Front Light Options for ~£80?

jonnyboy77

Hi

I just returned my second set of faulty Electron Terra 2 lights and I'm looking for viable alternatives in the same price bracket.

My main limitation is that I have to get them from CRC, and the cost really needs to be £80 to avoid spending more cash.

The lights are used for commuting through about 1 mile of complete darkness, where on a cloudy night you can't see a damn thing without a decent set of lights.

At the moment my shortlist is very short, with just the Hope Vision 1 (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=24391) on it ... but before I take the plunge I was hoping for some community input ...

Cheers

Jon

iPete

If you have to buy from CRC, Hope 1.

I've used mine in complete darkness in Richmond Park, didn't need to crank it up.

jonnyboy77

iPete wrote:

If you have to buy from CRC, Hope 1.

I've used mine in complete darkness in Richmond Park, didn't need to crank it up.

Thanks, that's useful to know having ridden Richmond Park in almost darkness too. How do you get on with batteries? Any recommendations/things to avoid etc?

Cheers

Jon

jeepie

I've got a hope vision 1. I use it to commute on a pitch black towpath and it's ideal. Easy to fit - which a more powerful light with a battery pack may not be - and the batteries last a long time - sorry I've not quantified this. Definitely recommended. I got some Vaptech ones which Alpha Blue recommended ... http://www.vapextech.co.uk/

I think: http://www.vapextech.co.uk/cgi-bin/ss00 ... &NOLOGIN=1 - not got the light here to check.

My commute is short and dark. This light's been ideal.

Kieran_Burns

I have Vision 1 teamed with a Vision 2 (12 mile commute consists of approximately 9 miles unlit roads)

I run both on setting 3 and you can see the vision 1 pool of light alongside the Vision 2

It's a good light.

veronese68

I think in traffic the lights that have a mode with the light on permanently but with a brighter flash work very well. Don't know if the Hope does this. Problem is product descriptions often just state if a light flashes, but not how. I think a regular on/off flash can confuse some drivers.

iPete

I'm also running a Hope 3 setup like Kieran.

As for batteries, buy decent high power ones, like mAh 2700, they last a long time. There is however no warning on when it'll run flat, so always best to have a backup.

re Veronese, the Hope 1 does not pulse.

jonnyboy77

Thanks - seems like the Hope 1 is the way to go given the constraints.

I'm looking at the http://www.vapextech.co.uk/ website now to see what options they have for batteries/chargers which will obviously cost a few extra quid, but that's life!

Cheers

Jon

desweller

The Hope is a couple of years old now; I expect you can get better for the money.

The Philips Saferide seems to get excellent reviews.

jonnyboy77

DesWeller wrote:

The Hope is a couple of years old now; I expect you can get better for the money.

The Philips Saferide seems to get excellent reviews.

CRC don't seem to stock these though?

Cheers

Jon

desweller

jonnyboy77 wrote:

DesWeller wrote:

The Hope is a couple of years old now; I expect you can get better for the money.

The Philips Saferide seems to get excellent reviews.

CRC don't seem to stock these though?

Cheers

Jon

My mistake! I should have read your original post more carefully!

Mm, I have mixed feelings about the Vision 1; mine is great when it's working, but when the batteries get low it just switches off, rather than dropping to a low light mode. Scary when it happens the first time...

Presumably you have to get them from CRC because they supplied the faulty Electrons? Can they not give you a full refund instead?

shouldbeinbed

hope vision 1 has been spot on for me at all hours in totally unlit countryside. the battery life drops off suddenly so always take spares.

mayan42

I'd suggest the Lezyne power drive

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=70576

300 lumens for 2 hrs on full, compared to 240 lumens for 3 hrs for the Hope vision 1.
Same price as the Hope, but comes with a rechargeable battery and is slightly brighter and I'd imagine a bit smaller / lighter.

I've just got the lezyne mini drive, to supplement my lumicycle led3 as a helmet mount for mtbing and to use on its own for commutes on lit roads. Its a great peice of kit, nice beam, with a bright spot but pretty good periperal vision as well. Very nicely made, very elegant, and can be recharged via your PC when you get into work for the return journey home!

jonnyboy77

mayan42 wrote:

I'd suggest the Lezyne power drive

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=70576

300 lumens for 2 hrs on full, compared to 240 lumens for 3 hrs for the Hope vision 1.
Same price as the Hope, but comes with a rechargeable battery and is slightly brighter and I'd imagine a bit smaller / lighter.

I've just got the lezyne mini drive, to supplement my lumicycle led3 as a helmet mount for mtbing and to use on its own for commutes on lit roads. Its a great peice of kit, nice beam, with a bright spot but pretty good periperal vision as well. Very nicely made, very elegant, and can be recharged via your PC when you get into work for the return journey home!

I did consider this, I have now taken the plunge with the Hope Vision 1 based mainly on the tried and tested nature of the Hope product - I could find very little information on the Lezyne (until your post).

If the hope doesn't work out I have the option to swap it, but I was burned a little by the Electron experience with the Terra 2 (which was largely untried/untested and I ended up with with two RMAs ... I am more hopeful (ahem) with the Hope prodiuct based on the information I have sifted through (and the volume!).

Cheers

Jon

desweller

You won't have any complaints with the Hope; even if it does go wrong, Hope's customer service is nothing short of legendary.

jonnyboy77

DesWeller wrote:

You won't have any complaints with the Hope; even if it does go wrong, Hope's customer service is nothing short of legendary.

it's the sheer number of comments/feedback I've read like this that lead to my decision.

Should be taking delivery on Monday

Cheers

Jon

dodgerdog

What were your problems with the Terra? I have just bought a set myself so fore warned will be fore armed if I run into any problems.

jonnyboy77

Dodgerdog wrote:

What were your problems with the Terra? I have just bought a set myself so fore warned will be fore armed if I run into any problems.

The first set I ordered were DOA, they were replaced straight away and for 6 months the replacement set were amazing. Very bright, good spread of light (1x spot and 1x flood) battery lasted ages and they ran well in all weathers with no issues. Then after not being used for a a couple of weeks during the summer I came to ride later in the evening knowing it might get dark out, I plugged them in and .... nothing. No low batt light, nothing. Charged the battery (with the correct lights illuminated), when fully charged plugged them back in and.... nothing.

CRC sent the second set back to Electron/Madison who confirmed them as faulty and offered a refund/exchange.

When they were working they were fantastic lights at a great price and perfect for me. But after two sets I decided to try something else. I hope I was unlucky and you'll be fine, but bear this in mind and be ready to send them back at the first sign of trouble. CRC were excellent through out the RMA process.

Thanks

Jon

mayan42

I did consider this, I have now taken the plunge with the Hope Vision 1 based mainly on the tried and tested nature of the Hope product - I could find very little information on the Lezyne (until your post).

yeah, it is very new and only just available. As mentioned, i'm sure the hope will be good, lots of happy customers and hopes customer service certainly has a good track record.