front light?

M1llh0use
M1llh0use Posts: 863
edited April 2009 in MTB buying advice
starting to get a bit more into night riding but the pony cat eye light is only good enought to be seen, not to see with.

any recommendations for a light up to £50?
{insert smartarse comment here}
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Comments

  • dunker
    dunker Posts: 1,456
    hiya :)

    fenix L2D CE Premium Q5 textured/orange peel reflecter model.
    4x ansmann AA 2850mah nimh rechargable batteries.
    ansmann fast charger.

    that'll give you 4-5 hours with a smooth'ish 100lumins.

    http://www.thephotonshop.co.uk/page23.htm
    strap it on the bike with,
    http://thephotonshop.co.uk/page64.htm - TWOFISH LOCKBLOCK BIKE MOUNTED TORCH HOLDER



    edit; yay, a new what front light thread hehe :lol:
    Merlin Malt4,
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/7405500@N0 ... 025278584/
  • M1llh0use
    M1llh0use Posts: 863
    dunker wrote:
    hiya :)

    edit; yay, a new what front light thread hehe :lol:

    did look but the search facility sucks ass...


    thanks for the link!
    {insert smartarse comment here}
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Or try a MTE P7:

    http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12623

    You'll need a charger (about 5 quid) and some 18650 cells, another fiver.

    But output is about 600 lumens!!!
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

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  • M1llh0use
    M1llh0use Posts: 863
    is that from the states then supersonic? or is there a uk based supplier?


    like the sound of 600L
    {insert smartarse comment here}
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    From HK. Takes a while to arrive, mine was about 5 days. No postage to pay. mine are amazing, many others have them too.

    At full whack they will burn the cell in about 70 mins, but you can choose low beam for longer, and as the cells are tiny, just take a couple of spares. 20 seconds to change.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • batch78
    batch78 Posts: 1,320
    Don't forget the Tesco 3w cree torches, £10 each, so two of them, two lockblocks and some aa batteies. Or three torches, two on bars one on helmet, jubilee clips and zip ties, some aa batteries. With change for a couple of beers whilst your in there. :D
  • M1llh0use
    M1llh0use Posts: 863
    supersonic wrote:
    Or try a MTE P7:

    http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12623

    You'll need a charger (about 5 quid) and some 18650 cells, another fiver.

    But output is about 600 lumens!!!


    s othe 18650 cells are AA?

    and is it lithium ion that's the better ones?

    and the higher mAh rating is better?

    (sorry for daft questions!)
    {insert smartarse comment here}
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    No, are 3.7v cells, slightly bigger physically.

    More Mah for a given voltage, the higher the capacity (ie will run longer). The protected cells are best.

    Li Ion do make for the best cells.

    D.E. has a whole page of them!
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

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  • M1llh0use
    M1llh0use Posts: 863
    batch78 wrote:
    Don't forget the Tesco 3w cree torches, £10 each, so two of them, two lockblocks and some aa batteies. Or three torches, two on bars one on helmet, jubilee clips and zip ties, some aa batteries. With change for a couple of beers whilst your in there. :D

    These ones?
    http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.203-8191.aspx

    seens the cheapy ones in tesco but thought they looked a bit flimsy. are they really all that?
    {insert smartarse comment here}
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    They are pretty good! You can get AA ones too. However some rechargable batteries are a tight fit.

    Output is about 120 lumens.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • M1llh0use
    M1llh0use Posts: 863
    but not a patch on the DX ones then?
    {insert smartarse comment here}
  • tlw1
    tlw1 Posts: 22,286
    supersonic wrote:
    From HK. Takes a while to arrive, mine was about 5 days. No postage to pay. mine are amazing, many others have them too.

    At full whack they will burn the cell in about 70 mins, but you can choose low beam for longer, and as the cells are tiny, just take a couple of spares. 20 seconds to change.

    Mine has taken a bit longer - but they are back in stock now & hopefully be tested next week :)
  • batch78
    batch78 Posts: 1,320
    That looks like it, description says it takes D cell batteries though and C cells in the features dropdown, odd! It'll be a bit heavy on a bike with either of those.

    Mine is identical to look at but takes AA's.

    I run it alongside a Fenix L2D, brightness wise its about the same as the Fenix in high, not turbo, mode. Good spread of light slightly wider than the Fenix but without the long distance penetration.

