This new light looks quite promising. It's bright at 128 lumens, takes AA batteries, and has a long runtime of 6 hours and a battery guage. Has anyone heard of this before?

https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=92&products_id=486
https://www.fenix-store.com/images/M1-catalog.jpg


EDIT: It's a Dosun M1 Bike Light.

Man, the finish on that product makes it looke like a $2 flashlight.

Man, the finish on that product makes it looke like a $2 flashlight.

Oh, you've seen the light. Can you tell us more about it please? Thanks.

128 Lumen is not really all that bright compared to the new power LED's. Thats less than a Cree XR-E operating at the lowest power setting of 10% when using a standard 5-mode driver circuit. My dynamo powered DIY LED headlight produces 500 Lumen at 7 MPH. You would do much better with a Cree or SSC flashlight from DX. They have flashlights with the new SSC P7 emitter producing 900 Lumen for ~$50.

they need a better video. Looks kinda big...I wonder what kind of mount they have coming with it.

128 Lumen is not really all that bright compared to the new power LED's. Thats less than a Cree XR-E operating at the lowest power setting of 10% when using a standard 5-mode driver circuit. My dynamo powered DIY LED headlight produces 500 Lumen at 7 MPH. You would do much better with a Cree or SSC flashlight from DX. They have flashlights with the new SSC P7 emitter producing 900 Lumen for ~$50.

Jaa, with a 30 minute runtime. :rolleyes:

128 lumens for 6 hours is good for a city commuter light.

Yeah, its significantly brighter than most bike lights out on the street, and looks like a useful beam pattern. Runtime means you'll change batteries once a week rather than every day.
I like it.

More lumens don't necessarily make a better bike light. Effective power management, bi-level beam pattern and cut-off shielding combined with a decent lighting level makes this a pretty special combination. How many DIY, chicken-frying-lumen output headlights have these features?

More lumens don't necessarily make a better bike light. Effective power management, bi-level beam pattern and cut-off shielding combined with a decent lighting level makes this a pretty special combination. How many DIY, chicken-frying-lumen output headlights have these features?
This one.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r154/n4zou/light.jpg
Two SSC P4 U-BIN Z-power LED's under Fraen optics. 10 degree narrow left and 15X30 elliptical right. Bridge rectifier and 1,000uF capacitor is also located in the housing. No batteries required as it's driven by the dynamo.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r154/n4zou/HPIM0395.jpg

The background music in the video will be stuck in my head for the rest of the day now... :p

I like the concept, but two things are keeping me from buying it. The lack of information on the mount, and the fact that it is 128 lumens. If it was a tad brighter, say in the 200 lumen range, I'd be all over it to replace my fenix lights. I really want something self contained, with good brightness, a solid beam pattern for biking, and good runtime, say in the 3 hour range. This is close, but not quite there.

That said, I'll probably grab one next week and see how tinker friendly this light is.

boog

More lumens don't necessarily make a better bike light. Effective power management, bi-level beam pattern and cut-off shielding combined with a decent lighting level makes this a pretty special combination. How many DIY, chicken-frying-lumen output headlights have these features?

There is something funky about the beam pattern of the light in the video. Unless there is another light mounted somewhere on the bike, the pool of light right below the wheel is absolutely useless. Illuminating where the wheel is gives you no information about what your wheel might be falling into. By the time you could see a hazard with a pool of light directly in front of the wheel, it's too late.

I'm not sure who this light is designed for. The Planet Bike 1W Blaze puts out as much light, is $30 cheaper, is smaller and has a 7 hr run time on AA batteries. If they are aim the light towards the crowd that needs longer run times, the light is too weak.

'Tis a silly light.

The background music in the video will be stuck in my head for the rest of the day now... :p

I like the concept, but two things are keeping me from buying it. The lack of information on the mount, and the fact that it is 128 lumens. If it was a tad brighter, say in the 200 lumen range, I'd be all over it to replace my fenix lights. I really want something self contained, with good brightness, a solid beam pattern for biking, and good runtime, say in the 3 hour range. This is close, but not quite there.

That said, I'll probably grab one next week and see how tinker friendly this light is.

boog

Dinotte 200L

This one.

Two SSC P4 U-BIN Z-power LED's under Fraen optics. 10 degree narrow left and 15X30 elliptical right. Bridge rectifier and 1,000uF capacitor is also located in the housing. No batteries required as it's driven by the dynamo.


I know you are proud of your homemade light, but must you post it in nearly every light thread? You DIY and the light in the OP have for very different purposes. Please try and accept that not everyone has the same lighting needs as you.

Thanks.


