Customer Reviews

Nite Ize Spokelit Bicycle Light (Red)

5 star:		(61)
4 star:		(41)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(21)

 

 

Wow, can't believe how many people don't read the simple instructions.

I got these last summer for my new bike, since I'm riding through parts of Los Angeles that have very poor lighting in the middle of the night (Cahuenga Pass, if you're familiar), and I LOVE these SpokeLits! I had to order them from another website and they seemed much more expensive (around $15-$20 apiece), but I'm thrilled that Amazon in selling them now!

I put a green and red light on opposite ends or my wheels, and they look great when I'm riding through the streets. I feel much more visible, and I can see the lights reflecting off of the ground and windows I pass.

I agree the Blue doesn't seem like it'd be as visible, but for $5 and free shipping, I'm going to order one to try it out.

IMPORTANT! The biggest downside to these is the batteries, which don't last all that long and sell for almost $4 most places (and the SpokeLit uses 2 at a time). But I just found a seller on Amazon that sells a pack of 25 for $8, with free shipping. Just search for "CR2016". I haven't gotten mine yet, but there is a lot of positive feedback on the product page, so I'm hoping its as good a deal as it sounds.

Enjoy! And thanks for selling them, Amazon!

~Trav

UPDATE (December 16, 2010):

First, the current link to the batteries I mention is here:

[...]

I ordered the batteries over a year ago, and still haven't used up my supply, and I have 4 SpokeLits on my biks (2 on each wheel), plus two more for my boyfriend's bike (though he doesn't ride as much as I do).

As far as the Spokelits themselves go, I am back to buy more. Unfortunately, my front wheel was stolen with two of my lights on it. But I couldn't love these more. They are bright, and they look SO cool riding down the street. I have one of every color on my bike (2 front-2 back) and I get compliments all the time about how cool they look. And I've never yet had a problem with visibility. I always feel like car drivers can see me, especially coming from the side.

The spokelit is a very useful safety measure if you ever take your bike out at night. Since they are relatively inexpensive I purchased two green ones for both wheels. These lights make it virtually impossible for you to go unnoticed when your bike is viewed from the sides. I believe that the solid light mode is more visible when going at higher speeds but if you're going slower then I would recommend switching to the strobe light function. I know that a lot of people have complained that they don't make you visible from the front and back but that is where your front and rear bike lights should come in. The spokelit was not created to replace bike lights at all but rather compliment them.

Not only are they a great safety device but they also look completely out of this world when people see them. I've gotten several compliments and questions on how neat they look and as to where I got them.

Overall, this product is a must have for anybody who wants to bike at night and be safe.

PLEASE NOTE: Do not be like many other people who bought the spokelit and then sent it back because it turned off after a few seconds. This product comes in a "try me" mode and has to be taken off that mode if you want it to work normally. To take it off this "try me" mode, hold down the light button until it starts to flash then it will work fine.

I got two lights as gifts, took them out of the package, checked to see how to install them and didn't pay attention to "activation". The lights as shipped only light for 30 seconds so the batteries don't fail while in transit or on the rack.

Push and hold the on button for 10-12 seconds. The light will flash rapidly. Now when you turn it on it will stay on until you turn it off.

They make my bike really visible in night riding. I highly recommend these lights. Bright and easy to install.

Unfortunately, under California law only law enforcement vehicles; including bicycles, are allowed to display steady or flashing BLUE lights. The other colors are okay. Check your own state DMV laws for color restrictions.

This is from the California DMV website. Note Section B...

V C Section 21201.3 Bicycle Lights

Bicycle Lights

21201.3. (a) A bicycle or motorized bicycle used by a peace officer, as defined in Section 830.1 of, subdivision (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), or (i) of Section 830.2 of, subdivision (b) or (d) of Section 830.31 of, subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 830.32 of, Section 830.33 of, subdivision (a) of Section 830.36 of, subdivision (a) of Section 830.4 of, or Section 830.6 of, the Penal Code, in the performance of the peace officer's duties, may display a steady or flashing blue warning light that is visible from the front, sides, or rear of the bicycle or motorized bicycle.

(b) No person shall display a steady or flashing blue warning light on a bicycle or motorized bicycle except as authorized under subdivision (a).

Added Sec. 65, Ch. 877, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999.

