Bikeforumuser0011

I've been going back, and forth on what to get for Lola, in regards to lights. For now, I have two SpokeLits - one rear, one front - I need a tail light and a front light. I want my lights to be permanantly mounted, I cannot afford a dyno-hub, and I know battery-operated lights can be a hassle. I've looked into these Reelight RL700 Set. I have heard some great things about these lights, and would like others opinions. I love this light - Smart Move BL112+ Traditional LED Headlight - but am not sure of the visibility in terms of being able to illuminate the road ahead.

Any thoughts, suggestions?

p.s. I'm on a tight budget, too.

unterhausen

I thought about relights for my kids' bikes, but I got them dynohubs. It's enough to keep you legal, but I think a standard headlight and a blinky is a better idea

fietsbob

their most basic one, blinks an LED as the magnet passes the coil of wire in the sensor..

a be seen thing, go up a ways and a capacitor smooths out the pulses, and higher up it acts like a dynohub

headlight on a wire.. rather than at the hub level.

Bikeforumuser0011

Hey fietsbob,

Could you please explain further what you mean by "go up a ways and a capacitor smooths out the pulses, and higher up it acts like a dynohub" & "headlight on a whire.. rather than at the hub level.

I am a little confused. Do you recommend saving my pennies, and getting these when I can afford them? Which, will be in about a month, or so? Or, do you think my original idea of the SmartMove (as mentioned in my original post), along with a good blinky would be sufficient?

Thanks.

Bikeforumuser0011

Hi unterhausen,

I would go with a dynohub, but I can't afford one right now, plus I have heard that drag is a big issue (with some). What standard headlight (looking for something really good, but retro-looking, too), and blinky would you recommend?

Thanks!

DiegoFrogs

I'm sorry if I'm intruding, but what's your budget for the project? I only ask because I recently made the plunge into the shallow end of the dynamo+LED light group, and I'm really surprised at how little drag there is on the affordable Sanyo hub. This, coupled with the B&M LED lights, their efficiency, quality and affordability, really changes the environment where lighting is concerned.

Between my wheel and lights, I'm into the project for US$241, plus some incidentals from the hardware store which might not apply to you. If you have a good tire for the rim you choose (my tire cost not included here, because I used my REI dividends), and you weren't going to go with integrated taillights, you might be able to push it towards $200.

unterhausen

My commuter has the least expensive Shimano dynohub possible. It has a lot of drag when you are spinning it and holding the axle in your hand, but on the bike you simply can't tell. It's not like the brakes are on, not even a little. I think there are usually dyno wheels on ebay for under $100 and then there is the Avenir dyno headlight on amazon. I usually don't recommend online approaches, but my LBS isn't interested in low-cost dynos for some reason.

I have a princeton tec headlight that I think is fine. I have never really studied battery headlights though.

Editz

That Smart Move light is rated at 4 Lux, which isn't much. I have a Reelight SL100 set on my bike, but I'd never consider using them as my sole source of "be seen" illumination. They're just not bright enough. It was more of a "why not, they don't take batteries or cause wheel drag" decision.

moleman76

If you get Reelight, buy from your LBS. I bought on-line and after the front, or the back, stopped working right, sent back for replacement. Seller didn't return a working pair to me. And, no, I don't deal with them anymore. A bit picky to get aligned right, and kids might bump theirs and not realize it.

jdstoledo

Thanks to the this post I purchased the RL770 and it should be arriving tomorrow. $80 for front and rear lights that never need batteries, are permanently installed and always running while riding is exactly what I have been looking for. Far cheaper than a dynamo and I like that induction is nearly drag-free. I'll post my review here in the next couple of days. Ill also try to post a youtube video of night riding if I can figure out how to post videos.

jdstoledo

Install is quite simple and the front light is actually not too shabby at night. It's not meant for high speed riding, but for staying visible and slower speed riding it works well. The rear light is bright as heck; not too worried about being seen from behind with that. The Reelight RL770 was really worth the money. Not having to worry about batteries is really great.

Riveting

I chose the RL770 too and have ridden successfully in total darkness. The tail light is big and bright and can be seen 100 yards away, the headlight is acceptable. Magnets mount easily to the spokes, and the amount of clearance to the receiver is forgiving, maybe 1/2". Best $80 I've spent, considering the peace of mind, and lack of battery/recharging futzing required by other battery powered lights.

Bikeforumuser0011

Great! Thank you for the review! I haven't been able to install them yet. I am recovering from a wrist injury, so my motion is limited. They arrived last week, and will be on this weekend (hopefully) for a test run.

You say that the headlight is acceptable. Could you explain what you mean by this? I am just curious, because I have seen other reviews where people state that the tail light is great, but the headlight is "so-so". Thoughts?

Thanks!

p.s. Have you tried MonkeyLights? I LOVE MINE! It is nice to have the piece of mind that I am visible from the side, front, rear, and my with helmet light. I also run a Knog Blinder in the front on my handlebars.

Riveting

It's only "acceptable" because it could be much brighter and more focused further away at 10 meters, so that I can see when riding faster. It is good at helping ME be seen though, and has a good amount of side flood.

By the way: those Monkey Lights are really "fun" and all, but could be really dangerous for the rider with motorists rubber-necking, slowing down, and swerving trying to look at how awesome they are. People are fascinated by shiny sparkly lights, I know because I'm a person. No thanks, I want motorists to simply notice my solid red tail light and move on, not gawk at me like some circus sideshow.

zacster

I bought a MagnicLight taillight for my commuter. The cool thing about this is that it requires NO magnets, wires, batteries nor dynohub. It gets its energy from the rotating rim that produces eddy currents, which are picked up by powerful magnets inside the unit. There is no contact with the rim.

It is really pretty cool as it has no easily identified source of power but yet it produces light, lots of light. I had a driver stop me the other day asking what kind of light it was as he was able to see it far away in broad daylight. I tried to explain the operating principle but I think it was lost on him. I've also had other cyclists notice that it was self powered, but then couldn't figure out how as there are no wires and my junker bike certainly doesn't have a dynamo hub, and it isn't positioned like a Reelight would be.

Bikeforumuser0011

Thanks, never thought about being thought of as a circus sideshow, but good point.

Bikeforumuser0011

I just wanted to know how you find your Reelights for riding in total darkness? I broke down, and purchased the 770 set, and currently have them installed, but am thinking that the front light may have been a mistake as it is not very bright.

Thoughts? Do you think that instead of running it to the rear magnets, putting its' own magnets and generators on the front wheel would provide more light?

Just a thought?

dougmc

I've got two sets of Reelights SL120's. One of them broke, and Reelight replaced it with no problem -- they just sent me the part that broke and didn't want the old one back. (So their support seemed good to me.) Also, I had bought the lights at a swap meet, so I didn't even buy them through an authorized dealer or anything like that.

That said ... they're really quite underwhelming. Definitely "be seen" rather than "see" lights. They're cute though, and come on automatically when you ride.

The R700's probably perform a lot better, but even so ... I wouldn't expect too much from them.

Unfortunately, tight budget and good dynamo lights don't go together.

I know you want dynamo lights, but if your budget is your primary issue, this and this will set you back $26 total (plus some AAA batteries) and will likely outperform dynamo lights that cost 10x as much. The headlight will run like 10 hours in low mode and will still probably put out way more light than the R700, and the tail light will last around 100 hours of use in flash mode. Just something to consider.