Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Planet Bike Super Flash ... 2nd generation

Planet Bike says a new, more powerful Super Flash is coming out in a few months:

http://www.ecovelo.info/2011/02/03/planet-bike-superflash-turbo/

It will have a different flash pattern, too.

Looks interesting. You sort of knew they'd have to respond to the PDW offerings. I hope they improved the ability of the case to retain the light, a better switch will be appreciated too.

Powered by two AA batteries? The thing must be significantly larger than the current version.

The current version is pretty good, but has a few nagging little flaws. If they fixed those, this new one could really be awesome.

Runtime would be less than 30 with AAA, so they probably didn't have a choice. Being able to state a 100 hr runtime prevents any sort of unfavorable comparison with the classic version. A little larger isnt all bad - visibility will improve with a larger face.

Intriguing, I'll have to try it out.

The AA battery is a typo, I think. The case looks the same as the old ones in the photo. Now they will catch up to the
Radbot 1000, with a one watt LED.

mechBgon will eventually post a nice test, showing what the new light is like before any of us make a buying decision.
That may save us some money. We should take up a collection and buy mechBgon another folding chair.

I'd be really happy if it used AAs. I'd prefer all my blinkies use AAs, right now blinkies are the only reason I even own any AAA cells, so they tend not to get charged and maintained properly.

Personally though I have a couple of PBSF, I'm not married to the brand, so I'd just buy whatever is best right now, which AFAICT is the Danger Zone.

AA's would be nice..

I'd be really happy if it used AAs. I'd prefer all my blinkies use AAs, right now blinkies are the only reason I even own any AAA cells, so they tend not to get charged and maintained properly.

Personally though I have a couple of PBSF, I'm not married to the brand, so I'd just buy whatever is best right now, which AFAICT is the Danger Zone.

Don't know about the danger zone. But, the radbot 1000 is a little brighter than the superflash, and it has a wider effective spread of visibility. It went to the one watt LED first. Eventually they all will.
However if the Batteries get too low a bump can shut them off. I fixed this by just charging the batteries before they get low. It also has a reflector that really works. By looking at the Radbot one can see it is from the same original manufacturer as the PBSF. Many tailights are all from one place and private labeled when sold. I have one style of light that has five different brand names on it. And they are all made by S-sun or Sanyo, or something like that.

The AA battery is a typo, I think.

The website link in the earlier post now says "up to 100 hours of run time on two AAA batteries"

That's better. Same rear housing as the last two versions. Same bracket,etc. If it is going to be as bright as the Radbot 1000, which it probably will be, same company, it will be a good light to use in bright daylight.

I'm in for two of these. Just today, my PDW 1000 took a beating when the fare gate at the train station closed early and caught my PDW and snap off the cover and mounting screw right off. I was a little sadden but more happy it did. Yay! I never did like the new flash pattern of the PDW as compared to the PBSF.

I also hated the runtime of the PDW. If it is true that the newer 1W PBSF will run 100 hour, I will be very please.

I wish it had a reflector like the Portland Design Works lights.

I wish it had a reflector like the Portland Design Works lights.

The Radbot 1000 is the brighter PBSF with a reflector. All made in the same place.

Here's a review of the new SuperFlash, by the same Web site I cited earlier:

http://www.ecovelo.info/2011/02/14/planet-bike-superflash-turbo-2/

Here's a review of the new SuperFlash, by the same Web site I cited earlier:
http://www.ecovelo.info/2011/02/14/planet-bike-superflash-turbo-2/

Good review..Thanks

I'm running the Dinotte tail light at the moment, however this might be it's replacement later on down the road. :) The price will be hard to beat.

Seems like an impressive unit, but I probably will not be buying for a while. My issues with PBSF's stem from multiple casing pop-offs, specifically, when on my rack when going over hard terrain. I am all for a case that screws together, like the PDW Radbot (which have had no issues turning off ever, and this is going over two railroad tracks, speed bumps, etc). I will say that the blinking mode is fantastic on the PBSF, and hope it stayed in this version. The water resistance is iffy as well. I am also curious to see the actual spread on the road; reviews that show up-close camera stills of a light are of really no asset.

I'm running the Dinotte tail light at the moment, however this might be it's replacement later on down the road. :) The price will be hard to beat.

I'll buy you a new SuperFlash if you send me your Dinotte! ;)

You do realize that even the new SuperFlash will be nowhere near as bright as any of the Dinotte lights? In fact, even the least powerful Dinotte on low will blow away the new SuperFlash...

... but my offer still stands! ;)