Hope this helps others in California...

Bought the blue one and it looks cool, but I have doubts about it's effectiveness on my nightime rides in Chicago traffic. If you press and hold the only button, it stays on continuously or flashes. Perhaps the negative reviewer had a defect. IMO cars will not see the blue from behind, only if they're about to T-bone you from the side. Even in reflections of store windows I barely see the blue, and since only one comes per box, I wish I had them on both wheels. I put caulk on it to secure against thieves. Won't be buying another. Not bright enough (in blue).

I've been a bike commuter for three years. I've owned these lights for two months. I have two green ones on each wheel, and I run them in flash mode. Not only does the flash mode conserve batteries, but it also makes me more visible when I'm stopped at traffic lights or stop signs.

My commute is approximately 30 minutes, and I've used these lights 3-4 days per week for about two months. The original batteries are still going strong.

A few weeks ago I had a driver pull beside me at a stop light and tell me he had noticed me when I was about 1/4 mile in front of him. He said the rotation of the lights on the wheels made it very clear that he was approaching a bicycle. Ride on! Strongly recommended.

UPDATE: I've now had these lights for four months. They've been through rain, mud, road salt & sand and everything else the road can throw at them. The original batteries are still working. I'm so pleased that I bought some for my daughter's bike.

I bought these and wasn't sure that they would be as good as described. they are fantastic! They really light up the street around the bike (with just one on the front wheel).

I'm planning on buying more for all the kids bikes and mine too.. the green really draws attention too, red looks like just another light.. but green (and i think they do a blue one) is much wiser to purchase.

The fact that it a rotating light, helps to truly be seen and helps to be safe, and cool too.

I'll race you to buy them all up.

I bought four of these (red) for my bike - 2 on each wheel. 4 per bike I feel is the magic number, they're pretty dang bright and noticeable. These should not be used as a substitute for a proper rear blinky light and front headlamp, but as an addition to those for side visibility. First time I rode with these at night, cars gave me noticeably more room when they passed. I'm sure most of them were just thinking "what the $@%* is that?!" It definitely gets that kind of reaction. I haven't had any problems with them running in the rain, either.

I should also say that I feel completely comfortable leaving these attached when I park my bike somewhere where I'll take my other lights off. They are low profile and look just a lot like basic white wheel reflectors in terms of shape, size, color.

Switching these off safe mode when I first got them was very easy. Not sure what people are complaining about because it's very straightforward and they work just fine. Four stars because I'm still waiting to see how battery life and overall durability will be.

I bought these so that I can still go riding during the summer without dying under the desert sun. I have three green ones in front and two red ones in back. Having three on one wheel can give you that circle of light effect while cycling around 15mph, and it feels a little more balanced to me.

Some people have mentioned that it is a bit of a strobe effect when on a REALLY dark path/road, which is a little true if you are staring down, but otherwise it doesn't bother me.

I feel VERY visible with these on my bike, but it certainly not a replacement for a flashing front and tail light. I believe that it helps drivers at intersections be better able to gauge your speed as you approach.

I've had these a few months now and the batteries are starting to dim to the point where I feel they need to be replaced. It has probably been around 20 hours of 'Steady On' to get to this point. There are two small holes on the lights for packaging, but I used these holes with small zip ties to wrap around the spoke to deter people from grabbing them off my bike, or from bouncing off when my bike is on my car's rack (although that second part seems unlikely, they feel pretty secure).

I would've given it a full five stars if the product was a little lighter and maybe a little longer battery life.

(Most negative reviews seem to have ignored the GIANT YELLOW TAG on the product that tells you to hold the button down for 30 seconds to get out of demo mode)

I got six of these lights for xmas and was super excited to have added visibility on my commuter bike. After disabling the "Try Me" mode I set 2 lights per wheel. After a 30 minute ride only one light was lit. I checked to make sure I did indeed disable the "Try Me" mode, which I did, but I gave them another shot. After riding 15 minutes I checked my wheels and noticed one was already out. When I got home 3 where out and only one was lit. I put the other two on, making that 3 per wheel, and after 30 minutes only 2 were lit and after 40 minutes only one was lit! What a piece of junk. The batteries are supposed to have +25 hrs of life on them!

Don't buy. Spend the extra cash you'll waste on batteries and get some hokey spoke lights.