socalrider

Just bought one of the new CREE XR-E LED Flashlights and affixed to my helmet. This light is amazingly bright and works as a great compliment to my handlebar light.. I am using the Fenix L1D-CE flashlight, it cost 54.00.. Sounds like a lot for a flashlight but this thing is bright and works on a single AA battery.

To affix to my helmet, I am using a zefal doodad plus which is made to affix a pump to your bike but works well for attaching a flashlight to your helmet.. It can found in your LBS or online for about 10.00.. I am still waiting for my twofish bikeblocks that I ordered over a week ago to test out..

I was almost ready to pull the trigger on a Dinotte and starting reading some of my flashlight oriented websites, yes they exist.. https://www.candlepowerforums.com/ This bulb is all the rage and if you wait and see, you will see many of the new bike lights using this style bulb.. It is bright and energy efficient.. The CREE led is slightly brighter than the 5 watt luxeon star which is being used by dinotte. It achieves a little better burn rate but with just 1-aa battery instead of 4 for the dinotte.. For my testing I was using Duracell 2650mah nimh batteries.. I achieved just over 2 hours in what is called turbo mode and close to 3 hours in high mode.. The strobe mode ran for just over 4 hours, I like using strobe for being see at night. Give a driver a glance and they will be rubbing there eyes. All these times are slightly longer than the advertised burn rates. Using alkaline batteries will give you significantly lower burn rates..

Dinotte has a new light coming out this year using this same technology for a 3 led bulb handlebar light, the 500L that will rival the HID lights on the market.. Hopefully they will also incorporate this new bulb into there other lines.. Here is the link to that article, scroll to the bottom..

https://www.gearreview.com/2007_led_lights.php

I have included some pics of the light mounted on my helmet.. It weighs 2.8 ounces with battery and is a suberb supplement to anyone on the road.. These have only been out since the 1st of February and are sometimes tough to find.. You can order direct or ebay seems to have a handful of sellers.. The staircase pics below show the L1D-CE versus a standard 8 led light. I know many of you think that the standard leds are good enough, when you see the comparison it will surprise you.. The pics are taken from 20 feet away from the door.

Good Luck and stay safe.. If you decide to go this route, make sure to order the CE model.

https://fenix-store.com/index.php

GiantDave

Thanks for the review--Im going to go find one this weekend.

socalrider

It seems this is a tough light to find right now.. Here are a couple of places that have them in stock

https://www.eliteled.com/products/fenix.html

https://www.brightguy.com/manufacture...%20(1-3%20watt)

Varroa

Best place to get Fenix lights in N.America is the Fenix Store:

https://www.fenix-store.com/

The owner is terrific and does excellent warranty work and customer service. All prices include shipping to Canada and the US. (no this is not spam, just helping out and I have no affliliation with the Fenix Store).

2manybikes

80 lumens on high. Not very bright.

socalrider

I agree the fenix-store is great but they are out of stock on many of the lights right now..

socalrider

The new L2D Cree LED tested brighter than a 5w Surefire L2 which is a very bright Luxeon star and costs over 150.00. I am sure if you compared specs, it would be slightly brighter than the 5w Dinotte.. The Smaller L1D would most likely be on par with the 5w dinotte ultra..

Within a few months you will see most manufacturers migrating all there technology to these new led's. Dinotte is using them with there new 500l and I am sure that the cree xr-e led will replace all there helmet lights.

https://www.flashlightreviews.com/rev...1dce-l2dce.htm

2manybikes

The only Dinotte I checked was 120 lumens, not very bright, just barely good enough for bike riding. Nothing to get excited about.

UH......80 lumens is not very bright........

Zero_Enigma

That 5W Dinotte is a flood too. I was cheezed Dinotte won't pop a spot beam on it. I think they said it was a 8+8 degree flood on both sides.

For slow riding in technical terrain or a bike path after a wicked beating from gale force winds the night before then sure. I've never owned one but I wnat a spot for the helmet that's for sure. Dinotte was a good choice till they told me nada on the spot. Perhaps they may change thier ind later on when they redo the light features and phaze the 3W out.

