Light Recommendation

[gcogger]

For the front light, I'm currently using (and would recommend) this one:
Rockbros front light

It seems very solidly made, includes a Garmin mount option and (so far!) has been reliable.
It also has an excellent cutoff for the beam, so you don't dazzle oncoming drivers/cyclists/pedestrians - much better in this regard than my Moon Rigel Max.

 

[fossyant]

Has anyone used the Magicshine EVO 1300? Reading the review on Road.cc and the idea of having a remote control so you can easily cycle functions sounds good when your ride transitions from poorly lit shared paths to city centre and more well lit roads.

Not a Magicshine, but a Fenix BC30 v2. The remote is really handy and sits near my thumb ! Quick off button and a brightness button. A quick press get's you full power for a couple of minutes, then it fades back to the preset brightness. Useful for really dark bits. Flash has to be accessed through the light itself, but can be turned off by the remote.

 

[gcogger]

Not a Magicshine, but a Fenix BC30 v2. The remote is really handy and sits near my thumb ! Quick off button and a brightness button. A quick press get's you full power for a couple of minutes, then it fades back to the preset brightness. Useful for really dark bits. Flash has to be accessed through the light itself, but can be turned off by the remote.

I've been tempted by the Fenix lights before. How's the beam cutoff on those - sharply defined or just 'a bit brighter on the road'?

 

[si_c]

Not a Magicshine, but a Fenix BC30 v2. The remote is really handy and sits near my thumb ! Quick off button and a brightness button. A quick press get's you full power for a couple of minutes, then it fades back to the preset brightness. Useful for really dark bits. Flash has to be accessed through the light itself, but can be turned off by the remote.

I have the BC30 and have never used the remote as the button is fairly easy to use even when wearing gloves though I rarely use it above 500lm which is plenty even on dark roads, I only find the brighter light settings useful when it's dusk.

I've been tempted by the Fenix lights before. How's the beam cutoff on those - sharply defined or just 'a bit brighter on the road'?

Pretty decent cut off, certainly never worried about dazzling oncoming traffic. It helps that the light is quite a warm colour rather than a really clinical white.

 

[MichaelW2]

The German standard ( DIN) for cycle lighting puts the illumination where it is needed: forward, in a rectangular shape on the road ahead, with peripheral be seen pattern, and minimising upward illumination.

 

[fossyant]

I've been tempted by the Fenix lights before. How's the beam cutoff on those - sharply defined or just 'a bit brighter on the road'?

Not as good as others, which is why it's run alongside a light that's very similar to your RockBros one - mine is a Newboler, and is a bar mount - the cut off works really well, especially if you angle down - I use loads of shared paths and it's sufficient to see where you are going on medium on unlit paths without completely blinding people - the cut off is at waist level.

On the Fenix it does have a freznel prism at the top of the light, but it still chucks out too much light on high (2000 lumen) - it's great for any fast twisty sections when there is no-one about - otherwise it's run on low or constant low with a flash in traffic (slow pulse).

 

[PaulSB]

You won't go far wrong with anything from Exposure Lights and you'll find RaceWare have a good range of alternative mounts for them.

Every light I've mounted on a saddlebag loop has been poorly positioned and ultimately ended up lost or broken. I wouldn't use a saddlebag mount.