Shopping for front and rear lights

Questions about bike hire abroad and everything light bike related. No off-topic chat please

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kode54
Posts: 3740
Joined: Tue May 23, 2006 9:39 pm

by kode54

leej88 wrote:I have both the Lupine Rotchlit and the updated Cateye Rapid x3 (150 lumens).

Both rear lights have similar lumen output but the Cateye appears much more visible as the throw is wider.

The accelerometer and light sensor on Lupine is rather gimmicky imo.


i don't feel that the accelerometer is gimmicky. its nice that it goes solid red when braking...and most drivers pay attention to out of the ordinary blinking.
also, there are 4 or 5 brightness levels and depends on how far i ride...i'll turn it mostly on the second to highest level for visibility.
well made and the saddle rail mount has been great, so i can switch between bikes quickly.
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TonyM
Posts: 3376
Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2015 4:11 pm

by TonyM

I just saw this front light that can be mounted between the Garmin mount and the Garmin itself!

Fabric Lumaray.
https://fabric.cc/products/lights/lumar ... ont-light/


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junchen
Posts: 348
Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2015 6:21 pm

by junchen

TonyM wrote:I just saw this front light that can be mounted between the Garmin mount and the Garmin itself!

Fabric Lumaray.
https://fabric.cc/products/lights/lumar ... ont-light/


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Nice! Tks for sharing

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jimaizumi
Posts: 717
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:48 am

by jimaizumi

I have a front Bontrager light and honestly, for a small light, its really bright!
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dim
Posts: 596
Joined: Fri Oct 13, 2017 11:25 am
Location: Cambridge UK

by dim

Front Light:
Ravemen PR1200 USB Rechargeable DuaLens Front Light:
http://road.cc/content/review/221409-ravemen-pr1200-usb-rechargeable-dualens-front-light

costs £100 and is a very good light

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However, if you want something powerfull, and cheap, get the Chinese SolarStorm off ebay, but the get new ones that work off a powerbank:

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https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15000LM-SolarStorm-3-x-CREE-XM-L-T6-LED-4-Modes-USB-Bike-Bicycle-Light-Headlamp-/282746253815?

cheap as chips and it's less than £10 .... get a good small powerbank (lipstick size) and use the light on your helmet with the powerbank tucked in your pocket .... thats what I do and the light is as strong as a Volvo Bus headlight (I commute throughout winter in the dark on crappy unlit roads)

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As for the back light, you can't go wrong with a Cygolite Hotshot .... I've been using mine daily for 3 years and you can see it a mile away:
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Vagabond
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:08 am
Location: Washington State and the Colorado Front Range.

by Vagabond

nickf wrote:Light and Motion VIS Pro rear (150 lumen w/day flash) and a Urban 800 on the front. Both are self contained and bright. They even have a small urban series 1000 lumen headlight. On high you only get around 1.5 hours. But depending on what you are doing you might get away with a lower setting. Can't cheap out on safety. My light almost never come off my bike. The light and motions units are light enough for me.


I use the High Vis as well and and have both an Urban 600 and 1000 for the front. Great lights. Weatherproof, easy to mount, good battery life, and plenty of illumination. In fact when I’m using the 1000 I don’t think I’ve ever passed a brighter light here in the bicycle commuter abundant DC area. I really like the mounting system for the Vis 180 and the way it straps on to the seatpost. I use it more and more back home even during the day on the rural roads I ride in Washington State even in daylight. Around 120 dollars for the Vis tailight and Urban 1000 together if I remember correctly. Let us know what you go with.
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bilwit
Posts: 1526
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2016 5:49 am
Location: Seattle, WA

by bilwit

TonyM wrote:I just saw this front light that can be mounted between the Garmin mount and the Garmin itself!

Fabric Lumaray.
https://fabric.cc/products/lights/lumar ... ont-light/


Image
nice.. know if it works with the Elemnt Bolt?

Johnny Rad
Posts: 2025
Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2006 6:22 am
Location: Zion

by Johnny Rad

TonyM wrote:I just saw this front light that can be mounted between the Garmin mount and the Garmin itself!

Fabric Lumaray.
https://fabric.cc/products/lights/lumar ... ont-light/
You've uncovered a potential gem! Thanks for sharing. Wished it had more operating life, but... Trying to place my order.

Would be ideal if someone made a double-sided out front mount... I'm off to re-read our marathon post on the subject now.
Last edited by Johnny Rad on Sun Dec 17, 2017 6:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.


dim
Posts: 596
Joined: Fri Oct 13, 2017 11:25 am
Location: Cambridge UK

by dim

4hrs ride in the dark? ... you will need to carry batteries.... or get a dynamo hub built on your front wheel

or .... for cheap, get a Chinese Solarstorm that works off a powerbank .... use it with the headband and get 2 small lipstick sized powerbanks:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15000LM-Sola ... SwYlRZGs8Y

Image
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Johnny Rad
Posts: 2025
Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2006 6:22 am
Location: Zion

by Johnny Rad

dim wrote:4hrs ride in the dark?
I don't want to charge it every other ride. :D

I always ride with blinkers front and rear now.

For convenience, I prefer CR2032-powered lights.

If it's dark out, I break out a higher-powered front light.

jfranci3
Posts: 1571
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2016 5:21 pm

by jfranci3

As a data point, I've tried the new-ish Specialized Stix lights. Battery life on the "Comp" 3-light units is about 1/2 the quoted life; about 2.5-3hrs f and r. They have a newer "Elite", which I haven't tried. SPC sent
me one, to their credit, after I complained, though it was to the wrong address. They are, as the specs show, "Be Seen" only lights. The mounting system is IMO great, mounting directly to the seat and stem spacers.

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nickf
Posts: 1427
Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:34 pm

by nickf

Johnny Rad wrote:
Sun Dec 17, 2017 4:52 pm
TonyM wrote:I just saw this front light that can be mounted between the Garmin mount and the Garmin itself!

Fabric Lumaray.
https://fabric.cc/products/lights/lumar ... ont-light/
You've uncovered a potential gem! Thanks for sharing. Wished it had more operating life, but... Trying to place my order.

Would be ideal if someone made a double-sided out front mount... I'm off to re-read our marathon post on the subject now.
Dunno 30 lumen is on the low side. Even in the video it seems kinda weak. Ok if you just wanna be "legal". As for a piece of safety equipment I don't think so.

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jfranci3
Posts: 1571
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2016 5:21 pm

by jfranci3

30lum is fine for "be seen" lighting except for sunrise / sunset, which no light is good for.

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