Front light recommendation?

[Jaguar27]

Hey, I just started commuting to work on my MTB...I have one of those "Be seen but not see where you're going" front lights, which is cool, but I wanted to do a loop of the BB after work (I didn't get out untill 8:30pm) and I couldn't see where I was going...so had to quit :mad:

Can anyone suggest a good "See where you're going" front light?

Cheers M'Dears!

PS...I love the Commute by Bike thing, this morning I was lieterally zooming (well, kinda) past all the lines of Cars waiting at the lights...fantastic!!:D

[jsigone]

what's your budget?

[magicant]

I picked up the PlanetBike Alias 15w. On sale, it was $80. Battery's only good for a couple hours but it works for my night rides and commute.

[Jaguar27]

I don't really have a budget....anything would be cheaper than sailing down that rocky river bed!!

[Jaguar27]

Oh, and I need a Coffee Cup Holder too!!

[Jaguar27]

Thanks magicant!!

[dauphin]

Light and Motion Vega....

[socalrider]

If you want stay under 200.00 the dinotte lights are well regarded.. HID would be the best but those are well over 300.00..

http://www.dinottelighting.com/ProductLines.htm

[VanceMac]

I'm in the market, as well... primarily for M.E.'s Griffith Park night rides, and possibly a night MTB ride or two. In other words, I will always be in a group, so my needs might not be as stringent as a solo commuter. After some advice from Fixer and others, I am leaning toward a NiteRider Trail Rat 2.0. They are $100 at Performance right now, which seems like a pretty good value for 10w.

[1955]

Jetlite...

HID http://www.jetlites.com/hid_helmet.html

Halogen http://www.jetlites.com/psb.html

Well made and very bright lights!

[Scootcore]

If you want stay under 200.00 the dinotte lights are well regarded.. HID would be the best but those are well over 300.00..

http://www.dinottelighting.com/ProductLines.htm


+1 on the dinottes...great for commuting and night road riding....wouldnt wanna use them for MTB'ing though...

[Extort]

I picked up the PlanetBike Alias 15w. On sale, it was $80. Battery's only good for a couple hours but it works for my night rides and commute.

Jaguar27, I have one of these that you can borrow and try out. Of course, we will actually have to meet for a ride sometime...

:lol:

[VelodromePhoeni]

I have a NiteRider MiNewt, which I just love. I paid $160 at Temple City Bike Shop. It has three settings -- high (very bright), which burns for 3 hours; medium (only slightly less bright), which burns for 6 hours; and, flashing, which will reportedly burn until the galaxy disintegrates. It comes with a charger, which will fully recharge the battery pack in about 4-6 hours. I can ride it for 3+ hours, come home, plug it in before going to bed, and it'll be ready to go again the next morning. It also has an indicater light that lets you know when you've got about 30 more minutes of light. If you think you might not make it home, you can switch it to medium, still have plenty of light, and it'll burn for another hour before it burns out.

I like the fact that it's rechargeable, and has a reliable burn time, and lets you know when it's running low on juice. And it is so bright, I think it sometimes trips the photosensor on the street lamps!!

The Velodrome Phoenix

[Neccros]

I have a Niterider Flamethrower which has a combo LED(80hours on a charge) and HID(6/5/4 Hours per charge) which I love!! I paid full retail when this light came out but has been discontinued but im sure if you look around, you can find someone blowing it out pretty cheap....

[mkadam68]

Jetlites. +1

Lights up the entire road for the whole group.

[ronsmithjunior]

The best deal I have seen is:

http://www.bicyclelights.com/bikelights.html

It is 25 watts of halogen. Pretty good, specially for ~$100, shipped. If you want the absolute brightest and have the $$$ to pay for it, I'd say the L&M Arc HID because it gets the best reviews.

[VanceMac]

The best deal I have seen is:

http://www.bicyclelights.com/bikelights.html

It is 25 watts of halogen. Pretty good, specially for ~$100, shipped. If you want the absolute brightest and have the $$$ to pay for it, I'd say the L&M Arc HID because it gets the best reviews.

