Helmet light

gordonfreeman101

I've just ordered the floody Airbike light for the bars. Now I'd like a helmet light to back it up. Looking for something with a good throw, light as possible and a max of £100.

Anybody have an opinion on my options?

The USE Joystick Maxx 2 looks good, but the cheapest I can find it is £140.

cheers.

Lemon Eddy

gordonfreeman101 wrote:

I've just ordered the floody Airbike light for the bars. Now I'd like a helmet light to back it up. Looking for something with a good throw, light as possible and a max of £100.

Anybody have an opinion on my options?

The USE Joystick Maxx 2 looks good, but the cheapest I can find it is £140.

cheers.

Can't help you much, as I'm using the Maxx 2 and swear by it to the extent I'd advise you just to save the extra £40.

Could you give any review of the Airbike light? I'm in the exact opposite situation - I want a handlebar light to use with my helmet light - and the Airbike SL 1 could be just what I wanted.

S_J_P

I use a 3W Petzyl MYO XP on my helmet, £45 well spent to my mind!

If you go this route, make sure you get the new model (grey with lime-green buttons) rather than the old model (blue with yellow buttons) as it's twice as bright and has improved runtime to boot!

grumsta

Fenix L2D Q5

singlespeedexplosif

Could you give any review of the Airbike light? I'm in the exact opposite situation - I want a handlebar light to use with my helmet light - and the Airbike SL 1 could be just what I wanted.

I've had my Airbike SL1 for a few days now. For the money, it's a decent light. But yeah, it'll remain a bar-mounted backup to my helmet-mounted L&M Arc, the depth of light is just not good enough.

gordonfreeman101

cheer for the pointers guys.

Lemon Eddie, I'll do a mni review when it arrives.

Dazzza

Ultrafire c1

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.14027

Comparable to a fenix tk11

pinza1973

How about the Hope Vision One : http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Hope_ ... 360035056/

Anonymous

One to consider - review coming soon

Dazzza

One gripe, you list 18650 batteries as 4.2v when they're actually 3.7v.

It's the only battery of choice in these sort of torches, two cr123's would be killed off in 1.5 hours.

Im looking at getting an r2 or even an r4 drop in host emitter once they are released as they are more efficient than the q5's

Also you won't get the full 225 lumen when using an 18650, say more like 180 as you cut the voltage in half by using just the 18650, the full fat lumen figure is from two 3v cr123 primaries, rechargables aren't much cop on these sort of torches.

Also use protected batteries, some torches aren't regulated to drain the battery to the point where it can ignite.

Hth.

gordonfreeman101

Dazzza, If I got the C1 then which batteries would be needed to get the full 225 lumens??

the website says it takes two different kinds - can you get rechargeable versions of both of those, and are you saying that as soon as you start usin rechargebles then the available power decreases?

confused!

The Hope vsion 1 LED looks good, but its a fair bit more than these torches. Can anyone compare? (One guy on the very long 'which lights' thread said he would post a comparison between the hope light and a fenix I think - but then never did)

One last question... is a helmet light (albeit more focussed) going to have much effect in conjunction with the considerably more powerful Airbike light? or would it make little difference except on tight switchbacks/fixing a puncture scenarios?

thanks fo the opinions so far.

Lemon Eddy

gordonfreeman101 wrote:

One last question... is a helmet light (albeit more focussed) going to have much effect in conjunction with the considerably more powerful Airbike light? or would it make little difference except on tight switchbacks/fixing a puncture scenarios?

Damned right it does. Bearing in mind that you're going to be looking in the direction you want to go, which may not always be the way your handlebar is pointing, a helmet light makes a big difference.

It's also very reassuring when you have a "what the fack was that howling noise" moment as you batter through the dark, spooky woods.


{edited because it changed my original wording to what the shoot. Shoot? Who the hell says what the shoot?)

Anonymous

Dazzza wrote:

One gripe, you list 18650 batteries as 4.2v when they're actually 3.7v.

Good point, altered!

Surf-Matt

Gordon - I've just borrowed a Hope 1 and am very impressed with it.
Don't have a Fenix but also just got a Tesco AA 3 watt torch (similarish) - very bright but the spread is poor. Go for the Hope if you can. It's rather sexy too...

FSR_XC

gordonfreeman101

The Hope LED 1 is a bit heavy for a helmet light, otherwise it has just about the right spread of light.

The Joystick is avail for £128 from Certini
http://www.certini.co.uk/view_product.p ... &p_id=3679

or this might be an option:
http://www.certini.co.uk/view_product.p ... &p_id=3678

Dazzza

gordonfreeman101 wrote:

Dazzza, If I got the C1 then which batteries would be needed to get the full 225 lumens??

the website says it takes two different kinds - can you get rechargeable versions of both of those, and are you saying that as soon as you start usin rechargebles then the available power decreases?

confused!

You would need non rechargeable lithium cr123's, you can buy 10 of them on ebay for a tenner.

As for the rechargeables, i think the light output will be the same but they have less capacity so about 1 hours worth of runtime instead of 1.5hrs, you can always throw in an 18650 for 3hrs or more should you wish.

