loimpact

So, I have played with headlights. The original Bell my wife bought me from Wallyworld just didn't cut it. Barely enough to be noticed, much less see anything.

I've since done an ebay light that works with 3 AAA's or 1 of those fat AA looking rechargeable batts and it works well enough but on my new road bike the clamp it came with really doesn't fit the handle bars & I'd rather not go chewing up bar tap & scratching bar paint to make it work.

So I ran across this on Amazon............ https://www.amazon.com/MetroFlash-Ign...5KTZFMDWYJMT61

I am looking for the equivalent of the Cygolite HotShot that I use for my taillight which is beyond awesome. I really don't want to strap a battery pack under the stem or top tube & start having to wire-up every time I ride.

Anybody have this Ignita & are you happy with it???

TIA

spare_wheel

cygolite metro 360 or 500.

CygoLite Metro 360 USB Rechargeable Headlight - Modern Bike

Mark Stone

Well, if you like Cygolite for your tail light (I have a HotShot also, and I agree it is beyond awesome) then why not a Cygolite for your headlight? I use the Trion 1300. It's self-contained (no battery pack) and is very, very bright. I like its quality above my NiteRiders. Amazon.com : Cygolite Trion 1300 Bicycle Headlight : Bike Headlights : Sports & Outdoors

loimpact

Well, because it's $200+ dollars!! (YIKES!!!)

Notice that Ignita is only $20 and accomplishes more of what the Cygolite HotShot does.

Small
Lightweight
Self-contained
Easy, rubber-band type mounting

Granted the HotShot isn't $20 but $40 give or take a few and nowhere near $200!!

(P.S. The metro is fine but, again, possibly too small mount for road-bike bars, larger & a bit more costly, though certainly better than the $200+ for the Trion)

(shrug)

-=(8)=-

The mounting brackets are what drive the cost of bike lights up. You can go to a CVS store, or online and get a scorchingly bright LED flashlight for 20.00, if you are willing to use a shoelace or something like that to attach it.

Mark Stone

Hahahaha I completely understand. The cost of high-end lights is daunting, but (depending on your riding situation) well worth the investment.

Hub Spanner

I really like my Cygolight Streak 280. Very nice price, and powerful enough for my commute. During the darker months my commute is 3 miles along a partially-lit major road and through dark residential streets.

Check out The Bike Light Database - Bike Light Reviews, Information, and Suggestions for more ideas.

-Hub
t: HubSpanner
#BecauseWeRide

Gnosis

Last summer I purchased 2 Cygolite Expilion 680’s (one for my friend and one for me). I was able to get them for $100 each at the LBS since I was purchasing two of them. They were normally only selling for $119.00 at that time.

Up to that point, my friend had been riding to and from his night shift via a 3 LED Walmart headlight that did little to light the way in front of him and I was concerned that he might not make it home alive to his wife and kids via that weak Walmart headlight and button battery operated taillight (the taillight was even lamer than the headlight), so I bought him the Cygolite Expilion 680 and a Bontrager Flare 2 taillight to make certain he had more than adequate lighting front and rear. I told him that he’d actually enjoy night rides with that Expilion 680 and he was thrilled by how well he could see on his way to and from work. I don’t think he could ever go back to the Walmart headlight (the Expilion 680 has clearly spoiled him ).

loimpact

Ya, those Expilions are supposed to be good. As is the Streak, etc. But they are all significantly higher profile as well as unknown clamping. (Anybody know if they fit the larger portion of handlebars? Specifically road bike bars??)

Another reason I like the idea of that Ignita. Rubber-band style mount which is similar to what my Bell had an easily adaptable to any diameter of post/bar/tube because it stretches and does no harm to bars and/or bar tape, brake/shift lines, etc.

stdlrf11

If I were looking for a small light with a simple mounting strap, I'd go with a Serfas Raider

The problem is, once you use a real, quality headlight, these just aren't enough.

I'd look into getting something better, like maybe a Serfas True 200

The mounts are designed to attach to any handlebar, even Road bars.

I've got a Cygolite (Metro?) 420 and a NiteRider MiNewt 600 mounted to my road bars and the mounts have never fallen off or caused damage to the bars, tape, etc.

spare_wheel

i have no problem with typical crabon drops. in fact, i have mounts on 4 bikes (all with plastic bars) and simply move my 2 metros around as needed. try that generator hub people!!!!!11!!

huizar

Cygolite Metro 500, best bang for the buck! Not cheap, but way cheaper than other lights with this level of output:
Robot Check

I actually got mine for $60 on amazon, so I'm guessing the price has gone up?

