Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - radbot 1000 vs superflash vs superflashturbo? or another?

I want to be seen

Moved to Electronics & Lighting from Foo. You'll get more help from this forum.

Moved to Electronics & Lighting from Foo. You'll get more help from this forum.Cooll thank you very much

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f38KP1qa8E&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThwjZ6j11mc&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f38KP1qa8E&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThwjZ6j11mc&feature=player_embeddedGreat stuff thats what i want to look like but i read a few reviews of the hogshot and they say it isnt dependable

It's the 'Hotshot' and I have heard any rumblings about dependability issues. When it first came out, a few people on Amazon were trashing it, but that's primarily because they couldn't figure out the settings.

HA thats a way better name

I have a Hot Shot. Great Light. Get many compliments on how Bright it is.
Sunday 5 riders asked What it was as they saw it 1/2 mile back in the day time.

Then thats what i need cool thank you

Just read the first critical review of the Hotshot on Amazon. Main issues the guy had was that he didn't like the way it mounted and that it's too directional of a beam. In other words, you have to aim it just right to be the most effective.

Also note that the two vids that were linked earlier were made by a BF member- one that I fully believe knows his shizz.

Just read the first critical review of the Hotshot on Amazon. Main issues the guy had was that he didn't like the way it mounted and that it's too directional of a beam. In other words, you have to aim it just right to be the most effective.

Also note that the two vids that were linked earlier were made by a BF member- one that I fully believe knows his shizz.cool mine will either be mounted to my basket or the rack under the basket

Mars 4.0 or even the Mars 3.0 by Blackburn. Those light have good side visibility and are very bright.

Well i got the mars 4.0 .So far im kinda sad i bought it but it really was my only choice locally.I wanted the hotshot .THe mars is bright but on box it says 150 hours of light on set of batts.So i think to self i bet that means 75.But i see some reviews says 10 hours thats awefull

Mars 4.0--great side visibility, crippling parasitic drain. Batteries need to be replaced every two weeks whether you use it or not. I had one before I moved to a Hotshot.

What kinda battery life have you all been getting with the 4.0? LIke how long before alkalines start to dim with this light?

How many of us still actually use alkalines on a regular basis? I think most have switched to some sort of rechargeable format and alkalines are a last ditch option.

That being said, perhaps you need to do a run time test of your own in your living space- some questions are better answered in the safety of your home.

What kinda battery life have you all been getting with the 4.0? LIke how long before alkalines start to dim with this light?
They start to dim when you turn them on because they are unregulated.
On steady its pretty much all over in 12 hrs.

I want to be seen

What's it worth to you?

If you REALLY wanna be seen the Dinotte 400R (http://store.dinottelighting.com/400r-red-taillight---seat-post-seat-stay-chain-stay-or-rack-mount-p91.aspx) is what you want.

If you REALLY REALLY wanna be seen the Design Shine DS-500 (http://www.designshinelighting.com/content.php?10-taillights_1) is the ticket.

I have the 400R, it's in a league of its own, performance & price wise.
It's not inexpensive, but it is a great value.

Those lights you mentioned are has been lights, newer ones have eclipsed them, like the already mentioned Cygolite Hotshot, the Blackburn Mars 4, Serfas Shield, the more expensive but very bright Light & Motion Vis 180 Light, very new but little known about it is the Red Zone 4 it appears to be very bright maybe brighter then the L & M Vis 180 and has already been reported as brighter then the Designshine! the last two cost around $100, the others are less then $75.

I have the RedZone 4. In a nutshell...

Good:

Aggressive quad-burst flash pattern (default, it has others you can choose from)
Ultra-wide-angle beam pattern (the LEDs don't even have an optic, it's as omnidirectional as you'll ever see. Aiming it is basically pointless.)
Very robust (it's like a block of rubbery epoxy with a light sealed inside)
Super-strong clip. And I mean SUPER strong.
Reasonable price
You can add and remove settings from its list


Bad:

The stock clip is too wide for some seat bags (I heard there's a narrow clip available, though)
Runtime on maximum power is supposed to be only 8 hours, if I recall correctly
The plug for the charger port isn't tethered (but the light comes with several extras)
Because the beam is so omnidirectional, the long-range daytime visibility suffers, despite how many lumens it puts out (around 200)
The button is under the rubbery casing material and takes a lot of effort to actuate.