And as led technology improves you don't need to lose the torch just hunt for a p60 host which are quite common.

Something like this nice cree r2 for example.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.11836

They have a 250 lumen model of the same torch but it's a 5 mode which id find a pain.

It'll certainly match the hope unit, the hope is too chunky imo for a helmet mount, the c1 is quite reasonable in this respect and at the price you really can't complain.

Have a look at the universal mount for getting it on your lid, much simpler and seems quite sturdy.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12000

These are the sort of batteries you would need, along with the charger.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3273

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1236

I have this charger for my 18650's, as you can read it says it can charge cr123's but can't as the prongs are in too far, but dx are meant to have a spacer on the way so you can use the space for the 18650's and charge that way instead.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1251

The c1 is fine with both cr123's or the 18650 as the on board emitter is regulated, some led torches especially ones that use the p7 like the airbike aren't regulated so if you use two cr123's the voltage would blow the emitter.

If you look at the pics you can see what torches use hosts and what batteries they can handle, just look at the reviews they should steer you straight.

gordonfreeman101

Cheers Dazzza for that comprehensive reply. It'll take me a while to pick my way through it!

Thanks again.

Surf-Matt

Dazza - can you or anyone else recommend good rechargeable AA size batteries for torches/bike lights? Need some for the Tesco torch and will soon need 4 for a Hope light! Already have a charger.

cougie

I bought a new charger to go with my Vapextech batteries - my old charger just seemed to kill them - whereas this one is intelligent and doesnt overcharge each cell.
Alfablue recommended it - search thru his posts ? It was about £15 anyway.

Surf-Matt

Cougie - will have a look. Our charger is okay (use it for digi camera AA batteries), just want batteries that suit a torch/light rather than a camera.

cougie

Oh right - mine was a few years old and never seemed to charge batteries properly. So I've thrown away all those old ones and started again with the Vapextech - and the run times seem bang on. The old batteries would give me just half the expected.

Surf-Matt

Cougie - will look them up - cheers!

Dazzza

Surf-Matt wrote:

Dazza - can you or anyone else recommend good rechargeable AA size batteries for torches/bike lights? Need some for the Tesco torch and will soon need 4 for a Hope light! Already have a charger.

I would say have a look at hybrio/eneloop batteries as they hold their charge for quite a while.

For a decent capacity sanyo everytime, they are conservative in their ratings so usually end up being one of the best, surprisingly uniross and energiser are also pretty good.

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trks ... yo+2700mah

Trouble with sanyo, they can be a bit fat and i have read on here that some aa's have trouble fitting so the inside of the torch needs filing down.

Here you will see how they roughly compare.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/BATTS/BATTS.HTM

Don't be tempted to use rapid chargers, they will kill the battery off much quicker.

Sir HC

S_J_P wrote:

I use a 3W Petzyl MYO XP on my helmet, £45 well spent to my mind!

If you go this route, make sure you get the new model (grey with lime-green buttons) rather than the old model (blue with yellow buttons) as it's twice as bright and has improved runtime to boot!

I've got the older version and I'm very impressed with it. I've sewn bits of velcro to the headband of the myo, then stuck velcro to my giro xen, makes attaching it very easy.

Surf-Matt

Cheers Dazza - very jandy info there!

Milkie

Now I'd like a helmet light to back it up. Looking for something with a good throw, light as possible and a max of £100.

I've had the Silva L1 head torch for about a year now.. It's very good! Extremely powerfull, the throw is quite far (+20 metres on the XP), its LED and it weighs 226grams with batteries.

It got 4.5/5 on bikeradar here:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories/on-body-lights/product/l1-led-headtorch-10097

cougie

I used the Fenix L2D on my helmet last night - less than £40 and was perfect for off roading in the pitch black. Very light and secures using a hair band and a bit of rubber to cushion it. Tesco sell that anti slip car dash matting for £1.

Surf-Matt

Used out Tesco AA 3 watt Cree last night for a walk - yes it flipping powerful but I still think the beam is way too narrow for riding.
Our (much more expensive but less powerful) Cyba-lite gives a much better spread of light.

S_J_P

Sir HC wrote:

S_J_P wrote:

I use a 3W Petzyl MYO XP on my helmet, £45 well spent to my mind!

If you go this route, make sure you get the new model (grey with lime-green buttons) rather than the old model (blue with yellow buttons) as it's twice as bright and has improved runtime to boot!

I've got the older version and I'm very impressed with it. I've sewn bits of velcro to the headband of the myo, then stuck velcro to my giro xen, makes attaching it very easy.

I've done much the same with mine, though I've threaded the headband underneath the two torpedo-shaped plastic retainers for the straps to make it doubly secure (as the velcro keeps coming unstuck :evil: )

The new XP is a good deal brighter than the old one, but the Luxeon LED's it uses still aren't the most efficient out there.

cougie

Bung two Tesco lights on your helmet ? Better spread and give you a good workout of your neck muscles !

Dazzza

I tested my ultrafire c1 last night and it was great as a helmet light, had one poor bunny run towards me.