Now it's summer I need bright lights. (?)
Comments
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Stormy - when you get the lockblocks you'll see a whole diffrence in the mounting of the light they are much better and more secure than what looks to me like it hasnt been designed well and only plus point is that it gives you a 360deg spin which is nothing as most bars look stright ahead at some point. Also you can use the Lockblocks on your helmet with out any modification they are rubber centres so just wrap round one of the fins will put mine on and take a pic.
Regards places to buy you wont really find them cheaper but can recommend
www.fenixtorch.co.uk they have excllent service and he is also a fellow biker and decent bloke.
G0 -
GOLDGPR wrote:Regards places to buy you wont really find them cheaper but can recommend
www.fenixtorch.co.uk they have excllent service and he is also a fellow biker and decent bloke.
G
Yup already found that one out G but thanks for the heads up, got my original TK11/charger/cells etc. from that site last week
(as a result of reading this thread btw)
Yesterday I rang up to discuss the issues I was having with bar mount and spoke with Anthony (site owner)? And like you say he’s into biking so that was an immediate plus, anyways the upshot was I placed a further order for another TK11 and a pair of lockblocks. He then said he’d credit the cost of the original Fenix bar mount, against my latest order because I wasn’t happy with it insisting there was no need to return it! He’s also throwing in some other type of mount which is not advertised on his site free of charge………….absolutely knocked out with the service, his attitude towards his customers and genuine interest shown when I rang.
I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending
http://www.fenixtorch.co.uk/
Once I find some time and everything arrives, I'll get some pics up0 -
Stormy wrote:The beam however whilst powerful is pretty tight and spot like in its appearance, that said there is a useful halo effect which picks out the immediate path ahead which lies to the side of the main beam, but not in great detail and when bar mounted doesn’t start for about one meter or so if you’re aiming the light at a reasonable distance ahead.
I'm no torch expert by any means buy isn't haloing meant to frowned upon by the torch community?0 -
Stormy wrote:GOLDGPR wrote:Regards places to buy you wont really find them cheaper but can recommend
www.fenixtorch.co.uk they have excllent service and he is also a fellow biker and decent bloke.
G
Yup already found that one out G but thanks for the heads up, got my original TK11/charger/cells etc. from that site last week (as a result of reading this thread btw)
Yesterday I rang up to discuss the issues I was having with bar mount and spoke with Anthony (site owner)? And like you say he’s into biking so that was an immediate plus, anyways the upshot was I placed a further order for another TK11 and a pair of lockblocks. He then said he’d credit the cost of the original Fenix bar mount, against my latest order because I wasn’t happy with it insisting there was no need to return it! He’s also throwing in some other type of mount which is not advertised on his site free of charge………….absolutely knocked out with the service, his attitude towards his customers and genuine interest shown when I rang.
I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending
http://www.fenixtorch.co.uk/
Once I find some time and everything arrives, I'll get some pics up
Having read this comment I've also contacted Fenix and ordered an l2d q5, I ordered over the phone and am happy with the service so far - the guy was very helpful.0 -
I returned my 3W 2C-cell torch to Tesco: for my purposes it was neither one thing nor the other. Its 'throw' and 'spill' wouldn't have been quite sufficient for unlit trails, I thought.
Also, I found that the head of the torch had to be backed-off just so from fully-tightened for it to light-up reliably; and I'd already mentioned the issue of battery-rattle. (Soon fixed with duct-tape but I could envisage it re-occurring over the bumpy bits.)
So I've put the £12 towards a Fenix L2D Q5 and a lockblock: should arrive tomorrow. For once I'm looking forward to a night-ride.
Just to hijack my own thread briefly (if the Moderator will allow): can anyone recommend a good torch for long night-walks across-country? (For the times I've b*******d-up my bike getting a tree-branch caught in the rear mech' and bending the derailleur into the spokes – such as yesterday.) I mean one that casts a wide pool of light rather than a spot and runs for six hours at full intensity. (I know, I know: take the Fenix and two sets of spare batteries. I just don't want to have to change batts: I'm thinking ahead to winter-walks and cold-numbed fingers, you see.)
Thank you, all.
Zip'.0 -
My Ride Stumpjumper Expert 20080
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Yes, thanks, Larok.
They're mostly Septics on that forum and though often wholeheartedly helpful can tend to agonize rather over such weighty matters as whether the threads of Brand X torch tailcaps are lubricated better than those of Brand Y, bless them.
