Bike lights?

davala95

hi all,

I am reasonably new to cycling and am eager to get out and use my bike but because of the dark I am limited to what time I can be out.
I have been searching for a while for a good light at a good price. Also, because I live out of town there are no street lights therefore I can't really have a commuter light as I will be blind on the dark back roads.

Is there anyone in a similar situation who can help me in any way or recommend a good light

Thanks

bartimaeus

Have a look at MTB "What Lights"... and a recommendation for a basic torch-based set-up (XML T6 501b torch, charger, cells and mount).

Alinshearah

+1 for above

rake

you can build a monster 3w rear light with two transistors a resistor and high powered led of choice. works independet of battery voltage about £10.if you dont inclde an on off switch it cant go wrong. i did the same and put it in an old light case. comes on when i plug the bottle battery lead in come rain,snow or hurricane. depending on size of field effect transistor used and size of battery the power rating is really up to you. model shop nimh battery in a water bottle with smart charger and your sorted with 1000 or so charges. easy to waterproof by simply encasing in epoxy resin.

davala95

I think that I am mainly looking for the front light do that I can actually see where I am going

but thanks for your advice

rake

same can be done there with a 12w led thatl rival anything costing hundreds.if need be. from a safety point a bright rear is most important as the traffic is on your side and you cant see it approaching.

Mettan

Get yourself an XM-L T6 C8 (for throw) and an XM-L T6 501 or 502b P60 (for close flood) - you can then mix and match the usage (High/Mid/Low) for both lit and unlit areas. In lit areas, 2 on Med or one on Med and one on Low is great - for unlit, both on High or one on High and one on Med is great.

I currently use a 3-light front setup - an XM-L T6 C8 and two XM-L T6 502b's - (I do a 35 miler before 6.00am most mornings so they see some usage).

Make sure you get some decent batteries - Trustfire Flames (2400 maH) are a decent sweetspot price/performance at the mo.

davala95

Mettan wrote:

Get yourself an XM-L T6 C8 (for throw) and an XM-L T6 501 or 502b P60 (for close flood) - you can then mix and match the usage (High/Mid/Low) for both lit and unlit areas. In lit areas, 2 on Med or one on Med and one on Low is great - for unlit, both on High or one on High and one on Med is great.

I currently use a 3-light front setup - an XM-L T6 C8 and two XM-L T6 502b's - (I do a 35 miler before 6.00am most mornings so they see some usage).

How are they for battery life???

Mettan

davala95 wrote:

Mettan wrote:

Get yourself an XM-L T6 C8 (for throw) and an XM-L T6 501 or 502b P60 (for close flood) - you can then mix and match the usage (High/Mid/Low) for both lit and unlit areas. In lit areas, 2 on Med or one on Med and one on Low is great - for unlit, both on High or one on High and one on Med is great.

I currently use a 3-light front setup - an XM-L T6 C8 and two XM-L T6 502b's - (I do a 35 miler before 6.00am most mornings so they see some usage).

How are they for battery life???

With 2 torches - a TF Flame (2400 maH) in each will give you 2 - 2.5 hours ''mixed'' High/Med/Low riding (a majority will normally be done at a Med/Low combo setting in lit areas) - always take a spare one or two in your back pocket. I do say 1:40-1:45 Med/low combo with 15:20 mins pitch black High. (With my 3-light setup I carry 2 spare 18650's)

rolf_f

Bartimaeus wrote:

Have a look at MTB "

Don't do this! The MTB crowd use lights for offroad night riding so need far more powerful (and more expensive) lights than we need on road (lit or unlit) - stick to the road forums for more sensible lumen counts! I use a couple of RSP Asteris on the front - cost about £80 for the pair; nice, very compact and rechargeable. No separate battery pack. There's a newly released version of the same thing by Edinburgh Cycle Co-op which is even cheaper - currently £38 with slightly clunky styling! You can ride unlit roads on just the one but it is a little difficult to see the difference between a pot hole and a black tarmac filled hole. Two are better with the huge advantage that if one fails, you still have a good light to see by. Metal casing avoids interference with wireless computers as well.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... ight-35502
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 152c005262

I'm commuting about an hour and a half a day and they keep me going for several days between charges.

davala95

Rolf F wrote:

Bartimaeus wrote:

Have a look at MTB "

