Bike light without external battery pack
kenan
Posts: 952
I'v after a MTB bike light to go on the handle bars without an external battery pack. I have just got annoyed swapping the lights from one bike to another so want an all in one unit.
All I could find is the following but it to big for any of the mounts I could find - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Original-SKYRAY-KING-8500Lm-7xCREE-XML-L2-LED-Hochwertig-Taschenlampe-Flashlight-/252049412735?hash=item3aaf50d27f:g:B2UAAOSwyQtVxBvR
Any other cheap options?
All I could find is the following but it to big for any of the mounts I could find - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Original-SKYRAY-KING-8500Lm-7xCREE-XML-L2-LED-Hochwertig-Taschenlampe-Flashlight-/252049412735?hash=item3aaf50d27f:g:B2UAAOSwyQtVxBvR
Any other cheap options?
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Comments
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Seriously? Think the Luftwaffe is planning another attack?I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ultrafire-1000LM-WF-502B-CREE-XM-L-T6-LED-Flashlight-Light-Lamp-18650-Battery-UK-/181901674054?hash=item2a5a2f4646:g:DGAAAOSwT5tWHLWx
Add in a bar mount and it totals about a tenner.I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
It depends how long you need your run time to be and how much light output you need.
Personally I've always found cheap lights to be just that... Cheap. They often aren't as powerful as the specs suggest and very often leave you in the dark without warning.
The likes of the light above for a tenner aren't suitable for decent rides out on pitch black trails. A commuting light perhaps, but that's it. I know because I've got one, used it once and bought an Exposure Joystick instead to supplement my MAXX-D.
I'm not suggesting to spend a fortune but if you want all in one self contained power, long run times and enough light to ride quickly in the pitch dark that doesn't come cheap.0 -
I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
You do realise that an exposure Joystick is just a £5 ebay light in a pretty package. If you open one up they have the same led and the same battery inside, as do most brand name lights. Ebay torches can be a bit of a lottery, quality wise but if you only buy of specialist lighting sellers you are normally OK. I have 6 of which 4 are good ones. So for about £30 including batteries (old laptop battery) and charger I have the equivalent of 4 Joysticks.[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19735523#p19735523]Avalanche Expert[/url] wrote:It depends how long you need your run time to be and how much light output you need.
Personally I've always found cheap lights to be just that... Cheap. They often aren't as powerful as the specs suggest and very often leave you in the dark without warning.
The likes of the light above for a tenner aren't suitable for decent rides out on pitch black trails. A commuting light perhaps, but that's it. I know because I've got one, used it once and bought an Exposure Joystick instead to supplement my MAXX-D.
I'm not suggesting to spend a fortune but if you want all in one self contained power, long run times and enough light to ride quickly in the pitch dark that doesn't come cheap.
Show me a £5 eBay light which has a self contained battery, weighs as little as the exposure including it's mount, (weight matters when it's on top of your helmet), has a full range of program modes that allows you to accurately choose the best mix of power vs run time and also has a port which powers auxiliary lights/equipment and has a reliable battery indicator so it doesn't go off when it's still showing green.
I'm sorry, but I've had plenty cheap bar and helmet mount lights. Yes they can give off good light but they are bulkier, heavier, messier with cables and not reliable enough to do a 30 mile mtb ride in the dark. I've been caught out too many times.
The more expensive lights are more tidy, weigh less and are more efficient. It may not matter for a half hour ride or a commute home what you use, but if you want to cycle off road seriously over the winter I think the cheaper lights aren't worth it.0 -
At over £100 some people might disagree with you, or simply not be able to afford one. And one isn't enough for proper night riding.
As the OP linked to a £25 light and asked for cheap options, it is a moot point anyway.I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
I have found that Chinese lights aren't as bright as their specs would suggest. My old 800 lumen Light & Motion Stella is brighter than my 5000 lumen Chinese solar storm light. It also weighs around half as much and lasts an hour longer.it's outlasted two solar storm lights as well.
I would buy another cheap Chinese light but I would never rely on one as an only light.
There's definitely still a place for a good quality branded light.Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350 -
Lots of fake solarstorms out there. The genuine ones have sealed waterproof batteries, quality circuit boards and a safety test sheets - but even these are being faked now.
