Cree illumination

[Jody]

Its that time of year where I have to dig my lights out to complete a ride. My trusty SolarStorm has defied belief and lasted 5 years without fault. Not bad for an £18 light.

Have there been any developments on the cheap Chinese cree lights in the last 5 years. Efficiency, size, outputs etc? What are you all running?

 

[Threevok]

Its that time of year where I have to dig my lights out to complete a ride. My trusty SolarStorm has defied belief and lasted 5 years without fault. Not bad for an £18 light.

Have there been any developments on the cheap Chinese cree lights in the last 5 years. Efficiency, size, outputs etc? What are you all running?

Me too, I have two sets of X3, which I will be digging out very soon

The second one I bought last year and differed from my original, by the brand name on the top only

 

[Jody]

I'm still gobsmacked at how good the light is and has been for the intial £18 outlay. Although I have a sperate waterproof battery holder, some decent cells and a digital charger.

 

[Threevok]

I'm still gobsmacked at how good the light is and has been for the intial £18 outlay. Although I have a sperate waterproof battery holder, some decent cells and a digital charger.

I have a cheap seat tube triangle bag that I keep both batteries in, along with a spare tube (to stop things rattling around)

I only bought the second light because I broke my first charger and it was cheaper to buy the whole set rather than the charger alone

 

[Drago]

One of my lights is a 9 year old Chinese cree with a Fresnel lens, works as well as the day I paid £14 for it. Outlived my Hope light, which cost 9 times as much.

Batteries waterproofed by being slipped into a length of old inner tube, and cable tied between the seat rails where they're all but invisible.

 

[dantheman]

My solar storm light cuts out, it's really annoying, I'm sure it's an overheat circuit... All connections are good and it works for about30 seconds....

 

[numbnuts]

Cree with a Fresnel lens +1

 

[Jody]

One of my lights is a 9 year old Chinese cree with a Fresnel lens,

I'm considering one of these for the road bike. Better than keeping the SS pointed at the front wheel.

 

[mjr]

Have there been any developments on the cheap Chinese cree lights in the last 5 years. Efficiency, size, outputs etc? What are you all running?

Axa dynamo lights with decent lenses.

If anyone uses a cheap Chinese cree light without a decent lens to stop it dazzling oncoming road users, they deserve to have the battery pack as a suppository!

 

[fossyant]

No huge advances, still many of the lights are still available. You've got to watch out for cheap LED emitters being put into the lights rather than Cree's

 

[Jody]

Axa dynamo lights with decent lenses.

If anyone uses a cheap Chinese cree light without a decent lens to stop it dazzling oncoming road users, they deserve to have the battery pack as a suppository!

Most of the time my light is for off-road use. Occasionally it's been used on road but always pointed so the main spot just skims the front wheel. It certainly doesn't dazzle.

 

[dantheman]

Axa dynamo lights with decent lenses.

If anyone uses a cheap Chinese cree light without a decent lens to stop it dazzling oncoming road users, they deserve to have the battery pack as a suppository!

Isn't that the fun part?

No, okay.. Will I get charged from this suppository?

 

[Threevok]

Axa dynamo lights with decent lenses.

If anyone uses a cheap Chinese cree light without a decent lens to stop it dazzling oncoming road users, they deserve to have the battery pack as a suppository!

Agreed

I never use mine on the road part of the commute

 

[numbnuts]

Fresnel lens for the cree light 39mm can be bought here
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SEEN-ANGLE-DIFFUSER-LIGHTS-APERTURE/dp/B00DQ5IGMU

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

I'll start off my tally by saying

>CREE do NOT manufacture chinese bicycle lights. They simply provide the driver board which means battery quality, shell quality, wiring and longevity are all questionable<