I usually use the RZ4 clipped to my trunk bag, with a Hotshot on the seatpost. Hand grenade + rifle. The RZ4 creates a big red area right behind my rear wheel, since it fires light in all directions. At a distance, however, it's the Hotshot's flash pattern I see bouncing back to me from reflective road signs at long range. My original motive for getting the RZ4 was to put it on my helmet, since it doesn't need to be aimed in any particular direction, but I haven't gotten around to that yet.


Addressing the original topic, I'd get the Hotshot over any of the 1-watt lights that use AAA batteries. It's in the same price range, with better runtime and consistent light output, rechargable, and brighter. Just make sure to aim it dead-level, since it's quite focused.

SANYO ENELOOPS. If you are not using Eneloops, you should be.

SANYO ENELOOPS. If you are not using Eneloops, you should be.So weird i just checked them out on mazon think they was 800 mah

Thank you everyone

So far my mars 4.0 been on since 10 pm last night so 17 hours .And it is brighter then my old rear bike light that i just turned on and has fresh energizers .O also the mars has the battersy that it came with they was installed when i bought it

25 hours and its pretty dim the batts are at around 1.0 volts.But it will still be perfect for night rideing

25 hours and its pretty dim the batts are at around 1.0 volts.But it will still be perfect for night rideing

Is this on Flash?

must be because they go through a set of batteries in no more than 15 hours on solid

Yes on flash .I also wonder if it is to bright on fresh batts. I want to be seen but i sure dont want to blind the people in cars

Yes on flash .I also wonder if it is to bright on fresh batts. I want to be seen but i sure dont want to blind the people in cars

You'll be OK. The people in cars appreciate you being easy to notice, actually. I used to get unsolicited praise for this bad boy, which is waaaaay brighter:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3cy6KSr8wk

... as well as other lights in that power class (DiNotte 140, DiNotte 300R).

You'll be OK. The people in cars appreciate you being easy to notice, actually. I used to get unsolicited praise for this bad boy, which is waaaaay brighter:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3cy6KSr8wk

... as well as other lights in that power class (DiNotte 140, DiNotte 300R).Cool stuff

25 hours and its pretty dim the batts are at around 1.0 volts.But it will still be perfect for night rideing

I own a Mars 4 and the light does not come even close to the rated run time that Blackburn claims it can run for. They rate the run time at 50 steady and 150 flash, I found the life to be only about 15 hours on steady and about 45 hours on flash using rechargeable bats, and 20/60 with regular bats. Despite it's hunger for bats, I find the battery usage acceptable because it puts out a very bright light.

Despite it's hunger for bats, I find the battery usage acceptable because it puts out a very bright light.

My big issue with it was that this hunger rages whether the light is on or off. Short battery life due to high output is good. Short battery life due to parasitic drain means that you are NOT getting high output. That and it was a pain to open and close to replace the batteries, if I had to screwdriver/quarter the thing too many more times the plastic would have just been gouged beyond operation.

My big issue with it was that this hunger rages whether the light is on or off. Short battery life due to high output is good. Short battery life due to parasitic drain means that you are NOT getting high output. That and it was a pain to open and close to replace the batteries, if I had to screwdriver/quarter the thing too many more times the plastic would have just been gouged beyond operation.

Are you saying your Mars 4 continues to use battery power AFTER it's turned off? Mine doesn't do that. You sure you don't have a short in it?

When I bought the MAR 4 there weren't any good rechargeable tail lights for under $150, so I've put up with having to open and close the battery compartment a lot, but it will run on steady for about 15 hours which means the most I ever have to recharge the bats is about once a month. But it is an area for concern, and the next one I buy will definitely have a rechargeable battery and cable to plug in. Mine is 3 or 4 years old and battery compartment is a bit chewed but still functional.

Are you saying your Mars 4 continues to use battery power AFTER it's turned off? Mine doesn't do that. You sure you don't have a short in it?

