Lights

joelsim
joelsim Posts: 7,552
edited February 2018 in Road buying advice
I'm fed up of buying lights, can anyone suggest rugged good value lights please for city use? They need to be very visible and flash brightly. That is all.

Comments

  • nochekmate
    nochekmate Posts: 3,460
    So many choices on the market but some idea of your budget may be a good starting point.
  • kingofthetailwind
    kingofthetailwind Posts: 575
    I got this set recently:

    http://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/pro ... /id/556369

    Smart 500 Lumen front and an R2 rear, both USB rechargeable. £30, bargain.
  • bsharp77
    bsharp77 Posts: 533
    After going through a load of different light for my commuting bike I now am happy with this setup:

    Front - Moon XPower 500 (bright, usb rechargeable and battery is removable, plus a really excellent quick release mount)
    Rear - Smart R2 (cheap, very bright, just a great light)

    Hope this is of some help
  • arran77
    arran77 Posts: 9,260
    I've got a couple of Cree Ultrafire E17 XML-T6 2000 Lumen torches, one is kept on constant and the other on flashing, very bright and decent value.

    £25.99 on eBay from mighty-lights including the charger and a USB rechargeable rear LED
    "Arran, you are like the Tony Benn of smut. You have never diluted your depravity and always stand by your beliefs. You have my respect sir and your wife my pity" :lol:

    seanoconn
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    In terms of "being seen," particularly in the city, the see sense range of lights is excellent.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • bsharp77
    bsharp77 Posts: 533
    Thanks for the info on the see sense range. Never heard of them before.
    As happy as I am with my current setup, these look very interesting due to the brightness, size and long run time.
  • kingofthetailwind
    kingofthetailwind Posts: 575
    arran77 wrote:
    I've got a couple of Cree Ultrafire E17 XML-T6 2000 Lumen torches, one is kept on constant and the other on flashing, very bright and decent value.

    £25.99 on eBay from mighty-lights including the charger and a USB rechargeable rear LED

    Wayyy too bright to use on flashing mode! Particularly as the flash mode on these torches is actually a strobe mode designed to disorientate!
  • arran77
    arran77 Posts: 9,260
    KingOfTheTailwind wrote:
    arran77 wrote:
    I've got a couple of Cree Ultrafire E17 XML-T6 2000 Lumen torches, one is kept on constant and the other on flashing, very bright and decent value.

    £25.99 on eBay from mighty-lights including the charger and a USB rechargeable rear LED

    Wayyy too bright to use on flashing mode! Particularly as the flash mode on these torches is actually a strobe mode designed to disorientate!

    Put it on SOS mode instead then, the flashing is slower then :P
    "Arran, you are like the Tony Benn of smut. You have never diluted your depravity and always stand by your beliefs. You have my respect sir and your wife my pity" :lol:

    seanoconn
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    Thanks fellas for all these options. I didn't put budget in on purpose hoping to get a few thoughts like this.

    Much appreciated.
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    KingOfTheTailwind wrote:
    I got this set recently:

    http://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/pro ... /id/556369

    Smart 500 Lumen front and an R2 rear, both USB rechargeable. £30, bargain.

    Look good, annoying that you can get rid of the sign-in box on the webpage.
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    arran77 wrote:
    I've got a couple of Cree Ultrafire E17 XML-T6 2000 Lumen torches, one is kept on constant and the other on flashing, very bright and decent value.

    £25.99 on eBay from mighty-lights including the charger and a USB rechargeable rear LED

    That looks just the ticket! Are they durable?
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    bsharp77 wrote:
    Thanks for the info on the see sense range. Never heard of them before.
    As happy as I am with my current setup, these look very interesting due to the brightness, size and long run time.

    They're very clever. They also last ages. I charge mine every 3-4 days. (Bear in mind I commute 40 miles a day).

    They operate as brake lights (flash faster as you slow, really fast if you break sharply), change speed as you go up hills, or pull away. In the day they flash slowly, then go mad when you enter a tunnel.

    Really really clever.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • bsharp77
    bsharp77 Posts: 533
    Sound great Bender - thanks for the extra info, think ill go for a set of these once the Christmas festivities are done and dusted.

    Thats a hell of a commute by the way - no more moaning from me about being tired after my paltry 15 miles! :oops:
  • arran77
    arran77 Posts: 9,260
    Joelsim wrote:
    arran77 wrote:
    I've got a couple of Cree Ultrafire E17 XML-T6 2000 Lumen torches, one is kept on constant and the other on flashing, very bright and decent value.

    £25.99 on eBay from mighty-lights including the charger and a USB rechargeable rear LED

    That looks just the ticket! Are they durable?

    Yes they seem to be. The casing on the torch is metal and the mount seems durable enough.

    The rear light that came with mine wasn't so robust looking but that wasn't really why I was buying them.
    "Arran, you are like the Tony Benn of smut. You have never diluted your depravity and always stand by your beliefs. You have my respect sir and your wife my pity" :lol:

    seanoconn
  • kingofthetailwind
    kingofthetailwind Posts: 575
    Joelsim wrote:
    KingOfTheTailwind wrote:
    I got this set recently:

    http://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/pro ... /id/556369

    Smart 500 Lumen front and an R2 rear, both USB rechargeable. £30, bargain.

