Early in my checking out of lighting, I checked out a Topeak Moonshine for my rural backroad conditions. Everything great about the unit except the amount of heat the lamp generates. Melted a bit of plastic at the end of a tryout and got me wondering . . . what are alternatives to this particular unit (12 deg flood) that would produce equivalent output/footprint but with less heat for approximately the same cost? Or perhaps no such unit/type? Looking for strictly handlebar mount. thanks

any light with 400 lumens or more will be comparable

hid will get hot forward of the bulb and melt stuff
incandescent will get hot forward of the bulb and melt stuff

leds will get hot behind the led and need to be heatsinked
and the body of the light should get pretty warm but not as bloody hot
as the surface of hid or incandescent lens

perhaps a bright led system ?

niterider trinewt led, msrp is same as the topeak, $399
[but trinewt is only 300 bucks at bikeman.] around 480-500 lumens
which is the middle range of most bike hid (typical 10w HID),
but trust me the 480 lumen trinewt is plenty of light)
and the body is heavily heatsinked with fins all around. it only gets
warm never hot

What's your price range?

What's your price range?

I think he said 'Topeak Moonshine' and 'approximately the same cost'

Looks to me like the cost of the Moonshine is all over the place:
http://www.google.com/products?q=topeak+moonshine

What's the max the OP is willing to pay?

http://www.lupine.de/index.php?lang=uk and look at the Lupine Betty with 7 LED's.

Make sure you buy a pair of sunglasses while you're at it.

Apparently there is some feedback from a 60yr old guy (apparently) here. http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories/lights/product/betty-25036

I wanna know what battery voltage and chemisty they're using? I mean lithium is obvious but is it Li-Po or Li-ion?

Looks to me like the cost of the Moonshine is all over the place:
http://www.google.com/products?q=topeak+moonshine

What's the max the OP is willing to pay?

Looking at some of those prices, he might be ok with a Dinotte 600L.

www.nightsun.com The Team Issue headlight model has metal bulb holders. I had no problem running a pair of 50 watt halogen MR 16 bulbs without melting. TrailTech also had metal HID bulb holders.

Let's say max $400. Since my query, I've been directed by more than one to the Jet brand. Again, pretty new to these accessories, and I'm not familiar with many of the brands. But even with early queries, I see many positives about this brand. I welcome any and all suggestions. But it certainly looks like on-line vs local purchase (Edmonton, AB the closest at 400 km round trip with what seems to be few shops carrying any reasonable variety of lighting) so I'm open to any source. Nightrider trail rat appears a popular offering in the city as does Night Hawk. But I sense better options available for not much more in cost? (yes, a question, at this point no 100% certainty in my understanding of things). thanks again

By the way, first time back regular riding in 27 years as of this fall. The oil patch has made way too many demands over the past decades. Tech has changed much and indeed, time doesn't stand still.

^^^

Strangely enough I've only seen recommendations for Jet Lights at one place, but there are a lot of them there.

If I were you I'd check out some of the high end LED lights being offered. This site is a good place to start; hopefully the new round of reviews will be finished shortly! - http://acidinmylegs.blogspot.com/