Commuting - $263 for L&M ARC HID at Nashbar

I finally pulled the plug on an HID. I'm even building up a generator hub with Schmidt E6 headlight, but commuting everyday with a handheld flashlight and backpacking headlamp has been getting risky of late. Hopefully she comes in time for daylight savings! I decided to throw in a blinky superflash for good measure while I was at it. You can't go wrong with a sale on top of a sale.

Makes me wonder if I should have gotten this instead of the TrailTech Eclipse HID for $200. I guess the Trailtech has longer battery life?

Al

Ouch, that's like buying a suburu wrx and finding out you could've gotten a 911 4s for 5 grand more. :)

Hey, better mileage right?

Ouch, that's like buying a suburu wrx and finding out you could've gotten a 911 4s for 5 grand more. :)

Hey, better mileage right?
Buyers remorse is exacerbated by the net, symptoms run highest while product is in shipment.

Made worse by eyeing a fellow commuters L&M ARC parked next to my bike, so sleek. I have fears that the trailtech will have this 'home-made' feel to it.

Al

It doesn't help that there's some jackass on the net rubbing it in your face. Did I mention the sweet sweet beam pattern from the custom aluminium reflector in the L&M light?

Makes me wonder if I should have gotten this instead of the TrailTech Eclipse HID for $200. I guess the Trailtech has longer battery life?

Al

Yeah, but your Trailtech is Lithium-ion, right...?

HID... drool...

Yeah, but your Trailtech is Lithium-ion, right...?

Yeah, I suppose

here is the comparision (specs, not performance of course)
TT:
10W HID, Li-ion, 4hr. run time

L&M:
11W/13.5W HID, NiMH, 3hr high, 3.5hr low run time.

Alk

Lighter, smaller battery on the Trailtech?

Lighter, smaller battery on the Trailtech?

TT battery: 10.2oz, 2.1" x 1.4" x 2.5"
L&M battery: 19.4oz, 6.2" x 1.6" x 1.4"

Al

Ridiculous prices for lighting! I thought $25 was expensive for bike lighting until I paid $100 for a new dyno set from Peter White Cycles a few years back.

Last weekend I picked up six NOS or barely used dyno generator light sets (two Union and two Soubitez 6V3W sets; and two Rampar 6V6W sets that can each run two headlamps and two taillamps) complete with lamps at my local bike coop for $30 total. That's $5 each for a complete lighting set that actually lights the road so you can see where you are going. Throw in some halogen bulbs and they're all good to go.

I will never buy new lights at retail prices again.

Makes me wonder if I should have gotten this instead of the TrailTech Eclipse HID for $200. I guess the Trailtech has longer battery life?


And you probably won't feel as bad about getting aftermarket parts to fix it. I just bought a new NiMH battery from batteryspace.com for my NR HID setup. NR price -- $159.99. Batteryspace -- $39.99. Naturally, there are some catches like I have to solder on a connector and pop it in a bottle, but for that kind of price differential, I can do some work.

When my NR starts causing me too many problems, I think I'm going to switch to a homebrew solution. My winter commuting setup is heavy and strange already so there's no point to being lightweight and sleek.

And you probably won't feel as bad about getting aftermarket parts to fix it.
I thought about that too. Replacement batteries, etc. will be lower price.
Plus $62 is ~20 Fuller's London Porters (http://www.fullers.co.uk/main.phtml?history=66)at TJ prices.

Al

It doesn't help that there's some jackass on the net rubbing it in your face. Did I mention the sweet sweet beam pattern from the custom aluminium reflector in the L&M light?
Slvoid - Whats the approximate beam angle on the L&M light? I could not find this info on their website or a google search.

I searched and found an earlier post where you describe 160 degree coverage.

I'm thinking the Trail Tech light may have a slight advantage for commuting use in that you can choose a 6 or 12 degree beam version, which would be a little less brutal on oncoming motorists eyes, whereas the L&M seems intended for offroad use (their website doesn't list the hids under "road").

Then again, maybe a wide radiation pattern may be a safety advantage in that drivers try to steer away from the bright light. What is your opinion on the beam angle aspect, please?

This is what I suspect the trail tech and niterider beams, and jetlite and every other HID in the world, look like, since they both use the same reflectors and bulbs. You get a lot of artifacts and also lose a lot of light from the cheap glass reflectors. I think the pattern shown is the default 12 degree pattern.
http://eddys.com/merchant/162/images/site/niterider%20flamethrower%20sm.jpg

This is what l&m's looks like. It's like, a 6 degree beam (between the 0-3) that gracefully expands to a 12-15 degree halo (between 3-6) and then very very gracefully expands to 160 or so degrees.
http://eddys.com/merchant/162/images/site/lm%20arc%20sm.jpg

There simply is no comparison, its brighter, whiter, way smoother, less artifacts. The last thing you want to think at 30mph is "is that a crack in the pavement or a dark spot in my beam pattern?"

