Commuting - Super taillight!

Hello, everyone. Check out this taillight (www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=17696) from Performance. The thing is freakishly bright.

The mount is really for the handlebars(it comes in a white headlight, too, but it's not as blinding); you'll have to rig up a mount. I put mine on the seatstays right below the brakes by rapping up enough rubber for the clamp to hold.

I used to use the 5-led Cateye 600, and there is no comparison. I have had quite a few riders ask me where I got such a bright taillight

can you compare it to http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/reallite/index.html

The brightest taillight I ever used was the Lightman Strobe. This was a Xenon light and not LED and had effective range of 2-3 miles.. This thing was screaming bright. Downside it was bulky, about the size of your palm and ate batteries quickly. 2 aa's would last about 4-6 hours maximum.. If interested, it has lots of attachment options that come standard.. I now use it for emergencies with my car, here is a link:

http://www.awdirect.com/awdirect/catalog.cfm?dest=itempg&itemid=6181&secid=68&linkon=subsection&linkid=206

The taillight I use now is the Planet Bike Taillight.. Very bright, as bright as total eclipse but the LED's are staggered at different angles for maximum visibility. I bought it off ebay, here is the link, I've bought many things from this seller and he is solid:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3668445609&category=22689

It looks to me like it is supposed to mount to the seatpost. That is where most taillights mount.

At least that is one of the most common mounts that come with them.

Fellas, I've used the Total Eclipse and Lightman Strobes before. Here are my experiences.

The Total Eclipse was about as bright as the Cateye 600, but the mount wasn't very secure. The light ended up going down in a blaze of glory when I rode over some railroad tracks. It popped off and cracked.

I bought a bunch of Lightman Strobes for my bikes based on reviews I had read on the web. I found that their light dispersed too much lighting up above the bike below the bike--places where I didn't need light. Also, the strobe is white, and if you need a colored light, e.g. a red one for the taillight, you must add Lightman's red colored lense, which has so much red pigment (in order to convert the white strobe into red) that it noticeably lowers the brightness down.

In terms of brightness, these lights don't come close to the freaklight.

Merton, I haven't seen the Reallite in action, so I can't say how this taillight compares.

Midwestmountainbiker, thanks for letting me know where taillights should be mounted. I'll have to write that down. This taillight, however, has a side mount. Thus, when put on the seatpost, it gets in the way of your pedaling legs. Moreover, in the website pic, you may notice that the light is not really angled up enough. This is because that's as far as it will go. It's necessary to file the mount some to get it to angle up more. It may sound like a pain, but the brightness is worth it.

I mounted a xenon strobe from Radio Shack which is powered from my 12V system. Nobody can ever say, "I didn't see him."

I mounted a xenon strobe from Radio Shack which is powered from my 12V system. Nobody can ever say, "I didn't see him."

Welcome back Ray! .. and details about that light! ;)

I mounted a xenon strobe from Radio Shack which is powered from my 12V system. Nobody can ever say, "I didn't see him."

or the liteman xenon strobe. it runs off of 2 aa's but you only get 3 to 5 hours run time.

Hello, everyone. Check out this taillight (www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=17696) from Performance. The thing is freakishly bright.

The mount is really for the handlebars(it comes in a white headlight, too, but it's not as blinding); you'll have to rig up a mount. I put mine on the seatstays right below the brakes by rapping up enough rubber for the clamp to hold.

I used to use the 5-led Cateye 600, and there is no comparison. I have had quite a few riders ask me where I got such a bright taillight

The way it's mounted on that seatpost, It looks like your leg will hit it with each revolution esp. when sprinting.

Also, it should be at the very end of the bike cuz that gives the guy behind you an extra 2'ft of braking distance.

The way it's mounted on that seatpost, It looks like your leg will hit it with each revolution esp. when sprinting.



Exactly Vrkelley. As I previously stated, the light protrudes too much not only for sprinting but also for any other riding situation, which necessitates mounting it on the seatstay.

The brightest taillight I ever used was the Lightman Strobe. This was a Xenon light and not LED and had effective range of 2-3 miles.. This thing was screaming bright. Downside it was bulky, about the size of your palm and ate batteries quickly. 2 aa's would last about 4-6 hours maximum.. If interested, it has lots of attachment options that come standard.. I now use it for emergencies with my car, here is a link:

http://www.awdirect.com/awdirect/catalog.cfm?dest=itempg&itemid=6181&secid=68&linkon=subsection&linkid=206



Did I read that Lightman site correctly when it said it weighed 1 pound?!

can you compare it to http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/reallite/index.html

I like that big taillight. I just put my rack on my bike, so a seat post mount would be hidden. I need something that mounts on the back of my rack to hold the light. No more back pack on my back on hot days.

