Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I have typically done all of my winter riding in the mornings, so I've never needed a light strong enough for me to really see by. After all, the sun would be up soon enough, so I just needed the little extra protection from sleepy drivers that was provided by my "flasher" style bike light. However, a few months ago, I started riding in the evenings a couple of times a week with a reasonably fast (18 - 20+ mph) recreational group out of a local bike shop. Time to look for a bike that I could actually use to navigate the streets by.
The first light I tried was a Niterider Tri-Newt that was on closeout. That was a great light...when it worked. The cable that connected the lamp housing to the battery would never seat very snugly, so the slightest jostling meant that I would lose my light (no electricity, no light - obviously). I tried a number of different mounting locations for the battery and a number of different ways of trying to ensure that the cable stayed attached. Nothing worked for an entire ride, so it went back to the retailer.
I checked some gear reviews at a cycling website, and it looked like the MityCross product from Cygolite was well-liked, so I decided to try the TridenX next. I'm done. This is my light for the next while until it dies. The battery claims seven hours on high, and I believe it. After my Tuesday night rideand its two hours of riding plus an hour or so of transition (getting to the shop, waiting for the group to assemble, riding home), I decided that I would leave the battery strapped to the bike and go out on Thursday without a recharge. It handled the task like a champ. After the end of the second ride, the battery indicator was still showing more than an hour left on the battery. Granted its still a new battery, but this was definitely a mark in its favor.
As for slinging lumens, nothing is perfect. You want most of the light concentrated ahead of you, but still with good lighting in the periphery. I personally think this is tough to do for a single light with sufficient light output to really see by. However, the TridenX was easily the equal or better to the TriNewt in this respect. It doesn't turn day into night, but even the ultra expensive bike lights don't do that. Mountain bikers who ride at night through twisty singletrack will still want a second or third light (helmet plus peripheral), but roadies like me can easily get by at fairly decent speeds with just this one light on the front.
Having used it for a month now, there are a few nits to pick, but nothing I'd hold against it from the overall rating:
1) Since the unit has three LEDs, I'd like to have the ability to set one of them to "flash", leaving the other two on.
2) Getting the unit into flash mode is harder than it needs to be. One of the top buttons should be for flash and one for full-on.
3) I'd like to have a second mounting kit in the box. I think that many people who buy a light at this price point are going to move it from bike to bike, so a second mounting kit would be a nice, thoughtful touch. These are available separately, though, so no complaints.
Beyond that, I don't have any issues with the light. Here is what I think it does well:
1) Light output and balance between spot and flood beam patterns. It's very well balanced from a roadie's perspective.
2) Light output. I haven't mentioned that one of my riding companions thought I was a motorcycle the first time I rode up to the group with it on. That's a big compliment.
3) Mounting. I'm not sure about the user who had mounting issues (maybe the light wasn't pushed into the mount until it snapped?). My light mounts very securely on both my road bike and my mountain bike.
4) Size. For all that it is a seven hour battery, the battery itself is generally compact and easy to strap onto the bike that doesn't interfere with something else (e.g., water bottle, brake/derailleur cables).
Highly recommended.
Click Here to see more reviews about: CygoLite TridenX 600 LED Li-Ion Xtra: Triple LED Bike Light with 5-hour Li-Ion Battery
Product Description:
Designed specifically for 24-hour races and competitive night riding, the CygoLite TridenX Li-Ion Xtra bike light will illuminate the path ahead for hours at a stretch. The TridenX Li-Ion Xtra boasts a high-capacity, lithium-ion, frame-mount battery pack that lasts between 5 and 24 hours on a single charge (5 hours on the high setting and 24 hours on the low setting). As a result, you can ride all night long without the hassle of changing the battery or swapping lamps. In addition, the Xtra's three high-brightness LEDs offer an output of 600 lumens, ensuring HID-level brilliance as you ride down city streets or country roads. No more illuminating just a few narrow feet in front of you, or squinting to make out objects in the darkness.
The ultra-bright, long-lasting TridenX Xtra bike light attaches to your handlebars or helmet. And riders will love the light's Cross-Fire technology, which offers highly focused optical lenses to expand your field of vision. Other details include four brightness settings (high, medium high, medium low, and low); four special flashing modes (fast, slow, walking, and SOS); a three-stage battery level indicator; a helmet mount; and a heavy-duty flip-lock handlebar bracket that fits both oversized and standard-sized handlebars.
Specifications:
LED output: 600 lumens
Light type: 3rd-generation high-brightness LED
Battery type: High-capacity lithium-ion frame mount
Battery level indicator: Yes, 3 stage
Battery charging time: 7 hours
Lighting modes: 4 bicycle, 4 special
High-brightness run time: 5 hours
Low-brightness run time: 24 hours
Walking mode run time: 120 hours
Head weight: 0.25 pounds
Battery weight: 0.6 pounds
Get 16% OFF
Want to read more honest consumer review about CygoLite TridenX 600 LED Li-Ion Xtra: Triple LED Bike Light with 5-hour Li-Ion Battery now ?
