Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Best AAA Rear Light?

Checked out the new Serfas TL-2 and the Niterider Cherrybomb yesterday. To me they seem brighter and more annoying than my PBSF. Any thoughts and is there anything better?

Mars 4.0 2 x AAA is brighter than PBSF and has nice side blinkers as well. I have both, and prefer the Mars 4.0, although I wouldn't rush out to upgrade if I were already running a PBSF. Both are excellent.

I guess, currently the best such tail light is the Radbot 1000.
Very likely the brightest and comes with an integrated reflector.

http://www.ridepdw.com/goods/lights/radbot-1000

Technically, the best rear light may be the Dinotte 140L, but it's $90-$130.

Technically, the best rear light may be the Dinotte 140L, but it's $90-$130.

Well, technically the Dinotte 400R, but it's about $200.

GeoMan says he'll have something from MagicShine that's competitive with the Dinotte140L sometime in April, I'm buying one the minute they're available and I'll post pics and videos.

To me they seem brighter and more annoying than my PBSF. Any thoughts and is there anything better?

Annoying? Yes, two PBSF. One on the rack and one on the back of my helmet. It works quite well for nightime riding. They both don't blink at the same rate and my head move around while I am moving. That movement changes the angle of the light maximizing the chance if getting seen by cars behind and on the side. Honestly, ever since I used two light this week, cars actually move one whole lane over to pass me instead of just passing by me several feet only.

Still, I'm also in the same camp of waiting for the new MS rear light. If price is right, I maybe buying two of those.

Annoying? Yes, two PBSF. One on the rack and one on the back of my helmet. It works quite well for nightime riding. They both don't blink at the same rate and my head move around while I am moving. That movement changes the angle of the light maximizing the chance if getting seen by cars behind and on the side. Honestly, ever since I used two light this week, cars actually move one whole lane over to pass me instead of just passing by me several feet only.

Still, I'm also in the same camp of waiting for the new MS rear light. If price is right, I maybe buying two of those.

Yeah that's totally me. Two PBSF's right now. I just want to look more like a car than a bike without having all those wires.

Are any of these options bright enough to frighten motorists into the next lane? It's a dream of mine to have an entire daylight ride where I'm not buzzed by a sixteen year old in a pickup <3

NiteRider Cherrybomb is good. Its beam pattern is much wider than PBSF. PBSF looks bright but only if you're standing within 10 degrees of where it's pointed. Kind of dumb for a 'to-be-seen' light if you ask me.

The most clearly visible rear light I've seen in the real world lately is B&M Toplight Line Plus, but it's dynamo power only.

Mars 4.0 2 x AAA is
I agree The blackburn Mars 4.0 is a good light I have a box Of tail lights That I have tried and wasted my moneyon and for the money You just can not beat it. I use it every day and works great. Just wish the button was a little bigger
also waiteing to see what the m/s tail light will be Have two 900s on the bars and they have woked out well
From what I have seen so far is my two 900s put out as much or a little better than The M/s 1400s That I have seen so far

I third the Blackburn Mars 4. It's brighter then the Planet bike Superflash and more durable, it can also be seen from the sides which most rear tail lights fail at doing. The second best on is the Cateye LD610, not as bright from the rear as the Superflash or the Mars 4 but almost, but it can be seen from the sides unlike the Superflash.

Are any of these options bright enough to frighten motorists into the next lane? It's a dream of mine to have an entire daylight ride where I'm not buzzed by a sixteen year old in a pickup <3

You need one of these, a blue flasher, though that might not be legal.

I third the Blackburn Mars 4. It's brighter then the Planet bike Superflash and more durable, it can also be seen from the sides which most rear tail lights fail at doing. The second best on is the Cateye LD610, not as bright from the rear as the Superflash or the Mars 4 but almost, but it can be seen from the sides unlike the Superflash.

The Mars4 is perhaps marginally brighter than the SF with fresh Alkaline batteries but doesn't burn for as long. Its a good light if you don't mind switching batteries reasonably often. The PBSF on blink lasts for a very long time and the seatstay mounting option is nice when your seatpost is obscured by luggage. See my testing (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?545024-Blinkie-testing-PBSF-vs-MARS-4-0-vs-Cateye-LD1100).

The dinotte doesn't run on AAAs... whats it dong in this thread? :crash:

The Mars4 is perhaps marginally brighter than the SF with fresh Alkaline batteries but doesn't burn for as long. Its a good light if you don't mind switching batteries reasonably often. The PBSF on blink lasts for a very long time and the seatstay mounting option is nice when your seatpost is obscured by luggage. See my testing (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?545024-Blinkie-testing-PBSF-vs-MARS-4-0-vs-Cateye-LD1100).



