cdotbois

I just picked up a Superflash to replace my old Trek blinkie as a supplement to my Dinotte. I ended up picking up the "Stealth" model just because I hadn't seen them before, and it seems just as bright. Does anybody know what the deal is with these models? It has a clear face and a black body. I did read in an old thread that someone had an old black body for their Superflash, but this model is actually labeled "Stealth" on the box, making me think it's a new thing or a reissue.

maximushq2

Cool. I Haven't seen this one yet.

BarracksSi

I'd like to get one to match my Bad Boy; the red & white one already looks fine on my red/white/black/brushed CAAD8.

Where'd you find yours?

cdotbois

I got mine at my LBS, but upon searching for info about whether there are any lighting advantages/disadvantages to this color scheme, I found a link where you can buy them online.

PBSF(S) @ Bike Tires Direct

I guess it must just be for cosmetics, but if anyone knows if there is a lighting reason, I'm curious.

flipped4bikes

And when I thought the SuperFlash was the ultimate...they bring out the Stealth!

Do all the LEDs blink red?

BarracksSi

Yup, they're still all red. I suppose that there isn't any performance advantage to the clear lens (or, rather, no disadvantage of the red lens).

leftsneaky, I found it at BTD last night, too. I think I've finally picked out enough stuff to place an order from them; I'll probably pick up some brake pads and some MTB slicks.

twinquad

Since the LEDs are red, any tinting of the cover - even red - would reduce the intensity of the light coming through. I think the reasons for red covers are (1) insofar as the taillight acts as a reflector, it will be a red reflector, and (2) people might think a light with a clear cover wouldn't produce red light. We're used to car taillights which have to have red covers to filter the broad-spectrum light coming from the incandescent source.

Doesn't the garden-variety PBSF have a cover with a clear portion over the main LED?

Ngchen

Come to think of it though, would having a red cover give benefits of increased (albeit still slight) side visibility through the reflection of some of the light that was headed straight back?

cdotbois

That's what I was thinking. I briefly compared the stealth with the regular from the side, and did not notice any big difference. There might have been a little better side visibility from the regular, though the clear cover does allow side emission for the red LEDs directly, but I wasn't seriously trying to make a decision. It was in the middle day and under the store lighting, too if that makes my observations any more accurate...

Yes, you're right.

BarracksSi

As far as (1) goes, there aren't many lights with built-in reflectors, and the PBSF is one of those that, despite its looks, does not have a reflector (I've tried to see what it could do, and it doesn't reflect worth a darn). In many cases, that part acts as a dispersion lens instead of a reflector.

(2) is pretty true; you see a red lens and you expect it to produce red light, so it's an easier selling point. But, yeah, we're getting used to seeing car taillights that are clear yet produce red light (the Prius and a Lexus SUV, for example).

Glynis27

I have always been happy with my Mars 3.0 but wanted to try a SF for my other bike. I never did though because I didn't like the white body. This however looks like it would be perfect! I bet if you bought one of each you could swap the lens and housing too making it clear/white and red/black. Awesome!

Pig_Chaser

Superflash... Stealth, isn't it ironic... don't cha think?

dwainedibbly

If I recall, and I may very well be wrong, using a red LED will be more efficient than using a white LED with a red lens because a white LED is actually putting out infrared with a phosphor that glows white when the IR light hits it. That isn't a 100% conversion. Then some of that light gets filtered out by the lens.

Having written that, I think I might have read it on the Dinotte site somewhere but I'm too lazy to look.

twinquad

I'm not certain how white LEDs work; I had assumed it was an RGB combination that looks white to our visual system, but maybe it's what you describe. In either case, the red lens would block (i.e. absorb, i.e. waste the energy from) the non-red components of the light. Thus, most of the light energy goes into heating up the lens, whereas all of the light energy from the red LED is useful as, well, red light. I think the white LEDs are somewhat more efficient at converting electricity to light, but I doubt this makes up for the inefficiency of blocking most of the light.

Ngchen

Actually, unless something dramatic has changed in the world of LEDs these past two years, red LEDs are more efficient than white ones in terms of light produced per unit of energy. (However, in terms of lumens, white may have an edge b/c the human eye is less sensitive to red than to green (most sensitive), etc. etc. and lumens takes this into account). Much more research has gone into the white ones though, because white is much prefered as something to see by, rather than as a "be seen" or indicator type light. White LEDs basically work by taking a BLUE LED and coating it with various combinations of phosphors that produce warmer colors when excited by blue light. The combination of the warmer colors plus the blue produces white.

BarracksSi

Maybe it's supposed to appear that the emitted light is coming from some invisible source.

twinquad

Ah, thanks for the clarification; the numbers I had seen were lumens/watt, and it seemed strange to me that the numbers were higher for white since white light would need to be produced by some indirect mechanism. Thanks also for clarifying the mechanism.

jjiggajouncer

i ride regularly with a guy who just picked up some superflash stealth lights. i'll see if we can set up a side by side comparison of sorts between the stealth and the original superflash. i think our next ride is this weekend so i'll keep you posted.

Cyclist0383

Why would they call something that's sole purpose is to be noticed 'Stealth'?

BarracksSi

I'd expect little to no difference between the two.

'Cuz it's black like a stealth fighter!

cdotbois

A man is driving down a country road late at night, picking his nose like no tomorrow because he thinks he is alone. He comes out of a bend, one handed, his other hand is halfway into his brain by now, and then BLAM-O! Superflash Stealth Fighter dropping a succession of cluster bombs that light up the night in fiery red flurries. Surprised by the presence of other road-sharing company he immediately hits the eject button on his nose picking and pulls left on the steering wheel making textbook evasive maneuvers (read: passing) fully in the other lane.

Boogers saved,
a dirty vice intervened,
and the bicycle claims king of the road.

Everybody wins.

Thank you PBSF stealth