    Look good, annoying that you can get rid of the sign-in box on the webpage.

    It is annoying yes. I actually bought mine from Tredz - £30 after I got a £5 off voucher for writing a review.

    If you are going for Cree torches the expert opinion (not mine, see The Big Lights thread on MTB Buying Advice) is to get 501B or 502B torches with the XM-L2 Cree LED. Newer, and better than T6 LEDs. Also buy a decent charger like the Nitecore i2 and most importantly good 18650 rechargable batteries. Search Torchy 18650 on eBay.
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    Cheers guys. I will have to see what Santa brings!
  • Ouija
    Ouija Posts: 1,386
    KingOfTheTailwind wrote:

    If you are going for Cree torches the expert opinion (not mine, see The Big Lights thread on MTB Buying Advice) is to get 501B or 502B torches with the XM-L2 Cree LED. Newer, and better than T6 LEDs. Also buy a decent charger like the Nitecore i2 and most importantly good 18650 rechargable batteries. Search Torchy 18650 on eBay.


    Keep up at the back.... we're all drooling over XP-L based LED's for our 501B/502B torches at the moment (ain't progress amazing/annoying).

    I have a XP-L 502B torch, by the way. Can't say as it's any brighter than my XM-L2 based torches for those who are interested.

    Might want to glance at the big lights thread. The last twenty pages are usually a good place to start ;)
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    Ouija wrote:
    KingOfTheTailwind wrote:

    If you are going for Cree torches the expert opinion (not mine, see The Big Lights thread on MTB Buying Advice) is to get 501B or 502B torches with the XM-L2 Cree LED. Newer, and better than T6 LEDs. Also buy a decent charger like the Nitecore i2 and most importantly good 18650 rechargable batteries. Search Torchy 18650 on eBay.


    Keep up at the back.... we're all drooling over XP-L based LED's for our 501B/502B torches at the moment (ain't progress amazing/annoying).

    I have a XP-L 502B torch, by the way. Can't say as it's any brighter than my XM-L2 based torches for those who are interested.

    Might want to glance at the big lights thread. The last twenty pages are usually a good place to start ;)

    Oooh god.

    If I was to buy the E17 pack for £25.99 would it be the end of the world?
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    Just bought the 2 x Cree E17 + USB rear + charging kit.

    I may also buy a See.Sense rear, but will see if it goes on Sale in January.

    Thanks for all your help.
  • bsharp77
    bsharp77 Posts: 533
    Best of luck with them - I think ill do the same regarding the See Sense - if they go on sale I'm definitely buying a pair!

    Bender - just wondering if you had the standard 95/160 version or one of the higher wattage models, as I see they offer intense and elite models too (but these go up to crazy money!).
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    Well I now have the following:

    Commuter
    Front - Cree on full beam & cateye for flashing
    Rear - Cateye for flashing (slightly broken so held together with sellotape)

    Bike for going out with kids
    Front: Cree for full beam & Moon for flashing
    Rear: Cree

    Then will buy a See Sense rear for the commuter as and when necessary.
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    From memory I have the 125 lumen rear and, I think, the 210 front.

    So, in effect, I'd gone UP from my Lezyne (70 lumen) rear and stayed the same as my Lezyne (210 lumen) front.

    They are a bit bright if you look into them but the shape of the lens makes it a better spread and much less annoying than normal lights.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • bsharp77
    bsharp77 Posts: 533
    Cheers Bender, thanks for the extra info. Fingers crossed there is some sort of sale on them after Christmas!
  • shortcuts
    shortcuts Posts: 366
    I am interested here but for daytime use only. I see people with lights aflashing front and back during the daytime and can see the worth of doing this for added visibility and safety. Given that I do not ride at night I am wondering if the advice being given on this thread is for me or if the makes being recommended are more for night use. So if anyone can advise re flashing lights for front and back for daytime use only I would appreciate that. Thanks' in advance.
  • Moonbiker
    Moonbiker Posts: 1,706
    Phaart bleep for £2.50, I bought 3 of them from planet x last year they still are all working on different bikes
  • orraloon
    orraloon Posts: 13,227
    shortcuts wrote:
    I am interested here but for daytime use only. I see people with lights aflashing front and back during the daytime and can see the worth of doing this for added visibility and safety. Given that I do not ride at night I am wondering if the advice being given on this thread is for me or if the makes being recommended are more for night use. So if anyone can advise re flashing lights for front and back for daytime use only I would appreciate that. Thanks' in advance.
    Bump. Same requirement for me, daytime recreation and training rides, no after dark stuff, so looking for daytime LED flashers. Are the cheaper range Cateye and the like bright enough to be daytime / sunlight visible?
  • dstev55
    dstev55 Posts: 742
    That's one of hell of a bump!

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