Anybody seen these light bars? (http://www.modbargains.com/product.aspx?pf_id=VisionX_LEDLB_MW) The smallest (6" length) version for $279 claims 1440 lumens output and 2 amp draw with 8 LEDs. Other options include 9" bar with 12 LEDs putting out 2160 lumens drawing 3 amps, or a monster 12" bar with 20 LEDs putting out 3600 lumens at 5 amps for $500. Only downside is it's probably constant-on only, and there's not a taillight version :).

The smallest bar paired with this 12V 10Ah NiMH battery pack (http://www.all-battery.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1344) looks like it could be quite a setup for around $400.

Any thoughts? I'm disappointed there doesn't seem to be any information on the weight of the light unit; probably since it's designed for motorized vehicles where weight is less of an issue. Otherwise it looks impressive to me.

I'd love to see somebody attempt this. Maybe mount it on a Nashbar front rack? (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=17192&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Show%20All%20Products)

Hi Jeff.

I am the Ford sales rep over at modbargains.com and my boss just showed me this thread.

After checking through the forums I might have to make myself comfortable and stay here. I've got a trek 5200...but thats for another thread.

I have never thought about putting these LED bars on a bike... but it is an awesome IDEA. These LED bars were made for offroad trucks and buggies needing serious amounts of light with low power draw. I wouldnt even think about running the 12 inch light on a bike... the 6 inch would put out MORE than enough light for a bike.

I will contact my distributor and check on the weight of the 6 inch bar for you. If you're interested, maybe we could meet up one day and try to test fit the 6 inch bar to your handle bar and see if we could get something going.

If you have any questions and I dont respond here... Feel free to email or call me any time.

Alon@modbargains.com
714-459-5597

Alon,

Is it Alon or Alan? Seeing how far apart 'A' and 'O' is I'm thinking it's Alon and not a typo mistake. Anywayswelcome to the forums. Glad to have another rider here and when I saw that 1400lum claim I have to say it did peak the interest. ;):D It sounds like you're a DIY guy yourself. If you checked out the TOTAL GEEKINESS (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=42629&page=70) it might inspire some ideas for your own mods on either your ibke or car or ways of doing things you did not expect would work.

There i also another company with batteries for bikes called Battery Space (http://www.batteryspace.com) (I have no affliation with them). I would like to also know the weigh of the 6" LED bar. More important I would like to know the lens and LED specifications. Are the lens all 25 degree wide flood or I don't know 8 x 25 degree wide for that spot-flood or 5-10 degree spots? Can you find out what LED's are being used? The LED company (Cree? Seoul (SSC)?) and what 'bin' (bin is the equivlent rating system like you would rate diamonds for thier tint/quality) the LED's are used?

There is another site that is /HUGE/ on lighting. You may have heard of it. The name is Candlepowerforums (http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/index.php?). Here is thier bicycle section (http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=86). The site there is how I learned more into the evolution of the LED technology. Currently the two head to head companies with the brightest LED's to my knowledge and understanding are CREE and SEOUL. If you're building your own stuff fo rthe car/bike a good cheap supplier is DealExtreme (DX) (http://www.dealextreme.com) (I have no affliation with them). DX's prices on the Cree Q5 (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2394) is $9 USD per LED with SSC P4 U-bin (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1445) at $5.82 per LED as a runner up.

BTW nice Trek bike. You do any night riding?

Thanks for the welcome. It is indeed Alon (Israeli name).

These lights were designed/built for offroad trucks and buggies and are VERY durable. I can see them on a mountain bike and taking crashes with no problem. I will contact the manufacturer either tomorrow or tuesday and get all the specs I can out of them.

I have never done any night riding, but would definitely like to try it one of these days. At this point I just need to get in gear and get on the bike in general. Hopefully I can find some decent beginner rides around me to get back in shape.

Alon: There is a very active Southern California regional subforum here on bikeforums; should be tons of information there on local rides.

Definitely looking forward to getting more information on these lights. Zero asked some great questions that I'd love to see the answers to as well.

