DjFantom

Gotta say 1 of the best cheap light sets out there ... i bought a set on a whim 4 years ago for $15 while in Models sporting good store.. didnt think much at time of purchase. but 4 years and 3 bikes later the lights are still going strong !!!! (the rear lights mounts was recently damaged thru my own fault...)

they are Mounted with hex screws and are not quick release. this is good and bad... but even living or riding in high crime areas this is a good theft deterrent for the casual bike thief . i would leave my bike lock up across the street from work in the city in the evening and also used to lock my bike by the long island railroad all day and night , and even after my back wheel was stolen (didnt lock it ) and bike was attempted stolen, they never touched the lights . so its 1 less thing you have to take off every time you lock your bike up...

Weather and water Resistance
These were left on my bike august 2013 after it got damaged in a hit and run .. the bike was locked to a fence on the side of my brothers yard and forgotten about ... thru snow and rain of the winter and spring . for kicks i pressed the button summer 2014 and the light lit up bright... wow . same batteries and all ... it really is water/ weather proof !!!!!! so dont stress riding in the rain with them

Brightness
The front light lights up the road ahead of you nicely and also traffic, stop, and street signs more than half a block away , may not be suitable for pitch black trail riding , but for even the darkest city streets its suitable and more than enough
The rear light is not as bright. but bright enough for cars to see ... maybe bundle it with a higher end rear light for super dark rides . still good enough for night riding on regular city streets.


Bell Radian Light Set - Walmart.com

$15 bucks at walmart , im buying a 2nd set to have 2 lights in the front and replace the back one. i might super glue/ epoxy the old back one to the new one and have a double back light

This would be a great choice for anyone looking for a set of lights on a budget, a second set, a set for kids bikes, a spare set, a main set for city riding etc...

TenSpeedV2

Those lights are suited to be seen, and not to see or navigate with. On a dark road at night, you will not be able to see using these. In the city, probably fine. Outside in neighborhoods or unlit streets, not good.

DjFantom

of course if you need to illuminate the road like a car light you would need a much larger much brighter light. but as i said for the average person riding on city streets these work just fine. they light up the immediate road in front of you ... and street signs ahead of you ... half my block has broken street lights and leaving for work at 5 am before the sun rises and its pitch black out im able to light up my area in front of me and ride .. this is still a good buy for someone who needs lights on a budget

ItsJustMe

Lights is one thing I won't compromise on, and yes, these may be good for < $20, but for just a few bucks more you can get lights that are so much better.

I think you need bright lights in the city at least as much as out in the country. In the country I generally go with just the Pulse 60 (60 lumens) but when I get near town with its traffic and distracting lights, I put on the DS500 (800 lumens, though I only use the lower power modes (a few hundred lumens) at night.

noglider 

It's good that djfantom likes his lights, even though you and I wouldn't use them. It's also nice of him to describe them fully and provide a picture and a link.

ItsJustMe

I agree, almost any light can be the right light for somebody. I just wouldn't allow a small difference in price to steer me away from a better light if the cheaper light wasn't 100% good for my situation.

I'm essentially a cheap person and it took some doing to convince myself that I couldn't afford to spend less on lights than what my situation required, and IMO it requires very good lights - riding in all conditions including heavy fog on 60+ MPH 2 lane roads with no shoulder, yeah, $230 for a taillight is not extravagant.

noglider 

Well then, I'm in the middle. I have often cited my own blog post which describes my system consisting of hub dynamo, Philips headlight and B&M tail light. Total cost to me was $160, and I don't count the labor to build the front wheel since I enjoy building my own wheels. It's more than I had previously spent on lights, but in retrospect, it was money very well spent, and I would now be willing to spend more. The most costly experiments in bike lights were when I was too cheap. But that's not to say cheap lights are no good for anyone.

DjFantom

I think some of y'all are missing the point of this thread .... I didn't say these were the best lights available or the only ones to get . I have them because I bought them at a time I wasn't deep into riding , but still rode to commute 13 miles each way everyday , I got them to be legal after being stopped by a cop ... I didn't know the importance of lights period then . ... I still have them because A) they still work and B) they work for me in the environments I ride in .. I'm seen well by cars as my cousin told me driving behind me 1 time (I didn't even know it was her . Lol .. But she seen my bike) .... As I get more serious about riding or ride longer routes on darker paths I will upgrade my lights . for now for me they are good . and maybe they are for someone else too .... Honestly 95% of the places I ride at night are lit enough to see and I use the front light in flashing mode to be seen by cars and that flash iluminates my whole front and the front sides of my bike . ...... So again TO ME this is one of the best light sets FOR UNDER $20 ... Now if you guys know of sets between $15-$40 that are waaaaaay better please make a post or feel free to post them in here as I myself will be upgrading 1 day soon I'm sure .... What I won't do is buy lights that Cost almost as much as or more than my bike (Bike was $360 plus tax) or lights that can light up a stadium ....

ItsJustMe

If you can go up to $40, then any of the various Cygolite Hotshots, and my preference the Performance Axiom Pulse 60 are all 60+ lumen lights for $30 to $35.

