Light suggestions

[Dave Riding]

OK,
Leslie is looking to ride at night.  I haven't really gone shopping for lights in a while and my last 2 light purchases where less than favorable.....though I've made the best of it.

Anyone have any suggestions.  Are there any products out there that just supersede the competition?  Should I look for a min lumens?

-
Dave

[Eammon Carleton]

All the lithium battery scare aside, I've been very happy with my 900 lumen DX.com $35 lights.

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[Christopher Patrick]

I'm so far out of the loop on all things lights, so I'll be watching this...

PS: I still run an el-cheapo magicshine knock off that still seems to do the trick, but I would love to lighten the weight of it on my head/helmet.

[Dave Mitchell]

I'm running Bright Eyes lights, they're cheap and they work well.  That said, I'd love to have a helmet light that had no wires for more comfort such as the Exposure Lights Diablo or similar.

Dave

---

Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2015 16:27:45 -0500
Subject: Light suggestions
From: dvri...@gmail.com
To: ne-r...@googlegroups.com

[Mike DeCristofaro]

DR,

I'm sure Splat will have some recommendations but here is my .02 cents.

The cheap lights are good lumens-wise but the batteries don't last more than a couple months.  Buy good brand name protected batteries (18650) and a good charger then use any of the light heads on DX or amazon....just make sure the voltages are compatible.  

There's a good thread here about lights and batteries.  A couple years old but still good info.  I have the BL-21 mentioned in that thread and it's a good light.  There's a good thread on the NEMBA forum too started by Hogboy about that light with some good info.

I bought the batteries and charger below from illumnation supply and bought a holder for them from DX I think.  It was expensive compared to the Chinese stuff but I don't worry about them exploding or causing a fire.  I also have a few flashlights that use these cells so it was worth it to me.  I spent $75 for the batts and charger shipped.  Then buy this flashlight and light up your whole neighborhood (too big for riding though).

18650 Soshine 3400mAh Button Top Protected (2 pack)
Nitecore D4 Digicharger

Then I bought a holder like this to use with my magicshine knockoff and it works well.  Don't leave the batteries in this holder though.  It will drain them without even being hooked up to anything.  Another one here....

I'd recommend one light on the head and one on the bars.  This gives a good view of the trail and a measure of redundancy.

Mike

[je...@milfordbicycle.com]

Why don't you just get a good light from your local bike store that is a complete set and will last for years with proper care. It is easier and probably would cost no more in the long run, and if you should have a problem(which is rare with a good quality light) you have someone to stand behind it for you.

 It would also help support a local business that you need when your bike needs major repairs or service. It's not easy to send your bike out to mail order to be serviced.

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: "Mike DeCristofaro" <mdecri...@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 11:18am
To: "NERides" <ne-r...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Light suggestions

DR,

I'm sure Splat will have some recommendations but here is my .02 cents.

The cheap lights are good lumens-wise but the batteries don't last more
than a couple months.  Buy good brand name protected batteries (18650) and
a good charger then use any of the light heads on DX or amazon....just make
sure the voltages are compatible.

There's a good thread here <http://ecmtb.net/t/bike-light/1505> about

lights and batteries.  A couple years old but still good info.  I have the
BL-21 mentioned in that thread and it's a good light.  There's a good
thread on the NEMBA forum too started by Hogboy about that light with some
good info.

I bought the batteries and charger below from illumnation supply

<http://www.illumn.com/batteries-chargers-and-powerpax-carriers.html/?___store=default>

and bought a holder for them from DX I think.  It was expensive compared to
the Chinese stuff but I don't worry about them exploding or causing a
fire.  I also have a few flashlights that use these cells so it was worth
it to me.  I spent $75 for the batts and charger shipped.  Then buy this
flashlight

<http://www.dxsoul.com/product/fandyfire-yl-u2-3-x-cree-xm-l-u2-2000lm-5-mode-cool-white-flashlight-w-strap-grey-3-x-18650-901233422>

and light up your whole neighborhood (too big for riding though).