Sorry Noisebeam, I'm not helping. This wait for your trailtech to arrive must be agonizing...

$263 for L&M ARC HID at Nashbar

aaack, you're making me drool (http://freepages.thesecretlabs.com/~mechbgon/drool.jpg)! :( Not... enough... moneyyyyy.... :(

Actually with the 20% off coupon it's only $331 SHIPPED for the Li-ion... It'd be a cool toy but do I really need it?

Sorry Noisebeam, I'm not helping. This wait for your trailtech to arrive must be agonizing...
Thanks, at least I know some jackass (http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=3272356&postcount=5)is feeling better somewhere.
Al

Makes me wonder if I should have gotten this instead of the TrailTech Eclipse HID for $200. I guess the Trailtech has longer battery life?

Al

I just got my Eclipse SCMR16 - HID and its bright:D , big fixture though. Its a lot brighter than the 35 watt solux halogen MR16 setup I have currently.

$263 for L&M ARC HID at Nashbar

How do you get that price??

The lowest one I see is $327.95 (with 20% off)

Click Here (http://www.nashbar.com/results.cfm?category=101&subcategory=1067&storetype=estore&estoreid=723&init=y&pagename=Category%3A%20Lights)

SOA17 -- on the front page, takes another 20% off... Good till: 10/29

Feh. My Trailtech/Batterspace light cost about that, and it gives almost EIGHT hours (7:45) of 13w HID light per charge.

Yes... that does make you feel better. Cause we all have 8 hour commutes. :p

SOA17 -- on the front page, takes another 20% off... Good till: 10/29

Thanks, I missed that a person could use the additional coupon code.

Feh. My Trailtech/Batterspace light cost about that, and it gives almost EIGHT hours (7:45) of 13w HID light per charge.


Are the Trail Techs as nicely designed as the L&M Arc system? They look to offer a lot for less, but then they also look more home built as well.

Sigh...pulled the trigger on the L&M ARC HID. Also bought some car parts. This is the first time my bike parts cost more than my car parts (wife got tired of looking at the duct tape holding my sideview mirrors on). If you see a blinding light in your rearview mirror flying up Park Ave., that'll be me. :D

Sigh...pulled the trigger on the L&M ARC HID. :D

Me too. Its too good of a deal to pass up. This should go nicely with my helmet mounted CatEye Double Shot spot light.

Hope everyone who wanted it got it already. Sometime between last night and now, the price went from 20% off to 4% off.

4% off list is NOT a sale

Dayum! What'd they run out or did the OP cause a stampede to Nashbar? Too bad I forgot to get color coordinated bottle cages for my bikes. Only got one mounted now on each and if I run the lights, I'll need two.

This (change in discount) is a good thing in a strange way. I was ready to buy it and then return the one I didn't like as much. $62 is a good chunk of change, but small enough to not make a difference to me in the long run to be happy with the all important front light.

Now I don't have to futz with returning, the paperwork, the post office, the $ to return something.

Al

Whoa... I just ordered mine a couple hours ago! Do I ever feel lucky to get the deal for $263!!

Dayum! What'd they run out or did the OP cause a stampede to Nashbar? Too bad I forgot to get color coordinated bottle cages for my bikes. Only got one mounted now on each and if I run the lights, I'll need two.

Nice!! Welcome to the club, we gotta get scorer75 and everyone else together for a night ride up the palisades or something if we all have HID's.

Don't worry about the cage, the NR nimh batteries are frame mounted tubes, not bottles.

This (change in discount) is a good thing in a strange way. I was ready to buy it and then return the one I didn't like as much. $62 is a good chunk of change, but small enough to not make a difference to me in the long run to be happy with the all important front light.

Now I don't have to futz with returning, the paperwork, the post office, the $ to return something.

Al

Did you return the trailtech?

Did you return the trailtech?
No, I wouldn't have until I had the L&M in hand and decided if it was worth $62 more. Now that option is not longer there. I also have not yet recieved it, expected to dock 10/30.
Go ahead, rub it in.

Every time find my TrailTech beam isn't wide or clean enough, when I crash from some line in the road I thought was an artifact, I'll see that rubber glove and re-live the agony of one good deal just missed and the jackass who rubbed it it.

Al

Nice!! Welcome to the club, we gotta get scorer75 and everyone else together for a night ride up the palisades or something if we all have HID's.

Don't worry about the cage, the NR nimh batteries are frame mounted tubes, not bottles.
Heh...how 'bout a night time ride in CP or PP? We could ride right next to the jogging lane and fry some retinas.

Or we could go to noisebeam's and ride around in front of his house. :D

Good to know about the batteries. Thanks!

Every time find my TrailTech beam isn't wide or clean enough, when I crash from some line in the road I thought was an artifact, I'll see that rubber glove and re-live the agony of one good deal just missed and the jackass who rubbed it it.