Z.

they need a better video. Looks kinda big...I wonder what kind of mount they have coming with it.

I wrote to Fenix-Store about the mount. I'll post when I get a response.

I'm not sure who this light is designed for. The Planet Bike 1W Blaze puts out as much light, is $30 cheaper, is smaller and has a 7 hr run time on AA batteries. If they are aim the light towards the crowd that needs longer run times, the light is too weak.

'Tis a silly light.
The Planet Bike 1W Blaze has a Luxeon LED in it which puts out a maximum of 45 lumens. That's a far cry from the claimed 128 of the light in the OP.

The beam in the video does not seem too bad for what is basically a cute little flashlight. I'd aim it a little higher so cars could see it better but then the narrow patch on the road would make it harder to see road hazards. I'll stay with my DIY system even though I need a battery that could start a small motorcycle.

Dinotte 200L

Stop shillin' Dinottes. The extra battery pack is a nuisance to deal with, and yes, I have dealt with velcro strap battery packs. Not fun. I prefer a simple mount and go.

128 Lumen is not really all that bright compared to the new power LED's. Thats less than a Cree XR-E operating at the lowest power setting of 10% when using a standard 5-mode driver circuit. My dynamo powered DIY LED headlight produces 500 Lumen at 7 MPH. You would do much better with a Cree or SSC flashlight from DX. They have flashlights with the new SSC P7 emitter producing 900 Lumen for ~$50.

Your dynamo does not produce 500 lumens at 7 MPH. Stop exaggerating. I'm a DIY freak as well, but not everyone is capable of DIY. You need to learn to accept that.

There is something funky about the beam pattern of the light in the video. Unless there is another light mounted somewhere on the bike, the pool of light right below the wheel is absolutely useless. Illuminating where the wheel is gives you no information about what your wheel might be falling into. By the time you could see a hazard with a pool of light directly in front of the wheel, it's too late.


I had a light setup that had almost no spill (pathetic dual 3w halogens), very unnerving when you need to stop in total darkness. I had to use a small blinky pointed down by the front wheel.

"Show it agant"? Is that what I saw in the video?

All your base are belong to us

LOL

-GadgetAdam

Your dynamo does not produce 500 lumens at 7 MPH. Stop exaggerating. I'm a DIY freak as well, but not everyone is capable of DIY. You need to learn to accept that.
There are new people showing up all the time on this fo and most do not search the fo for prior posts. This would exclude them not only from my information but others as well. If I and others only posted once the fo would soon die from lack of use. Just because others can't DIY equipment should not limit information to those that can. I've had many private messages from others wanting more detailed information about my latest light. I'm also not exaggerating. My dynamo current output is 700mA with two power LED's in series and when used with high efficiency optics 500 Lumen is easily obtained. You can see this from the following graph available from SSC website.
http://www.kaidomain.com/UploadFiles/633083154662080000.jpg
Anyway, I was only responding to another comment about how DIY lighting could never be as good as commercially available lighting which is not true. In all reality DIY LED lighting is far ahead of manufacturers because of the extremely rapid pace of ever brighter LED's. It takes a lot of development time for a manufacturer to bring a new product to market. Currently Power LED's are in an extremely rapid development phase. An example is the jump from the Cree XR-E at 220 Lumen output (without optics) to the SSC P7 900 lumen (also without optics). The new SSC P7 with optics is so bright at full power it exceeds DOT limits for automotive headlight use.

^^^^

Please understand that other people have different wants and needs than you. Please.

I had a light setup that had almost no spill (pathetic dual 3w halogens), very unnerving when you need to stop in total darkness. I had to use a small blinky pointed down by the front wheel.

I'll agree that some light spill is needed but the (poor quality) video shows something else entirely. It looks like part of the beam is aimed directly at the front wheel. There also doesn't appear to be any light from there to where the main beam hits the ground. Of course, I'm used to the pavement smoking while I ride:rolleyes:;)

There are new people showing up all the time on this fo and most do not search the fo for prior posts. This would exclude them not only from my information but others as well. If I and others only posted once the fo would soon die from lack of use. Just because others can't DIY equipment should not limit information to those that can. I've had many private messages from others wanting more detailed information about my latest light.

So what, I have DIY lights on this forum as well, and yet I don't see the need of harping it every time a new light thread shows up. The search is there for a reason. Those who go on DIY hardly gets it right the first time. Kinda like how homeowners go to Home Depot and later hire a contractor because they can't do it right. Post your light once in a thread you started, and let it go.