It could be mounted on the handlebars with a couple of padded P-clamps. I've seen it done with the lower power LED bars cars use as rear brake lights. Available for a few bucks at an auto salvage yard.

Allright guys.

The 6" bar is 2lb 2oz

http://i30.tinypic.com/nq5she.jpg
http://i30.tinypic.com/2jb1pwn.jpg

What is the dimension of normal handle bars?

You could drill some holes in the handle bars and mount them with that hardware.... but i would be worried about ruining the strength of the bar and would advice against that one. We also have some billet aluminum clamps, but the smallest tube diameter is 1.5".

If there is some serious interest in this I can get together with my supplier and my bike. What are you guys wanting to put these on? Mountain bikes or street?

nobody interested anymore?

Thanks for the information Alon, but I think 2+lbs not including battery is a whole lot of weight for a bike light. For contrast purposes, the light head on my Cygolite TridenX which has 3 LEDs comparable to the LEDs in the VisionX light is 4 oz. With 2 more TridenX light heads I would have a 12 oz. total light head weight with higher output than the 34oz. VisionX light head weight, at about the same cost. I think 3 TridenX's including batteries would still be less weight than just the VisionX light head.

Obviously the VisionX lights are engineered for high speed off road motor vehicle use and the bumps/vibrations that come with that. When they're being mounted on motor vehicles an extra pound or two isn't going to make a difference, especially if it increases durability. Unfortunately on a bike an extra pound or two can be a deal-breaker, especially when you get into the higher priced LED systems.

Also, Zero_Enigma asked alot of very good questions in his post and they appear to have gone un-answered. Did the supplier refuse to give those details out?

Few points from a commuter:

- Weight: a kilogram is a lot, for a lighthead. At 2 amp draw it will need a fairly beefy battery too, so the combined weight will be something to think about. And I'm a commuter / utility cyclist. I'm sure road cyclists and possibly MTBers would be even more concerned.
- Mount: drilling the bars is definitely not a good idea. P-clamp sounds better, but the mount or the light should really have some kind of quick release. Bolt that much money onto a handlebar and it will be gone the moment you turn your back, if not before.
- Amount of light sounds good, though a lot depends on the beam pattern. That "MORE than enough" -statement... well, I don't think anyone has ever discarded a bike light because it's too bright. Maybe because of short run time / excessive battery size involved, but all the lumens are generally warmly welcomed.

It would be interesting to know the LED / lense specs as Zero Enigma pointed out earlier, but with the specs on the table so far, VisionX doesn't look like a clear winner to me.

--J

I do not know all the specs of the LEDs or what angles they are. When i talked to the distributor he didnt have that information, and I did not have a chance to talk to vision X directly. I agree with you guys on the weight, and It doesnt seem like it will really work out too well.

Hmmm, kinda heavy, draws more current and would seem to put out less light than an MR16 (when overvolted). and dude, it's pricey. i'll pass thank you.

Alon,

Sorry I've been a bit busy and did not check this post daily. The LED specs definately are one critical thing I would like to know. Around 2lbs for the light? Hmm... It is still doable for those that can fashion a strong seat or rack mount.

My thoughts is that most that are interested in this is for street use be it a rider on a MTB or a roadbike. On the offroad trails or revine trails with no cars there this product I would think would not think be really useful other then for kicks and bragging rights on the trails. On the trails a simple blinking and steady light is all you need really.

On the road however you're dealing with traffic of various speeds from school zone 20kph to 40kph residential to typical streets of 60kph to street highways in the speeds of 80kph. For those that live in areas where you can ride on the provincial/state highways then you're dealing with cars traveling in the 100-120kph range while you're riding on the shoulder.

I have had thoughts of this product being put into a trailer which would work out nicely I would think. Also for the rider on a normal bike they can use li-ion batteries to save on the weight but it will burn a hole in the pocket to get some long runtimes. I've not checked the price of this LED bar in a while. I'm guess it's in the $200 range? Yah that is very pricey.