Me, all I want is a reliable, long-running torch for lighting the path and not lightening my wallet.
Still, thanks for the reminder. Will post my impressions of the L2D Q5 by Wednesday, say.
Zip'.0 -
Well I promised an image of the lights in action, and to be honest the pictures produced by my phone cam are really poor. Taken about an hour ago down some dark country lane, helmet mount and bar mount (excellent combo btw), sorry my phone cam doesn't do it justice, I'll see if I can borrow a better cam for future ref - really pleased with lights and run times though...........
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These lights are like garlic bread - the future!
g0 -
Re my earlier post - I am chuffed to bits with the fenix light - had a problem with a rechargeable battery - spoke to the bloke Tuesday - problem resolved with replacement on wednesday!! First class service, I would recommend this company0
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whatever light you buy dont buy the cat eye el530 there really shit and break far too easly0
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Stormy thanks for the shot, you can see that there is a good amount of light to ride by. Is that centre spot representative of the real life view? I remember you saying it had a bright spot in an earlier post, wonder if some of the extra lumens of the TK11 against the L2D Q5's is going into the spot. Corona still looks great though.
Zippy how is the torch, bet your thinking about getting a second ?! Also, do you think you could use one of those for your walks on a lower power so they last longer?My Ride Stumpjumper Expert 20080 -
Here's my two penn'orth on the Fenix L2D Premium Q5 torch with stippled(/textured/'orange-peel') reflector: it's excellent as an off-road bike-light – for those who don't go fast. (I'm told that most mtb-ers i.e. quicker than me, go for the one with the smooth reflector, which throws the light further in a more concentrated central 'hot-spot'.)
I tried-out my L2D alongside my CatEye HL-EL500 (1-watt Luxeon Star emitter; I think it's the predecessor to smitty's EL530?). And after just moments' riding I switched-off the CatEye: it was utterly redundant. Its place will be taken by another L2D, if at all. I could see what Larok et al – thanks again – meant when variously they've recommended one L2D Q5 on the h'bars and one on the helmet; or two on the bars. Just the one wasn't quite enough, perhaps: but whew! it's pretty close. Mine cast a lovely big circle of even white light: big enough to give ample warning of hanging branches and protruding brambles and the like. Sorry, no beamshots: I have a rubbish camera; and my camera, an owner who always blames his tools. (Embarrassed cough.)
As this thread was becoming a 'Fenixtorch.com' praiseathon I thought I'd pipe-up for who I got my L2D from: 'Doc' at 'Glowgadgets'. I also ordered a diffuser: it's a torpedo-shaped thing that erm, slips over the end of the torch and turns it into a lantern, of sorts. (My winter country-walks entail a few unpleasant road-sections: no pavements, of course. The L2D 'lantern' set to 'strobe' should wake-up the odd errant motorist: I hope.)
Anyway, when the parcel turned up, what's this?: two diffusers. I realized Doc must either send a diffuser as a matter of course or there'd been a mistake: and if the former I hadn't needed to pay extra for a diffuser in the first place. So I e-mailed him about it last night. He already 'bundles' a TwoFish lockblock with the L2D Q5; and I suggested he either make it clear on the website that you get a free diffuser or that he 'bundle' it, too. And on the Glowgadgets website today I see that the Fenix L2D Q5 now comes with both lockblock and diffuser, free. Talk of responsive!
I should add that a nice, silly free gift in the parcel was an LED 'candle'-thingy, so I hope that none of the above seems to be knocking Doc.
Now for some Eneloop batteries….
I'd still like to read anyone else's suggestions for bike-lights, mind.
Zip'.0 -
nice one Zippy ! Good to hear the Q5 met your expectations. Those batteries review well.
Good idea about the diffuser for night time walking to alert cars. Would moving the torch be more effective than strobe? My thinking is people brains pick up on movement instinctively and recognise the human nature of the movement and hence that there is a person there. I wonder if strobing might confuse a driver and lead to them staring and moving towards you by mistake or even out of spite?
It's a shame Glowgadgets didn't send you a red diffuser, would have been good for maintaining night vision on walks! 8)My Ride Stumpjumper Expert 20080 -
'mellex': yes. Though it depends on for how long you intend to be out, how deep is your wallet and whether you mind changing batts mid-trip. Consider this; you'll get perhaps two hours and 360 lumens out of two Fenix L2D Q5s used together on 'turbo', for well under £100. (The setting below 'turbo' should give four hours at 214 lumens, the pair.) (Fenix dealers' figures.)
