Lights

uzapuca

Hi guys,
I am new to this forum. I would like some advice on lights for my commuting bike. I currently have the Smart Lunar 25 Lux Lightset which are nice
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=70354

but since then there have been thousand of more powerfull and cheaper lights as the major chinese manufactured one. Some people told me about dealextreme but i will be travelling shortly and cannot wait for a month of shipping.

Could you advice me on any online UK Store or Ebay with good quality and fast delivery? Could you also tell me which model to look for? there are thousands of models now. I would like to spend around 40-50 pounds max. with batteries and charger too.

Regards,

king_jeffers

I use: http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ultrafire- ... 8650-50320 with a suitable mount and it rocks. You can probably get them on ebay.

tomb353

the smart ones you have a quite good quality. Maybe invest in a second smart rear light as a backup?

For the front if you want to go crazy bright google "magicshine P7" , you'll pay extra for a UK supplier but should still find one for £50 if you can't wait for Hong Kong post.

These lights are not really designed for on road use, if you shine them straight ahead they can in some situations cause problems for other road users (people will shout at you). But what I've found is that if you angle them down onto the road they create a kind of mobile cycle lane and still send enough light ahead to offer some protection at junctions. The legal situation is that your smart light meets the legal requirements and any other light is an optional extra, however if you are using it in such a way that you cause people real problems then the police may take a dim view.

This is one on my friend Karl's bike:
http://karlmccracken.sweat365.com/2011/ ... tree-bike/

It can be tempting to pull directly up behind cars that cut you up at the lights and give a dose of full flash in their rear view mirror, I can't condone this sort of behaviour though.

colshandy

I am in a similar situation, apologies for muscling in on your thread :-)

Looking to start biking into work on a decent old MTB I bought about 10 years ago second hand but never used yer in darkness. Part of my route will be on road, part on unlit cycle path (old railway). Any ideas if this is suitable for this job or any suggestions of something else suitable? Thanks

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... t-11-45301

Blue Meanie

I'm guilty, I own and use a P7 900lumen torch as my 'dark roads' light. Cheaper, more powerful than any I can find anywhere - I am tempted to make a 2k-4k off-road system where I have to wear sunglasses at night.

But, I do run a secondary flasher on the front and do not dazzle oncoming traffic. I'd like a Scotchlite reflective glove that I could hold infront of my eyes when car drivers don't dip their headlights (or even similary lit cyclists).

Currently trying to patent reflective contact lenses that would glow yellow when a car's on full beam - scared? I'm a werewolf!

supersonic

The MagicShine is a good buy, but Deal Extreme have a UK warehouse where you can buy this:

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/t6-waterpr ... -904482510

For £33 is an absolute steal. The beam is quite a pronounced 'twin', a bright hotspot, but soft flood at the outside. Genuine 900 lumens output on high.

The torches are great too, most P7 LED based ones give a large flood.

colshandy

supersonic wrote:

The MagicShine is a good buy, but Deal Extreme have a UK warehouse where you can buy this:

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/t6-waterpr ... -904482510

For £33 is an absolute steal. The beam is quite a pronounced 'twin', a bright hotspot, but soft flood at the outside. Genuine 900 lumens output on high.

The torches are great too, most P7 LED based ones give a large flood.

It is £39.95, is that the one ? Does it come with fitting ?

I am also needing a back light, can you advise anything suitable ?

Many thanks

uzapuca

thanks for the good info guys! 8)

magicshine P7 look bright and powerfull but isn't too much light for a city communting environment? Is the battery for this light heavy? I am the owner of a Kona Smoke, steel frame a.k.a. Bike Tank on Pedals, heavy but will roll on everything so i am trying to reduce weight if i can.

I suppose a nice torch or double torch in P7 style will be OK too. One with one or two LI-ON rechargeable batteries. Not sure what model to choose from since there is thousand of models like those one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Magicshine-90 ... 27c2662033

and what about this double light model
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI. ... 0805976363

Why there is so much price difference among lights? Those magicshine P7 style lights are far cheaper:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3x-CREE-2400- ... 3674659144

Sorry about so many questions...i am so new on bike lights :?

Cheers,

supersonic

There is a sticky in the MTB buying section that covers lights and torches, well worth a read. Has links to popular options, and quick buy set ups.

The ebay ones - rarely the calimed output is right, but some are ok. CREE Q5 is old tech LEDs, better now for the money. The first ebay link there is a torch setup as in the sticky that can be had for cheaper.

The Deal Extreme I link to above has all you need to get gong inc charger, mounts and battery pack.

I use a 99p rear light! Works fine.

colshandy

supersonic wrote:

There is a sticky in the MTB buying section that covers lights and torches, well worth a read. Has links to popular options, and quick buy set ups.

The ebay ones - rarely the calimed output is right, but some are ok. CREE Q5 is old tech LEDs, better now for the money. The first ebay link there is a torch setup as in the sticky that can be had for cheaper.

The Deal Extreme I link to above has all you need to get gong inc charger, mounts and battery pack.

I use a 99p rear light! Works fine.

Good man, I will go for that, if it fails I know where you live ;-)

Thanks again

Mettan

uzapuca wrote:

Hi guys,
I am new to this forum. I would like some advice on lights for my commuting bike. I currently have the Smart Lunar 25 Lux Lightset which are nice
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=70354

but since then there have been thousand of more powerfull and cheaper lights as the major chinese manufactured one. Some people told me about dealextreme but i will be travelling shortly and cannot wait for a month of shipping.

