Lights - the commuting version

[MichaelW2]

Thanks for all the suggestions I'll have a look. I'm on a hub gear rear wheel so can't easily dyno that. Have broken (had break) many cateye fittings and mounts over the years.

Front wheel Dynamo Hubs are the modern way to go.

 

[si_c]

Front wheel Dynamo Hubs are the modern way to go.

Very much this, Shimano hubs are good quality and reliable but more expensive hubs are available with higher power outputs and lighter weight (mostly useful for on - the - go USB charging).

 

[ren531]

Another dynohub user here, been using it for about three years and it is just fit and forget, great lights no issues.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Dynamo is the way to go. My oldest setup is 12 years and going strong.

 

[Tail End Charlie]

Another vote for a front hub dynamo, although I do use battery LEDs on the rear.

 

[freiston]

Another vote for a front hub dynamo, although I do use battery LEDs on the rear.

You mean the tail end, Charlie

 

[fossyant]

Little thread resurrection - nearly that time of year.

Roll on three years (wow that long) and I'm still using the NewBoller light with the beam cut off - really good on shared paths - essential on my route TBH as it's heavily used by pedestrians and cyclists.

I've just invested in a new Magicshine HORI 1300 (they do a 900 as well) which consists of a main 'dipped' LED and a 'Spot' for dark areas. Chucked in is a remote, so it's one press to access the spot beam. The dipped beam has a really good cut off with no light spill. The LED 'bulb' is actually a rectangle, so you get a wide spread, and spill onto the road below the bike

Biggest plus point it it uses Garmin style mounts and the go-pro connections using the supplied out front mount.

Magicshine did do another light, the Evo1300 for commuting, but there are many reports of broken mounts, this new light uses replaceable garmin brackets.

https://magicshineuk.com/product/hori-1300/

 

[cyberknight]

Up at just after 4 am today as heard cats fighting and needed to pee. Properly dark again so the full beam lights are going to be back on the bike

 

[accountdeleted]

I've started and stuck with Moon brand. Made in Taiwan, reasonably priced, simple, doesn't weigh much and reliable. I've accumulated 3x front & 3x rear lights over 8-9years and they are still going ! Never changed the base batteries or broke, charged via Micro-USB though. The attachments are pretty robust and never snapped on me before. I do however have to have 2x fronts in the darkest winder months (400Lm + 700Lm) to have enough light ahead.

These are my dailies. And yes, full beam morning commute at 6am start is back. So long summer, hello autumn.

 

[palinurus]

I've just broken the plastic casing/mount bit on my commuter's B&M Cyo

(It did still work to be fair! Just went very wobbly until I did the sensible thing and took it off.)

I've had two Cyos since 2005. The first one was still working when I replaced it but I broke the fitting eye in a crash. Fixed it with Sugru, then retired it a few years after when that bodge started failing.