When I bought the MAR 4 there weren't any good rechargeable tail lights for under $150, so I've put up with having to open and close the battery compartment a lot, but it will run on steady for about 15 hours which means the most I ever have to recharge the bats is about once a month. But it is an area for concern, and the next one I buy will definitely have a rechargeable battery and cable to plug in. Mine is 3 or 4 years old and battery compartment is a bit chewed but still functional.I would guess it is only his mars 4.0 since they ship them with the batts in if it hada drain issue the batts would be dead wh3ehn they arrived

I would guess it is only his mars 4.0 since they ship them with the batts in if it hada drain issue the batts would be dead wh3ehn they arrived

Depending on when he bought the light he might be able to return it under warranty. I would urge him to that immediately. Then he can report back to us how good Blackburn customer service was.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qVXRuTyGBk&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qVXRuTyGBk&feature=plcp

i've got most of the lights mentioned in the thread, so far.

of the lights originally mentioned, i'd say the PBSF-turbo is the winner, assuming you don't need an integrated reflector.

the hotshot is brighter and has more flash patterns to pick from, but JUST LIKE the PBSFs and radbots, aiming is critical. if these lights aren't firmly mounted to the bike and aimed properly, you're wasting your time. IME the hotshot has reliability issues, but they may be sorted out, now...?

if you want a light that can be mounted to helmets, bags or clothing, the red-zone 4 is UNBEATABLE. even mounted to a bike, it can be better than the above mentioned lights, eg in city traffic. i've got a WZ5 on the way.

if it's legal where you are, there's nothing wrong having multiple rear lights! my only concern is that i'll get pulled over for impersonating a fire-truck ;)

Serfas Shield has a much broader beam angle then either the HotShot or the PB series of lights including the Turbo, and it's brighter; see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTtJMlCbCf4&feature=relmfu Toward the last minute or so of the film the rider is coming toward you and you can see the tail light reflecting off the pavement behind him and it's not nighttime. But the Hotshot is brighter then any of the PB series of lights. According to You Tube videos the PB Turbo is not brighter then the HotShot, the HotShot has a 2 watt LED the Turbo only uses a 1 watt...it can't be brighter.

Like mentioned before I haven't seen the Red Zone 4 but it seems to be getting reviews that it's brighter then all the ones I mentioned.

Sure would be nice if someone did a comparo of the Serfas Shield and the RZ4.

Of course, I'm also waiting for the new Cherrybomb 2W to be tested as well...

Sure would be nice if someone did a comparo of the Serfas Shield and the RZ4.

Of course, I'm also waiting for the new Cherrybomb 2W to be tested as well...

There are some reviews/comparisons on You Tube but not against the Shield yet. This video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ_Mibw3vCo has some comparisons, but this one does show just how visible it is from the side. Then I found this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f38KP1qa8E comparing the RZ4 to a HotShot, it appears to me the HotShot is brighter, the Hotshot is on the seat post and the RZ4 is below it, the bars have the Soma Road Flares which I use. If that video is right and the Hotshot is brighter then this test proves the difference http://www.thebicyclerepairshop.com/products/light-comparison-test.html that the Serfas would be brighter then the RZ4, but note the Light & Motion VIS 180, this sells for about the same money as the RZ4 but the VIS 180 is simply way brighter in the flood department of the other lights thus has to be brighter then the RZ4; but the HotShot is brighter in the spot department. I prefer the flood appearance because cars don't always travel straight into your tail light, their off axis most of the time thus from an angle the VIS 180 would appear significantly brighter then the HotShot but vice a versa straight on.

Sure would be nice if someone did a comparo of the Serfas Shield and the RZ4.

Of course, I'm also waiting for the new Cherrybomb 2W to be tested as well...
Just double checked the Nite Rider site and looks like I was mistaken about the Cherrybomb 2W, but they do have a new Solas 2W that looks kinda like the Hotshot... http://www.niterider.com/solas-2-watt-rechargeable-tail-light-2013-2/

How does Serfas expect one to charge the Shield if you mount it to a rack?

https://www.serfas.com/uploads/ProductLineItemImage/cache/800x800_4f01ed48cb055.jpg

How does Serfas expect one to charge the Shield if you mount it to a rack?

https://www.serfas.com/uploads/ProductLineItemImage/cache/800x800_4f01ed48cb055.jpg

You ask too many questions!! Seriously, the manufacture probably thinks that all bike owners store their bikes inside the house or garage near an outlet. You definitely wouldn't want to keep taking it off and putting back on since that screw is a self tapping screw and eventually it will over eat the inside of the light housing and be useless.