Product proves worthy after eight-week test period

By Cpl. David Salyers, Jr.
IPMBA Industry Relations Committee
Westport Public Safety (MO)

At first sight, the lighting system looked very awkward and cumbersome. The headlight system and the mounting hardware gave the impression that the system would not last a week on the front of my patrol bike. I was proven wrong on both counts. As a very active police cyclist, I have gone through many headlights. The "bike drop" to apprehend a suspect usually sends my headlight flying along the ground in a couple of pieces. The Trail Blazer proved to be very sturdy and actually stood up to a lot of abuse.

LIKES: The L.E.D.s were extremely bright and eye-catching. They performed flawlessly. The L.E.D.s on the rear sections were a true stroke of genius. These lights were the most effective rear-mounted lights that I have used.

The siren was very effective in all situations. It was very effective in attracting the attention of motorists, which is one of the most important factors for police cyclists. The siren was also very useful in crowd dispersement.

The battery pack was extremely powerful. As of the third week of the trial, the pack still did not need recharging. It lasted four ten-hour shifts without dimming or losing power. VERY IMPRESSIVE! The pack was charged at the end of the shift on the fourth day for maintenance, not necessity.

DISLIKES: My only complaint with the L.E.D. units is the switch locations. Although activating the switches was not a problem, I was concerned with the safety of removing the hand from the bar to activate the switches in the center of the headset. I also did not care for the location of the siren switch. (Note from the manufacturer: this is a matter of getting used to a different position, especially for users of NiteRider lights. We will research this issue further.)

The battery pack needs to be reworked. After several curb hops or stair descents, the wires came unattached from the pack, leaving the bike with no lights. If the same pack could be more universally mountable, the pack would be better served. (Note from the manufacturer: a battery designed for mounting in the water bottle cage has recently been made available.)

SUMMARY: As the bike patrol supervisor for a busy entertainment district, I can assure you that I put these lights through the ringer.

On several occasions, I had to cross major intersections en route to various calls. I activated the lights and the siren. On all occasions, the lights/siren stopped all traffic traveling in both directions, allowing my four-bike unit to clear the intersection safely against the flow of traffic safely. The siren also saved me from motor vehicles several times.

I used the white L.E.D. light as my headlight. It produced ample light to function in this role and was actually brighter than the "AA" battery lights used by some of my comrades.

The siren found another use during the test period. On any given Saturday night, the entertainment district attracts crowds numbering in the tens of thousands. When verbal commands were not working to break up fights or simple conversations, I would activate the siren with a short burst, gaining the undivided attention of everyone within earshot.

I would recommend these lights to any public safety cyclist. They worked in a wide variety of situations. With just a few small improvements, these lights will be ideal.

Dave is the bike patrol supervisor of Westport Public Safety. He patrols a busy entertainment district in Kansas City, Missouri, and rides bike patrol year-round. He can be reached at davidsalyers71@aol.com.

(C) 2003. This review first appeared in the Winter 2003 issue of IPMBA News.