Don't do this! The MTB crowd use lights for offroad night riding so need far more powerful (and more expensive) lights than we need on road (lit or unlit) - stick to the road forums for more sensible lumen counts! I use a couple of RSP Asteris on the front - cost about £80 for the pair; nice, very compact and rechargeable. No separate battery pack. There's a newly released version of the same thing by Edinburgh Cycle Co-op which is even cheaper - currently £38 with slightly clunky styling! You can ride unlit roads on just the one but it is a little difficult to see the difference between a pot hole and a black tarmac filled hole. Two are better with the huge advantage that if one fails, you still have a good light to see by. Metal casing avoids interference with wireless computers as well.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... ight-35502
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 152c005262

I'm commuting about an hour and a half a day and they keep me going for several days between charges.

These look good but are you sure they come as a pair as they show only one? (only confirming thanks)

jim55

ask gaz on here ,,magicshine is what u want 8)

davala95

Sorry too new to know who Gaz is???

rolf_f

davala95 wrote:

These look good but are you sure they come as a pair as they show only one? (only confirming thanks)

No - they aren't paired. I got two of the RSPs separately for a bit over £80.

bartimaeus

Rolf F wrote:

Bartimaeus wrote:

Have a look at MTB "
...far more powerful (and more expensive) lights than we need on road (lit or unlit) - stick to the road forums for more sensible lumen counts!

A 501b XML torch is about £10 and will run at 300 or so lumens for at least 3 hours using a £2.50 18650 cell charged with a £5 charger. If you have access to old laptop batteries then 18650s are essentially 'free'.

But, yes, be careful as they are bright... on full beam an XML is pretty ant-social.

davala95

thanks for your help

Anyone else with advice to add???

Thebigbee

Get a set of these as a very minimum. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330665317468? ... 1438.l2649

Unbelievable VFM IMO. I used to swear by SMART lights and still do - their rear 1/2 watt is an incredible little kidney light - especially for the price I paid - under £6 each.

I still like the Smart Polaris that I have just because it is ergonomic and was cheap.

However, since seeing these on an Ebay daily deal for a tenner - I took a punt - for a 5W front, 1/2 watt rear, batteries, fittings and delivery - why not?!

As far as I can tell they are just unbranded SMART lights made in the same Chinese factory.

How can I tell? Well basically the brackets are exactly the same and both front and rear unbranded lights fit the SMART brackets - and vice versa!

The only difference is in the price and the front light. It is amazingly bright and the beam spread is about 3X that of the 1W Smart I have. The front light is 11cm long and weighs 91 grams.

The biggest non sale cycling bargain I have ever bought. Bike Radar and other mags should review more non branded bargains like this. I'd love to know their opinion on a set of lights, with batteries, delivered for £7.88 of this quality.

One of the front lights I bought had an intermitterent fault. Contacted Rutland and had to return it. They sent me a whole new set and refunded my return postage within a week - and that was when I paid a tenner.

Absolute bargain and at under £8 there is NO excuse for any cyclist to not be riding without lights.

HTH

aidso

*Cough* MagicShine: http://www.MagicShineNI.com

For the rear I like 2xRSP lights (one for the frame and one on my backpack).

A.

Gizmodo

I've been using one of these this winter. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREE-XML-XM-L-1800-Lumens-LED-Cycling-Bicycle-Light-bike-Headlamp-HeadLight-Lamp-/270890128716

It includes rechargeable batteries and lasts for 2.5 hours on high, longer if you turn it down and is less than £32. I cycle on unlit country roads at 6:30am and it lasts until the sun comes up even on the shortest days.

Wrath Rob

davala95 wrote:

thanks for your help

Anyone else with advice to add???

How much do you want to spend? Bike lights go from a couple of quid to over £600.
Personally I've got an Ayup V2 on the front and after my RSP Astrum made a bid for freedom by the light separating away from the holder, I've got an Exposure Flare on the rear. Total cost is around £160 but I commute with these every day and so want lights that are easily rechargeable and bomb proof. The Ayup is great and plenty enough for road riding in the dark, e.g. laps of Richmond Park after dark. Yes there are cheaper alternatives like the Magicshine offerings but the quality is often suspect and I got fed up with buying a new light every year.

davala95

ummm.. im not really sure tbh. if I saw one that i was happy with i would pay around £70 tops.

My mate who is a cycling addict has a exposure and i was really impressed with that, until i realised how much it cost!!

