gretnabikes

Thought this would be the right section to start this.

Check this out

https://www.lupine.de/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=1155

JeffS

Maybe wait until it's in stock to start the advertising ?

Or offer me a big pre-order discount and I'll be the first in line

gretnabikes

They will be available in like a week, so I'm going to start advertising now

And the line has already started forming, so back of the line for you
just messin with ya

2manybikes

Very Nice !! Does it look just like the old Wilma? All the same features etc?

gretnabikes

Basically it will look the same and will still have all the same functions as the older ones did.
Lupine also says that the burn times will not be affected, they will still be the same as they were.

Lurker1999

I wonder if this means HID prices will start coming down. I'm guessing we'll be seeing a time where these newer LED lights will cost more than the current "top of the line" crop of HID lights. That would make the HID lights actually quite appealing until someone takes a 25% bite out of the LED prices.

2manybikes

Do you have a USA retail price yet?

When do I get my sample for field testing ?

gretnabikes

The new Wilma's and kits will cost the same as the old ones.
you can check that out here:
https://gretnabikes.com/default.asp

When do I get my sample for field testing ?

I'll have to check the advertisement budget

2manybikes

acidinmylegs

I suspect that with time, HIDs will go away altogether. The component prices are too high -- the bulbs are expensive, the ballasts are expensive, etc.

I think that it will play out like this:

Low end:Halogen will remain the best bang for the buck, they are cheap and easy to make.

Mid: single and double LED lights. This is where you'll get the longer burn times and more robust lights.

High end: Larger LED clusters with the absolute latest LED technology. This will be the bleeding edge.

That's my thoughts on the matter, anyway.

greenstork

Leave it to Lupine and Dinotte to come out with fancy new lights just as my need for a new light is diminishing with the longer days. Next winter for sure though...

acidinmylegs

Interestingly enough, based on when my reviews get the most hits, there are two seasons for lights. Obviously the winter is one, but in the summer there is a large demand from the 24hr and endurance racer crowd. Also, those who have mild winters tend to have very hot summers, so the recreational rider is finding out that riding at night, when the temperature is only 100 degrees and there is no sun, can be more enjoyable than riding in 110 degree weather with the sun baking you. Living and riding in Oregon, this was something that I didn't realize so much when I first started reviewing headlights. I think that it's this second group that is driving the development of the new lights, too.

Your post just reminded me of this -- I'm just voicing (typing ) some things I've noticed.

georgiaboy

Peter White Cycles will soon start carrying the "Big Bang." It is a gas discharge light made for bicycles that has been tested for safetly. Looks like this:



For comparison, here is a normal HID light:



Here is the Big Bang:



Price? $953.00

Too much for me, but it is a great light.

2manybikes

I would say you're right. It might take a year or two.

DucVDuc

Hi, another reason could be that for Australians, Kiwis, South Africans etc; we have opposite seasons. Well, at least that's why I've been generating lots hits on your (excellent by the way) reviews of lights on your blog.

cheers

Lurker1999

Given this year's LED crop I think we'll eventually head in that direction. But in the meantime I'm happily using my HID light that cost half the amount of the LED lights that were just released. I'm sure that by the time I'm looking for a battery or bulb replacement the prices will be more reasonable.

blackDoggy

The new Wilma seems slightly brighter than my L&M Arc (according to Lupine datasheet, anyway). So, when my good, old beloved L&M Arc passes away due to old age, I'm thinking about replacing it with Wilma. Only one unanswered question though - why does'nt Lupine offer higher capacity batteries with their new Wilma? It seems that their best Wilma batteries are rated at 9ah, while Edison has ~13ah batteries.

JeffS

They're just creating pricepoints. I'm sure you could order whatever combination you needed.

2manybikes

All the batteries are interchangeable.

blackDoggy

I have been monitoring German discussion boards, there are quite a few raving reviews about the new Wilma. According to them, it's even better than Edison. Now, if only I had spare 600 EUR

ken cummings

The secret of the Big Bang is the big mirror behind the light source. Better optics means more light going where you want it. Your BB widget is on a par with my PAR 36 headlight and some ten times more expensive.

2manybikes

There's all different kinds of HID lights. Some are brighter than the Big Bang, some are not. Looks like mine has more reach down the road. There are Bicycle HID lights twice as powerful as mine.

dalmore

Well I just got a bonus check yesterday. And I've decided I want to try to get all lights off my helmet. (I was reading about the hazards of something snagging during a slide.) So I took my bonus check and headed to gretnabikes. I was planning on getting an old style wilma on close out, thinking it would be bright enough to use on the handlebars without needing a helmet light. Then it dawned on me that I can run the new one at half power and get the similar output with double the burn time. hmmm ... Yea, I bought the new one. I'm weak.... I can't wait for it to arrive.

dalmore

Here's a out-of-focus photo of the new wilma's beam vs. my trucks low-beams.

Subjectively, the light output from the wilma is comparable to the low-beams. It's got a longer throw but a much narrower pattern. The photos show the low-beams throwing a little further. It might have been aim on the wilma since I was holding it.

The untouched photos are exactly as they came out of the camera just scaled down to 640 pixels. The adjusted ones are contrast enhanced in photoshop. (auto-levels for those wondering) The "snow" dusting on the pavement is pollen. Yep, that's spring in the south.

ViperZ

How efficient is the new Wilma?

Can you get the same amount of output (500 Lumens/5 Hours) as the HID Edison with same small Li-on battery?




Or does a person have to use the big Bottle Battery?



I can live with just 500 lumens of HID light, more readily than I could with that bottle battery and 850 Lumens of LED...