Lights for riding in the very dark

wytco0

OK I now have a shortlist of sorts, I have decided to go with the exposure brand as they seem to be great quality and I like the cable-less design.

I am thinking of either a Diablo Mk5 or a Joystick MK8 for bar mount at front (possibly both to give a bit of redundancy in which case I may use the Joystick on helmet)

Plus Blaze for rear.

Any problems with this combination? I think the blaze may be slight overkill but it looks like a quality product.

Does anyone use additional lights to ensure that they can be seen from the side? maybe red head mounted non directional flasher, if such a thing exists?

pollys_bott

wytco0 wrote:

Does anyone use additional lights to ensure that they can be seen from the side? maybe red head mounted non directional flasher, if such a thing exists?

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bla ... t-ec024173

Got these on the helmet for the 'here I am!' factor, with the velcro attachments they could easily go on the headtube & seatpost and be angled to the side. Great little lights, incredibly bright...

andyh01

Personally if it was me I'd still go for the hope similar price however get brighter rear light and 2X 2 cells battery not sure if the exposure has replacement battery or if its built in I agree theall in ones if u can replace battery seem better options but like the Lenny micro drive the batteries are internal so if they go faulty it means a whole ew replacement unit rather then just new battery plus if got 2 batteries got back up

sprite1275

Id do yourself and your wallet a favor and get a 502b ultrafire (got mine from c&b seen) http://www.candb-seen.co.uk/flashlightheadlamp/cabs-flash502b-ultrafire.html Dont worry about reliability issues, ive not had any go on me yet and if the mtb'ers use them for serious off road then you'll be fine. Also you will get same light output for seriously less cash.

Rear get a smart lunar r2 http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/LISMRTR2/smart_lunar_r2_rear_light Superb flash sequences and very attention grabbing. This uses 2 x 0.5 watt Led's or you could get a blackburn mars 4 which uses one 1 watt led. The latter is the brightest for your money but the R2 is the more attention grabbing.

Check out youtube for the lights

wytco0

sprite1275 wrote:

Id do yourself and your wallet a favor and get a 502b ultrafire (got mine from c&b seen) http://www.candb-seen.co.uk/flashlightheadlamp/cabs-flash502b-ultrafire.html Dont worry about reliability issues, ive not had any go on me yet and if the mtb'ers use them for serious off road then you'll be fine. Also you will get same light output for seriously less cash.

Rear get a smart lunar r2 http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/LISMRTR2/smart_lunar_r2_rear_light Superb flash sequences and very attention grabbing. This uses 2 x 0.5 watt Led's or you could get a blackburn mars 4 which uses one 1 watt led. The latter is the brightest for your money but the R2 is the more attention grabbing.

Well I have ordered the Exposure Diablo and Blaze however I also want to get another cheap set for backup and for the wife to use on her bike. These look cheap enough to take the risk anyway, unfortunately the 502b ultrafire is out of stock ;(

sprite1275

501b will also be fine.

jordan_217

earth wrote:

I had this dilemma last year.

This is a good website:
http://www.torchythebatteryboy.com/p/bi ... abase.html

Thanks for posting that link, very useful site. I've just taken the plunge and bought the Fluxient XM-L U2 from Amazon. The 2 x LED Lenser P7's I've been using will be relegated to backups and/or helmet lights. They are great little lights but replacing 8x AAA batteries after 3-4 hours burn time is a pain.

Will post a quick review after I receive it and give it a test.

JustinLeeAtkinson

I see there is a nod to reflectors above, does anyone use a rear reflector, and amber pedal reflectors once the sun starts to go down...?

shamrock134

JustinLeeAtkinson wrote:

I see there is a nod to reflectors above, does anyone use a rear reflector, and amber pedal reflectors once the sun starts to go down...?

I use 3M spoke reflectors and 3M reflective tape stuck on parts of my frame. Far more effective than the plastic reflectors most bikes are fitted with.

JustinLeeAtkinson

Hmmm, just checking because of course the law requires lights, a red reflector on the rear of the bike, and amber reflectors on the pedals. I dont think the police are ever likely to show much interest in such matters. But if you are unlucky enough to be in a prang the other party could start making an issue of it.

slowbike

My bikehut rear light has a built in reflector - so despite it not being the most powerful rear light, it's the one that stays on my commute bike.
Overshoes & tights have reflective strips - so I think that would suffice as I don't have reflectors on the pedals.
Other than that I have reflective strip on the mudguard (when fitted) and most likely wearing a reflective top too.
Add 2 more rear lights and if they say they didn't see me then they must've had their eyes somewhere other than on the road!

Oh - thanks for the PX Smart Lunar lights - 2 are on their way!

cougie

JustinLeeAtkinson wrote:

I see there is a nod to reflectors above, does anyone use a rear reflector, and amber pedal reflectors once the sun starts to go down...?

My winter bike is awash with 3M tape.

Look pedals can have the tape down the back where a reflector would normally be.

Mudguards can have stripes down the back and over the sides.

Black 3M tape is quite stealthy so I use it as a saddle height marker on the bike and it doesnt look out of place on carbon.

You can also get tyreflys that will superglue onto your presta valve cap and they light up when you move. Great visibility from the side and not relying on cars having their lights on.

sprite1275

Slowbike wrote:

Oh - thanks for the PX Smart Lunar lights - 2 are on their way!

They are superb lights mate, great flash patterns and proper bright you can't look directly at them. Super price at PX aswell

roger_merriman

sprite1275 wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

Oh - thanks for the PX Smart Lunar lights - 2 are on their way!

They are superb lights mate, great flash patterns and proper bright you can't look directly at them. Super price at PX aswell

But only a thin rubber seal so they can fail due to water ingress I've had that with various Smart rear lights, to be fair do ride in all weathers since I run hot, and don't mind being wet, but i've killed many rear lights...

andyrr

I've had Smart lights shorting out due to water ingress so now smear a layer of vaseline around the seal. I've also sometimes wrapped clingfilm around the light, both of these seemed to help.

slowbike

thanks for the suggestions - lights arrived this morning ... nice - cos it's wet so I could do with a good light to go home with - to supplement my other 2! (yes, Christmas tree!)

Looking at the fitting I can see how easy it would be to trash it - I think what I'll do is put some elec tape around the join. Batteries usually last ages and tape is cheap enough - it should keep it dry in just about everything except a total immersion!

bails1310

jordan_217 wrote:

earth wrote:

I had this dilemma last year.

This is a good website:
http://www.torchythebatteryboy.com/p/bi ... abase.html

Thanks for posting that link, very useful site. I've just taken the plunge and bought the Fluxient XM-L U2 from Amazon. The 2 x LED Lenser P7's I've been using will be relegated to backups and/or helmet lights. They are great little lights but replacing 8x AAA batteries after 3-4 hours burn time is a pain.

Will post a quick review after I receive it and give it a test.

I'd be really interested to hear what you think as was have been in contact with him on eBay and was looking at your set [I think], was it the one with the separate battery pack, or the one without which is more like a torch?

He said the torch would be sufficient on familiar unlit roads, the battery pack for unfamiliar unlit roads.

Trying to keep the extended commute going over winter with most of it on country roads.