Wrath Rob

In that case, go back to the MTB lights page at the start and pick the best light for £70. Easy! Just noticed your location and I assume you ride on some pretty quiet roads? In which case, invest in a decent rear light too otherwise you're more likely to get rear ended on a country lane. The Flare is great, 75 lumens and £35. Only issue is it doesn't take AA or AAA batteries. You can get rechargeables but they cost £5-10 plus the charger.

thegibdog

Thebigbee wrote:

Get a set of these as a very minimum. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330665317468? ... 1438.l2649

Unbelievable VFM IMO
....
The only difference is in the price and the front light. It is amazingly bright and the beam spread is about 3X that of the 1W Smart I have.

Bright enough for seeing where you're going? If so they sound brilliant for the price, might get myself a couple. What sort of run time do you get from the front?

Thebigbee

thegibdog wrote:

Thebigbee wrote:

Get a set of these as a very minimum. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330665317468? ... 1438.l2649

Unbelievable VFM IMO
....
The only difference is in the price and the front light. It is amazingly bright and the beam spread is about 3X that of the 1W Smart I have.

Bright enough for seeing where you're going? If so they sound brilliant for the price, might get myself a couple. What sort of run time do you get from the front?

Yes, definitely bright enough to see where you're going. I have tested it on unlit coastal promenades in awful weather - ie. no moonlight and they definitely work a lot better than the Smart lights I have. On lit roads in urban areas when on constant I can notice the flash off road signs about 200M away and often think that there is an emergency vehicle on my tail!

The rear light is also very bright - 1/2 Watt. Run time at least 40 hours on 3 AAAs and still going. I get me batteries from the pound shop at 12 for a quid. Use rechargables even more cost effective I guess.

A 5 star product all round from me - especially at under £8 delivered. The actual light to bracket mount is a bit clunky - a side screw on thingy but as far as I can tell the actual light mounts are identical to Smart brackets.

A replacement Smart "no tool" front bracket alone - that will fit oversize bars will cost you the best part of a fiver alone.

In fact this one fits the Smart front lights a lot more snugly than the original whilst the rear one is slightly looser - go figure!?

HTH

Pross

I've been using a Fenix L2D which is fine for unlit roads but I have just bought one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160699600098?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649 as I've started using the Fenix as a torch regularly and keep forgetting to charge it. I'm hoping it will do for some occassional off road use. I bought a bike mount for it as well, total outlay less than £28 and from a UK seller.

rolf_f

Thebigbee wrote:

thegibdog wrote:

Thebigbee wrote:

Get a set of these as a very minimum. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330665317468? ... 1438.l2649

Unbelievable VFM IMO
....
The only difference is in the price and the front light. It is amazingly bright and the beam spread is about 3X that of the 1W Smart I have.

Bright enough for seeing where you're going? If so they sound brilliant for the price, might get myself a couple. What sort of run time do you get from the front?

Yes, definitely bright enough to see where you're going. I have tested it on unlit coastal promenades in awful weather - ie. no moonlight and they definitely work a lot better than the Smart lights I have. On lit roads in urban areas when on constant I can notice the flash off road signs about 200M away and often think that there is an emergency vehicle on my tail!

The rear light is also very bright - 1/2 Watt. Run time at least 40 hours on 3 AAAs and still going. I get me batteries from the pound shop at 12 for a quid. Use rechargables even more cost effective I guess.

A 5 star product all round from me - especially at under £8 delivered. The actual light to bracket mount is a bit clunky - a side screw on thingy but as far as I can tell the actual light mounts are identical to Smart brackets.

A replacement Smart "no tool" front bracket alone - that will fit oversize bars will cost you the best part of a fiver alone.

In fact this one fits the Smart front lights a lot more snugly than the original whilst the rear one is slightly looser - go figure!?

HTH

Might have to get a couple too. I was at a Cycle Promotions sale on Saturday hoping to pick up a couple of spare Smart 1/2 watts as my new rechargeable batteries aren't man enough for the 1 watts and I need some more brackets for my collection of bikes. These come out at less than I was prepared to pay for a single 1/2 watt. OK they don't include the seat stay mounts but I have enough of those.

As for the front - it looks like the bracket may work for my Lidl torch which, again, I spent more than the cost of this pair on a single godawful Twofish flop block wobble holder.

And Rutland charge £14 for this on their website. Good spot.