Or following others' advice consider the USE Exposure 'Race' model: under £200.
'MaXx', 480 lumens, is supposed to last for three hours; 'Ride', 240 lumens, is 10 hours; 'Low', 120 lumens, 24 hours; and 'Flashing' lasts for days! (All terms and figures from USE itself.)
Hope this helps. Oh, and Larok, I accidentally overlooked a couple of questions you'd asked. Will answer them later.
Regards to all,
Zip'.0 -
'mellex': yes. Though it depends on for how long you intend to be out, how deep is your wallet and whether you mind changing batts mid-trip. Consider this; you'll get perhaps two hours and 360 lumens out of two Fenix L2D Q5s used together on 'turbo', for well under £100. (The setting below 'turbo' should give four hours at 214 lumens, the pair.) (Fenix dealers' figures.)
Or following others' advice consider the USE Exposure 'Race' model: under £200.
'MaXx', 480 lumens, is supposed to last for three hours; 'Ride', 240 lumens, is 10 hours; 'Low', 120 lumens, 24 hours; and 'Flashing' lasts for days! (All terms and figures from USE itself.)
Hope this helps. Oh, and Larok, I accidentally overlooked a couple of questions you'd asked. Will answer them later.
Regards to all,
Zip'.0 -
Er Er sorry sorry for for double double posting posting.
Zip' Zip'.0 -
Here you go, Larok.
Yup, am strongly considering a second Fenix L2D Premium Q5, thanks: probably the one with the smooth reflector for greater throw, next time. That said, I'll give the stippled-reflectored one time to bed-in: see if I can get away with just the one. Hang on, what am I on about: it could be my life that's at issue here. On the twisty, unlit country-roads I ride in winter I need to be putting out lots of light: to spot hazards and to help the hazardous spot me. The L2D's turbo-strobe seems particularly eye-catching or irritating – depending on whether you're behind it or in front of it, respectively – so I think the way is clear. That said, I still have a hankering after a USE Exposure light; but knowing the usefulness now of the L2D at around £40 is very persuasive.
And yes, it was a good suggestion of yours to consider the L2D as a walking-light. The flood from the stippled reflector, particularly on the setting below turbo, is very nice to walk by; and a spare pair of AAs hardly overburdens the bergen.
Good idea, too, about how best to use the 'lantern' diffuser to alert motorists to one's presence when walking unlit, unpaved country-roads. I'll experiment. And I may drop Doc at Glowgadgets a line, asking him to swap my white diffuser for a red 'un.
Oh, and a tip of the hat to GOLDGPR, too. Your championing of the Fenices and the lockblocks has been borne-out. Yep, the torch may wobble-about a tad but what an effective, simple and elegant mounting-solution the lockblock truly is. Cheers, mush.
One last thing (for now): how do I completely cut a posting when I've akkidentally entered it onto the forum twice? (Duhh.)
Zip'.0 -
Larok wrote:Stormy thanks for the shot, you can see that there is a good amount of light to ride by. Is that centre spot representative of the real life view? I remember you saying it had a bright spot in an earlier post, wonder if some of the extra lumens of the TK11 against the L2D Q5's is going into the spot. Corona still looks great though.
Zippy how is the torch, bet your thinking about getting a second ?! Also, do you think you could use one of those for your walks on a lower power so they last longer?
Hi Larok.........
The picture you see is a very poor representation of the real time performance for the TK11, it’s a tremendously long throw beam for such a small torch but I simply don't know how it stacks up against the L2D. That said if you mount one on the bars and one on your lid I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, they are bright!! The helmet mount can be used like a kind of roving overhead search light, for tight corners etc., the reflector is smooth bore not the dimpled effect mentioned by others for different models in this thread.
The reasoning behind my purchase was economy (long lasting powerful rechargeable cells) and lighting power v cost v size………..either way I think Fenix produce a premium product right across their range0 -
dirtbiker100 wrote:sure you don't want to wait till autumn and maybe till the new hope 2 led?
for the rear i'd recommend http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=13420 you won't get missed with that flashing away.
