Flood vs. Spot - which is better?

[T Waldo]

I recently rigged a DIY with two 20-watt halogen floods running off a 7200 mah 14.8 V Li-ion battery from Batteryspace.com. As you can imagine, it's extremely bright. The only things I'm not sure about is whether the light is projecting as far ahead as it could, and whether I'm inadvertently blinding anyone at the periphery. (I must say, though, I do like being able to see to the sides as well as in front.)

Anyone care to weigh in on this flood vs. spot issue?

[ccd rider]

Which is better? Both. :D

Arguments can be made for each.....I think it depends on the terrain and your type of riding. I think you see the benefits of having two lights that serve each purpose.....whether a dual or two singles.

So.....what I like to do is have a light on the handlebars that serves primarily as a flood (or compromise of flood and spot), then use a spot headlamp for not only down the road but checking out what's on the side from time to time. It's truly the best of both worlds, and not all that much more expensive.

[diff_lock2]

i would ride flood but in traffic its REALLY annoying. so i use spot. 12drg.

[T Waldo]

i would ride flood but in traffic its REALLY annoying. so i use spot. 12drg.

Thanks for the feedback. Would you say, though, that a dual 20-watt flood setup would be any more annoying than a pair of bright HID car headlights staring at you? (Not that I'm trying to rub it in their noses with my two 20-watt floods ;).

[diff_lock2]

Proper HIDs are fine. Wrongly fitted/built lights are always bad.

I want to get my hands on a dynamo light and put a crazy 12v bulb in there and power it up with a batt pack.

And yeah its as bad, or worse.

[ovrrdrive]

I had the same question so I bought an MR16 spot and mounted it beside my MR16 flood and put a switch to flip between the two.

Initially I thought I liked the spot better but after about half of my ride I started missing the light from the flood so I ended up going back to it and stayed there. I'll leave it on the bike because its nice to have a backup bulb if the other blows, but I think the light from the flood suits my needs better.

I also use an LED maglight strapped to the top tube that gives a nice spot right where the flood falls off. With both working together I have pretty good light.

[ken cummings]

"As long as the lights are aimed down at the road and not up into peoples eyes you are fine," A city cop advised me. That was a 100 watt spot-light. An unshielded MR16 spot bulb lights up the lane far enough ahead to let people know you are coming in time for them to avoid you while enough light spills to the sides to light both road shoulders. A 50 watt spot that is.

[KLW2]

There are different degrees of cone shape to the spots. I am using a 20 deg and have a 12 deg to try out. The 20 gives me lots of side light and is pretty good for distance too. I really like the side light since there a lots of rabbits darting out on me in the mornings...I may go with a 20 deg for general riding and an 8 deg for distance when needed.

[diff_lock2]

my flood is close to 40deg, maybe i will try a wider spot or a narrow flood.

[T Waldo]

There are different degrees of cone shape to the spots. I am using a 20 deg and have a 12 deg to try out. The 20 gives me lots of side light and is pretty good for distance too. I really like the side light since there a lots of rabbits darting out on me in the mornings...I may go with a 20 deg for general riding and an 8 deg for distance when needed.

These are 36-degree 20-watt floods that I've got. That's pretty damn wide. I like the idea of a 20 degree angle. Seems like a good compromise -- you're not riding into a tunnel of light, and not just throwing it everywhere either. Where did you get your 20-degree spot halogens? Brand, wattage, and size?

[dekindy]

Most commonly considered best configuration is spot on bar and flood on helmet, in that order of priority. As a street only rider having experienced both, if I could only have one I prefer a helmet light. It is most beneficial to me to see into turns, which is impossible with a bar only light. A combination flood/spot that lights at least one lane width of road would be my choice if I could only have one. You will probably just have to try it and see which configuration you like best.

[KLW2]

These are 36-degree 20-watt floods that I've got. That's pretty damn wide. I like the idea of a 20 degree angle. Seems like a good compromise -- you're not riding into a tunnel of light, and not just throwing it everywhere either. Where did you get your 20-degree spot halogens? Brand, wattage, and size?

Here they are....... (http://www.bulbs.com/eSpec.aspx?ID=10435&Ref=Category&RefId=13)

[Mobiker50]

I recently rigged a DIY with two 20-watt halogen floods running off a 7200 mah 14.8 V Li-ion battery from Batteryspace.com. As you can imagine, it's extremely bright. The only things I'm not sure about is whether the light is projecting as far ahead as it could, and whether I'm inadvertently blinding anyone at the periphery. (I must say, though, I do like being able to see to the sides as well as in front.)

Anyone care to weigh in on this flood vs. spot issue?

I started with the flood and switched to the spotlight. I'm not so concerned with the sides of the road in front of my, more with throwing the maximum amount of light as far forward as I can. The 20W spot is pretty tightly controlled, so no spread issues to worry about.