Commuting - Planet Bike Alias HID?

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kuupio
10-05-06, 10:24 AM
Does anyone have stories to share about the Planet Bike Alias HID light? I have found some information already about the Planet Bike Alias halogen light, but I am interested in the HID version and would appreciate input from people who are familiar with it. In particular, I would like to know:


Is its 10W bulb bright enough to jolt motorists into showing respect, as other HID lights supposedly do?
Is it convenient to detach the light from handlebars when the bike is parked in a high-crime area? The light's cordless design and quick-release mount lead me to suspect that it is, but knowledgeable reports would be appreciated.

Thanks for your help.

Blue Roads
10-18-08, 10:49 AM
I know this is an old thread, but I thought other commuters might benefit from the Planet Bike Alias HID. I've got one and it's bright, wireless, got a 2 1/2 hour run time on high, and is easy to quickly attach/detach. For road riding, the clamp holds the light secure on the bar.

More info: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=240242&highlight=planet+hid+alias+bike
no1mad
10-18-08, 11:33 AM
Don't have one. But I've thought about getting one (especially after seeing their light comparo on the PB site).

ItsJustMe
10-18-08, 07:04 PM
I think 10 watts is pretty much the standard HID. I have a Trailtech light, it's a 10 watt bulb (it says 13 watts, but apparently 3 of that gets burned by the circuitry). Yeah, it's bright. But it's not really all that much brighter than a 20W halogen at 14.4v. The self-contained bit is nice of course, but for myself I started with a batteryspace 14.4v bottle battery and a 20w halogen. I've been running with the HID for about 3 years now, but when it dies I'm just going to put a halogen back on.

I have a $25 2xAA LED flashlight from dealextreme which makes a great backup light. I've actually done my whole pitch black commute with it several times, but I prefer something a bit brighter for regular use.
late
10-18-08, 08:06 PM
I have 2 of the Alias lights on my bike. They are ok. The halogen they use is
a little bluish and perhaps less effective than some. Been think of getting a LED light to add to the mix.