Exposure Joystick for Commuting: too bright?!

[BentMikey]

If you have a neck like Jonny's you can mount a MaXx-D on your helmet.

 

[Norm]

Exposure now do a red eye which fits neatly onto the helmet mounted Joystick, it's very bright.

http://www.exposurel...-(short-cable)/

Or a RedEye Micro at 25% of that price.

Without wanting to create a helmet debate, I am concerned at those who mount torches and cameras on helmets, as they make your helmet much taller, add significant snag points, negate any (possibly perceived) benefits of the lids and create a very high pressure point if you land on your noggin. Especially when one of these is only a tenner and allows you to the choice of riding without your helmet.

It's individual choice whether you wear a helmet and what you mount on it but, if you do put something up there, just give a little thought as to whether you'd want to land on it or have it catch on a branch as you pass under it.

 

[Norm]

Sorry, all this talk of lights and night riding got my juices flowing, and I'm just back from a lovely little amble around Berkshire. Ironically, whilst riding with about £500 of lights on the front of the bike, I spent much of the ride with them all turned off as the moon was glorious and easily bright enough for road riding.

So, thanks to the OP for inadvertently getting me off my ass for the evening.

 

[Ticktockmy]

Too bright? I'm running an Exposure MaXx-D mate, that's four times as much power as your joystick (actually, a bit less than than that if it's a new joystick with the newer LED).

In London, with so much other lighting around, you've got nothing to worry about.

I also run MaXx-D handle bar mounted with the Bracket just set tight enough so I can tilt it down further if I am Blinding folks, in town I run it flashing, out on our rural roads I run it full beam which seems to concern some oncoming motorists to the point they slow down and even stop, and on sone of the rural roads around Crawley it is a good thing. A couple of times in town cars in front of me have stopped or pulled up onto the kerb, thinking I guess I am a emergancy Vechile as the flashing light its so dammed bright

 

[roadrunner20]

tbh i would never buy a light from the "typical "companys as they are silly over priced

I have recently got a Cree XML t6 1200 lumens light from DX for £30...and its very very bright, spotty but bright.

if i need more "flood" il just buy a magicshine for £90-100 quid which is still more bright than any light under £400 quid you can buy from the typical companys.

either way, id rather have a bright light than a pathetic commuter one which doesnt even "light" anything.

I seen so many cyclists with these commute lights and i wonder how they manage to not get hit at night as i never see them coming along the road untill about 20 mtrs away at best.

 

[eml1909]

I have a Joystick mounted on my helmet ( oh matron ) and it's an ideal commuter light. I wouldn't worry about being flashed by motorists from time to time, it's better to see and be seen.

Don't forget your rearward illuminations, Exposure now do a red eye which fits neatly onto the helmet mounted Joystick, it's very bright.

IMHO, there are problems with the red eye:

1. You have to choose either the short or long cable (depending on whether the joystick is on your handlebars or your helmet). I haven't decided where I will use the joystick and I may well change between the handlebars and the helmet.

2. There is no "flash" mode.

3. If you use it on your helmet and the joystick is pointed slightly downwards then the red eye will point upwards (not so visible).

4. I like to ride with a rear light on, even during the day (when I don't have my front lights on), but the red eye only works when the joystick is on.

So, I decided to get a "flare" (with rechargeable batteries) as my main rear light which attahces to the seat post. But I do like the idea of having a rear light of some sort on my helmet, so I also bought this which plugs into the joystick: http://www.exposurelights.com/product/000028/redeye-micro/

 

[doog]

I've started feeling a bit nervous on my commute home recently - no particular reason why, but the combination of the cold, wind and darkness means that I have not felt 100% safe.

So - for peace of mind and for added safety - I decided to splash out on an exposure joystick which I have mounted on my helmet.

The only concern I have is that (even on a lower setting) it is simply TOO bright, which means that it will irritate and upset drivers (and make them even more aggressive than usual!) or, worse still, it will dazzle and daze them, which is dangerous.

Even looking at it 'head on' for a couple of seconds gives me a blinding headache!

Thoughts?

I have the joystick and used it for 2 years - no problems and a great piece of kit. Am aware of the blinding the motorist bit but when the road is lit I have it on flashing mode.

 

[BlackPanther]

It seems like an obvious one to me, but how about just not looking at the drivers?

Point any torch straight at a driver and they'll notice it (which is exactly why I like a head-mounted torch) but look away from them and it disappears.

Agreed. I find that a very bright helmet mounted torch is excellent when you've entered a roundabout. I tend to look (or shine my light) directly at cars about to enter the roundabout in front of me. I do the same at cars about to pull out of side junctions. I'm careful not to dazzle them, but above all else I want to be seen. The rest of the time, my normal cycling position means that the helmet torch is angled to light up the road 10-15 yards in front.....perfect.

 

[ttcycle]

I run a maxx d on the handlebars and a flash/flare combo.

I would mount it slightly lower on the handlebars as I find that the brighter light does mean that motorists can slow down for you to pass as they're not sure if you're a motorbike or not.

 

[BlackPanther]

Too bright? I'm running an Exposure MaXx-D mate,

I looked at those when researching lights, nice, but £260 was waaaaay out of my budget! I use 2xCree Ultafires for road commuting, and I occasionally get flashed.