Nite Rider Lumina 650 Bike Light Review
Brighter, lighter and smaller, the Lumina 650 bike light by NiteRider totally raises the bar when it comes to self-contained lights. This model packs an impressive 650 lumens which can match both your performance and budget needs. The increased thermal properties combined with the lightweight design ensures longer lasting and brighter LED performance. All models in this series feature a newly designed mount for improved sturdiness and durability whether you’re riding on pavement or a bike trail.
NiteRider is a popular company with a reputation for producing high quality, affordable products. They have been a consumer favorite for several years and are keeping their reputation alive with the production of the Lumina series.
Highly functional and affordable, this light features longer battery life, more powerful lighting and easy mounting for both the helmet and the handlebars.
But there have been some complaints regarding the quality of certain components in this package. The question is, are these issues enough to make you look elsewhere for a bike light you can depend on?
The 650 Lumina Bike Light Overview
As you may have guessed, this model puts out 650 lumens. It features a total of four output models including strobe, 200 lm, 650 lm and 400 lm. Run times range from an hour and a half on the highest setting to eighteen hours on the lowest setting. The light is powered from an Li ion battery that’s rechargeable via USB. The battery can be fully charged in about five hours using the included charger. The mounts for the helmet and bars are included in this package.
The light features a round beam pattern with a hotspot in the dead center and it still has enough juice to flood side to side, allowing it to adequately illuminate the shoulder of the road. There’s no fancy beam shaping involved, which means you may end up blinding oncoming cars or other cyclists due to the sheer brightness of this model. Most cyclists recommend putting the light on the lowest setting when riding on busy roads.
When you’re riding around a brightly lit town, using 650 lm may be a little overkill anyway. When you use the lowest setting that also means a longer run time. If you’re riding at dusk or dawn or even during the day, you can set the light to strobe. The strobe flashes pretty fast and feels seizure inducing at night. But it does get the attention of drivers and other cyclist’s when you use it and it definitely helps to make you more visible.
On unlit or dark paths and roads, the 650 lm feature is perfect. You’ll have no trouble seeing your way even when you’re going at top speed. And the helmet mount is perfect for cyclists who enjoy going off road.
The new mount used in this design doesn’t require tools and instead uses a threaded latch instead of a clicking ladder style mount. A clicking ladder mount has a reputation for causing lights to slip when riding over rougher terrain, which is why so many consumers prefer this new mount. The new mount can be tightened to prevent it from slipping and it’s incredibly easy to move it from bike to bike.
Nite Rider Bike Light Pros and Cons
Pros: This new, lighter, smaller light works well, the seal and USB port location are improved compared to models produced by Nite Rider in the past and the new mount is nothing less than solid. This model is nice and bright, featuring a great beam pattern. It comes with both a helmet and bar mount for more mounting capabilities. This model definitely has the most battery life than any other model we have reviewed, and it’s a big selling point for this model.
Consumers also liked that using full bright mode wasn’t even necessary around town, which meant fewer recharges needed. The unique button system was also a big selling point and works to prevent the cyclist from accidentally turning the light on. Instead, the rider is required to press and hold down the button for ten seconds in order to unlock it, if the light has been set to storage model. This is a pretty cool feature for any cyclist who has to store their light in a backpack where it can get jostled and switched on.
Cons: One consumer mentioned that when mounted on the helmet the light made a rattling noise. Others felt that the handlebar mounting mechanism is somewhat bulky and can be difficult to setup. While the manufacturer claims that the light is easily transferrable between bikes, many consumers disagreed. The Light & Motion Taz 1200 bike light offers easy transferability between bikes, which is a must if you own more than one bike or have family members who also ride. It’s surprising how many consumers had issues with the mounts for both the handlebars and the helmets, an issue which can require a little tweaking and alterations in the garage. But if you don’t want to deal with the hassle, head to your local bike shop for higher quality mounts.
Lumina 650 Conclusion and Rating
Can a light really have too much power? That was a consumer complaint we ran across a few times. Really, a light that’s almost too powerful in the highest setting. Fortunately comes with a few other settings which allow the cyclist to take it down a notch or two.
One of the best sellers currently on the market due to its power, brightness and long lasting battery life, this Lumina is the perfect buy for the avid cyclist who enjoys both off road riding and riding around town, just adjust the brightness accordingly.
Versatile, easy on the eyes and with a high rating in ease of use and overall functionality, it comes as no surprise that the Nite Rider Lumina 650 bike light received a consumer rating of four and a half stars. The ultimate in bike safety and perfect for the avid cyclist, we love what this model has to offer.