Planet Bike Alias HID Bicycle Light Set with Integrated Battery

by Planet Bike

Product Features

• High-quality bike light with 10-watt, high-intensity discharge (HID) bulb
• Solarc technology produces sunlight-caliber illumination using far less energy
• Integrated battery and light head eliminates wires for cleaner, quicker attachment
• 14.4-volt lithium-ion battery offers 2.5-hour (high) or 3.25-hour (low) runtime
• Fits 25.5 mm to 31.8 mm handlebars; weighs 0.84 pounds; limited lifetime warranty

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

See clearly at night and alert drivers and other cyclists to your presence with this Alias HID light set from Planet Bike. Designed to fit 25.5 mm to 31.8 mm handlebars, the light includes a 10-watt, high-intensity discharge (HID) bulb that employs Solarc technology to light an efficient path. Solarc bulbs offer several characteristics that distinguish them from other metal halide lamps, including small size, low wattage, a short arc gap, and a high color temperature. From a user perspective, the bulbs produce sunlight-caliber illumination that maintains outstanding brightness through its lifetime while requiring just one third the amount of energy required to power comparable halogen lamps. Cyclists will also dig the light's integrated battery and light head, which eliminate wires for a cleaner look and a quick attachment. Other details include a 14.4-volt lithium-ion battery that charges in just under three hours, a custom soft case for convenient transport and storage, and a 2.5-hour runtime on the high setting and a 3.25-hour runtime on the low settings. The Alias HID light, which weighs only 0.84 pounds, carries a limited lifetime warranty.

About Planet Bike
In November of 1996, Planet Bike was founded in Madison, Wisconsin. In many ways, Planet Bike began as a social experiment that dedicated itself to doing business in a different way. Instead of being just another company that develops and sells products with profit as its end goal, Planet Bike wanted to help bring about positive change for people, their communities, and the environment.

Despite being a simple machine, the people at Planet Bike have always believed that the bicycle has great potential to help improve the world and the lives of the people in it. From the start, they have embraced an alternative corporate purpose which seeks to help get more people on bicycles by making communities friendlier places for the self-propelled. By donating 25% of company profits to causes that promote and facilitate bicycle usage, Planet Bike hopes to make an impact.

Social experiments aside, Planet Bike was born from the heart of a cyclist with a goal of making innovative, high quality, and practical bicycle accessories. Simply put, they strive to design and develop the best bicycle products in the world. In the company's short ten year history, they have made important product innovations within the bicycle industry. Advancements include the 4-line computer which is now a standard in the industry and the world's first self-contained HID light. Not bad for a company that ten years ago started as a one man operation. Today, while still a small company, Planet Bike continues to evolve and improve their product line with the goal of always striving to build accessories that make it easier for people to ride their bikes. Since 1996, Planet Bike's financial support of the grassroots bicycle movement has totaled $500,000. By 2010, they have made a goal to donate $1 million to organizations that are dedicated to making America a friendlier place for cyclists.

Product Description

The Planet Bike Alias HID Lighting System gives commuters and other after-dark cyclists a bright, blue-white headlight with a focused beam for seeing and being seen. Planet Bike integrated the light and the battery into one casing so you dont have to deal with wires. The Aliass bracket fits 25.5 to 31.8mm handlebars, and the light comes with a case for easy transport and storage. Charge the included lithium ion battery in less than three hours.

Product Features

• Bulbs: 10W Welch Allyn high-density discharge
• Modes: 2 (high, low)
• Lumens:
• Batteries: 14.4v lithium ion
• Battery Run Time: [High] 2.5hr; [Low] 3.25hr
• Weight: 382g
• Recommended Use: Cycling in the dark, commuting
• Manufacturer Warranty:

Product Details

Planet Bike Alias HID Bicycle Light Set Product Manual [PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000RYAKJA
• Item model number: 3060
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #263,239 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elegant Design, October 30, 2007

By 

A. Takemiya (San Pedro, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Planet Bike Alias HID Bicycle Light Set with Integrated Battery (Sports)

This headlight fit my requirements perfectly. Since everything is contained in one relatively small sleek package, removing and installing is quick and easy. I at first worried that the mount would not be robust enough to keep the light from moving when going over bumps. No more worries - it has held its position going 30+ MPH over fairly rough asphalt. I ride a road bike so cannot comment on how well it would do off road.
Light output is excellent. It is probably about 30% brighter than my 15W halogen and has a wide coverage. I have to ride down an unlit road in pitch darkness on my morninig commute dodging potholes and the edge of the road. I reach speeds of just over 30 MPH and this light provides the luminence necessary to avoid those obstacles.
The 2.5 to 3 hours of burn time for this light is somewhat limited compared to others, but for me is perfect. I would rather have this capacity and the resulting compact size than to have a large capacity with the probable external battery. The unit uses a Li-Ion battery which is much better than either NiCad or NiMh in terms of capacity per unit size and weight, charge time, and any memory effects.
Workmanship is impeccable. This thing could be put in a museum. It looks and feels like a high quality instrument. The soft case that it comes in is very handy too.
My only complaint about this light would probably be with the mount. Although it is pretty easy to use and holds the light very well, once you get it adjusted to your handlebar it is easy to lose the adjustment once you take it off. Also, the adjustment resolution is a little coarse with one turn of the adjustment screw the minimum you can adjust. Not a big problem but I had to find something to complain about. You could avoid this by leaving the mount on the bike and just unclipping the light from the mount.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you need to light your own way, I recomend getting this one., September 5, 2008