*18650 Soshine 3400mAh Button Top Protected (2 pack)*
*Nitecore D4 Digicharger*

Then I bought a holder like this

<http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Hot-Sell-Popular-Battery-Storage-Box-Overmal-Waterproof-18650-Power-Battery-Storage-Case-Box-Holder-For/32471987175.html?spm=2114.01020208.3.227.HWr6r5&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_7,searchweb201644_4_79_78_77_82_80_62,searchweb201560_1>

to use with my magicshine knockoff and it works well.  Don't leave the
batteries in this holder though.  It will drain them without even being
hooked up to anything.  Another one here.

<http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Waterproof-IPX4-2-x-18650-4-x-18650-8-4V-Battery-Box-Case-Holder-USB-DC/32504566835.html?spm=2114.40010708.4.99.CdGO5D>
...

I'd recommend one light on the head and one on the bars.  This gives a good
view of the trail and a measure of redundancy.

Mike

On Thu, Dec 17, 2015 at 9:39 PM, Christopher Patrick <mtbc...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> I'm so far out of the loop on all things lights, so I'll be watching
> this...
>
> PS: I still run an el-cheapo magicshine knock off that still seems to do
> the trick, but I would love to lighten the weight of it on my head/helmet.
>
> On Thu, Dec 17, 2015 at 7:02 PM, Eammon Carleton <eam...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> All the lithium battery scare aside, I've been very happy with my 900
>> lumen DX.com $35 lights.
>> On Dec 17, 2015 4:27 PM, "Dave Riding" <dvri...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> OK,
>>> Leslie is looking to ride at night.  I haven't really gone shopping for
>>> lights in a while and my last 2 light purchases where less than
>>> favorable.....though I've made the best of it.
>>> Anyone have any suggestions.  Are there any products out there that just
>>> supersede the competition?  Should I look for a min lumens?
>>>
>>> -
>>> Dave

>>> <https://www.facebook.com/events/565968013487303>

[John Goeller]

after years of Using my Home mades, it just is not cost effective anymore,I have been using the cheap-o Chinese Generic lights for the past couple of years  , And yes the batteries are a crap shoot, but I also take cell pack and test the cells ( I also get cells from old Laptop Battery packs )  and create my own packs , also like Mike said I have flash lights that use the 18650 cells as well. plus I tend to carry one of those flash lights with as a backup ( which I needed Monday , when I forgot to charge my battery before going out, and only had enough charge for half the ride )   

I just got one of these and really like it. with the twist lock on battery connector and the power gauge on the back of the light. 
http://www.amazon.com/SecurityIng-Waterproof-Bicycle-Headlight-Rechargeable/dp/B00C2MHNJK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1450468061&sr=8-2&keywords=bike+lights+1200+lumens

and  most the time charging lithium cells is really only an issue after they have been Physically damaged. I've only had one Battery pack Pop and that was after significant damage. 

Then I have seen some New ones that are made to run off of a USB  Power pack , like the ones you can buy to charge your phone. Like this one. not sure how well they work but I like the concept. 
http://www.amazon.com/Welltop%C2%AE-Headlight-Headlamps-Flashlights-headlights/dp/B00URF0I0A/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1450468198&sr=8-19&keywords=bike+lights+1200+lumens 

as for the Big Name lights , I have had my worst luck with Nite rider, I would never go near Nite rider again. Been left in the dark because of them a couple of times. won't go into detail, but they use crap wire , and there battery pack assembly process is not the greatest. 

and my other beef with the Big name Lights is every light has its own priority Mounting systems.  Vs the very simple and generic  mounts of the generic lights.  when shopping watch the mounts that are included. 

also another thing that we found helped the generic lights  is a diffuser lens.

http://www.amazon.com/MagicShine-Gemini-Lights-Headlight-Includes/dp/B004WLCLQY/ref=pd_sim_468_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=51mTmRxZGiL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=01BH5MJNBPASPKSZCPAW

didn't mean to ramble well I did :) 

Hopefully I gave you some good information. 

JJG