I'm also not exaggerating. My dynamo current output is 700mA with two power LED's in series and when used with high efficiency optics 500 Lumen is easily obtained. You can see this from the following graph available from SSC website.
http://www.kaidomain.com/UploadFiles/633083154662080000.jpg
Anyway, I was only responding to another comment about how DIY lighting could never be as good as commercially available lighting which is not true. In all reality DIY LED lighting is far ahead of manufacturers because of the extremely rapid pace of ever brighter LED's. It takes a lot of development time for a manufacturer to bring a new product to market. Currently Power LED's are in an extremely rapid development phase. An example is the jump from the Cree XR-E at 220 Lumen output (without optics) to the SSC P7 900 lumen (also without optics). The new SSC P7 with optics is so bright at full power it exceeds DOT limits for automotive headlight use.

Keep saying it to make yourself feel better. Your tire driven dynamo does not have a current output of 700mA, I have that POS as well, it's sitting in the parts box. Two Cree or Seoul does not put out 500 lumens. Your light is 350 lumens top.

Here's the email I got about the mount.

I have a poor camera phone picture I just took for you. I threw in a cr123a battery as a reference to size....if that helps. It does come with both mounts pictured as well as some rubber pieces for padding on the handlebar.

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/1972/dosunm1gd1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

it looks interesting, but I think its a little too pricey.

it looks interesting, but I think its a little too pricey.

What makes you say that?

Dinotte 200L

Not self contained. I want the battery and the light all in one unit, ala L&M's Vega but brighter. The Dinotte is so close to perfect, but I use my bike for running around at night all the time, and would like something I can take off and stick in my pocket fairly easily. My fenix p2d is great, but would prefer something with a wider beam.

:beer:

boog

Here's the email I got about the mount.



http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/1972/dosunm1gd1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

looks like pretty decent mounts. Wish they had helmet camera pics/video of that light rather then diddling around in circles at couple mph.

What makes you say that?

the price. I'm currently running a $10 dynamo and a $17.00 B&M Lumotec headlight. No batteries and enough light. But a battery light for a backup makes sense...just not $76.00 worth.

the price. I'm currently running a $10 dynamo and a $17.00 B&M Lumotec headlight. No batteries and enough light. But a battery light for a backup makes sense...just not $76.00 worth.

So it's not the price/output ratio, but rather the price in general?

So it's not the price/output ratio, but rather the price in general?

For me. YMMV.
I think the output looks reasonably decent. It would make a great backup light for me, but as a backup, I'd prefer something a bit cheaper because its not going to be used that much.

For me. YMMV.

$76 isn't too much for me to know that my wife has a bright and highly visible light for the commute to and from work. I don't know of any bike specific light that is as bright for the price.

"Two SSC P4 U-BIN Z-power LED's under Fraen optics. 10 degree narrow left and 15X30 elliptical right. Bridge rectifier and 1,000uF capacitor..."

Aye, Captain, but I'm uncertain the dilithium crystals can maintain the warp drive for long! She's taken about as much as she can handle! Scotty out!

$76 isn't too much for me to know that my wife has a bright and highly visible light for the commute to and from work. I don't know of any bike specific light that is as bright for the price.

Nor do I. Its a matter of needs and I don't need that much.

I went looking and came up with this (http://www.dosun.us/portablelight/productframe_m1.html) from Duosun. They use optics to aim a small amount of light at the wheel. However from their picture

http://www.dosun.us/portablelight/images/productframe/M1/m1-4.gif

there is a huge gap between the light at the wheel and where the lamp is aimed. Although using some of the LED to provide some spill, they should have aimed the spill light up a little more. That's a pretty dark patch to leave unilluminated. My lights have similar illumination around the tire but they are continuous all the way to the bright spot of the lamp and beyond.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/cyccommute/IMGP1312.jpg

Granted, the light system above is about 40 times as bright but the light is very even from source to target.

The Planet Bike 1W Blaze has a Luxeon LED in it which puts out a maximum of 45 lumens. That's a far cry from the claimed 128 of the light in the OP.

Is that thing out yet? Originally they said the 1W would be out in April and the 2W would be out in June. Now the 1W watt says "ETA = May 2008 (http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3044.html)" although it's still listed as out of stock, and the 2W has long since vanished from their website.

Is that thing out yet? Originally they said the 1W would be out in April and the 2W would be out in June. Now the 1W watt says "ETA = May 2008 (http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3044.html)" although it's still listed as out of stock, and the 2W has long since vanished from their website.

No idea, I just looked up the specs.

I just wrote back to Fenix-store asking for clarification on the beam pattern and beam shots. I'll post the response when I get it.