    Toghether they're bright enough to descend at 40mph on unlit roads, or tackle moderately technical single track.

    If you go for two lights, of varying brightness, mount the brighter one on your helmet to prevent the really long abnormally deep looking shadows, it can get quite interesting when your expecting a 2' drop off and it is only 6". :oops:
  • M1llh0use
    M1llh0use Posts: 863
    batch78 wrote:
    If you go for two lights, of varying brightness, mount the brighter one on your helmet to prevent the really long abnormally deep looking shadows, it can get quite interesting when your expecting a 2' drop off and it is only 6". :oops:


    sounds like you speak from experience!!

    :lol:
    {insert smartarse comment here}
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Here is a pic of the beam spread with my P7:

    04112008085.jpg

    Shed is about 25 foot away or so. Really is impressive and still bright in the centre.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • M1llh0use
    M1llh0use Posts: 863
    supersonic wrote:
    Or try a MTE P7:

    http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12623

    You'll need a charger (about 5 quid) and some 18650 cells, another fiver.

    But output is about 600 lumens!!!


    what about mounting them?
    {insert smartarse comment here}
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    As with the other torches to mount - get a lockblock, or use some velcro/jubilee clips.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • M1llh0use
    M1llh0use Posts: 863
    right - sold!
    {insert smartarse comment here}
  • batch78
    batch78 Posts: 1,320
    Erm yeah. :(

    Wow thats gotta've been the quickest What Light thread ever.

    Now lock it sharpish :lol::lol:
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Hehe, have been a few, but they tend to be a little different!
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • batch78
    batch78 Posts: 1,320
    True, and to be honest the search function aint great.

    Doesn't really bother me but is a little amusing when the entire first page consists of, what light, what waterproofs, threads.

    Still, hopefully, it'll soon be an entire page of, what fast rolling summer rubber threads! :wink:
  • M1llh0use
    M1llh0use Posts: 863
    batch78 wrote:
    True, and to be honest the search function aint great.

    any chance of kicking the IT guys and getting it improved some? really stops the forum from being an amazing resource!
    {insert smartarse comment here}
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    If you click the search link in the top right (next to members list), rather than use the little bar, you get a dedicated forum search tool.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • M1llh0use
    M1llh0use Posts: 863
    tis the one i've tried to use - compared to other forums it's useless! (obviously in a constructive criticism way!)

    :wink:
    {insert smartarse comment here}
  • Steve Kish
    Steve Kish Posts: 216
    Check out a LED Lenser Revolution head torch - 140 lumens and out-performs my Light & Motion Sonic SL halogen at 290 lumens! Cree LED, don't-cha-know!

    http://www.glowgadgets.co.uk/led-lenser ... =all-items
    AT MY AGE, I SHOULD KNOW BETTER !!!
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Still a quarter of the cheaper MTE!
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    Some people just like less bright torches I guess :lol:

    The Tesco ones are OK, but I ended up running 3 to get a decent light, then realised I might as well get one better light, and did. I don't think they're a good option tbh, one as a road light is OK but offroad, not so much. One P7 on helmet = good. Add another to the bars = great, better than most bike specific lights for far less.
    Uncompromising extremist
  • The Spiderman
    The Spiderman Posts: 5,625
    Tells you all you need to know here:http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/mountain_bike_lights_review_led.html
    2 riding buddies have gone out and bought them,having seen mine.One of the guys previously had a £300 bike specific light.
    2006 Giant XTC
    2010 Giant Defy Advanced
    2016 Boardman Pro 29er
    2016 Pinnacle Lithium 4
    2017 Canondale Supersix Evo
  • M1llh0use
    M1llh0use Posts: 863
    arrived today and i've gotta say it's pretty bright! lit up the opposite wall of the office with the sun shining on it so should be good!

    will find out properly tonight...
    {insert smartarse comment here}
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    Dealextreme's postage times seem to have gone to crap, I ordered a pair of extra batteries, and for reasons I still haven't worked out a really tiny stainless hipflask, and they took about 7 days just to dispatch. Still not terribly slow for international delivery but they used to be pretty damn quick, both my previous orders arrived in a week.
    Uncompromising extremist

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