector on to the light head. the wire kept popping out on bumps because it is inserted from the bottom and gravity always wins without the strap. I use a baby bottle insulator bag to keep the battery warm in wintertime, so I just stuffed the excess wire into the bag.
• ample light for city commute
• good run time. about 2.5 hours is advertised but I never used it more than about 1.5 hours at a time. It worked well for me.

CONS:

• Heavy battery.
• When you remove the light from the bike, you have 3 pieces to keep track of (4 if you bring the charger). Nitehawk should have included a bag.
• buy a separate and cheap steel water bottle cage. Over time you will bend the cage inserting and removing the battery. Steel is more bendable than aluminum. Don't even bother with plastic.
• No "blinking mode" or tail-light options