Which light to buy?

[Big G]

Hi,

what are the current recommendations for a decent (but affordable) set of lights to buy for a road bike?

I've heard Cree (on eBay) are good and was looking at this for the front, but not sure on the rear.

Or what about something like this as a package?
http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/smart-lunar-35-lux-front-with-1-2-watt-rear-light-set-id64043.html

 

[helston90]

Crikey we've started the 'what lights' conversations early this year.
What is it you're trying to achieve? People to see you as you ride along? You see more on lit roads? or illuminating completely unlit roads at speed/ trails?

Budget?

 

[MrWill]

Current set up is

Front
Fenix BC30 and a Cateye Rapid 3.

Rear
Exposure Flare and a Cateye Rapid 3

Very good.

Other lights I have are Smart Lunar R2, Cateye omni 5, and Cateye TL-LD1100, These have really bad viewing angles so I do not use them.

Not a fan of the usb charge crap that's currently trendy.

 

[palinurus]

Crikey we've started the 'what lights' conversations early this year.

I bought some mudguards today, fitted them too.

Got sunburnt doing it as well.

 

[Big G]

Crikey we've started the 'what lights' conversations early this year.
What is it you're trying to achieve? People to see you as you ride along? You see more on lit roads? or illuminating completely unlit roads at speed/ trails?

Budget?

Yeah, it's early to start talking about lights. However, I have none at the moment and it was starting to get dark on a recent ride in the evening.

So the fact that I have none means I would like to both "see" and "be seen".

Budget, flexible I suppose, but I can't currently see myself paying £80+ for a single light so probably that Fenix BC30 is out at the moment (thanks for the suggestion though, Mr Will). Would £50 get me going - I am not bothered about branded lights, hence that Cree one on eBay I mentioned looked good, at 5000lm for £15.50.

 

[fossala]

The only cree lights I've seen from ebay don't have any shaping of their beam. This is dangerous on the road.

 

[cyberknight]

Unless your riding on unlit roads/trails in the dark the cree lights are over kill.

The only cree lights I've seen from ebay don't have any shaping of their beam. This is dangerous on the road.

Tilted down they are fine although if the OP was concerned then you can get lenses that shape the beam cheap enough .
On the back i run
1x smart r2
2x smart r1
on the front ..
cree xml t6
cree p4

 

[Torvi]

im also looking for quite good light set up to 30 pounds, is there anything good in that range?

what do you guys think about these?
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/acc...ctors/cat-eye-bike-light-set-el130-ld130#tab1

 

[shouldbeinbed]

for the cree's you can get a fresnel lens from Amazon etc for about a fiver that both shapes the beam for your own view of the road in front & doesn't sear a drivers eyeballs off.

as for light sets, Cateye volt series are very good all round lights: £50+ price range: the 300 front is bright enough to see by for regular in the dark riding & has a joint steady/flash mode if you just want one light on your bars, the 50 rear is plenty bright enough, has the same useful mixed mode. Usb charged battery so can use a computer or most phone chargers on it & good runtime.

 

[charley bradley]

if you are on a budget but want a good set of bike lights go for lezyne lights, they are really well made and are very bright. the zecto rear lights are good and the macro front light is quite bright and it is reasonably priced. i wouldn't recommend the cree lights the are good value for money but they arnt very reliable with battery life and water getting in to parts of them.

 

[Boo]

Hello,

Rather than start another thread I thought I'd bump this one.
I've got into the habit of going out at 6am a few times a week for a ride, and it's starting to get a) cooler, and b) not exactly dark, but... less bright.

I've got a jacket that solves the cold issue, but at the moment I've only got a small pair of Lezyne lights which are ok for attracting a bit of attention to me, but would be no good to actually light my way along the road when it starts getting properly dark.
Any suggestions?

I'm looking for a pair of lights, good enough for an unlit B road in, let's say, complete darkness.
Easy to put on / take off.
Don't mind whether they're battery powered or USB charged (although I note a few people aren't keen on the USB thing).
I'm ok to spend a bit of money if it means getting some quality stuff that could prevent me from having an accident / being hit.

Had a look at the Evans website (which is the most convenient place for me to get to), and I'm bamboozled by the choice!

Cheers.

 

[G3CWI]

Hello,

Rather than start another thread I thought I'd bump this one.

I just recently bought one of these:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/lezyne-super-drive-xl-500l-front-light-loaded-/rp-prod86389

It was £58 just two weeks ago when I bought mine.

I have used in down the local lanes in the dark and it does the job nicely.

I have a high power Chinese 3 x Cree job too but it's far too brutish to be of much use on the road: and the battery only lasts 40 minutes. We call it "the eye burner".

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Hello,

Rather than start another thread I thought I'd bump this one.
I've got into the habit of going out at 6am a few times a week for a ride, and it's starting to get a) cooler, and b) not exactly dark, but... less bright.

I've got a jacket that solves the cold issue, but at the moment I've only got a small pair of Lezyne lights which are ok for attracting a bit of attention to me, but would be no good to actually light my way along the road when it starts getting properly dark.
Any suggestions?

I'm looking for a pair of lights, good enough for an unlit B road in, let's say, complete darkness.
Easy to put on / take off.
Don't mind whether they're battery powered or USB charged (although I note a few people aren't keen on the USB thing).
I'm ok to spend a bit of money if it means getting some quality stuff that could prevent me from having an accident / being hit.

Had a look at the Evans website (which is the most convenient place for me to get to), and I'm bamboozled by the choice!

Cheers.

Front light - Cree T6 - look at the back of this thread http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/lights-cree-xml-xm-l-t6-u2-etc-thread.117285/

Rear Light - anything by Cateye

 

[Boo]

Thanks all!

 

[MrGrumpy]

Ok bumping this for myself, what lights for commuting on the road with an unlit stretch for 4.5 miles ? I`ve had the Cree T6 headlight with battery pack ( failed ) Also used the Ultrafire 502b torches, which are T6 cree LEDs but now those have failed and replacements are just not in the same league. So............ what other recommendations are there, by the likes of leyzene ans Moon etc. Also more importantly any good deals currently on!!