Local REI had the PB 1W model in stock. Gonna trade in the .5 watt version I just bought as a backup light. The .5 w model is too blue, the 1 w is nice and white. Haven't seen any sign of the 2w version.

I just wrote back to Fenix-store asking for clarification on the beam pattern and beam shots. I'll post the response when I get it.


can't wait to see what they send over:thumb:

Is that thing out yet? Originally they said the 1W would be out in April and the 2W would be out in June. Now the 1W watt says "ETA = May 2008 (http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3044.html)" although it's still listed as out of stock, and the 2W has long since vanished from their website.

It is out. I've not heard of any news of the 2W unit. I did email PB about the 1W. Any images you see on the web that are gray in color is the OLD PB 1W public image. The final production model is WHITE on the housing.

www.Amazon.com has a few of the PB 1W Blaze in stock and ready to ship out. I want to see info (if anyone can dig it out) of the 2W version. I hope they make that unit gray or gray/black in color.

I'm loving my 1/2W Blaze units. Nice compact dual 'eyes' for easy on/off while shopping.

So it's not the price/output ratio, but rather the price in general?

The price/output ratio isn't all that great. I have yet to see a commercial LED unit that is. Commercial LED units are like full suspension mountain bikes of 5 years ago, i.e. they haven't matured enough yet. You may get something cool but next year's model is going to be way cooler.

And you were correct about the Blaze. I shot my mouth off without thinking. I was wrong. Sorry.

Nor do I. Its a matter of needs and I don't need that much.

Niterider TrailRat. Slightly more expensive, shorter run time but it does put out more light. Easily upgradeable to put out way more light.

As for run times, everyone is impressed by long run times. Why? Are you really riding to work and taking 6 hours to do it? Most people are doing 1.5 to 2 hours of commuting per day. A 6 hour run time may mean that you only have to charge every third day but what if you forget? Better to have run times closer to what your needs are and have to charge everyday. Having forgotten to charge and run out of power on the way home, I can tell you that it's not that pleasant of an experience:o

Niterider TrailRat. Slightly more expensive, shorter run time but it does put out more light. Easily upgradeable to put out way more light.

As for run times, everyone is impressed by long run times. Why? Are you really riding to work and taking 6 hours to do it? Most people are doing 1.5 to 2 hours of commuting per day. A 6 hour run time may mean that you only have to charge every third day but what if you forget? Better to have run times closer to what your needs are and have to charge everyday. Having forgotten to charge and run out of power on the way home, I can tell you that it's not that pleasant of an experience:o

Why do I want a long runtime? I want a light with a long runtime so I can know that my wife actually has a working light. There is no way in hell shes going to keep track of her battery usage. With a 6 hour rumtime I know the light should last her for five days of commuting. There also no way in hell she's going to charge her batteries every day, and I'm not going to keep track of it either.

Why do I want a long runtime? I want a light with a long runtime so I can know that my wife actually has a working light. There is no way in hell shes going to keep track of her battery usage. With a 6 hour rumtime I know the light should last her for five days of commuting. There also no way in hell she's going to charge her batteries every day, and I'm not going to keep track of it either.

The operative word there is 'should'. No battery produces what it 'should'. Some are a little over, most are under. As the battery ages, most go way under. And, if you don't use rechargeables, run time is a real crapshot. If you are really worried that your wife won't have a working light, then it's better to keep track of the charge rather then hope that the battery run for the 6 hours over a week.

The operative word there is 'should'. No battery produces what it 'should'. Some are a little over, most are under. As the battery ages, most go way under. And, if you don't use rechargeables, run time is a real crapshot. If you are really worried that your wife won't have a working light, then it's better to keep track of the charge rather then hope that the battery run for the 6 hours over a week.

Thanks, I'm knowledgeable about batteries, and keep mine well conditioned.

FWIW, it doesn't get truly dark here in the summer (when my wife commutes) until well past 23:00. I mostly want he to be seen by cars. I run a Fenix LD2 during the day in strobe mode and have noticed a massive difference in how cars react to me.

I want to see info (if anyone can dig it out) of the 2W version. I hope they make that unit gray or gray/black in color.

http://planetbike.com/files/catalog08.pdf

It's on page 4 of their 2008 catalog. It does show the 1W in white and the 2W in black.

http://planetbike.com/files/catalog08.pdf

It's on page 4 of their 2008 catalog. It does show the 1W in white and the 2W in black.

Thanks.

I'll have o start a new thread as I don't want to overload this thread with non topic comments. :D

It looks like the folks at Fenix Store/Four Sevens have flaked out on sending photos. Oh well.