best lights . . . .

[MrGrumpy]

best option I think in the cheapy lights from ebay are these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UltraFire...02B-Flashlight-Torch-Lamp-18650-/330902148202 along with relevant batteries, charger and bike mounts. This is what i now run, don`t even need to have them on full wack, plenty light, In fact I run one on medium in town and the other on SoS mode, gets road users attention !!

 

[MontyVeda]

Though I am sure the advice given in this forum is good, how many of us can afford or justify paying out £100+ for a front light, that we may only use several times a year on reasonably roads that may have stretches with no street lights.

I'm also tight fisted ... ended up giving one of these a go
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1300-CREE...isure_Cycling_Bike_Lights&hash=item519a7d90cb

Bought it in January... very impressed with the brightness on unlit country roads and canal towpaths, although it only got a few uses before the nights drew out. It hasn't been recharged since the end of January and the battery appears to be retaining its charge very well.

The back light they send is crap, and i didn't like the mount either, so spent a fiver on one of these...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Torch-Fla...K_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item4abd0f68c1

it did take a month to be delivered, but for £20 (as it was at the time) and free P&P... I cannot complain.

 

[J1780]

I bought a set of smart egg white front and rear light. I cummute on a country road and had no problems last winter/spring the front light is quite good in the dark the road is lit up reasonably well. The rear light is very good. I should I use extra lights front and rear flashing.

 

[Moda]

how many of us can afford or justify paying out £100+ for a front light, that we may only use several times a year

I agree that this price point isn't for everyone but looking at what I intend doing with them I feel that the price spent is justified over the longer term.

 

[silence32]

Nothing special there, standard XML-T6 bike light package, these are cheaper on Amazon, only £18

Thanks, I've gone for these.

 

[mcshroom]

Though I am sure the advice given in this forum is good, how many of us can afford or justify paying out £100+ for a front light, that we may only use several times a year on reasonably roads that may have stretches with no street lights.

It does depend on what you are going to use your bike and lighting for.

I commute year round, which means I'll spend a good 2-3 months commuting one way or the other in the dark. I also use my bike for shopping and transport in the evenings, not to mention riding audaxes and night rides that require lighting for significant periods of time. I'll add that there aren't that many street lights out here either, and Cumbrian roads are not exactly billiard table smooth.

I've tried cree torches, which are bright and fine until the vibration gets to them and the electrics start getting shaky. I also have a Smart Lunar 35 which is ok if you brake on descents and an Ixon IQ which is pretty good, if a little fragile. The Cyo is reliable, fixed to the bike so I can't forget to pick it up, doesn't run out of battery power and can be run at full power all night without worrying about whether the light will last the night. That is why I'd recommend a dynamo and a good dynamo light.

For others who just need to make the last few miles of a club run, or commute along lit routes most of the time then their requirements may be different, as always YMMV.

 

[Maylian]

Though I am sure the advice given in this forum is good, how many of us can afford or justify paying out £100+ for a front light, that we may only use several times a year on reasonably roads that may have stretches with no street lights.

Same again, I am a year round commuter and work shifts so even in summer I cycle in the dark. £100 is not much when compared to replacing tubes and wheels due to potholes or indeed avoiding offs because you couldn't see a wet / icy patch.

Personally I run a Lezyne micro light and cateye el130 on front, paired with my Moon X-500 on my helmet (I only wear it when it's dark), on the rear I have an integrated light in my Giant saddle bag, cateye rapid 3 and blackburn 4.0 all in a straight line down the back. This along with my high-vis backpack cover should keep me fairly visible and gives me enough light on some of the dimmer roads.

 

[inkd]

Commuting for my nightshift on unlit lanes I use a Phaart bleep rear light + led flasher built in to my met helmet. On the front is two cheapo T6 ebay bargains (2 for around £15) and a Lezyne femto flasher. Always carry a spare rear light and a couple of spare batteries. never had any problems so there is no need to spend big bucks IMO.

 

[Deleted member 20519]

I've got a Cree XML-T6 which is great for seeing with, can anyone recommend a fairly small light that has a powerful flash/strobe mode?

 

[Kies]

Moon meteor is a usb recharging light. Has a brilliant flashing/strobe function. Says 200 lumens and was a top buy in cycling weekly or cycling active ( i forget which)
I'm thinking of buying another so i have two on the hybrid flashing for commuting duties. No way anyone will not see me blinking down the road

 

[Matthew_T]

Nothing special there, standard XML-T6 bike light package, these are cheaper on Amazon, only £18

+1 for Cree T6. Might look rubbish for the price but it is an excellent light and much better than you expect. I will be getting another one for this winter (I dont really have a need but the new commute is along unlit NSL roads).

 

[Twelve Spokes]

Secondary light on flash,can use it on steady,uses 18650 battery.Have bigger main torch uses 18650 also.Generally the main runs out after two commutes before the secondary does.

Both have relevant handlebar mounts ordered off of ebay.

best option I think in the cheapy lights from ebay are these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UltraFire...02B-Flashlight-Torch-Lamp-18650-/330902148202 along with relevant batteries, charger and bike mounts. This is what i now run, don`t even need to have them on full wack, plenty light, In fact I run one on medium in town and the other on SoS mode, gets road users attention !!

I have a different version of the secondary light which has 5 modes including SoS but I wont use SoS and generally use the three mode light version on the bike.Im not sure if I am wrong or right about this.I just use flashing.

Though I am sure the advice given in this forum is good, how many of us can afford or justify paying out £100+ for a front light, that we may only use several times a year on reasonably roads that may have stretches with no street lights.

This.I have two perfect front lights which do a great job.I only get drivers pulling out on me at night because they can't be bothered to wait,which is rare,may I add?

I have a magicshine on the rear seatpost which cost nearly £40 and does a great job and is reliable,with two rear secondary lights boris bike style positioning but steady.(superflash)

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Though I am sure the advice given in this forum is good, how many of us can afford or justify paying out £100+ for a front light, that we may only use several times a year on reasonably roads that may have stretches with no street lights.

That depends on how much you think your safety is worth. Remember also that you (generally) get better quality, longer-lasting lights if you pay more.

 

[400bhp]

I've got a Cree XML-T6 which is great for seeing with, can anyone recommend a fairly small light that has a powerful flash/strobe mode?

The Phaart Dark Star 3 appear to be a clone of the Revolution Vision front light. I have a Revolution Vision, plus another clone (not from Planet X). They are a very good be seen light. They have a metal casing (so are tough), take 4 x AAA's and the mounts are fairly universal (they can be bought for a couple of quid from CRC) so can easily be swapped between bikes.

 

[Jezston]

Cateyes? I take it you don't want to see where you are going then.
Cateye seems to have done a fantastic job of flooding the market at the low range of lights and as such they get bought. However the products they produce are next to useless, I wouldn't even use them as a backup light.

Gaz pls.

Cateye lights above the £25 mark are just as good as anything anyone else makes in that price bracket. I have two rear flashers made by Cateye which have served me well - one that's 6 regular LED's chucking about light all over the place, another with a 1W centre which makes a fine rear spot, along with a couple of the cheap little rubber things they make which are handy as backups and when popping out about town as they are very easy to get on and off.

Problem is the cheap ones that so many buy and never bother recharging. But that's people.