Yah 80lm is not as bright as 120lm.

Zero_Enigma

2manybikes

It hurts more if you get hit with a 7C maglite.............

Elusor

P3D CE 160 lumens i would not say bad is 160 lumens
as for suplement light

sol cal rider, what you think of L2D CE model , it too big? i like because last longer and brighter 135lumens

Cyclaholic

CREE XR-E LEDs and optics are readily available if you're into homebrewing lights. I just picked up a few and will be putting together a helmet mounted light over the next week or so.

I got Q2 bin which should be good for 180 lumens at 1000ma (3 watts) each, for a total of 540 lumens minus 5% - 10% loss through the optics so lets say 500 lumens wherever the helmet is pointing

They're driven in series with a Buckpuck and drop 3.7v at 1000ma each (11.1v total). I'll be running them with a 13.2v (12v nominal) 3500mAh SLA at first but I'm looking at Li-Ion or Li-Po options. The optics are 2 x 6 degree and one 15 degree.

LóFarkas

Please do not be the antisocial and dangerous moron who rides with a light like that in strobe mode at night.

Nice piece of kit btw.

BigMacFU

LOL, I run my 3W star LED in S.O.S. mode which is a bit better than straight strobe. On strobe, it blinks so fast it would give anyone a seizure.

ItsJustMe

Wake me up when the LEDs are < $100 and brighter than a 13w HID. That's my criteria for a "seeing" light.
If I just want to be seen, plenty of $20 LEDs are good enough for that IMO right now.

Itsjustb

My commute takes me past their building here in Research Triangle Park every day. Always wondered WTH they did and only learned about a month ago. Enjoy the new light--I hear their technology is pretty damn good.

Elusor

is refer to blind driver in opposing?

is refer the 80- lumens is 80 lumens too much intenses for strobe?
Fenix L1D CE 80 lumens

or is refers the 135 lumens?
Fenix L2D CE 135 lumens

or is refers the 160 lumens too muchly for strobe to blinded the driver?
Fenix P3D CE 160 lumens

Elusor

which is best for modes?

80 lumens L1D CE 80 lumens for blinking
135 lumens L2D CE 135 lumens for blinking
160 lumens P3D CE 160 lumens for spot look, bc brightness too mcuhly for blinking, such with blinding opposing drivers?, maybe use SOS modes?

Varroa

I have a fenix P1D which uses a Cree XR-E LED (up to 135 lumens for 1 hour). I will compare it to my Dinotte 5watt and my Cateye Doubleshot tonight and let you guys know.

Elusor

sweets! thanksyou!

Varroa

Ok, I did a very controlled experiment to see which is the brightest, a Fenix P1D (Cree XR-E LED), a Dinotte 5watt (5 watt Luxeon) or my Cateye Doubleshot (2 x 3 Watt Luxeon LEDs). The "experiment" consisted of me turning on each light in my basement and shinning them on a wall (very controlled experiment!). The Dinotte had the widest beam followed by the cateye and then the Fenix. The least brightest was the Dinotte followed by the Fenix and then the Cateye. The cateye was only slightly brighter than the Fenix but it had more spill compared to the Fenix as well. This was only done at a distance of about 12 feet so I couldn't measure throw using this "experiment". I have a feeling that the cateye has the furthest throw but I will try that later and let everybody know. Hope this helps.

Elusor

good good

you think two P1D at full power would be good supstitute for either Cateyes or for Dinotte as mount on bar?
like one left of stem, and ones right of stem? and one for helmut? for good?

or for P3D subsitute the 3 three?
good you think that ?

what you use for battery for P1d? you has the charging/recharging devices?

Elusor

is the strobe too muchly may be for blind the drivers?

Elusor

i see hid arc maybe ride night, but enough alones?

i see needs to add more, i.g for the blinking

blt flare dx to add?

Elusor

1) what you use for your handlebar light?

2) can you use two L2D CE 1cm apart another on your handlebar for handlebar light instead of existing light+add L1D CE as helmut light?