In October of 2002, I bought the Light and Motion ARC light. It's an HID light. I wrote a review then:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...&highlight=HID

Last October, October 2004, I posted a two-year review of the light:

https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/68678-light-motion-arc-light-review-two-years-out.html


There have since been some further developments in my light's career, so I thought I'd post them.

The battery finally crapped out last week. It was the battery that came with the light. I'd estimate the battery went through n>300 charge cycles, with anywhere between three-hundred something and five hundred hours of use. L&M claim that the battery is good for 500 charge cycles, but mine certainly didn't get that far.

I had noticed a drop off in the run times this winter. I would get no more than about 1:30 from the battery when it was fully charged. That's about half of its expected performance. I might have thought it was the cold weather that was sapping the battery, but I'd been through two winters with the battery previously and never saw the cold hamper the battery's performance nearly this much. Finally, the battery just gave out. It wouldn't start the lamp, and the charger didn't indicate any connection when it was plugged in to the battery. (I opened the battery pack, and the connections inside were still intact.)

I should add that I cared for the battery pretty well throughout its life. Only once did I leave it on the charger too long. L&M's charger does have an automatic shutoff, but even with that feature it's not recommended that the battery remain connected for more than fourteen hours straight. Only once did I run afoul of this recommendation. I just forgot and left the battery on for about a day. It wasn't long after that that I noticed the performance degredation, so perhaps I accelerated the battery's decline.

Batteries give out, though. Two and-a-half years of regular use is about what I had hoped for from the battery when I bought the light, and that's what I got. In any event, the battery is well out of warranty.

I just went ahead and ordered another Ni-MH battery from L&M. The one I had was a water bottle cage model. Those are no more, and now the only batteries L&M sells are smaller, top-tube mounted versions. That's just fine with me. It's nice to have the water bottle cages back. The new battery holder and strap are well designed, by the standards of these things. The replacement was about $100, plus shipping.

Another option was to buy a longer burning lithium battery. The thing is impressive-- it's supposed to give *six hours* of burn time, according to L&M. That lithium battery was more expensive than than the Ni-MH battery, of course, but on top of that I would have had to buy a new charger, too. The total for both things-- even given L&M's ongoing discount for battery and charger upgrades-- would have been well over $200. That wasn't worth doing for a lamp that's probably somewhere near halfway through its working life. I don't need more than three hours of light for my night riding, anyway.

While I was waiting for the new battery, I didn't have an HID light. That was for about three days, but those were three demoralizing days. I hate my pathetic, flickering, halogen backup lighting.

I ride at night on completely dark rural roads. There is a fair amount of crap that finds its way onto those roads. It was frustrating not to have the road bathed in the brilliant blue-white light.

Even worse, I had forgotten how much contempt a cyclist with halogen lights inspires around here. Oncoming motorists would see the light, but they would not turn down their high beams. Just some guy on a bike, after all. They always turn down their high beams when I've got the HID light on. There are various interpretations of this difference in behavior, none of them flattering to the drivers, but rather than delve into them, I'll just focus on the fact that I've got a working HID light back and these problems are not mine anymore.

I'm still happy with the light. HID makes night riding into an entirely new activity. If I can get another two and-a-half years out of this new battery and the original lamp, I would consider the purchase of this light an excellent value. As it is, I think it's worth it for HID lighting for anyone who rides a lot at night.

You should be able to get twice the use out of the lithium. Since you only have to recharge it half as often due to the longer battery life. PLUS, lithiums work much better in the cold. Overall, for $200 (double the price of the nimh), you're basically getting enough run time to account for 2 nimh's anyway. Plus it's a lighter battery and you have the option of going on a 4-5 hour ride if you want to.

You can use the newer LiIon batteries with an older NiMh HID light?

That's great news to me. I got a killer deal on a used NiteRider HID about a year ago ($75! No, it wasn't stolen ), knowing that I can replace the battery, when it comes time, w/ the longer-burning, lighter LiIon battery makes me very happy.

I figured perhaps the lighting circuitry was different and they wouldn't be interchangeable. Any idea if you can swap to a LiIon battery w/ the NiteRider NiMh HIDs?

I've seen all sorts of arguments regarding Halogen v. HID (many in the "total geekiness" thread here.), but having ridden with HID for about a year now, there's just no comparison. For my money a helmet mounted HID is the best night-commute lighting option there is. Too bad the prices are so high.

-Trevor

I've been using the Cygo Lite Z Force NiCad HID for a year. It's been reliable and added a lot to my safety and confidence when commuting before sun up. There's also a NiMH version but I chose the NiCad after reading that it would survive more charging cycles.

AE Bike in Michigan has the NiCad for $209, a remarkable price compared to anything from NiteRider or Cateye. It puts HID within reach of the masses.
https://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=LT7826

I actually have the NiMH version of that very same light (Cygolite) and love it. Riding at night doesn't feel anywhere near as dangerous now and I can actually see debris on the road BEFORE I hit it. I commute 15 miles @ 3am regularly and felt that the $280 I spent on the light was well worth the price. I totally agree that for those of us that do lots of night riding, the HID is well worth the price premium over halogen.

the prcies l&M charges for their charger is way too expensive they are slow chargers besides. they wanted 50.00 for a simple power pack I could have gotten at rat shack for 10.00
commecial halogen lights are not much. I am not sure why they never really made a birght one. my homemade system puts out more like then the average HID does for less money. but it does not have the runtime it's a give and take thing.
but I have found no matter how bright your lights are there are still idiots that can't see them.

The cost of replacement batteries from L&M are considerably less than Niterider.. I bought an ARC HID about 1.5 years ago and it is still going strong.. The replacement battery is $99.00.. While this is a lot for a battery it is still much less than the $175.00 price that Niterider wanted to charge me for a battery for a 12E which is older Halogen technology.. I had 2 Niteriders fizzle out in the space of 2 years.. They were less than helpful and I feel they price there batteries so high that you end up buying a completely new unit.. I believe this is there strategy.

I can't see paying the extra $$ for the new battery technology when most of my nite rides are well under the 3.5 hour burn time of the standard battery..

Another note, all my questions to L&M have been answered.. I see them as a very good customer service oriented company..

I always get the production manager when I call em, he's a nice guy to deal with.

hey Merriwether
here is link for 'Lights and Motion'.

FYI - they are advertising that if you 'Bring in ANY old, lighting system and receive up to $100 off a new Lithium ion system from Light & Motion. For a limited time only the entire line of Light & Motion Li-ion lighting systems* are available for up to 25% off'.

*I didnt' find out what THEIR asterix meant? hmm.

If you already have ARC, or Solo Logic Mv systems they’ll give you up to a $75.00 credit towards a new Li-ion battery and Lithium ion Turbo Charger.


https://www.bikelights.com/index.htm