Robobo1

...based on the recommendations I read here. Didn't want to deal with a large battery pack mounted to my frame, and the cheaper cost appealed to me... as well as the ability to use the things as, well, a flashlight! And, actually, that BF member's webpage with the 85,000 pictures of his dual Fenix setup sold me! His photos make them seem bright enough for my needs. I also like the fact that they appear to be easily removable with the lockblocks and I can install them on whichever bike I happen to ride that night.

I made the purchase because I almost got hit last night. Was using my Cateye blinky, which when I was in DC was more than enough because it never really gets dark there. Minneapolis and St. Paul doesn't qwuite have the light DC has... last night a guy cut a corner in a residential area at a T intersection (I was headed straight), we approached each other head on, and in order to miss him I cut to the inside, running the gutter... he missed me by about two feet. I caught up to him and let him have it. His response was "I didn't know..." I assume he meant he couldn't see me - which is no excuse, considering he was on the wrong side of the road - but I have to move beyond the principle of the thing and recognize that I need a brighter light.

I hope two Fenix L2Ds will do the trick! Looking forward to trying out the blinky on this light.

ellerbro

Should make you plenty visible to oncoming vehicles. Strobe mode on a Fenix tends to cause seizures though, be careful. Also, SOS mode is useless.

Robobo1

I just read that in another thread. Disappointing!

daredevil

You bought a great light. I love mine. One on the helmet, one on the bar.

Cyclist0383

I do the same. The strobe is wonderful in the daytime.

socalrider

you can use the sos mode on the fenix for a blinky.. The strobe mode is pretty intense at night..

A good setup is one on the bars and the other on the helmet.. The helmet light helps you direct the light a little better at night..

ellerbro

I would caution against using SOS mode as a blinky, especially it it's your only light. The off periods are long enough where a driver could glance your way while the light is off and not even see you. I saw someone using SOS mode through an intersection in the dark and to me it didn't seem very safe.

I wish the strobe mode was more like 3 flashes per second with smooth transitions between on and off. Then it would still be extremely visible without being annoying.

akatsuki

I wish it would just go dim-bright instead of off-bright.

shmulb

I also just bought the same one. I have used it a few times early in my commute, It works great on dark roads, I can easily do 15MPH and still see. It does use a lot of battery though in Turbo mode. I use recharchables and swap them each evening. I agree that the SOS is useless as a blinky, but then thats not the purpose. The turbo strobe is great though even in the day. All in all, a great light and well worth the money.

Tyrell

When running strobe mode on my commute to work yesterday, I had a car wait at a stop sign for a good 20 seconds or so as I approached and crossed (I had no stop sign). It was so awesome that I had to laugh out loud! Love that light!

Robobo1

I just got them in the mail yesterday... I'm trying them for the first time tonight on my way home.

I hope the batteries get me an hour... it'll take me a little less than that to get home!

balto charlie

I run Powerex 2700 batteries and get 2 hours run time

daredevil

So Robo, your review? You like em?

Robobo1

I love these little guys! Very bright. Bright enough to make other cyclists complain on the trail.... I've been that guy on the other end of the light, and I HATE being blinded by another cyclist's light, so I've learned to turn them down or angle them away when on the trail.

For the most part, I want a front light to help me be seen, not to see where I'm going. Most of my commute is lit decently and I can see the road just fine... but I want everyone to know I'm coming. I've mounted both lights on my handlebars, and I use one in high mode and the other in flash mode. The lights are doing their job - I've definitely noticed that cars react well, and I can see street signs flashing many blocks away.

There's one section of dark road that I put both lights on high, I feel safe enough to ride 18mph or so. 'i know the road pretty well, so I'm just looking for obstacles.

The mounts are pretty good. They remain very stable, but they stick so well to my carbon bars that the angle is hard to adjust while riding. Last night, however, I got stuck in a big rainstorm and one of the mounts came loose. Also, one of the three mounts was broken when I received it from Fenix.

The whole package is very small, and it's perfect for me because it adds no weight to my bag.

I definitely recommend these - especially for the price!

Sammyboy

I've got an Ultrafire Q5 5 mode light, and whilst I've yet to try it on the bike (Lockblocks delay), it seems as bright as the Dinotte I ordered at the same time, and even cheaper than a Fenix.

Cyclist0383

Any idea of the runtime of the light?

Sammyboy

Not yet, but I'll test if you're interested.

Cyclist0383

Thanks. Which one do you have, and what kind of batteries does it take? I've been thinking about one of these. https://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/t...CREE-Q5/Detail

Sammyboy

I have this one:

https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10727



I also have one of the CR123 ones that I ordered in error, but I have neither batteries or a charger, so that is still in its box.

mrjhmm

I have my flashlight on strobe mode attached to my helmet. Cars don't turn in front of me any more. Last month I was slowly going up a hill in the daytime and an oncoming car waited about 30 seconds for me to go by before turning.

Dealextreme.com has great prices on powerful flashlights. That is where I bought my flashlight, also. Flashlights that have the Q5 LED in them are VERY bright!

https://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.942

Bklyn

Did you receive your lockblocks yet? I'm dying to hear how a $20 flashlight is just about as good as a $60 flashlight....

daredevil

+1

What kind of run time do you get with that?

mrjhmm

Some of them have the exact same LED that the $60 flashlights have. Check out the reviews at DealExtreme.com, and the forums at https://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/

https://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.942

Cyclist0383

Run time and regulation of the brightness is usually the issue with cheaper lights. There is more to it than just the LED.

mrjhmm

DealExreme.com is like the BikesDirect.com of the flashlight world.

DealExtreme sells flashlights that have the exact same LED as Fenix. The Fenix L2D Premium uses the Cree Q5 LED. Many flashlights at DealExtreme use the Cree Q5 LED. BikesDirect.com sells bicycles that are manufactured in the same factories that make bikes by Fuji, Giant, Trek, and others.

The type of person that is a bicycle snob and bashes BikesDirect.com will also be a flashlight snob and bash DealExtreme.com.