I currently own three bike lamps - a Solarstorm x2, one of the original Magicshine clones (which is brilliant) and a mini xml t-6 torch which I have had a few years. The torch needs mounts, cells and a charger, but I can change cells on the trail if need be - it just works, and cost about £15 all in. The problem is that there are more and more poor quality lamps emerging and a lumen war - inflated claims, old cells used in battery packs, dodgy chargers. Some of this existed before, granted, but there are models out there that work well and is a case of finding the right ones if you want to save money which can take a little research.
Torchy the battery boy does some good stuff, as does the catchily named Yin Ding lights.0 -
Just ignore the 50 trillion lumen claims.
I use XML t6 - probably 800 lumen or so, although mine only claimed 1200, but more than bright enough.I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
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It says 2000 lumens, which is quite possible with two XM-L2's pumped at 2.8 amps each.0 -
That's my copy and paste not working properly. That is the light I quite like!
Have a look at this one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4000LM-CREE-T6-LED-Zoomable-Waterproof-Flashlight-Torch-18650-26650-Battery-JS-/171988676064?hash=item280b52ede0:g:ln8AAOSwI-BWOfse0 -
Yeah, your not going to get 4000 lumen out of a XM-L T6. However, Cree have just introduced the new XHP range...
XHP35=1833 lumen
XHP50=2546 lumen
XHP70=4022 lumen
.. with almost twice the output of the current XM-L's and XM-L2's. All ready seen some torches that use the XHP50 and XHP70.0 -
Lumens are a fairly meaningless measurement. It's no good stating the amount of light emitted if it's poorly focused and doesn't provide a useful beam.Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350
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I have had some seriously good results from my "Niterider Lumina"! LED, Super Bright, very long lasting (3-3,5h, depending on setting)
Here is one example, they have many other models as well. I know this one is not in the offroad section, but it has worked very well for me, even on some pretty rough stuff:
https://www.niterider.com/product/lumina-550/-Cube Acid 29" 2013
-A new Giant Trance 3 2015!0 -
Anyone stumped up for one of these beauties?
...I'd be interested to hear an unbiased review, it looks the bollox
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/SecurityIng-4200LM-7pcs-CREE-XM-L2-LED-Bicycle-Light-Cycling-Bike-Lamp-with-Temperature-Control-7800mAh/32347625280.htmlIf Wales was flattened out, it'd be bigger than England!
Planet X Ti Sportive for Sportives & tours
Orange Alpine 160 for Afan,Alps & dodging trees
Singlespeed Planet X Kaffenback for dodging potholes
An On-One Inbred for hard-tail shenanigans...0 -
All you need is a monster truck.I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
Yeah, that things fugly. It covers most of the handlebar, and for what? 4000 lumen. Can get that in a much smaller, less weighty package that wont have people pointing and laughing at you.0
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I bought my other half some cheap Chinese lights. Thought they'd be crap but as they were only £20 a pop I thought It wouldn't matter if they were duff and it was worth a punt. Bought 2 as I thought they'd be underpowered. Couldn't have been more wrong. Bright as fark so she only needs to use one and she's been using them daily for a year (darker part of the year, that is) and they show no sign of falling over. They've far exceeded my expectations.All the gear, no idea and loving the smell of jealousy in the morning.
Kona Process 134 viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=129946070 -
The CREE XHP's aren't cheap yet, haven't seen much under £30. I still don't think you can go wrong with a 501b with an XM-L2 or XP-L pushing 800 lumen for about £5-8 each.
Easily mounted to the bars with some old inner tube https://youtu.be/FtAdD7-bux0
Run time is about 3 hours on medium with some decent 18650 cells0 -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NiteCore-EC4S-Explorer-2150-Lumen-CREE-XHP50-LED-Flashlight-/262103006029?hash=item3d068e7b4d:g:sokAAOSwwbdWJga1
This one looks interesting, looks like it has the power and 2 battery's should give it some burn time without being huge. Shame about the price.0 -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NiteCore-EC4S-Explorer-2150-Lumen-CREE-XHP50-LED-Flashlight-/262103006029?hash=item3d068e7b4d:g:sokAAOSwwbdWJga1
This one looks interesting, looks like it has the power and 2 battery's should give it some burn time without being huge. Shame about the price.
