Bike Light rec

ncncore

ncncore

ncncore

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8 Sep 2012
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720
Maybe a bit of a long shot here, but does anyone have any good recommendations for some nice and bright push bike lights. I have just recently started to ride a bit further to work than previously and my new route takes me through completely unlit places where my single spot(18 LED) front light is pretty useless at giving enough light to see where I'm going properly.

SO that's about it really, I don't want to spend mega bucks but don't mind paying for something that will see me right.

Cheers

Nick
 
I currently have a set of HOPE II's on my mtb but these will be mounted to my helmet soon and a set of Magicshine MJ880's attached to the handle bars. Can be had for about £120 now I believe. Maybe a little out of your price range? The magicshine's are the better of the two.

Only thing I will say is a decent front light is the best bit of winter / night kit you can have in my opinion. I would think mine is pretty much as bright as a motorcycle light so I don't generally get cars trying to nip out in front of me and actually giving me a sensible amount of room when approaching head on.
 
I know it's not answering your question, but if you want to be seen by cars get a yellow vest with reflective stripes. Tiny lights sometimes get lost amongst the roadside clutter.
 
I have this. Its very bright for the price, but not as well made as some of the more expensive lights.
I'v just been out for a 30 mile loop well away from any street lights. Had no problems seeing where i was going up to around 30mph.

There are a lot more recommendations in the bike threads of the sports subforum.
 
I can recommend this light for the price:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cycling-Bicycle-HeadLight-headLamp-DX-MALL/dp/B00ADHTFEW/ref=sr_1_3?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1357766695&sr=1-3

It's very bright (good enough to ride cross-country at a decent pace in the dark), battery lasts well and best of all it is very cheap. Only downside I have found so far is the connectors don't look that waterproof but having said that I've had no trouble with mine even in torrential rain off-road with mud up to my eye-balls.
 
mistercrabb said:
This, also set the rear light to flash, it's far, far more noticeable to drivers.
Click to expand...


Rubbish. A tiny 3-5 led light that's off 50% of the time isn't noticeable.


That sums up most bike lights i see now.

If flashing was such a visual aid then cars would have em. If you want flashing get 2 and have one of each.
 
I usually have one solid and one flashing on each end. Most of my riding is on the road and in winter I stay to lit areas but I've got quite a beasty one for the front for when I need it.

It's a Cree XML based one, there's loads on eBay, mine was about £30 and is very good. There's loads of info in the sports forums, if you have this moved to there there's lots of knowledge :)

Edit: Mine is like Touch's one.
 
The_blue said:
Rubbish. A tiny 3-5 led light that's off 50% of the time isn't noticeable.


That sums up most bike lights i see now.

If flashing was such a visual aid then cars would have em. If you want flashing get 2 and have one of each.
Click to expand...


Of course it's more noticeable. It's designed to be more visible to the peripheral vision which is far better at picking up rapidly moving or flickering objects than solid lights.

As long as the light isn't completely rubbish it should be far more noticeable than a solid light would be when the road is cluttered with other road user's lights.
 
touch said:
I have this. Its very bright for the price, but not as well made as some of the more expensive lights.
I'v just been out for a 30 mile loop well away from any street lights. Had no problems seeing where i was going up to around 30mph.

There are a lot more recommendations in the bike threads of the sports subforum.
Click to expand...

I use one very similar I got from DX. I commute 4 days a week, 30 miles per day with it and it's fine.
 
Get a decent light. Always err on the side of being able to see rather than just being seen. As you have stated that you pass through unlit areas, you will want to see the potholes, drains and debris that litter the road.

I have had a Hope 4 for a number of years and while expensive, it's still going strong and I recommend it or something similar.
 
+1 for the Lezyne lights, I have a powerdrive one, a claimed 300 lumens, lasts for about 2 hours on full power and you can charge it via USB so I can charge it at work or at home easily. Very bright so good for poorly lit roads and no messing about with external battery packs etc. Keep and eye out for wiggle voucher codes if you are going to get anything.

Dave
 
mistercrabb said:
Of course it's more noticeable. It's designed to be more visible to the peripheral vision which is far better at picking up rapidly moving or flickering objects than solid lights.

As long as the light isn't completely rubbish it should be far more noticeable than a solid light would be when the road is cluttered with other road user's lights.
Click to expand...

There is a problem with that one. Yes, more noticeable, but it decreases reaction time, and takes longer for the eye to lock on to it. A light flashes, you see it, but then you are not sure where, so you start scanning, it takes a few more flashes to work out where it is. By this point, it could be too late.

The best is to have a flashing light right next to a fixed light.
 
touch said:
I have this. Its very bright for the price, but not as well made as some of the more expensive lights.
I'v just been out for a 30 mile loop well away from any street lights. Had no problems seeing where i was going up to around 30mph.

There are a lot more recommendations in the bike threads of the sports subforum.
Click to expand...

I've just ordered one of these to use as a second unit on my helmet :)
 
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