I don't care much for the test you did...sorry. But of course the Mars won't last as long because it's firing two additional LED's for the side illumination that the Superflash doesn't have! Something you left out. But my Mars 4 last at least 20 hours on full brightness before I have to recharge the bats, not sure what kind of bats your test used. I don't know about you but I don't live in Alaska thus I don't have to worry about riding for 24 hours straight in darkness. So you use rechargeable bats and keep an extra set in your seat bag just in case you forgot to recharge after a month of riding...wee that sure is difficult to do, I'm sweating just thinking about it!

I know you said AAA, and this has limited visibility from the side, but for $10 I would not be without one of these. Probably rivals a Dinotte in brightness, ALL FOR $10!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.20333

I use this and a PBSF.
Last night my neighbor said he thought I was a flying saucer or something.

I know you said AAA, and this has limited visibility from the side, but for $10 I would not be without one of these. Probably rivals a Dinotte in brightness, ALL FOR $10!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.20333

I use this and a PBSF.
Last night my neighbor said he thought I was a flying saucer or something.

What's the REAL runtime on that DX red light? If it's only burning 800 mA and is running off an 18650, it should be getting close to 3 hours, but they only list 1 hour.

I wish it had a diffuser lens on the output, and a flash mode, then I'd probably buy two.

What's the REAL runtime on that DX red light? If it's only burning 800 mA and is running off an 18650, it should be getting close to 3 hours, but they only list 1 hour.

I wish it had a diffuser lens on the output, and a flash mode, then I'd probably buy two.

I happen to have one. It's somewhere in the neighborhood of 5-6 hours runtime. But the lack of a flashing mode makes it just another red light on a horizon full of red lights (in city traffic especially). So despite having pretty good output, I wouldn't place a lot of reliance on it for making myself noticed. There's a difference between being seen and being noticed ;)

Currently, it's zip-tied to the side of Reflecto-Bike's rear rack as a stopgap measure while I get a new switch for the Nova, with my Radbot 1000 on the seatpost in flash mode. Because it does have good intensity and medium spread, I could see it being a good add-on for people who ride in foggy conditions, at only $10 shipped.

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff237/mechBgon/bike_lights/IMG_0151.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff237/mechBgon/Monroe_Street.jpg
got a bright steady-red light? join the club ;)

After several rides I switch the battery. Never have run it down or timed it, but it's in the hours.

It works very well for me. I ride dark, rural roads around our small town. People tell me they can see me from way far back.

I'm sure a diffuser could be rigged easily.

I happen to have one. It's somewhere in the neighborhood of 5-6 hours runtime. But the lack of a flashing mode makes it just another red light on a horizon full of red lights (in city traffic especially). ...
DealExtreme sells a red LED drop-in with reflector that offers a rapidly flashing mode (Cree XLamp XP-C-R2 5-Mode 90-Lumen Memory Red Light Drop-in LED Module (38mm*26mm/8.4V Max (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.26345))). All you need to do is unscrew the lights's front, remove the the stock one, drop-in the Cree XLamp XP-C-R2 5-Mode module, and you have a rapidly flashing version that is just as bright as the stock one.

See the thread Ultrafire WF-501 B works with flashing mode Cree XLamp dropin: Closups & beams. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?564679) for details, beam shots, etc.

Brighter then a PBSF and has three modes.
40 hr run time.
uses 2 AAA

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/Lights/Sette316.jpg

Thread Hijack Alert - 10 Wheels, have you used those Sette lights in the rain? I'm curious if they are decently water-resistant or if they need some vinyl tape or something around the seam.

Yes I ride in all conditions.
They have a good gasket.

I secure all my lights with a thin piece of rubber band cut from an old tube.
This keeps the lens on tight and keeps the lights from coming loose from the bike mounts.

Deal Extreme has a PBSF clone for < $4 now. I've got one coming and will post a report. It'll probably take 3 to 5 weeks to get it.

Deal Extreme has a PBSF clone for < $4 now. I've got one coming and will post a report. It'll probably take 3 to 5 weeks to get it.

I wonder if it'll be the one I tested with the Sunlite branding (J&B Importers' house brand):

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff237/mechBgon/SuperFlash_v_clone.gif

Keep us posted :)

DealExtreme sells a red LED drop-in with reflector that offers a rapidly flashing mode (Cree XLamp XP-C-R2 5-Mode 90-Lumen Memory Red Light Drop-in LED Module (38mm*26mm/8.4V Max (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.26345))). All you need to do is unscrew the lights's front, remove the the stock one, drop-in the Cree XLamp XP-C-R2 5-Mode module, and you have a rapidly flashing version that is just as bright as the stock one.

