Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Planet Bike Beamer Headlight... Why the 2nd quick release?‏

I recently purchased a Planet Bike Beamer headlight. I really like the light, except for the mount's quick release.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6215/6239272050_c2ceb3a84c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ufobike/6239272050/)
Planet Bike's Headlight Mount Vs. Portland Design Work's Mount

Really, do we need the mount to be a quick release? I can't get the things to clamp down and stay firmly in place with the lever design you have. If I get it tight, then I can't get the lever into its receptacle, if I can get it into the receptacle, then it's too loose for some of the fast/rough conditions I find myself riding in.

I'd love to see a mount that just simply gets screwed into place (by hand or by tool) and left on the bike firmly clamped. If a customer want's the light to be swap-able from one bike to another, make sure that the included instructions have an ad (or better still a coupon) for purchasing a 2nd mount.

So, does anybody else have this problem (or better still... solution)?

I replaced the image of the generic mount w/the PB mount to one of the PB mount and a PDW mount. The change monkeyed up the image in this post. I've since updated the link, sorry if this caused any confusion

I have the same problems with a cheap Zefal that I'm using as a safety light. It's gone past the point of annoyance and I'm now considering mounting the light with an old inner tube.

That 'tool-less' feature is something that the marketing types are drooling over. Except they apparently have no real world experience using them in the field. Other than the issues already mentioned, here's another:

Thanks to the design, you remove your lights when you lock up, but could come back and find your mounts have been removed from the bike...

Unscrew the quick release and see if you can use a bolt and a cylindrical washer instead.

Or put more rubber/bar tape/weather stripping on the bar. Something with a little spring. I've never had a problem using those kind of mounts with a rubber shim.

I have the same problems with a cheap Zefal that I'm using as a safety light. It's gone past the point of annoyance and I'm now considering mounting the light with an old inner tube.

Thanks for reminding me... my Zéfal and PB mounts are interchangeable.

Turn the clamp 180 degrees.

Turn the clamp 180 degrees.

Can't get it to seat, and that was when it was off the bike, I'm worried that the thing would snap if I tried to force it more than I've already tried.

I've tried loosening the screw, and trying again, it seated... Will it prevent the mount from rolling? That has yet to be seen.

It didn't work, the light rolled down during my commute.

I did however get a reply to my email (much like my OP) from PB.


Hi K'Tesh,

Thanks for your email. I’m sorry you have had such trouble with the mounting bracket for your Beamer headlight. Many folks have multiple bikes they’d like to use the light on and the easy on/off bracket allows them to easily do this.

The brackets are adjustable at two points – the plastic band and the cam lever. The plastic band that goes around the handlebar can be adjusted to make the mount fit handlebars of various diameters. You may need to pull the band out a “notch” to get the correct fit. Looking at where the band pushes into the bracket you should notice a rectangular tab of plastic that clicks with each further push of the strap. Using a small screwdriver as a lever you want to pry that tab up while pulling out the band. By lifting the tab you will allow the band to move freely while it is not “locked” into place.

Here is a link to the instructions (http://www.planetbike.com/files/3104%20instructions.pdf) as well as a video tutorial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsNSkSjTAY8). Between adjusting the plastic band and the lever/screw you should be able to get a good snug fit on all handlebars.

At this point we don’t have a more permanent mount but it is something we discuss from time to time.

Please feel free to contact me with any further questions.

Thank you for your business and have a great day!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsNSkSjTAY8

If you still have rotation problems, you can stick a strip of inner tube between the mount and the handlebars to attempt to increase friction.

If you still have rotation problems, you can stick a strip of inner tube between the mount and the handlebars to attempt to increase friction.

Now the problem isn't the light rotating... Today the light (with it's mount) simply fell off my bike. I don't know how the lever opened up, but it did. Fortunately, I was on a trail, and not a road so the thing wasn't run over (I had that happen once to a tail light).

I wasn't able to find the cylindrical washer that was mentioned by CaptainCool, but I sent another email back to PB advising them of this new development.

After the light (with mount attached) jumped ship again on Monday, falling against my right foot on the upstroke (thus kicking it forward), I found myself seriously unamused. Fortunately the car following me didn't run the damn thing over.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6233/6281347412_b7167406fe.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ufobike/6281347412/)

I took the damaged light back to the store where I bought it, but only got a replacement mount (manager wasn't there).

I went to another bike shop, and found that they had Portland Design Works' headlight mount, and that the two were compatible.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6215/6239272050_c2ceb3a84c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ufobike/6239272050/)
Planet Bike's mount on the left, Portland Design Works' mount is on the right.

The PDW Mission Control Bracket (http://www.ridepdw.com/goods/spare-parts/mission-control%E2%84%A2-bracket) however has a thumbscrew instead of the cam. So, I bought two (I have an older PB 5LED Beamer that I found w/o it's mount), and then went back to the original shop. This time, I was able to show a manager that the mounts were the problem, and a new light shouldn't be as beat up as what I had. I got a replacement light.

Here's PDW's video on using the mount...


http://vimeo.com/7710204

I cannot recommend PB lights for anybody who is using a swing grip to mount it to, unless they get the PDW headlight mount. Which I feel is a shame, because their lights are fairly decent for battery powered backups.

The newer PB brackets have a ratchet in the band to adjust them for your bar diameter and have not found them to slip once they have been tensioned.

Liked the old version better as the clip seems to be much more solid... you may have to bend up the tab a little to get to to better secure the light and on the road and off I have never had a problem with my PB lights coming off.

I have 3 PB lights in regular use and multiple mounts on many bikes so I can swap them around as needed.

The newer PB brackets have a ratchet in the band to adjust them for your bar diameter and have not found them to slip once they have been tensioned.

Liked the old version better as the clip seems to be much more solid... you may have to bend up the tab a little to get to to better secure the light and on the road and off I have never had a problem with my PB lights coming off.

I have 3 PB lights in regular use and multiple mounts on many bikes so I can swap them around as needed.

I used the ratchet feature to try to get the thing properly tensioned, but the lever keeps flipping open on me. Since the light is mounted to a swing grip, there's no shifter/brake mounts to stop the thing from sliding off the end. I've sent another email off to PB advising them of the current situation.

Seems to me, they should include a part that would allow the user to remove the cam/lever mount and replace it with a hex bolt so it can be screwed down tight w/o any risk of lever failure.

I used the ratchet feature to try to get the thing properly tensioned, but the lever keeps flipping open on me. Since the light is mounted to a swing grip, there's no shifter/brake mounts to stop the thing from sliding off the end. I've send another email off to PB advising them of the current situation.

Seems to me, they should include a part that would allow the user to remove the cam/lever mount and replace it with a hex bolt so it can be screwed down tight w/o any risk of lever failure.

Make sure that you have not over-tightened the band as this will cause the screw to butt up against the mount and prevent it from locking properly.

Make sure that you have not over-tightened the band as this will cause the screw to butt up against the mount and prevent it from locking properly.

I don't think you have caught on. I've given up on the PB mount. I don't trust it. Having the thing open up, and allow my light to fall while riding on a smooth trail, or having it fall while I'm riding downhill on a busy street is no way to boost my confidence.

I'm using the Portland Design Works Mission Control Bracket now.

I'm with the OP about the mount. I've got a Zefal that is of similar design, and have been experiencing the same issues. So last week, I mounted that light to my helmet.

I installed my PB light about 2 months ago. I remember I had an issue with securing it. For the life of me I can't remember what I did to make it work but I know it was a think outside the box kind of thing. I didn't use anything extra. I'll take a look today and see if I can remember.