Sorry to take so long to reply to you, 'dirtbiker100', [first reply to my initial post] but because of longstanding commitments it took me till today to get to a bike-shop that stocks Hope lights. Available for demonstration was the present-model 2-LED one, at £195: two 5-watt emitters in a very small, neat light-head, attached by a short run of cable to an equally-dinky battery-pack (which velcroes to the frame or stem). I suppose they couldn't very well let me take it away to try-out on the trail at night; but did the next best thing, letting me fire-it up in a darkened basement. I was impressed.
Then I showed the helpful assistant the Fenix L2D CE Premium Q5 torch that I'd taken along for comparison. "How much is that, again?" he whispered. "Under £40," I admitted: and he was blown-away.
Whatever the new Hope 2-LED jobbie's going to be like when it comes out in autumn, it'll really have to go some to beat the sheer usefulness and value of the Fenix.
(Oh, and thanks for the tip on the Wazoo rear light. You wouldn't happen to know how it compares to the half-watt Smart Superflash, would you?)
Zip'.0 -
I've read earlier in this thread about Ay - Up lights, does anyone have any experience of them good or bad0
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A bit off-topic, this (but there again I started it): was in Tesco today and saw that they've put up the prices of two of their LED torches.
The 2 C-cell 3W was £12 and is now £15; while the 2 D-cell 4W one is up to £20 now from £18. (The 2AA 3W one remains at £10.) Sheer profiteering, I'd say; but as no other supermarket (that I've seen) does LED torches of this size Tesco has the market i.e. the casual, uninformed buyer, to itself.
(It doesn't alter the fact that the 3C one wasn't right for use either as a bike-light or as a torch for long night-walks: my Fenix L2D CE Premium Q5 is far better suited to both tasks and superior in every respect. I'm glad I took the Tesco one back.)
Zip'.0 -
bren_gun on this forum has ay-ups and is very impressed. He's just done the twentyfour7 event with them and I'm sure he would't object to a PM.My guide to navigating using the Garmin Edge 800
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Riding your first Century (100 miles) – a guide for normal people.0 -
Would a couple of Fenix L2Ds be enough for enduro races? I'd like something for the winter I could ideally scale up and use next year in some events. The idea of carrying a few AAs in a saddle bag is appealing.0
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Toasty wrote:Would a couple of Fenix L2Ds be enough for enduro races? I'd like something for the winter I could ideally scale up and use next year in some events. The idea of carrying a few AAs in a saddle bag is appealing.
That's exactly what a couple of mates have got for SITS this w/e. I've gone for a fenix on the helmet and hope vision enduro on the bars. I tested the double fenix option at night and it was acceptable.
Will report back after the w/e (as long as I remember).
Cheers
SK0 -
If you have the dollar I would say the ayups are a more robust night ride solution. The Fenixs do a smashing job for the cash though.
As the Ayups have two LED bulbs and a stem mounted high capacity battery for 150 and a further 2 LED's and a med cap batttery for helmet mounting for £250 and the Fenix option is two LED torches and mounts for around £100 I would say the bang for buck is pretty even across both products.My Ride Stumpjumper Expert 20080 -
Larok wrote:If you have the dollar I would say the ayups are a more robust night ride solution. The Fenixs do a smashing job for the cash though.
As the Ayups have two LED bulbs and a stem mounted high capacity battery for 150 and a further 2 LED's and a med cap batttery for helmet mounting for £250 and the Fenix option is two LED torches and mounts for around £100 I would say the bang for buck is pretty even across both products.
Would totally agree with Larok on the above, if i had the money would have gone for the ayeup's but as i dont race or do enduro's then the fenix are acceptable for my need. The kit that you get with the ayeups is brilliant too compared with other lights.
g0 -
scak456 wrote:Toasty wrote:Would a couple of Fenix L2Ds be enough for enduro races? I'd like something for the winter I could ideally scale up and use next year in some events. The idea of carrying a few AAs in a saddle bag is appealing.
That's exactly what a couple of mates have got for SITS this w/e. I've gone for a fenix on the helmet and hope vision enduro on the bars. I tested the double fenix option at night and it was acceptable.
Will report back after the w/e (as long as I remember).
Cheers
SK
Sounds good, ordered one now with some 2900mah Vapextech batteries as recommended earlier. They'll only be used for road riding at the mo, it's started getting dark at 9pm again.
HIDs were beyond what I wanted to spend, £40 is a bargain though for something that small.
Should I need trail riding I'll get another one slapped on there.
I was using a twin 10w halogen system before, with a big lead acid battery that took 10 hours to charge. It was bright enough, weighed 1.3 kilos though and didn't look very waterproof though.0
