Front Light for Unlit Road

[Boopop]

Hi all,

I'd like to cycle to a local town at night but the problem is the route is unlit. What sort of front light do people think I'd be best getting? Based on this roundup I feel inclined to go for the Magicshine MJ-816, however every so often I seem to come across users suggesting its reliability isn't up to scratch. What do people think? That's about as high as my budget goes (£100~).

Thanks

 

[StuAff]

Hope Vision 1. FNRttC regulars' light of choice. Well under budget, takes AAs (use high power rechargeables for best results).

 

[cyberknight]

had a magicshine 18 months with no problems,i think like most things negative press gets more coverage than "product x worked fine today"
typing 1 handed baby in arms soexcuse the grammar....

 

[Boopop]

had a magicshine 18 months with no problems,i think like most things negative press gets more coverage than "product x worked fine today"
typing 1 handed baby in arms soexcuse the grammar....

This is true! I think I'll go with the Magicshine

Hope Vision 1. FNRttC regulars' light of choice. Well under budget, takes AAs (use high power rechargeables for best results).

Thanks, but the spread of the light I'm looking at seems to be better. That and I liked the idea of having a dedicated battery vs handfulls of double A batteries along with spares. Plus the Magicshine has a charge indicator that I think I'd find useful.

Magicshine it is! Thanks for the help

 

[cyberknight]

Hi all,

I'd like to cycle to a local town at night but the problem is the route is unlit. What sort of front light do people think I'd be best getting? Based on this roundup I feel inclined to go for the Magicshine MJ-816, however every so often I seem to come across users suggesting its reliability isn't up to scratch. What do people think? That's about as high as my budget goes (£100~).

Thanks

Also depends how long you want to wait for delivery, if you go for a uk supplier you will pay a premium but get it quick, if you can wait a month or so you can get them for half your budget.

 

[gaz]

Hope Vision 1. FNRttC regulars' light of choice. Well under budget, takes AAs (use high power rechargeables for best results).

The hope vision 1 has a narrow beam, so you will need at least another light to go with it for unlit roads.

 

[uphillstruggler]

I bought the keygos torch as detailed in the review section. It's bright enough for very dark unlit tree lined roads, even on medium, although it depends on your ride time as each fully charged battery will only last about an hour on full. It would also be worth getting a 'be seen' back up just in case.

Also, make sure your also visible from the rear and sides. Lidl have spoke reflectors in at the moment too. They are worth the fiver or so.

 

[dellzeqq]

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=112868 £4.99. Delivery usually four days or less via Amazon. Not as good as the Hope, but, unless you're going down the darkest of tracks, as good as it needs to be. Put it this way - back in the day when the Cateye 500 was top banana, we'd have killed for this one. The flashing mode is ridiculous

Uphillstruggler makes a valuable point about being seen from the side.

 

[srw]

How many changes of battery would one need for one of those cheap jobs to get through the night? My cateye is a bit of a pig to get pointed straight.

 

[snorri]

If your usage will be intermittent it is worth considering a dynamo lighting system, fit and forget no need to worry about having batteries if you are out later than planned at night. All of my night cycling is on unlit rural roads and I find the illumination from the B&M Lumotec and B&M Oval is adequate.. The downside is the drag caused, but only if you are concerned about performance.
http://www.kinetics.org.uk/html/parts.shtml

 

[Jdratcliffe]

i personally love my leyzne super drive lights!

 

[User482]

I have this: http://www.mtbbatteries.co.uk/2012-lights-v2/mountain-bike-light-v1/

It's exceptionally bright - medium setting is fine for unlit roads, which gives you 6 hours run time.

 

[rollinstok]

One23 extreme bright 3 can be bought for around £60 through Amazon, best to put on your wish list and keep an eye on price because it can fluctuate between £60 and £90. I bought one for last winter and it's certainly powerful enough for unlit roads, ok for off road trails as well.

 

[Beaker39]

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=112868 £4.99. Delivery usually four days or less via Amazon. Not as good as the Hope, but, unless you're going down the darkest of tracks, as good as it needs to be. Put it this way - back in the day when the Cateye 500 was top banana, we'd have killed for this one. The flashing mode is ridiculous

If there is a chance of rain don't bother with this. Water ingress happened pretty quickly on mine.....was good up until that point though!

 

[dellzeqq]

If there is a chance of rain don't bother with this. Water ingress happened pretty quickly on mine.....was good up until that point though!

I put vaseline around the thread and it seems to work