See the thread Ultrafire WF-501 B works with flashing mode Cree XLamp dropin: Closups & beams. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?564679) for details, beam shots, etc.

I'm not comfortable using what amounts to a tactical strobe pattern in the 10-12Hz range. If it were something slower-paced like the DiNotte's Flash, Flash, Flash, Flash, Flash *pause* then I'd be all over it :)

I might just have to get four Sette Glos at that price. :)

What would be nice is a light source that can be used by motor vehicles to judge distance. Flashers are nice but sometimes they just confuse drivers.

I might just have to get four Sette Glos at that price. :)

What would be nice is a light source that can be used by motor vehicles to judge distance. Flashers are nice but sometimes they just confuse drivers.

That's why the Dinotte patterns are so nice. bright flash over steady lower brightness.

Or you can run multiple lights, one on steady. That's what I did before I got the Dinotte.

I'm not comfortable using what amounts to a tactical strobe pattern in the 10-12Hz range. If it were something slower-paced like the DiNotte's Flash, Flash, Flash, Flash, Flash *pause* then I'd be all over it :)
Well, it also has the usual S-O-S mode, but that is a bit too slow a flash rate.

I'm awaiting details on the Geoman/Magicshine tail light. If it would only combine the PB Superflash's pattern + DiNotte/Ultrafire-501 lumens (with lower lumens selectable) + side lighting of some of the lights in this thread + price under ~$40 ... but that is probably unrealistic at present.

The dinotte doesn't run on AAAs... whats it dong in this thread? :crash:

I personally don't like AAAs. They have very little power, less than half that of a AA. I preferred the Cateye TL-LD1xxx. I haven't seen the newer models, and now that I have a Dinotte I probably wouldn't get one anyway. But I'd always have preferred the lights to be a tiny bit larger to take AAs and last 2.5x longer.

I personally don't like AAAs. They have very little power, less than half that of a AA. I preferred the Cateye TL-LD1xxx. I haven't seen the newer models, and now that I have a Dinotte I probably wouldn't get one anyway. But I'd always have preferred the lights to be a tiny bit larger to take AAs and last 2.5x longer.

The specs for the LD1100 with AA's are the same as the Superflash with AAA's, 100 hours on flash. On constant, the Superflash claims 80 hours.....while the LD1100 says 50. There are more LED's to run with LD1100 I presume, so that should be taken into account. But as far as comparing the light as a whole to the AAA versions were talking about in this thread, it isn't accurate to claim it lasts 2.5x longer.

But as far as comparing the light as a whole to the AAA versions were talking about in this thread, it isn't accurate to claim it lasts 2.5x longer.

OK, it'll last 2.5x times given the same light design. The problem now is that manufacturers only seem to use AAs for lights that put out a lot of power.

My problem is that I don't want to have to keep track of and carry spares for two different kinds of batteries, and most of my devices use AAs. It's kind of a pain to carry another pair of batteries just for that one light.

I know you said AAA, and this has limited visibility from the side, but for $10 I would not be without one of these. Probably rivals a Dinotte in brightness, ALL FOR $10!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.20333

I use this and a PBSF.
Last night my neighbor said he thought I was a flying saucer or something.

How do you mount that? And it's not really $10 if someone's gotta buy an 18650 and a charger and a mount.. Interesting though

My problem is that I don't want to have to keep track of and carry spares for two different kinds of batteries, and most of my devices use AAs. It's kind of a pain to carry another pair of batteries just for that one light.

There's a cure for that pain. Get two rear AAA blinkies (in fact you could get 3 of the Sette Glo's for the price of one LD1100). You're still "carrying" an extra set in a sense, but you get the benefit of extra lighting for safety as well (perhaps have one that flashes and one that's solid). You can even stagger the batteries placement in the respective lights to ensure always having one set fresher than the other.

Redundancy=good.

I've been very happy with one of these. Just got another one as I've recently had batteries die on me halfway through a ride, so now I'll have two rear lights and two head lights, and won't get stuck at night riding without a light.

http://www.fibreflare.com/

I used the Mars 4.0 and found the button to be frustrating, I just couldn't feel/press it without dismounting my bike (seatpost mounted); it is priced right and bright and eye-catching though. Switched to the Radbot100 from Portland Design Works and love it- super easy to find/actuate the button and it's brighter than the Mars.