Night Riding

[02GF74]

oh bugger, it is getting to that time of year again.

I posted on here how to make your own LED lamps - search for something like "DIY LED lamps" - total cost around £ 50 and they piss on anything 4 times the price.

It is a question whether you have the skill, inclination and time to make them - skill is being able to use a saw, drill and file to shape metal, use of electical soldering iron to join wires and blow lamp to join bits of plumber copper pipe.

 

[fossyant]

Anyone seen these...spotted a link on BR - $80 P7 bike lights...on Dealextreme

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.25149

Some Reviews

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=521241&page=1

Seems more than reasonable for the Money...........

 

[cyberknight]

I will have to have a look at those torch mounts as i ride on unlit country roads , unless anyone can suggest some good cheap lights as we are still on short time at work so a £80 bike light is out of question

 

[fossyant]

Dealextreme have a good selection of mounts. Those Tesco 3w AA's are cheap

 

[cheadle hulme]

LED technology gets better all the time. By 2011 I reckon we'll get 500 lumens just out of forehead sweat. In the meantime, check out candle power forums for the latest tech.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=85

 

[globalfish]

OR IF YOU LIKE TO OUTSHINE EVERTHING ON THE TRAILS USE 2 900 Lumens P7 LED Flashlights

well outshines mates £300 hope setup, causes nightblindness to anyone in front on full so you may be unpopular , some even move over thinking its car headlights ?

Several of my friends use the P7 '900' lumen flashlights. They do not have as good a spread as my Hope HID, switches are already failing and several mounts have broken. My Hope is solid and never fails. As usual, you get what you pay for in this world.
For $40 they are very good but expect to buy one several times before my Hope dies a death.
Also, many on Dealextreme say the output is certainly not anywhere near 900 lumens.

 

[rusky]

I've been looking at one of the dealextreme "900lumen" lights. The 900lm refers to the max output on the Cree datasheet & I seem to remember someone saying the torches are more like 4-500lm.

I'm also considering the Hope Vision1 or the Minewt mini-usb, both about the same cost.

Anyone want to enlighten me!

 

[fossyant]

The Hope Vision 1's are rather good.... 240 Max (stated) - but bright on medium....I have two for commuting, but plan on going off road at night with the two, because they are very transferable, and use AA's - so easy change. One certainly won't be enough. Use two to angle out, and a additional cheapo tesco torch on ye old helmet......

The Hope Guarantee is good - I had one fail, Wiggle replaced within a couple of days, and I'd also sent an email to Hope...they said 'won't happen again'.........

 

[rusky]

What about one of these on the rear...

http://www.powerflare.com/index.html

 

[02GF74]

well the my lamps have not failed, been on the bike all summer - really hsoold have taken them off.

only downside is the cheap battery seems to loose charge so I'd not recommend the ones I bought.

real test will be their first full winter, that is coming ....

 

[billflat12]

I've been looking at one of the dealextreme "900lumen" lights. The 900lm refers to the max output on the Cree datasheet & I seem to remember someone saying the torches are more like 4-500lm.

I'm also considering the Hope Vision1 or the Minewt mini-usb, both about the same cost.

Anyone want to enlighten me!

Noticed this year some selling as 700+, kits still good value for money at about £30
see
http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=9535

 

[billflat12]

Several of my friends use the P7 '900' lumen flashlights. They do not have as good a spread as my Hope HID, switches are already failing and several mounts have broken. My Hope is solid and never fails. As usual, you get what you pay for in this world.
For $40 they are very good but expect to buy one several times before my Hope dies a death.
Also, many on Dealextreme say the output is certainly not anywhere near 900 lumens.

"yes sold as 700+ this year "
assembly issues can make them unreliable, my own had initial problems but have never broke , been using them again past few weeks have ordered extra batteries and car charger , had used mine with fenix mounts, (rattled and split) replaced with more reliable lockblocks.
Any p7 problems here,s an illustrated trouble shooting guide.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...d.php?t=227518

more reviews
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...d.php?t=195805

latest price 5-mode p7 900 lumen (Full kit) for under £30 delivered (claimed 2.5hrs hi +4hrs low ? , must be when using the 2 batteries supplied)
http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDeta...ProductId=9535

 

[skudupnorth]

Nite-rider X 2's anyone ? I have them on my bike and have had no problems except up-setting poor Mr Motorist because they have no reason not to see me especially on strobe mode !

 

[phil120867]

I've ran a Hope HID for about 2 years now and until recently its been totally excellent. Recently though it stopped working then I'd charge it again and it worked, then it wouldn't etc. I was about to chuck it when I emailed Hope to say it was out of warranty but could they please have a look at it. They asked me to pop it in the post and it was back to me within 48 hours with a new battery, new cables and a full service for the price of the P&p (£6). HID is now seen as old tech but some of the guys I've been out with this year are running units that throw out too much light, it really hacks me off when they are behind me cos all I see is a big shadow of me (and I'm big enough at the best of times, ask the wife!). I think too much light takes the fun / skill factor out of night riding but I would recommend anything by Hope simply because of their customer service (and the fact that they are British). I also use a £9 Tesco Cree light mounted on my lid sometimes, its not a bad option for under a tenner and gr8 for backup.

 

[billflat12]

phil120867
No question the newer brighter LED lights can take some fun/skill out of night riding, just like suspension can in many offroad situations , if the guys you ride with want to take advantage of newer led technologies to ride faster maybe you should try one.