I didn't miss the point of the post, I didn't really dis these lights. I'm sure they're fine and I said they're probably fine for many people. I just mention that lights that are way brighter are available for a few bucks more, so decide whether these are really sufficient for your use and don't get hung up on cost.

noglider 

Did a NYC cop stop you over the lights? Interesting.

My lights are great not because they are brighter than yours but because they are bolted on and they run whenever the bike rolls. No maintenance required at all. This may or may not matter to you.

I concur that Cygolite lights offer good value. Some or all of them use rechargeable LiIon batteries, which I like. Be sure not to charge them unattended, though. I have seen Cygolite headlights, and they look good. I have a Cygolite tail light, and it is excellent.

dwmckee

If we are sticking to the under $20 theme, you might want to compare to this package as well. It is $10.99 and the headlight is quite well made and is bright enough to see with in a pinch. It also has a terrific flash for day time use. The tail light is a copy of the Planet Bile 1/2 watt blinkie and parts are actually interchangable with it. I have used this set in the past and did find it to be a pretty good value for a complete set, though not competitive with what you can get if you are willing to spend a bit more. The manufacturer, BV does happen to advertise on the forum, but I have no connection to them.

BikePakmart - Super Bright 1-Watt Headlight, 1/2 Watt Taillight, Safety Light Set, Quick-Release, Weather Resistant

DjFantom

Thanks I will definitely check out those lights ... thats well within my budget , i know you can't put a price on safety , but one can get carried away on bike accessories . i have a well stocked bike shop walking distance from my house, a debit card and a weekly paycheck . im trying to exercise restraint. lol ............ but a brighter tail light is definitely needed ...



Yeah i was riding fast down Queens Blvd , no lights at night, weaving in and out of traffic , and a cop stopped me mainly for how i was riding etc.. but commented he could ticket me for having no lights .. he let me go tho with a warning... seen him a few weeks later had my lights tho ... and rode regular... don't think he noticed me. lol

I checked out your light rig and its pretty dope , i just dont want to go thru all of that for a lighting setup. my bike is sleek and "light" i don't want big lights and wires etc.. even my brake and gear cables are routed inside the frame. i want to keep the clean look . it does fit my wants tho of having lights i dont have to remove every time i lock the bike up or just to run in a store and get something , and not having to worry about if its charged, or buying new batteries is good too

Nice light set for a really cheap price . But 1 problem its quick release, which means i'll have to remove it every time i lock the the bike up , also is it water/ weather proof ? the bell radian set is water/weather proof and bolted on

Wanderer

Many cheap lights are really good for those who don't ride in the dark much, if at all. The ability to have anything, in the dark is good. Also, many of these are excellent to use to be seen in the daylight, around heavy traffic, in strobe mode.

The longevity, durability, issue was amazing.

Certainly better than nothing - thanks for pointing them out.

Wanderer

Another set to consider, and cheap on sale, is this from Performance Product: Axiom Flare Combo Light Set $18 right now!

I have an older Flare combo set, and it still works - 7 years later!

This is really an excellent set of be seen lights for daytime use in strobe mode - and I just may pick this set up for my other bike, so I don't have to keep switching.

dwmckee

It is weatherproof but dies have a quick release. Still worthy of consideration though for a low cost set, but not on par with what you can get on a bigger budget.

noglider 

I like the fact that the headlight has a bolt with a knob. I like that type of system better than a rubber band. I can't see how the tail light mounts, so I have no opinion on it.

Wanderer

I should have bought it yesterday, now it's $20....... I'll wait 'em out!

gpburdell

With the "today only 20% off one item" deal isn't it actually $16, thereby even less than the prior $18?

Wanderer

Maybe I'll visit the local store, and find out!

Let my fingers do the drivin - and, yep, they will honor the on line only price - now for a road trip before 8PM..

Elvo

Or you could just get the magic shine clones for $20 and the PBSF clone for $8 and be significantly brighter for only $8 more

andychrist

Last place I tried ordering the PBSF clone turned out they were out of stock, took them a couple of months to send me a different lamp I chose — which after a simple mod, turned out to be about as good as my MagicShine MJ-818 tail light. With center beam on High or Strobe is almost blinding, perfect at night on Low (steady mode.) Glow rings operate separately and are never too blinding whether on Steady or Pulse.



Mod Angels to Tail Lights?- Mtbr.com

Only cost $13.68 plus about $.20 in tail light repair tape; I already had several spare MJ-style battery packs and chargers lying around so for me was a no brainer. Think this KD XM-L2 is also a great head light just as is for commuting, road or mtb — though I am not particularly fond of Cool White emitters. Hear this can also be modded to Neutral White for only a few bucks, might give that a try since I've got all the right tools now.

Wanderer

I actually picked up that combo at Performance, for $16.... Both of those lights are pretty bright, and have good strobe modes, and are smaller than they look on TV, perfect for daytime "be seen" lights.

Now, I can stop swapping stuff between bikes.

Also picked up another Road Morph for $30, for the same reason......

It's nice to have a bike "stash."