Could you advice me on any online UK Store or Ebay with good quality and fast delivery? Could you also tell me which model to look for? there are thousands of models now. I would like to spend around 40-50 pounds max. with batteries and charger too.

Regards,

You can get an XM-L T6 501b or 502b from Ebay UK for ~ £14 -£17 - plenty of 'UK stock' sellers to choose from - n.b, 2 torches will give you more flexibility than one - that's in terms of both mixed usage, beam profile and output - a good setup for Commuting would be one on Medium, one on Low - similarly, for some Commutes you'll be happy with just one on Med, or alternately both on Med. For unlit pitch-black country lanes you can utilise both High or one high one Med - up to you - and if there are any cars approaching its simple to click one of them off briefly. For batteries, go for some Trustfire Flames - either 2400 or 3000 maH - threy've both tested well - Torchy on Ebay sells a host of other quality brands, Xtar, Yezl (or if you've got a multimeter, the Sanyo or Panasonic unpros - if you're new to 18650's though avoid unprotected cells ).

uzapuca

Thanks for the good info Mettan on XM-L T6 501b or 502b.

...plenty of 'UK stock' sellers to choose from
Can you recommend me one? it would be nice to find a store which is reliable both in service and quality. Also where i can buy the batteries, charger and adapter too.

(or if you've got a multimeter, the Sanyo or Panasonic unpros - if you're new to 18650's though avoid unprotected cells ).
why do i need a multimiter for those batteries?

Thanks again

Mettan

This guy has UK stock:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UltraFire-100 ... 3a6d2a284a

(some sellers dropship etc, but their UK operations/stock are still excellent enough). Virtually all are happy with his torch sales (have a quick check of his feedback for ''Ultrafire''). (n.b. - Its Chinese New Year on at the moment so a few of their reliable UK dropshipers have stopped doing business until the 27th/28th but some are still trading).

(you can pay 3 or 4 quid more for a UK native seller).

Some batteries:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-TrustFire- ... 337098a30f

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-Yezl-2400m ... 1c231aa25b

Charger:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18650-DIGITAL ... 35b7a1c409

(you can get 'better' chargers like the Xtar WP2 for 10 quid more, but the one above is aqequate)

(Regards the unprotected 18650's (like ''most'' Sanyo 2600/Panasonic 3100 maH that you'll see for sale), multimeters are required to check your voltages - with protected (like the TrustFire and Yezl ones above) you're ok).

tiny_pens

supersonic wrote:

The MagicShine is a good buy, but Deal Extreme have a UK warehouse where you can buy this:

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/t6-waterpr ... -904482510

For £33 is an absolute steal. The beam is quite a pronounced 'twin', a bright hotspot, but soft flood at the outside. Genuine 900 lumens output on high.

The torches are great too, most P7 LED based ones give a large flood.

I have this (or a variation of it). Its vastly improved with a wide angle lens like this one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wide-Angle-Lens-Magicshine-Lupine-and-Gemini-Bike-Lights-/250970937857?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Cycling_Bike_Lights&hash=item3a6f089a01

Pretty good without but makes a nicer commuting light with it.

Ouija

uzapuca wrote:

why do i need a multimiter for those batteries?

Thanks again

Because Lithium Ion batteries shouldn't be charged above 4.2v or allowed to drain below 3.2v as it damages the batteries. Protected batteries have a chip inside that breaks connection with the outside device if something tries to charge them over their maximum capacity or tries to drain them below 3.2v. Hence the need for a multimeter on those torch style devices. Protected batteries are better in those sort of things.

These stye devices actually have an indicator on the back that tells you when the battery is down to 3.2v (30% remaining)....


(glows red when at 3.2v and green when at the maximum of 4.2v)

Needless to say, the higher the mAh reading on the battery, the longer the battery will take to drain (holds more of a charge). Avoid cheap unbranded and Ultrafire batteries, they drain really quick and are easy to damage.

HebdenBiker

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330672639513?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330672655838?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

2x Cree Q5 270lm lights + mounts
2x Trustfire protected batteries & charger

under £36 delivered with next day dispatch from UK seller... me

sexysi

Hi I am running two magicshine lighs and they are mint.

I am running the 1600 Lumen one on my lid, and it has a nice narrowish beam. Where as my Bike light the new 2000 Lumen twin cree light has a lot wider throw of light. Both seem to be well made and batteries seem to be good. I run both lamps on 25% through town, but shift the power up on the un lit country lanes near me. Ok the lot cost £240, but well worth it.
My mate has the £30 rear Magic shine light, that has loads of great settings on it, and is as bright as a fog light on a car.

Again well worth.

Simon

uzapuca

thanks guys, very interesting info. Still not sure to go for the Magic shine type of lights. They are very bright and good quality indeed but maybe way too expensive for the use i am planning. Probably a good torch (or two) would do the work fine for now.

Does your 2x Cree Q5 270lm lights + mounts torch light come in black?

The ultrafire torch looks nice too. It is indeed strange that the same item could have a 50% price difference depending on the seller. Strange...are all the same thing?

supersonic

Just get this ;-)

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/t6-waterpr ... -904482510

uzapuca

supersonic wrote:

Just get this ;-)

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/t6-waterpr ... -904482510

Your are right...after looking a lot that is definetly an excelent deal! and all included. Thanks supersonic.