Help buying some good quality lights for my road bike plz

[Giant-Churchy]

Hello all,

Time to pick your brains again, I am after a good quality set of re-chargeable lights front and rear for my road bike. they will be used during the day and night. therefore I want to be seen. My budget is around 80 to 100 for both.
Thanks for your help
Any suggestions are much appreciated.

 

[Dogtrousers]

When you say "rechargeable" do you mean it has its own charging lead? My lights run on AA and AAAs and I use rechargeable batteries. Would you consider that to be rechargeable?

 

[MikeW-71]

I use a pair of Cateye TL150's at the back, which are very bright and last forever on 2 AAA's. For the front you could use a pair of Cateye Nanoshots for £40 each. Rechargeable, 2 intensities and very impressive light output for such a small light. No problem seeing where you are going with those. 90mins on full power or 3hrs on reduced power (which is still more than good enough to light your way.)

 

[Giant-Churchy]

When you say "rechargeable" do you mean it has its own charging lead? My lights run on AA and AAAs and I use rechargeable batteries. Would you consider that to be rechargeable?

To be honest I hadn't thought of that. Yes I count that as rechargeable.

 

[Kestevan]

Hope Vision One and a set of good rechargeable AAs for the front.
Not the brightest light in the world, but fine for road riding - even without street lights.

Utterly, utterly bombproof, and in the unlikely event that something goes wrong Hope service and support is fantastic, they've been known to repair/replace stuff FOC well outside warranty periods.

 

[Dogtrousers]

+1 for the Hope Vision One, its bombproofness, and its rechargeable-AA-ness. At the rear any old AAA rear lights. Preferably a couple. Or if you want something that looks really cool one or more Fibre-Flares (also run on rechargeable AAAs)

 

[Wobblers]

While the Hope Vision 1 is good, it's quite expensive for what you get - don't forget you'll also have to budget for a good set of rechargeable batteries (low self discharge types are best such as the Vapex Instant, Uniross Hybrio or Eneloop) and a good battery charger. If you look around, you might be able to get the Philips Saferide 80: Amazon were doing it for around £50 a few weeks ago. It only lasts 70 minutes on high (after which it drops down to low and will last for 3+ hours), but 8 hours on low, but in compensation it has the best light beam for road cycling I've ever seen for any bike light. Even on low, it gives out plenty of light for cycling at over 20 mph. It comes with rechargeable AA batteries and charger. A good alternative is the Magicshine MJ-838 which you can get for around £40, but throws out plenty of light and is reasonably well made. I've had one for 2-3 years and it's never missed a beat. (Magicshine also do the 808E which is brighter, but possibly a bit over the top for the road.)

I can recommend the Moon Shield for the back: a very compact unit which is rechargeable via USB but even on low is incredibly bright. Partner it with something like a Smart Superflash and you'll be very visible from behind.

 

[Giant-Churchy]

Thank you very much for all your comments much appreciated.

 

[jefmcg]

I was going to suggest the moon xp300 but the Halfords bargain is over
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/found-a-bargain-do-tell.16260/page-358

 

[nappadang]

http://www.pedal-pedal.co.uk/lezyne...t-black.html?gclid=CKrl8u7t9L4CFVIPtAod8zcASA

I use these and can not complain.

 

[LonesomeWanderer]

I was going to suggest the moon xp300 but the Halfords bargain is over
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/found-a-bargain-do-tell.16260/page-358

The Moon XP500 and shield rear set is still £85 here:
http://www.stonehengecycles.com/product/9319/2012_moon_xp500_shield_rear_light_set

Both front and rear are USB chargeable and they're great (I've been using them for a couple of years...

 

[simon.r]

Cree T6 front (search eBay) seems to be decent quality and is cheap as chips.

 

[Klassikbike]

Theres a nice set from Cateye with powerfull lights and the total package is in that price Range. It includes the Volt 300 and Volt 50 rear light.
You can recharge them with USB and if you want carry extra accu's (Their quite easy to carry and put on). Quality for the price is top and they seem to me pretty much indestructible, I always use them and even Taifun rain has never reduced their performance.
If your budget for a front light can be upped a bit the volt 1200 from Cateye is a killer, one of the brightest lights I have ever seen.

Cheers,

Paul

 

[Cubist]

http://www.candb-seen.co.uk/bikehead-lights/commuter-kit.html

 

[jefmcg]

The Moon XP500 and shield rear set is still £85 here:
http://www.stonehengecycles.com/product/9319/2012_moon_xp500_shield_rear_light_set

Both front and rear are USB chargeable and they're great (I've been using them for a couple of years...

I've got the XP500, and practically never use the brightest setting, so the XP300 (same design and battery and it's brightest setting setting is about the same as the XP500 second brightest) for £30 is a stupidly good deal.

XP500 is also excellent.