Two Front Headlights

[Distorted Vision]

I currently have a Moon XP 780 headlight. I'm thinking about getting another. I've been doing 14mile bike rides at night and my route includes unlit deserted country roads. Do you think its a hazard to other road users? I do not find the current light sufficient.

 

[User16625]

Depends on the brightness. I have a Cateye Volt 300. Even on its least powerful setting, it renders my secondary front light useless. A bit like why even the brightest stars not being visible at midday. If any one of your lights are particularly bright they may dazzle other road users. However if you have 5 dim lights then that would not happen.

If you find your current light insufficient, your better off buying a brighter one than another identical one.

 

[ianrauk]

As long as they aren't dazzling at car driver eye level but pointing to the ground in front of you then it wont be a problem. I use 2, usually 1 static and 1 flashing. But now and again I run both static.

 

[Katherine]

If the unlit road is mostly deserted, then you could put your hand over the light that dazzles when someone approaches you from the opposite direction.

 

[Illaveago]

As ianrauk said your lights should be illuminating the road ahead so you can see where you are going. So if you are not travelling fast the angle of your lamp should be quite steep. There is no point in having it near horizontal as the light will dissipate too much and will dazzle other road users. You could try two but angled differently so that you create a larger spread of light.

 

[gavintc]

How bright are they compared to your average motor bike? Still think there is an issue ?

 

[Distorted Vision]

Good point gavintc. I think strobe front headlights are a nuisance to other road users.

 

[jonny jeez]

Good point gavintc. I think strobe front headlights are a nuisance to other road users.

I dont.

...but I do think overly bright lights, angled incorrectly are.They are also a risk to you as they encourage car drivers to hit Full beam and literally Blind you on dark country lanes.


Dont get me started on rear lights.

 

[ianrauk]

I dont.

They bloody well are mate.. annoying as feck...

 

[Distorted Vision]

I'm going out for a 14mile ride now. I took out a cycle recovery policy with Lexham.

 

[MrGrumpy]

I currently have a Moon XP 780 headlight. I'm thinking about getting another. I've been doing 14mile bike rides at night and my route includes unlit deserted country roads. Do you think its a hazard to other road users? I do not find the current light sufficient.

I have the same light ?? To be fair the beam pattern on this light is much better than my old XML T6 torches i ran in pairs Not in a hurry to stick another on, my only gripe is the burn time, going to do some timed experiments this weekend with it.

 

[Distorted Vision]

I'm only managed 9,59miles. The Moon XP 780 started giving a battery low warning to I cut it short. I charged it overnight last night. Admittedly, I had it on overdrive (the highest setting). I've only used it on 8 rides so it can't be battery wear.

 

[RichardB]

I have a Moon Meteor 200. It's a brilliant little light (in both senses) but the charge indicator is pretty useless. Burn time on 'overdrive' is supposed to be 1 hr 50 mins, and I have timed it (off the bike) at 1 hr 45, so not too far off. But if I set off with it fully charged and the blue "over 60%" light on, it changes to the green "20-60%" light within a couple of miles, and to the red "under 20%" light after about 30 minutes. It hasn't run out on me yet (my commute is about 55 minutes) but it makes me a bit nervous. I bought the Meteor 250 as a reserve light, and because soon the cold will mean the battery life is reduced anyway (Moon reckon the burn time could be down to 50% at freezing point). I don't fancy being left without a light on the dark lanes I ride on. But my guess is that the charge light is just plain unreliable. In every other way it is a superb little light, and even in the pitch dark I can get away with the middle brightness setting if I don't go too fast, which is supposed to last up to 3½ hours. Perhaps give the light a proper test at home before assuming it won't last the distance.

 

[raleighnut]

I actually run 4 lamps on the front of my bikes an Electron twin lamp set powered by a rechargeable battery pack and a pair of old Cateye HL EL220s but I don't always have them all on at once. They're there if I need em though.

 

[ChrisEyles]

My wife uses one handlebar mounted light and one helmet mounted one. The latter is really useful on the unlit, pothole-ridden lanes around our house, allowing her to pick out obstacles, look around corners etc. Seems like a good solution when you need to use your lights to see, rather than just to be seen.