Al

Depending on the angle of entry for your saddle/seat post during the accident, I have an odd feeling you'll be seeing a lot of the rubber glove...

Maybe my wife needs the trail tech and I still need the S... I mean L&M.

Al

Maybe my wife needs the trail tech and I still need the S... I mean L&M.

Al
Yes! Or give her the L&M as a "gift", then borrow it when she doesn't use it.

FWIW Performance Bike currently is offering various quantities of 10-20% off coupons. They do have the L&M ARC HID lights listed on sale now for somewhat more than Nashbar was originally offering them. I just couldn't justify a HID light for a simple city commute so I'm going to play with the Dinotte Ultra 5. Standard AA batteries fit my needs better than an expensive proprietary pack anyways.

Whew, glad I got in on this deal. Got the light today, can't wait till it gets dark :D

Don't forget to post a review.

Good to see you guys got in on the deal, I was so close to pulling the trigger on one myself....

I think the L&M looks like one of the best HID systems out there. At that price it's Killer!

Don't forget to post a review.

Slvoid - thanks for the beam angle post. It looks like the L&M light's wider disperion pattern would be far more useful in off-road conditions (trails) and somewhat more useful on pavement.

Noisebeam - Yes, please give us a review of the TT light.

The L&M's beam is not only wider but it also punches farther than the niterider/jetlite/trailtech type lights because the central beam is actually smaller than the NR's but it also gradually spreads out the light, unlike the rest of them.

I got the TT yesterday after work. As I planned for ;) I was disapointed.
The wire managment is very difficult - these are thick coiled wires, making if much harder to run along top tube without hitting leg, or to wrap the excess around the bar. Worse is that both the battery and the light have wire coming out of them - I would have much preferred no wire out of light head unit.
So I haven't tried it out in motion since I couldn't figure out how to hold the battery to the bike - there was too much wire to put it all in the little baggie and I couldn't figure out where to attach the baggie - which uses metal snaps to connect, not velcro - twice it the snaps poped open just as I was pulling wires to try and route them. Seriously I sound whiny, but I tried for a good half hour of different arrangements of where to put battery and how to string out wires.
I will buy a bento box like above today and that should take care of the excess wire.
I thought about cutting and resoldering, but the plugs are molded, not possible to open and re-wire. I'd need to get some good heat shink to do a decent job. (yes I am very aware of polarities)
It comes with a separate switch that doesn't mount anywhere easily - its flat on the bottom so you can put it against handlebar or stem very well.
I did turn on the light and the beam pattern is worse than svloid showed - even after a good 10min warm up the center of the beam is more of a distored triangular shape and the artifacts to the edges are not even like in svloids picture.
I vent, but I will get good use of this light once I work out its quirks. Its just that slvoid messed my mind up, the jackass. ;)
Al

Yikes! Even worse than the beam patterns I showed?
The L&M was real easy to set up and install. :p
Maybe its not too late to return it.... carefully pack up the TrailTech as a "gift" for your wife. :)

Oh man.. looks like you took a nice stomach punch noisebeam.

This is just more salt but the L&M is superb. The beam pattern is very clean and warm up time was minimal.
I like the tooless mount. I can keep it secure but still loose enough to adjust tilt. It rotates 360, good for spotlighting or avoiding blinding people. The battery seems well put together, nice and sealed with a good plug connection. Velcro mounting is a bit annoying because you have to pass it under the cables so I just put it in my pocket. Li-Ion is so dang lightweight. Very pleased with this light and look forward to more night rides.

I love the mount on it. I can loosen it just enough that I can tilt the light down when another rider is approaching, then push it back up and it'll stay in place. And I can swivel the lamp head light and right, kinda like a police spot light, while I'm riding. Yes, the central bright beam is a bit smaller than NR's, but it punches farther, and the spot around it is brighter and smoother.

I know I shouldn't and it'll get me killed one of these days but sometimes I ride around east brooklyn, cypress, bed stuy, at night and I swivel my beam over to the dealers on the sidewalk and you can see em stuffing **** in their pockets like a cop was passing by.

Yeah, that will get you killed.

BTW, got the email the light was shipped. Should be here this week. :D

Yes, the central bright beam is a bit smaller than NR's, but it punches farther, and the spot around it is brighter and smoother.That addresses the issue I've always had with my NiteRider 13W HID's beam pattern. The center hotspot is too spread-out. If I aim it down enough that I'm satisfied with the brightness on the pavement right in front of me, then it doesn't reach down the road far enough. The "donut of darkness" surrounding the hotspot on the NiteRider's beam makes it worse, since the road out beyond the hotspot is in that dark area. L&M got it right.

http://freepages.thesecretlabs.com/~mechbgon/commute/hangman2.jpg
the Donut Of Darkness is pretty apparent on snow here

If I'd had $300 left on my credit card, I would've grabbed the L&M ARC NiMH. :(

You sir, are one brave SOB... look at that snow...