Have to agree -- that looks like a great deal. The only downside is that it weighs more than some frames. :) Good thing I'm not a weight weenie. Have you seen one of these in person? I am told that the quality of the bulb/reflector can have a lot to do with the actual performance.

[jsigone]

I just use a cheap dual beam Cygo light I got for 60 bucks from performance. Not as good as HID but bright enough for the value. I use it for MTB and roadie, I outride the light at speed of 18mph+ on the MTB single tracks. Never had a prob on the roadie til around 30mph+ going down hill. With HID, you can go as fast as you want really, not matter if it's DH or not. The HID system I was looking at was $200 bucks + shipping, i'll try and find the link.

edit, looks like the prices went up since Oct
http://trailtech.net/helmet_mounted_light_kits_1.htm

[ronsmithjunior]

Have to agree -- that looks like a great deal. The only downside is that it weighs more than some frames. :) Good thing I'm not a weight weenie. Have you seen one of these in person? I am told that the quality of the bulb/reflector can have a lot to do with the actual performance.

Doesn't weigh more than my frame. My road bike has a Rivendell Rambouillet frameset. On their website they list the weight as "too heavy if you have to ask". :)

I have had those lights for the past couple of years. They work just fine. It is nice to have the dual lamps so you can choose what kind and how much light you have. At first I did not like the mount, but then I got to appreciate how it fits between a Cateye mount (my backup light) and my stem.

When I bought them they had a 5 watt flood and a 10 watt beam. Now they have a 5 watt flood and a 20 watt beam. Last week I had bought my own 20 watt bulb from Lowe's for $5. Cheap upgrade, and a lot of light.

If you look on batteryspace.com you will see all of the parts. This guy just puts it together in a good package. He is also responsive to emails. I get the impression it is a one man company.

Speaking of reflectors, I hear that L&M has the best, but you have to pay for it.

[Jaguar27]

Thanks very much Guys!! Now I have some good recommendations to work with......

Extort, thanks for the offer, you're too kind....and yes, we'll probably co-ordinate one of these Days....:D

[JustMe]

. . . If you look on batteryspace.com you will see all of the parts. . . .
What a great source RSJ. I see batteryspace.com is selling this Night Hawk (http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2725) emmitter lite for $69 which is the same lite Performance Bike (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=22986&subcategory_ID=4320) is selling on sale for $120. Thanks for this source.:)

PS: This light with the same package of periferrals sells for the same price both places.

[Jaguar27]

I've decided to go with the Light & Motion ARC front light...if anyone is still interested...:(

[Duggle]

I've decided to go with the Light & Motion ARC front light...if anyone is still interested...:(

I'm sure you won't regret that choice... such a great light.

[Jaguar27]

I'm sure you won't regret that choice... such a great light.

Thanks for the reply, that's what I've heard...do you have one?

[socalrider]

I've decided to go with the Light & Motion ARC front light...if anyone is still interested...:(

Solid choice.. I have had my arc for 2 years and is still working well..

[Sir-Lanceimnot]

I've decided to go with the Light & Motion ARC front light...if anyone is still interested...:(

I have that light and I love it. Very stable and Very bright.

[Duggle]

Thanks for the reply, that's what I've heard...do you have one?

Yes, that and a Niterider Cyclone HID. I like the Niterider because it has LEDs that you can set to flashing when you don't need the HID to see by and they barely use the battery... but the Arc has such a cleaner looking light. L&M does such a good job working the reflector behind the bulb. I've had it since about 2000 and had to replace the bulb once. The battery is long overdue for replacing now because it only lasts about two hours so I guess I'll get one of the newer batteries that hang on the frame (old one is the waterbottle type). You'll have a light that you really enjoy long after you forget about the money that you spent on it, well worth it.

[Jaguar27]

Thanks again Guys....

I was riding Home at around 9pm tonight (Yet another loooong Day)...minding my own business when a Car came racing up from another side street to a stop sign...I wasn't sure whether he saw me or not, but I didn't know whether to brake or just carry on cranking..and I thought screw it, I'm gonna order that light online tonight....so even if it saves me from getting hit by a Car once it's worth it...plus as I said originaly, I can do the BB Trail on the way home...I ride some of it but only about a 1 mile or less...