Best budget lights?
- Thread starter Pikeman
- Start date
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DaveyM
Über Member
- Location
- Northumberland
I won a electron pico 7 rear light in a sustrans raffle and these are great rear lights, nice and wide, bright and with a number of flashing optitions about £10 - 15 online shops might get one cheaper on E-bay.
I wanted a good rear light coz they need to see me as I can't see them.
If you want to be seen a Hi-viz vest (workman style) helps.
I am sure you can get much cheaper ones though. Cat eye products seem quite bright but are a little more pricey.
I wanted a good rear light coz they need to see me as I can't see them.
If you want to be seen a Hi-viz vest (workman style) helps.
I am sure you can get much cheaper ones though. Cat eye products seem quite bright but are a little more pricey.
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
Go onto ebay and search for T6 XML . You will find they are fantastic bright lights for the money. Be aware that some are from China with a delivery time of about 21 days, or there are some UK sellers who will offer things like UK chargers and other such niceties, but you'll pay extra for them.
Example http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREE-XML-...hts&hash=item3f1d4fd9e3&_uhb=1#ht_3588wt_1166
Example http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREE-XML-...hts&hash=item3f1d4fd9e3&_uhb=1#ht_3588wt_1166
Keygos KE1 on the front (easily bright enough for country roads), Blackburn Mars 4.0 rear.
Here's my review for the KE1, bought at the time of that review and it's still going strong.
Here's my review for the KE1, bought at the time of that review and it's still going strong.
Markymark13
Active Member
- Location
- Manchester
Dave 123
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
Budget.........? One mans cheap is another mans mixed metaphor.
This week I have mostly taken delivery of a Magic shine rear light. Maybe not budget , but 10x better than my £20 Cateye at £57 delivered.
This week I have mostly taken delivery of a Magic shine rear light. Maybe not budget , but 10x better than my £20 Cateye at £57 delivered.
RWright
Guru
- Location
- North Carolina
That looks like a good deal. I got one that was 1200LM for 21GBP but did not have the tail light. Mine came from www.tomtop.com in China but was bought thru Amazon. It took about 3 weeks to get it but it is bright and seems nice for the money.
Widge
Baldy Go
I have had for many years a large (bulky) CatEye light that lit the road up in total darkness well enough to cycle 'extra-carefully'.
My experience is that if you want anything more you will need to pay proper money.
There are many multiple LED and 'Cree' type torches available for small money everywhere from garage forecourts to supermarkets so I am surprised ther isn't much of an aftermarket for suitable adapters to attatch them to bikes. Some are bright enough to see by (just) but slow and careful would again be the order of the day. Interestingly...I bought the ALDI light set for about £7.00 which consisted of an aluminium bodied 9 LED front light and bracket.....but the bracket was so flimsy I still wouldn't trust it.
It will accept any slimmish torch and works well with some Rolson torch I picked up for a fiver as well...but I will 'beef-up' the bracket before trying it out on the road.
HTH
w
My experience is that if you want anything more you will need to pay proper money.
There are many multiple LED and 'Cree' type torches available for small money everywhere from garage forecourts to supermarkets so I am surprised ther isn't much of an aftermarket for suitable adapters to attatch them to bikes. Some are bright enough to see by (just) but slow and careful would again be the order of the day. Interestingly...I bought the ALDI light set for about £7.00 which consisted of an aluminium bodied 9 LED front light and bracket.....but the bracket was so flimsy I still wouldn't trust it.
It will accept any slimmish torch and works well with some Rolson torch I picked up for a fiver as well...but I will 'beef-up' the bracket before trying it out on the road.
HTH
w
Widge
Baldy Go
That's pretty good light there, Hovr........but does it come with a decent bracket? And why are they ALL in Hong-Kong and China? I wonder why no UK based retailer has imported them wholesale so that faults and rogues can be easily returned/rectified rather than having to go through a drop-shipper all the time.
Just a thought?
Best
w
Just a thought?
Best
w
Just looked at a Planet X email with phaart lights. They have a Smart r1-a-like 1/2 watt rear for £4.99, and a RSP astrum copy also for £4.99. They even have the same respective mounts; bolt on collar for the first, tool-less worm gear for the second.
The bracket has been fine for road use for the past 8 months. It's never fallen out, through the winter and summer. Why no one else has imported them? Couldn't answer that for you, no idea.
Regarding faults, since showing family and friends this light 3 or 4 have bought one (as a torch only, not bike light). One had an issue with the tail cap, and the seller sent a new one out (without wanting the old one returned) under the condition that good feedback was given. Great service in my opinion.
A few weeks later when they showed me the broken torch I was able to disassemble the switch and re-solder the broken connection. The torch is very user-serviceable.
I've dropped my torch (from my hand, not the bracket) from a high of four or so feet on to concrete before, and it came away with only superficial damage. Can't beat it for the price.
Archie_tect
De Skieven Architek... aka Penfold + Horace
- Location
- Northumberland
Just ordered a Smart light bundle on Planet-X for £24.99. The one with a Lunar 15 front and an R1 rear.
More shown here... too many to choose!
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/c/q/lights
More shown here... too many to choose!
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/c/q/lights
Widge
Baldy Go
Yup - those faart lights look like they might be worth a punt.......brackets LOOK ok too...........but I notice that some of the lights on 'Planet X' etc come in at well over £100......these are the ones I would expect to 'need' to cope with an unlit road....but I would be delighted to find otherwise! 
w
w