What exactly do you need it for OP? Are you gonna be hitting trails as you would do in daylight? Commuting? Something else? I have a bunch of so-called 'cheap chinese lights', SolarStorm x2 which are fantastic, a bunch of Ultrafire 501s for climbing on the trails at night and my town bike, and my new toys Nitefighter BT40s and BT21. If youve never had a Cree based light, even the $7 Ultrafire 501b will blow you away with just how bright these things are.
Oh it takes about 10 seconds to strap a battery to my frame, less to remove it...it really isn't an issue!0 -
Anyone stumped up for one of these beauties?
...I'd be interested to hear an unbiased review, it looks the bollox
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/SecurityIng-4200LM-7pcs-CREE-XM-L2-LED-Bicycle-Light-Cycling-Bike-Lamp-with-Temperature-Control-7800mAh/32347625280.html
That thing is nuts!!!
I got an eBay light that uses two of what looks like the same bulbs (LEDs/SMDs?) as the thing in that link. The light unit itself weighs next to nothing, there are three brightneses (bright, very bright and very very bright) as well as a very annoying flashing on the max setting. The illumination is excellent and it'll light a non-lit lane sufficiently to travel at speed with enough light penetration to see a good distance ahead. Battery lasts for ages (3hrs on max) and when it's on the way out, it doesn't just conk out, it gradually dims over several hours.
The only downside is the battery pack is relatively heavy, and it comes in a little canvas bag with a Velcro strap. Because of the length of the cable I have it strapped to the top tube where the tube meets the seat tube. The cable is still fairly long and I wrap it twice around the stem so the wire isn't loose and can be snagged. The Velcro strap - assuming it's tight enough - holds it fairly well, but it does sometimes come loose and swings about. Oh, also the stitching on the canvas bag came undone so I bound it back together with insulation tape.
I use it on my commuting bike and it works very well. I would consider using it for night riding round the likes of Llandegla but I do think the battery pack would keep coming loose and be annoying.
It cost £16 off eBay. Overall a bargain I reckon.0 -
Oh it takes about 10 seconds to strap a battery to my frame, less to remove it...it really isn't an issue!
I want a light as bright as my current lights without the separate battery and a run time of 2 hours plus. I understand the cables are not an issue for most, but I'm a funny one and takes me ages to get it so the cables don't knock and then need to remove them at the end of the ride for the "spirited" drive home.0 -
Oh it takes about 10 seconds to strap a battery to my frame, less to remove it...it really isn't an issue!
I want a light as bright as my current lights without the separate battery and a run time of 2 hours plus. I understand the cables are not an issue for most, but I'm a funny one and takes me ages to get it so the cables don't knock and then need to remove them at the end of the ride for the "spirited" drive home.
For what? Hitting trails at night? And what are your current lights that you want your new light to be "as bright as"? Need a bit more info dude!0 -
Sorry, few beers down.
I got one of these on the bars to replace (battery is dying)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solarstorm-U2-XML-2-CREE-LED-5000-Lumen-Bicycle-Bike-Light-headlamp-Rear-light-/191428233100?var=&hash=item2c9203078c:m:m9i5Andsqmy80SpG0EuMwag
And one of these on my melon
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-CREE-2000LM-XML-T6-LED-Bike-Bicycle-Light-Headlamp-Headlight-Rechargeable-/231672431041?hash=item35f0c0c1c1:g:o8AAAOSweuxWRpLQ
Used for riding tech stuff on my MTB as fast(slow) as I can.0 -
Not that its ever stopped me before, but if i was looking for a new light id be tempted to give this a punt:
http://www.kaidomain.com/product/details.S0244530 -
Yep that certainly seems the best deal. Not sure it can be justified for 2 * XM-L2 brightness given its twice the price of XM-l2 LED based units.0
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Not that its ever stopped me before, but if i was looking for a new light id be tempted to give this a punt:
http://www.kaidomain.com/product/details.S024453
That looks magic and about £30. Only issue is to make a mount to fit to the handel bars, I'v not seen one for a larger diameter.0 -
Not that its ever stopped me before, but if i was looking for a new light id be tempted to give this a punt:
http://www.kaidomain.com/product/details.S024453
That looks magic and about £30. Only issue is to make a mount to fit to the handel bars, I'v not seen one for a larger diameter.
If i was looking at mounting this, id get a iphone holder:
http://www.gearbest.com/bicycling-gear/pp_176573.html
And secure it with some chunky cable ties. No reason that wouldnt work. I reckon it would be a great set up!0