I had a lightman strobe and while bulky I know it did not weight 1 pound.. I would say at least 6-8 ounces.. It is about the size as the palm of your hand.. If you decide you do not like it as a taillight it has alot of other applications.. It comes with a wide assortment of attachments..

I still think one of the best places to put a light is on the back of your head. Seriously. These SUVs are so tall that once they get beside you, that light on your post is no longer visible and you are lost! Since I've attached my Super Nubula to the back of my helmet, the cars have been treating me with much more respect. In fact, the light scares some of them as they've never seen anyone with a light on the back of his head.

I am person who goes a little over kill on lights.. I love riding at night, the roads are just so much more peaceful here in So Cal at night.. I have 4 lights.. Handlebar Arc HID - Flashing Helmet Light (Princeton Tec Aurora)

Taillights - Seat Post - Red Planet Bike LED 7 - Omni Directional and a White Guardian Adventure Light attahced to my seat pack.. I have found that having a red and white taillight really makes you stand out.. The guardian lights can be found at a few places online but a good place is a company called Botach, they carry police and military tactical gear and have some interesting lighting choices..If you buy the light it comes with the belt clip, you do not have to order it extra.. The other attachments are extra. Here is a link:

http://www.botac.com/novlabguar.html

SoCalRider you sound like a friend of mine where I use to live in Bakersfield. He was a light fanatic as well. He had the Cygo Metro 2 beamer job on the handlebar, 2 Cateye EL200's (or something similar to that) one on each fork blade and some sort of helmet light. Then on the rear he had the Cateye 600, those little barend blinkies and a UFO hanging off the rear of his helmet. He also wore reflective clothing, PLUS he wore those glowing bands that you can put on your lower leg or arms. If you couldn't see this guy at night then you shouldn't be driving because your blind!

I never had any problems riding a night so I'm not so fanatical as he is. I just use a Cygo Metro headlight, a Cateye 600 taillight and recently added the barend lights.

I had a lightman strobe and while bulky I know it did not weight 1 pound.. I would say at least 6-8 ounces.. It is about the size as the palm of your hand.. If you decide you do not like it as a taillight it has alot of other applications.. It comes with a wide assortment of attachments..

No... 3.9 oz. with the batt. installed according to the Lightmans site.

I use a NiteRider Tail light, 13.2V w/ 15 LED's. It is only for HID system. I could almost use it for a headlight.
http://www.icebike.org/Equipment/lightsreviews.htm
http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Lights/product_22215.shtml

I am in agreess with carless about the Niterider tail light, I think its' the best. Unfortunatly it only works with a Niterider system (not stand alone) and the Niterider system has flaws, so I gave up on mine and went with a Lupine light. Sure do miss the Niterider tail light though. At some point I may resarect it with a makeshift battery setup.

I made my NR taillight stand-alone with a rechargeable RC battery pack from Radio Shack. I got a quick disconnect RC power harness, crimped it onto the bare stripped NR wires, and I was "good to go"




I am in agreess with carless about the Niterider tail light, I think its' the best. Unfortunatly it only works with a Niterider system (not stand alone) and the Niterider system has flaws, so I gave up on mine and went with a Lupine light. Sure do miss the Niterider tail light though. At some point I may resarect it with a makeshift battery setup.

Merton
The link you gave is not functional. I tried searching the Harris site for it and it apparently is no longer carried by them.

Merton
The link you gave is not functional. I tried searching the Harris site for it and it apparently is no longer carried by them.

His post is a year and a half old so it's not surprising.

What's up with reviving this "ancient" thread?

What's up with reviving this "ancient" thread?

Lol... :lol:

I got a gary fisher light kit about a year ago, changed the batteries in the tail light once and, three months later, going down a bridge (okay, standing at the top), this girl saw me from three miles away and I was facing her. That's actually very good to know, so the next time I get hit I can say "but my light is visible for three miles!"

You can experiment with PVC tubing if you need to put a seatpost mounted light on the back of your rack. Depending upon the rack, there are ways of rigging it up securely. Maybe it might not be pretty, but it will get you back your favorite light.

DiNotte Lighting USA makes an extremely bright tail light (300R). Just received it in the mail and listen...it is the only tail light you will ever need. It is a bit pricey (199.99) but I believe it is worth every penny based on how quick it is to mount and the ease of use (built-in battery). I highly recommend it.

http://www.dinottelighting.com

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GXHMppAZBuA/TOZXAxbtcgI/AAAAAAAAAI4/ft8cz8mS_wQ/s1600/Old+Thread+back.jpg

Welcome to BF, mashinkeyz!

Since this thread is six years old, it's probably best to start a new one.

Closed.