By 

A. Colapreto (Reading, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Planet Bike Alias HID Bicycle Light Set with Integrated Battery (Sports)

Planet Bike Alias HID Bicycle Light Set with Integrated Battery


Let me start with, this is the first review I have every done after purchasing a product on line. This should tell you how strongly I feel about this product. Another reason is the above review was one of the reasons I purchased the Alias HID.

I am a casual cyclist trying to make the jump to a work commuter. Before purchasing this light I bought a cat's eye light around 50 dollars (after some research a good light for the money) that I will now use for camping. The light is good for dusk and having cars see you, but not if you need to light your own way you will need a brighter light. After taking some advise from some avid commuters at a local bike shop, they recommended getting a light with a Li-Ion (lithium-ion) over Nicad and Ni-mh because of the "no memory" factor. This means that you can charge the battery no matter how much power is left in it and it will not affect the next charge. (http://www.motorola.com/content.jsp?globalObjectId=8514)

Another huge reason I chose this light over all the others I saw online is the - "light finder" on the Plant Bike website. http://planetbike.com/page/learn/lightfinder/ The other light I was using is very comparable to the Beamer 3 model. If you compare it to the Alias HID you will understand why it cost a lot more. I think this photo is worth the 1000 words so you might want to go check it out and stop reading this review.

If you need to light your own way like I do, you need a light with this type of output. My 17 mile morning commute starts around 5 a.m. on some roads with light traffic and little or no streetlights. I will hit speeds of 30+ on two down hills and have no problem seeing any obstructions in time to react (I did just miss hitting a skunk last week). I also have noticed that cars will now wait for me to go by if they are at a stop sign. During the second half of my commute I ride on a rail trail with a lot of trees and heavy brush surrounding it, so even with a full moon little or no light gets through. I get up around 16-17 miles per hour and can see plenty of trail in front of me.

The only negative I could find with this light is the red warning light that comes to warn you that you have 20-30 minutes of light. I had it come on 45 minutes into a ride after the first full charge. Since the manufacture booklet said it should last around 2.5 hours at full power, I left the light on once I got to work to see how long it would last. It automatically shut off after being on for 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Overall the light is exactly the quality I would expect at the cost. You can take the battery out without taking it off the mount or just unclip the light from the mount with a quick release button. I have not had to adjust the position since the first time I put it on the handlebars. I think the only thing I regret is not getting a spare battery the same time I bought the light to save on shipping cost.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Fragile with a potentially faulty mount, February 8, 2009

By 

B. Main (Santa Cruz, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Planet Bike Alias HID Bicycle Light Set with Integrated Battery (Sports)

While the light itself is very bright, and the enclosure looks pretty good, this product is quite delicate.

When I first got the light, I was pretty careful about making sure the light was firmy attached in place. I was actually pretty paranoid about it. Before I would start riding, not only would I make sure the mount "clicked", but I would tug it to make sure the light didn't move. About 2-3 days after I purchased my light, it slipped off the mount. I figured, okay, maybe that one time I didn't check for a click, even though I did tug at it to make sure it didn't move. Even though I wasn't going very fast at all, as I was still in my work's parking lot, the light bulb broke (in half!).

I decided to purchase a new bulb, at $110(!), since I couldn't return the item at that point, and I already spent quite a bit on it.
After a bit of inspection, I discovered that even though the mount clicks, there is a tab that has to be pulled out regardless! It sort of sticks halfway between gripping the lamp, and not gripping anything. So, I got in the habit of pulling that tab out every time I went anywhere.

Quite annoying, mind you!

The new bulb maybe lasted for a month before it slipped off the mount again.

I then decided to not purchase another delicate bulb and get a cheaper, much less fragile (but seemingly equally bright) LED light, the Cygolite Trion600. So far, so good! This light also has a mount that swivels, and has more dimming/flashing options.

Please note that I have owned a few Planetbike lights before, and have NEVER had a problem with their mounts. It is entirely possible that I got a defective mount with this light. *sigh* I would definitely buy from PlanetBike again, I would stay away from this light.