This is BY FAR the best headlight I've owned (I'm also opposed to packing a battery on the bike). This guy charges via USB and the battery lasts around 2 weeks with every day use (on flash). It's bright enough for day time riding on flash too. Love it!

tds101 

I got 2 of the Dorcy-International bike lights for the price of 1on a special sale from their website: LED Bicycle Lights | 41-4001

I paid 2 for $50 with free S&H. I use both together on one of my bikes. Pretty good for city street riding. I use a 700 lumen rechargeable flashlight otherwise - for the real late rides.

Leisesturm

I'm curious. How many people posting in this thread think that things just cost what they cost because, and if you look, or, if some random stranger on the Internet tells you where to look you can find stuff... like, say, a headlight... for $20 and it will be as bright.. no, WAY brighter, than one that costs $200.

hup

I use a Two Fish Flashlight holder with a DB Power Trustfire 3800, which uses Ultrafire 3.7v rechargeable batteries.


I bought 4 of the batteries and keep a couple of fully charged ones in my pocket when I'm using the light.
It's cheap, multi mode, and seems as bright as my friend's NiteRider (I don't remember the model). The TwoFish mount can be mounted anywhere and moved easily from bike to bike.
YMMV

tds101 

What's the battery life like on HIGH?

loimpact

Ya, maybe I'll just take a look at a better mount. I'm otherwise happy w/ output of my light. This is EXACTLY what I have here.....

1000 Lumen CREE XML T6 LED Cycling Bike Bicycle LED Flashlight Torch with Mount | eBay

I'm quite sure it's not 1000 lumen, but it is pretty bright, can light my path and flash mode is sufficiently annoying & bright so I'm fine with that part, just the mount won't quite reach around my road bike bars unless I take it out to where the bar tape starts & then I'm kinda compromising bar tape, brake lines, shift lines, etc. and I'd rather have it closer to the stem anyway.

That metro 500 is probably an awesome light. Can anyone speak to the diameter capacity of the mount??

Thanks for the suggestions guys. (I know some of these topics come up a lot, I just wish there was something as quick, cheap & easy as the Hot Shot is on the rear!)

hup

I have gotten between 75-90 minutes when I've used it on high. When it dies I put a fresh battery in to finish my ride.

Shahmatt

Do you need a headlight to see, or to be seen?

ItsJustMe

I'm interested in the answers here, but FWIW I have replaced my Hotshot with an Axiom Pulse 60. It's a much better light than the Hotshot for about the same money (on sale at Performance for $35 right now). 50% brighter and much more visible to the side. The Hotshot is very good but IMO the pattern is way too spotty; probably 90% of its light goes out in a 15 degree beam.

-=(8)=-

I do. Bike specific stuff is way overpriced relative to it's counterparts in other aisles/stores.
A 200.00 bike light is not going to be any brighter than some lights you can get on law enforcement or flashlight specific web sites for 3/4 less. You might not believe it, that's fine, but my experience determines I will always look for non-bike specific stuff in a few areas . . . Lights, lubes, clothes for example.

ItsJustMe

Thanks for this thread. I may pick up an Ignita. Definitely NOT for cycling at night - I have "real" lights for that. I'm actually looking for a summer daytime riding light (and also an emergency "oh damn, it's dark out, I didn't expect to be out this long" light). I've been watching other cyclists and it seems like a modest light that's flashing up front is useful for being seen in the daytime. It really doesn't take much light to get noticed if it flashes or moves.

I don't want to use my actual winter/night riding lights because they're both too bright and don't last long enough on a charge. 12 hours on flashing seems good, I can charge it at the same time I charge my Axiom taillight.

EDIT: order placed for Ignita.

huizar

It's adjustable and comes with two spacers and a rubber grip pad to get the right fit. I've got these: Classic Curve Road Bar Around the center, where I've got the light mounted, they measure 31.8 mm, and I fit the mount without the spacers.

On my track bike I've got these: Bianchi / Reparto Corse Pista Handlebar - Chrome which are 26.0 mm around the center and I use both spacers to fit the mount. The rubber grip also tacks on about a 1 mm or so when used.

stdlrf11

I bought the same taillights and thought the same thing. The Pulse seems to be brighter and have a much wider beam.
I run with two taillights, the Axiom Pulse 60 on top, and the Cygolite Hotshot on the bottom. The Pulse is on medium and the Hotshot is on slow flash.
Twice now, I've had drivers (and part-time cyclists) stop and ask me what the bottom light was, because it was so bright. They wanted to buy one for their bike.
Apparently, to them, the Hotshot is more visible and impressive than the Pulse.

5matt

I use a cygolite 360, bright enough to see the ground in front of me riding at 18 MPH or so, USB rechargeable, great light. the mount can be tailored to various size bars, I use standard road bars and have no issue with the fit. Bought the headlight and a hotshot as a set, $70.00.