Bike lights

[ishaw]

Not sure where to post this as whilst I'm looking for modern lights, they will be used on retro steeds.

I'm pulling my Xmas list together and decided I want some decent bike lights, the kind I can see where I'm going rather than to be seen when riding/safety lights.

I'm not fussed about brand, but have some criteria:

Rechargeable
Bright
Reliable
Removable battery (not a frame mounted affair)
Portable/spare batteries
Waterproof
Bang for buck

I don't know much about lights, have loads that are decent at keeping me safe and are usb charged but after something that will help get me out riding in the winter.

Any advice on such things gratefully received. I've done a fair bit of research but with so many options I'm hoping experience from the rb massive will help me avoid any duds.

Thanks

 

[jonnyboy666]

Re:

exposure, nothing beats them, not cheap, but very good.

someone is bound to mention the cheap ebay lights, those people will put up with poor mounts, varied output, crappy and varied run time and the possibility that the battery might set itself on fire while being charged, they ignore all that because they are cheap. and i have given up trying to convince them away from those lights because they just moan about the expense of anything better. buy them, then they die then you buy them again, it's like being happy with less than average at best, i never understood that.

i have been using exposure lights since i got the account 4 years ago, i currently run the 6pack at 5000 lumens and the diablo for a helmet light at i think 1750 lumens, massive overkill to be honest. my old Enduro exposure light from 2005 still works. best value i think is the Race mk15, 2200 lumens for 3 hours, £250 i think.

 

[rwm1962]

I use & was going to recommend Exposure but the removable battery requirement stopped me, although you can get external back up cells. I use the Sirius/TraceR (850L front, 75L rear) combo mounted on bike for commuting (50% pitch black gravel) but would get something brighter for anything more sporting offroad. If you don't know, they are made by USE so a bit of a retro link there.

I also have a 1000 lumen Hope R2i with integral battery but son uses that mostly on helmet along with a Magicshine remote battery light with several thousand lumen. Magicshine are one of the quality Chinese brands sold by several UK retailers.

For our local woods (nothing technical) the R2i on the bars & the Sirius on the helmet is ok. The R2i comes with a helmet mount but I find it heavy for up top.

I agree with jonnyboy666 re cheap Chinese lights. The fire risk is real. The few people I know who use them charge them outside!

 

[legrandefromage]

Yes, if income wasnt an issue then Hope or Exposure

Some of us simply cant afford the price of an Exposure, some of us live in the real world...

I have one similar to this that has been in use for a couple of years, it hasnt exploded, it has a very good handlebar mount and is USB rechargeable. It also has a good light spread when compared to the older kit on offer from the ebay Happy Fun Chinese Bike Light We-Bring-You-Our-Finest-Light Company

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nestling-USB ... SwH-Ve8JkJ

There are plenty of cheap options but they can have very poor light spread but things have moved on since Grumpy Jon last looked at what was about.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OCOOPA-Bike- ... 0008.m2219

I paid 99p including shipping for these about 3 years ago and they are a brilliant backup if out on a night ride

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Balhvit-Bike ... 0008.m2219

For balance, here is the Exposure pages with a £485 light if thats your thing - they are good, I used the demo set while I was working at the shop.

https://exposurelights.com/products/bike/mtb-lights

I dont know of any that have removable batteries though and many still have a battery pack that attaches to the frame somewhere.

Hope

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/hop ... rEQAvD_BwE

Moon are a more reasonable priced brand if you dont fancy the idea of Happy Fun Chinese Bike Light We-Bring-You-Our-Finest-Light Company lights

https://www.parkersofbolton.co.uk/produ ... 9kQAvD_BwE

As a driver I would ask that yes, be seen but dont blind other road users!

*and heres a crappy pic of my light, it is very nicely built nad hasnt done anything wrong yet. **and some of the cheap crappy stuff has held charge for nearly 18 months

 

[mk one]

I have also been looking at lights for some night trail riding.

I also cant justify spending £100's on lights. Even second hand they fetch high prices.

The light i keep coming back to is the Halfords/Bikehut 1600L, not super expensive new so may give one a try.

 

[legrandefromage]

These are great little 'be seen' back up lights that fit on the stays / forks and are USB rechargeable

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-Recharge ... %3A2334524

Avoid the lure of ones like these - they are plastic and a bit naff and the second set were what appeared about 10 years ago and gave us budget folk our first taste of proper lighting, but these days the beam is too much of a spot to be useful offroad

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bike-Bicycle ... SwmNFfOM7X

poor light spread but cheap and hilariously bright!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bike-Bicycle ... SwmNFfOM7X

And its the chargers that are the weak link, they are not up to UK saftey and without the proper monitoring they can overcharge, overheat and cause the damage that gets reported. The batteries themselves are pretty benign and can be replace with Panasonic or Samsung but even then, its the same tech used in phones and phones go pop too

batteries

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4x-Panasonic ... SwPTlbB8S7

Phone battery explosions

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54634802

 

[jimo746]

Re:

The Halfords/Bikehut range is good, I use the 1600 lumen light (£50) , comes with a Garmin style mount, GoPro fitting, and handlebar mount.
Bang for buck they're hard to beat, and I only use the full 1600 lumens on singletrack , so it easily lasts me a few hours evening ride, although the batteries aren't removable , but are USB rechargeable.

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-a ... 53334.html


I also use a 650 lumen BK650 light from Torchy, handlebar mount (although I've managed to bodge a GoPro mount onto it), uses 18650 removable and rechargeable batteries, I have spare batteries to extend the runtime if needed. Light output is adequate, I used this alone before I added the Halfords light above.

http://www.torchy.co.uk/product/torchy- ... ont-light/

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... ;p=3037446

 

[MatBH5]

Re:

I have an Exposure which I really rate very highly.
Cost is an issue but I got mine as part of bike to work, as the vouchers can be spent on safety.
I mention that in case it helps anyone.
Mat

 

[FluffyChicken]

I have two types, the cheap china bright bar and bag type 'Rose' light of years gone by. Bright, illuminates the woods
another but a twin, style but with a spread led and a focus led. better for commenting and fine offroad for me if I need a bright light.

BUT I mostly ride in the dark and offroad, woods etc with Lidl's bar mount small twin light things.
[/img]https://cdn.road.cc/sites/default/files/styles/main_width/public/bikemate-rechargeable-bike-light-set-front.jpg?itok=9P1B5GrB[/img]
honestly great lights.
ONLY if out with others with silly light setups do I need to turn on the brighter light or in particularly fast riding areas.

All have had that stupid strap altered to a proper clamp, so its easy on off and recharge (or stick a USB battery on, but never needed to use it yet).
Even then I often ride just on the spread single beam.


For me, I only need brighter when trying to outcompete big bright light casting a shadow around you and contrast blinding your poor eyes. War of the bright lights.
So I 'll usually hang at the back.

Or just use the Moon if it's nice and bright ;-)

 

[madjh]

Never say never. Better than Exposure, Lupine. I use a Wilma but a Piko TL is quite nice. You can program and update with new leds (at least my wilma) The only problem is ... price. But they are one of the best.

One advantage of my willma is the optic. It is not a spot, it is a iluminated area.

For the rear, I use the Bontrager Flare RT for day and night with a Garmin. The light adapt the intensity. Quite nice.