Some good lights for night cycling in country lanes suggestions please

[totallyfixed]

1. Not legal on its own.
2. Less visible to drivers than a fixed one in the legal height range.

Have an collision using just that and you'll get no compensation and you'll be paying to repair the scratches you caused on the vehicle that hit hit you.

No problem as a secondary light though.

And neither are the majority of front lights currently being used / on the market.

 

[DRHysted]

My current favourite is the magicshine MJ816E.
Most of my route to and from work is completely (no light pollution at all) unlit country lanes, and I tend to run this light on the side light setting, which is a nice wide flat beam. Using the spot as a main beam for desents.

 

[Crankarm]

Best front light and favoured by down hill MTBers - Exposure Max D 1600 lumens, preferably two together giving 3,200 lumens .

 

[Koga]

Best front light and favoured by down hill MTBers - Exposure Max D 1600 lumens, preferably two together giving 3,200 lumens .

I am sure they are very good, but they are pricy, not sure if this qualifies for "Bang for Buck" for use on country lanes.

 

[Crankarm]

I am sure they are very good, but they are pricy, not sure if this qualifies for "Bang for Buck" for use on country lanes.

Once you have them you will wonder why it took you so long to buy proper bike lights. They are better than car headlights on full beam so AFAIAC they are extremely good value or bang for buck as you put it. IME buy cheap crap, buy twice. If money is that tight just buy one Max D even one is extremely bright with a huge wide beam.

 

[Koga]

Once you have them you will wonder why it took you so long to buy proper bike lights. They are better than car headlights on full beam so AFAIAC they are extremely good value or bang for buck as you put it. IME buy cheap crap, buy twice. If money is that tight just buy one Max D even one is extremely bright with a huge wide beam.

I am sure they are good, but I thought these lights are about £250 each? If you think that is worth it or you are going offroad at night, fair enough, but I suspect most people will find that a lot of money for a torch and will look for a cheaper alternative for their on the road requirement.

 

[Crankarm]

I am sure they are good, but I thought these lights are about £250 each? If you think that is worth it or you are going offroad at night, fair enough, but I suspect most people will find that a lot of money for a torch and will look for a cheaper alternative for their on the road requirement.

Well if you want a light to see by as well as be seen there is none better. You won't get a light of this quality for £40 or £25. If you think you can you are deluded. It's like comparing Vauxhall Astra with a Porsche 911 Carrera 4.

 

[Dan B]

So, how many bikes can you get in the back of a Porsche 911 Carrera 4?

 

[Koga]

Well if you want a light to see by as well as be seen there is none better. You won't get a light of this quality for £40 or £25. If you think you can you are deluded. It's like comparing Vauxhall Astra with a Porsche 911 Carrera 4.

I am not trying to convince you not to buy a £250 light, nor am I saying it is not better. All I am saying is that in my opinion most people do not need (or do not want to spend) £250 on a light as the £15 light will be more than adequate.

For me your £250 light would add nothing to what I need in order to see or be seen. Other people can make their own choice.

 

[robjh]

That cree t6 looks the kind of thing I had in mind and its cheap really...how long does the battery pa k last while riding? I'll need it to light my way fro around 90 minutes there then 90 minutes back

I've ridden for 3 hours with the T6 on the lower light setting with no problem, but I have the impression that the stronger beam setting eats up power a lot faster. Still, I think 90 minutes should be fine even on that, but wouldn't be too sure about 180 minutes. However, I've never really put it to the test so I don't know the absolute limits. Do you have anywhere to charge it up during the day?

I have found though that in low (around freezing) temperatures the battery drains a lot quicker and twice it has suddenly gone out on me with little warning, so I have now bought a second set so that I can have a relief battery with me just in case. But even saying that, I was doing 45-minute commutes all through last winter with no problems, I just made sure it was fully charged each day and packed the battery somewhere warmish, in a pannier or a pocket.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Thanks...the plan would be ride there...charge up...ride back repeat...so it sound s like it should do the job.

 

[Davidc]

And neither are the majority of front lights currently being used / on the market.

Virtually all flashing ones that do 1 to 4 flashes per second are legal, same goes for dynamo ones (including mine - they meet the German standard) and that goes for front and rear. You only need one legal one each end, the legality of the rest is irrelevant provided the colours are right. Have a collision in the dark without a legal one at each end and the other party's barrister will eat you for breakfast and leave you with no compensation.

Details of the legal requirement are on the CTC website.

 

[Crankarm]

I am not trying to convince you not to buy a £250 light, nor am I saying it is not better. All I am saying is that in my opinion most people do not need (or do not want to spend) £250 on a light as the £15 light will be more than adequate.

For me your £250 light would add nothing to what I need in order to see or be seen. Other people can make their own choice.

Are you for real? There is a whole lot of difference between an Exposure Max D light and other high quality lights such as Hope or Lupine and a crappy £15-20 front light. I used to have Smart front lights before I got my Exposure lights and I thought these were good, so wrong I was, but I didn't know any better. But if you or others still want to be guessing where pot holes are or struggling to see the road in front go right ahead and buy a cheap crappy front light. But there IS a whole lot of difference, it's like night and day and and they don't fall apart after a few weeks or months. Night becomes day with good lights.

 

[gaz]

Virtually all flashing ones that do 1 to 4 flashes per second are legal, same goes for dynamo ones (including mine - they meet the German standard) and that goes for front and rear. You only need one legal one each end, the legality of the rest is irrelevant provided the colours are right. Have a collision in the dark without a legal one at each end and the other party's barrister will eat you for breakfast and leave you with no compensation.

Details of the legal requirement are on the CTC website.

Actually, the majority of lights on the market have not been tested against the standards, either uk or eu. They may meet the standards but being tested and approved against them is a different matter

 

[Arjimlad]

I use a Moon XP300 on unlit country lanes coupled with an Alpkit headtorch which is useful when going round bends. I normally manage with the second most powerful mode on the XP300 and USB charge it off the computer about every third day, at work or at home. I do a 30 minute ride home and a 50 minute ride in. I also run the Moon on the lowest power setting when in heavy traffic to make me more visible.