Lights

[Nigelnaturist]

LED technology is so cheap now. I am amazed that the cycle light manufactures charge so much for their units.
I've seen 32" LED TV;s for less money than some light sets. I know they need to make a bit of money back for R&D, but i still don't feel they can justify what they charge.

For less than £4 including delivery i think i will get one as a spare. It will fit in the saddle bag no probs.

A decent light has to stand up to all weathers a t.v. doesn't it just sits in a corner, when you have ridden through snow and fog and rain and still want it to work, when your life might depend on it, your tv may stop working but if your light fails unless you have a back up of the same output I you may well be walking home and if that is 30 miles thats a long time

 

[mrBishboshed]

Yeh i take your point. But its 2013 and making things (even cheaper things) reliable and waterproof is easy these days with the plethora of modern materials and manufacturing techniques available.
(You also have many more LED's, electronics and materials in a static TV so much more bang for your buck)
Maybe if TV's were required by law they would stick another naught or two on the prices.

Example: this costs £359.96
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/exposure-six-pack-mk4-front-light/

Its a wonderful light, very bright and reliable but I don't understand how it can cost more than an iPad or a waterproof Sony Tablet though.

Check these out, the worlds best torches (with prices) Not for bikes so less expensive.
http://www.esquire.co.uk/gear/gadgets/368/round-up-the-worlds-best-torches/

This one is almost the same as the exposure on wiggle
http://www.torchdirect.co.uk/monster-series/nitecore-tiny-monster-tm11-led-torch.html
Its still quite dear at £170 but a lot less than the £359. (I am sure the bike clamp cant cost the difference)

I know they are extreme examples but i can help feeling we are getting a bit of a raw deal when it comes to bike lights.

Oh well, i am off to do something more constructive. I out nerd-ed myself tonight

 

[Nigelnaturist]

this is what I have and it has worked for 10 months
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREE-XM-L...K_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item3a81f73f7d

 

[harveymt]

this is what I have and it has worked for 10 months
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREE-XM-L...K_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item3a81f73f7d

Is 1800lms enough for using in the dark? That seller also offers the option of

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3xCREE-XM...ght-Headlamp-Rechargeable-Head-/251328499259?

I have no frame of reference for what each brightness looks like so I don't want to go over the top on brightness.

Is the rear LED light that comes with it ok too? I have a rear light already that came with the bike and one on my helmet, I can add this free one as well. I also want but a couple of flashing LEDs to pin onto the rucksack I use as well. Are there any cheap examples people have bought?

 

[compo]

Can anyone recommend a powerful and sensibly priced helmet light?

The

this is what I have and it has worked for 10 months
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREE-XM-L...K_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item3a81f73f7d

This light comes with a headband and mount to make it a helmet or head mount. I have used mine for night fishing on dark beaches and it works well.

 

[welsh dragon]

Hi. Has anyone tried lights that run off a dynamo. I won't be riding in the dark, but I do go down dark narrow unlit country roads. I don't like the idea of batteries and having to charge them all the time. Are they any good. ?

 

[mrBishboshed]

The


This light comes with a headband and mount to make it a helmet or head mount. I have used mine for night fishing on dark beaches and it works well.

Cheers for that, it looks just the ticket.

 

[rovers1875]

Is 1800lms enough for using in the dark? That seller also offers the option of

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3xCREE-XM...ght-Headlamp-Rechargeable-Head-/251328499259?

I have no frame of reference for what each brightness looks like so I don't want to go over the top on brightness.

Is the rear LED light that comes with it ok too? I have a rear light already that came with the bike and one on my helmet, I can add this free one as well. I also want but a couple of flashing LEDs to pin onto the rucksack I use as well. Are there any cheap examples people have bought?

1800lm is more than enough for just about anything. Any more is just showing off.

 

[Fab Foodie]

On my one, the battery pack velcros on under the stem.

That's the solution most people I ride with use. A couple of tie-wraps keep the cables tidy.
The T6 is a phenomonal latern and well worth a bit of faff.

 

[Lux1]

Hi. Has anyone tried lights that run off a dynamo. I won't be riding in the dark, but I do go down dark narrow unlit country roads. I don't like the idea of batteries and having to charge them all the time. Are they any good. ?

I've tried dynamo in the past, only the bottle generators however. They worked well and offered enough light to ride down dark roads at a modest speed, however climbing steep hills was almost done in darkness with the effect of riding by candle light!

 

[Lux1]

These cheap eBay lights are all very well until they go wrong. Then you've got the hassle of sending it back to China. I've just brought a 1000lumen cree light from the LBS. At £80 it wasn't cheap, but there is no facing around with cable ties or covering switches with bags to prevent water ingress. The high beam is about 4 hours, and low beam, which is still very bright is 18 hours.

I thought about buying a couple of eBay torches an making a battery pack up from Maplin, but to be honest , by the time I added up the cost of putting it all together, it wasn't far off the cost of the one23 light.

Just my humble opinion.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

These cheap eBay lights are all very well until they go wrong. Then you've got the hassle of sending it back to China. I've just brought a 1000lumen cree light from the LBS. At £80 it wasn't cheap, but there is no facing around with cable ties or covering switches with bags to prevent water ingress. The high beam is about 4 hours, and low beam, which is still very bright is 18 hours.

I thought about buying a couple of eBay torches an making a battery pack up from Maplin, but to be honest , by the time I added up the cost of putting it all together, it wasn't far off the cost of the one23 light.

Just my humble opinion.

Thats fine if you that sort of money, besides alot of the T6 lights can be had from U.K. suppliers, mine did need some remidal work, but I think it was more due to something I did and shorted the cables hence the insulation melted, the light works fine since I put new insulation on it, it worked all through last winter fine, batter has only ever let me down once and that was during the day when visiablty was bad, so it wasn't so bad, I usually put it on charge if its been used more than an hr. The same light can be had for about £18.
The main thing is I can see where I am going on a dark road, and at £18 I can get 4 for the same price, so I reckon at least 4 season riding.

 

[mrBishboshed]

These cheap eBay lights are all very well until they go wrong. Then you've got the hassle of sending it back to China. I've just brought a 1000lumen cree light from the LBS. At £80 it wasn't cheap, but there is no facing around with cable ties or covering switches with bags to prevent water ingress. The high beam is about 4 hours, and low beam, which is still very bright is 18 hours.

I thought about buying a couple of eBay torches an making a battery pack up from Maplin, but to be honest , by the time I added up the cost of putting it all together, it wasn't far off the cost of the one23 light.

Just my humble opinion.

That's great if you have a spare £80 or plus fo some.
My £20 light from eBay has served me well without faults and it's into it second year. I've never needed a bag on it, it's waterproof enough.

I would like a nice new one from wiggle or my LBS but I can't help feeling they are over priced. Albeit very desirable still.

 

[Lux1]

That's great if you have a spare £80 or plus fo some.
My £20 light from eBay has served me well without faults and it's into it second year. I've never needed a bag on it, it's waterproof enough.

I would like a nice new one from wiggle or my LBS but I can't help feeling they are over priced. Albeit very desirable still.

Perhaps I was a little harsh. I actually have a £10 lidl cree torch with a 3 watt led as a backup. Not quite as much light as the expensive one, but still tons better than the cat eye stuff. I wanted a light I could charge once every few rides rather than every time I went out.