Help needed finding the best bike lights

[albion]

Strange thread considering it is for a 3rd party gift.

I do wonder how a 'what car' thread would go.

 

[fossyant]

Many of us here use Hope 1's (especially the roadies). They take 4 x AA batteries and are totally bomb proof. Hope warranty also brilliant. Not the most powerful lights as the LED technology is yesterday's, but two of these are more than enough for pitch black country lanes at speed. One is good enough, but they have quite a tight beam pattern, so don't dazzel drivers like the magic shines. Two lights lets you spread the light better, and of course, gives you a backup.

I've got a magicshine also, and it's incredibly bright, but I put some tape over the upper half on roads. I mainly use it off road though.

 

[BSRU]

While I appreciate the value for money and power of Magicshines and others of the same ilk, none of them are designed for road use, the beam is round in shape and will blind other oncoming road users particularly on narrow dark country lanes.

That can be fixed with the right lens.

 

[ACS]

This may be worth a read:

http://www.torchythebatteryboy.com/p/bike-light-database.html

 

[cyberknight]

The led 3 mode bike light is this easy to mount on the bike?

Yes , comes with rubber rings to hold the light onto the handlebar and a velcro strap for the battery pack.
As you can see lights can be a controversial subject, all of the lights suggested have their good and bad points ranging from price , beam pattern etc and all are very good lights .
At the end of the day you pay your money and you take your choice.
I went for the Magicshine as it offered the most light output for the price , it does have a wide beam pattern but for the sake of a bit of electrical tape over the top 1 cm of the lens or buying a lens ( cheap http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wide-Angl...isure_Cycling_Bike_Lights&hash=item3cc4e34f5a )
All you have to decide is how much you are allowed to spend and go from there ..... good luck !!!

 

[Aushiker]

This may be worth a read:

http://www.torchythebatteryboy.com/p/bike-light-database.html

Thanks for that. Some interesting results for sure.

Andrew

 

[slowmotion]

This may be worth a read:

http://www.torchythebatteryboy.com/p/bike-light-database.html

If you choose a light that uses 18650 batteries, Torchy's article comparing performance is a very good one.
Here it is...
http://www.torchythebatteryboy.com/p/batteries_21.html

 

[MrJamie]

That can be fixed with the right lens.

I made a little visor thing for mine after noticing that the light (mj872 with the clearer lens) was ridiculously dazzling even at a distance and needed angling down steeply to make any difference . The 3rd photo is taken 140metres in front of the bike with the light horizontal without the visor, you cant see any light on the floor at all by that point but the light itself is still very uncomfortable to look at. I should really take an "after" photo with the visor too! The visor is just a tester cut out of a Lilt can but when i angle it down a bit on country lanes it actually makes a good difference to oncoming traffic though and arguably the reflective inside of the can reflects more light downwards Im interested how the alternate lens work though, i guess theyre like the smaller parts of the mickey mouse mj816 lights

 

[musa]

I made a little visor thing for mine after noticing that the light (mj872 with the clearer lens) was ridiculously dazzling even at a distance and needed angling down steeply to make any difference . The 3rd photo is taken 140metres in front of the bike with the light horizontal without the visor, you cant see any light on the floor at all by that point but the light itself is still very uncomfortable to look at. I should really take an "after" photo with the visor too! The visor is just a tester cut out of a Lilt can but when i angle it down a bit on country lanes it actually makes a good difference to oncoming traffic though and arguably the reflective inside of the can reflects more light downwards Im interested how the alternate lens work though, i guess theyre like the smaller parts of the mickey mouse mj816 lights

what ever happened to them? such a nice drink

 

[BSRU]

I made a little visor thing for mine after noticing that the light (mj872 with the clearer lens) was ridiculously dazzling even at a distance and needed angling down steeply to make any difference . The 3rd photo is taken 140metres in front of the bike with the light horizontal without the visor, you cant see any light on the floor at all by that point but the light itself is still very uncomfortable to look at. I should really take an "after" photo with the visor too! The visor is just a tester cut out of a Lilt can but when i angle it down a bit on country lanes it actually makes a good difference to oncoming traffic though and arguably the reflective inside of the can reflects more light downwards Im interested how the alternate lens work though, i guess theyre like the smaller parts of the mickey mouse mj816 lights

I think it is the same principle as fog lights, the lens spreads the beam horizontally and cuts off the top and bottom of the beam.

 

[albion]

One of my lights has the LED fitted like on a room ceiling with a shaped mirrored reflector doing the task of light distribution.
A good design in that way.

 

[pgmbmc]

Hi, like cyberknight I too opted for Magicshine I purchased the Magicshine MJ-868. I find great for country lanes and road riding, it has three settings, high beam for dark lanes, low beam for street riding and flashing, as well as having a good focal beam, it has a very good wide beam. I quite liked the O-ring as I can easily adjust the point of the beam, from country lanes to street riding, so not to blind people. Do your homework for this light as I purchased mine on Ebay with the Digital Lithium Battery series 3, brand new in an auction for £75 total, I also have the MJ818 rear light, bloody great. However the O-ring is a bit of a let down as most saddle stems are angled, I have managed to modified an old light bracket so the light fits on great, now the light angle can be adjusted to suit my bike.

​

 

[matt wagner]

Hi, Pretty much all the magicshine lights will do the job, incredibly bright pieces of kit. I personally use the mj-872 for the front and a mj-818 for the back and theyve never done me wrong. I bought mine from http://www.magicshineonline.co.uk have a look and see what you think to them.

 

[mr_cellophane]

On the back i use a smart r2,very similar to the rsp astrum..,paired with a standard flasher on each pannier bag.
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/categ.../product/review-smart-lunar-r2-light-11-44431
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/smart-lunar-r2-rear-light/

The Lunar R2 are £22.94 at Wiggle or £9.99 http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/LISMRTR2/smart_lunar_r2_rear_light

 

[numbnuts]

I bought 2 of these best lights I've ever had
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200855317025?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
and one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251251126241?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649