I've been using these bike lights for a bit over a year and I highly recommend them -- primarily because they are really not kidding about the anti-theft guarantee! Since I live in San Francisco, where we can't have nice things, they've now sent me three replacement lights for free, so that has definitely been money well spent.Fortified Bicycle Aviator & Afterburner
These lightweight aluminum lights lock to your handlebars and seat post with custom security bolts, and are guaranteed to last forever - If they're ever stolen, broken or water damaged, Fortified will replace 'em! Swap batteries on the go with removable, rechargeable USB batteries. 150 lumens in the front perfectly illuminates city streets, while 30 lumens in the rear keeps drivers alert. If you're looking to fully illuminate the darkest suburban paths and urban alleyways, try the Boost version with 300 lumens in the front and 60 lumens in the rear to keep drivers at a distance.
They're relatively difficult to steal... The screws are pentalobe with a post: obscure but not unheard of. After the first theft, I "fixed" that by filling up the screw head with superglue. The most recent crackhead managed to steal half of the light, which isn't really going to work out so well for them.
They're bright and the batteries last a pretty long time. My only real complaint is that they turn on with a single tap, so often passing strangers using the same bike rack as me manage to turn them on accidentally, and I regularly come out to discover a dead battery.
Nice that the maker is standing behind their pledge but it might not sustain. Never underestimate the resolve of a scavenger who "owns" what they see. "That's mine dammit! Even if all I get is the front lens". Eventually the maker will punt if too many customers serially replace. I had a bike that snapped a rear axel every few months. The store replaced the first five or so but got belligerent, eventually blaming my weight (I'm average) and rough riding (just commuting). Fortunately the next thing to snap was the rear dropout and once they brazed on a replacement the axel snapping problem went away for good.
But don't expect the street scrapers of soma to go away any time soon.
Um. So?
Where did I say anything that suggested that I thought the crackheads might go away?
I don't expect them to go away either, they're the most tenacious party in the eternal cycle of loss-replace-install. But I do think somebody will eventually get fed up. Let's check back in a year or two.
Thanks for the recommendation. I've lost my last two due to hitting a pothole or something and knocked the light off, to be subsequently destroyed by a car. (Why why was it loose enough to be knocked free? I live in San Francisco, where we can't have nice things, and I need to constantly use the quick release.
Last time I looked at these it appeared that the battery could be removed from the light fairly easily.
Do you take the battery out when you leave your bike locked up? Or have you found that people don't tend to open them and steal the batteries?
Nobody has ever stolen just the battery. It's a shape that I've never seen used by another device.
Good to know. I didn't expect uselessness to stop anyone from taking it anyway. Glad to know it has so far. I might have to give these a shot.