Front light, cheap but stable?

Dalton

Hi,

I am looking to purchase a new front light. As the current light I have is driving me mad! As I ride along, the vibrations from the road cause the light to end up facing downwards, meaning I have to constantly adjust it back upwards.

I therefore want a light that will fill tightly to road handlebars, that is fairly bright (as I commute before around 6am) and not too expensive (around £20 if possible).

Any recommendations?

Tonymufc

Dalton, I run one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SMART-BSPOKE- ... 5d2b664344 with a Hope Vision 1. For what its worth I use two smart 1/2 watt Super flashes on the rear.

Dalton

Tonymufc wrote:

Dalton, I run one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SMART-BSPOKE- ... 5d2b664344 with a Hope Vision 1. For what its worth I use two smart 1/2 watt Super flashes on the rear.

Hi, Thanks for the suggestion.

Unfortunately, this is the exact front light I have and it doesn't grip tight enough to my road handlebars to remain upright!

cjcp

That's the one I have, too. Due to the shape of the bars, I've put them right next to the stem. Have you tried putting an excess bit of bar tape or rubber around the bar to give some extra grip?

Confusedboy

If you don't mind fugly, and the sort of lump in your pocket that doesn't translate as 'pleased to see me', then you could do worse than a Halfords Bikehut front light. There are a variety of brackets for these, and you should be able to get one to fit firmly in a position that suits you.

Apart from the issues mentioned, this is an excellent light which features the LED housed in the lens facing backwards to reflect the beam forward, like a lighthouse, which enables a much more effective reflector to be used. An added bonus of this is that side visibility is first class, and something designers of certain otherwise excellent and much more expensive lights should note. I will have had mine for 3 years this winter and it has performed faultlessly, on 3 different bikes with 3 different brackets.

Dalton

cjcp wrote:

That's the one I have, too. Due to the shape of the bars, I've put them right next to the stem. Have you tried putting an excess bit of bar tape or rubber around the bar to give some extra grip?

Yeah, will give the tape a try if all else fails. Just not at all impressed with the bracket.

seataltea

These little lights are fantastic and for less than £10 delivered with a mount are also great value.

I have the version which uses the lithium battery but if you want it cheap choose the AAA version linked below.

They will provide an intense white spot (actually a square the shape of the led) or will give a variety of differing sizes of circular flood.

The universal mount is the best I've tried, replace the screw thread with a cable tie and the rubbery plastic fits any size of handlebar. The X2000 slots in tight and never moves.

There's no risk of it getting stolen as you just pop it out and into your pocket when leaving the bike. I rode all last winter with one attached to my helmet and in all weathers, it never missed a beat and has been more reliable than my more expensive lights which I am replacing this year.

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/x2000-floo ... -aaa-13732

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/universal- ... mount-8274

vorsprung

Wrap some old inner tube on the bars under the clamp for the light
This will

1) increase the bar diameter slightly
2) make the clamp grip the bar better
3) dampen the vibrations slightly

Cafewanda

vorsprung wrote:

Wrap some old inner tube on the bars under the clamp for the light
This will

1) increase the bar diameter slightly
2) make the clamp grip the bar better
3) dampen the vibrations slightly

Hear. Hear!

Gussio

Big discounts currently being offered on Smart lights at On One / Planet X

londonlivvy

Dalton wrote:

Hi,

I am looking to purchase a new front light. As the current light I have is driving me mad! As I ride along, the vibrations from the road cause the light to end up facing downwards, meaning I have to constantly adjust it back upwards.

I therefore want a light that will fill tightly to road handlebars, that is fairly bright (as I commute before around 6am) and not too expensive (around £20 if possible).

Any recommendations?

I had exactly the same problem with that light and gave up. It drove me mad - either shining in my eyes or illuminating my front wheel. I now have this
http://www.lumenjunkies.co.uk/%20MTE%20 ... SSC%20P7-D

Which is AWESOMELY bright. Car headlights kind of bright. Only problem seems to be that the batteries don't last that long on full beam so it's worth carrying a spare with you.

Wrath Rob

I've also found that mounting the light so that its under your handle bar, rather than on top, stops the light from slipping so much too.

pastey_boy

£29 posted and even the low setting will be more than enough for the roads so you will get over 10 hours off one charge, plus you have extra in reserve. the mounts are very secure and you will never need to buy batteries, only drawback is waiting a few weeks for delivery but for the money nothing comes close.
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/t6-waterpr ... -set-82510

rjsterry

Wrath Rob wrote:

I've also found that mounting the light so that its under your handle bar, rather than on top, stops the light from slipping so much too.

Just as a warning on this, some lights are designed to be waterproof when the right way up, and may be less waterproof if hung upside down.

UndercoverElephant

Gussio wrote:

Big discounts currently being offered on Smart lights at On One / Planet X

Noted! A load of 1/2 Watt rear lights coming this way. Cheers!

Wallace1492

Ordered some too... do like the Smart rears...

Dalton

Thanks for all the replies!

Am checking through the products recommended.

Gussio, smart lights look very similar to what I already have - anyone vouch for the front lights/ bracket?

Londonlivvy, that looks like a torch to me!?! Do you use the mount shown on the related products tab? Looks like it just velcro's on? How stable is it?

Pastey-boy, that T6 looks pretty damn good - will probably order one of those, should be here just in time for proper dark mornings. Again, how does it mount to handlebars - looks like O-rings?

cyberknight

+1 for the deal extreme light, bright and cheap !

You can also get a very similar one with the bracket included.
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/flood-to-t ... -aaa-26800
With 2 of them i can just about ride on unlit roads, although when i gets to winter riding i use a magicshine.

gilesjuk

Just stick some old innertube under the mount of the light you have.

As for battery life and the like. No problem at all with a dynohub set up. Fit and forget.

asprilla

http://www.bestofferbuy.com/1W-2-Mode-5 ... unt-(4*AAA)-p-13641.html?currency=GBP&utm_source=gbase&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=gbase_uk

Absolute bargain. I use two of them on the winter bike (one flashing and one solid) but mine cost me £15 each two years ago.

May not fit on oversized bars though.

notsoblue

If you're based in SW London and your commute takes you through Richmond Park, *please*, for the love of god, don't buy deity blinders.