kiltedcelt

I wonder if some of the beam pattern issues are because the light is supposed to automatically adjust its beam pattern based on speed. Presumably it gets some info from the current input (sidewall or hub dynamo), and when rpms increase the beam pattern lengthens versus the lower speed broader pattern. This is all academic for me since I don't have my setup yet to install and verify any of this myself. Since most dynamo tests are performed from a static unit (wheel turning to generate current), I wonder if some of the ability of the light is not being called into play. Perhaps the crappy beam shot is the lower speed versus higher speed. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it's got to be better than the 120 lumen battery powered Cygolite I've been using, and if it's even marginally better than that and I never have to worry about whether I remembered to charge my batteries, well I'm coming out ahead then.

byrd48

Another update, I went for a ride this afternoon and got caught in a torrential downpour. I don't have fenders on my bike yet, so the light got it from top and bottom. And it got it from the side one good time when a car passed me and hosed me really good. There is now some condensation on the inside of the lens. I'm not sure if that's normal or not. And of course I hit some bumps which made the light point down That is still my biggest gripe on this, and I don't think it would be any better with a standard mount. You just cannot torque the first bolt down enough to keep it from pivoting. On the inside of the hinge, there are some small marks, I presume to help it stay put when tightened down, but no matter, you can still move it. It would be better if the surface was ridged so it would lock in place without much torque. I may try to wedge a star washer in there and see if that will help. Otherwise I'm going to have to fabricate something to keep it in place.

byrd48

For me, the biggest gripe is the mechanics of keeping it in a fixed position. I can tolerate the beam pattern with the cost savings of the unit, no problem. But the thing has to stay in place

byrd48

As a follow up, I got caught in the rain yesterday, big time torrential downpour and cars splashing me from the side. And no fender on the front wheel, so the light literally took water from all directions. It worked fine, but last night I noticed it had condensation on the inside of the lens. I'm not sure if that is normal for the amount of water thrown at it, but as of today, the condensation is gone. Again, big bumps made the light point down and I had to readjust it. I guess that's my biggest gripe. Part of me thinks I got what I paid for, but I don't really consider $85 to be cheap, especially since LED tech is not exactly new. And I would overall be satisfied if the darn thing would just stay in place on the bumps.

noglider 

I agree that staying in place is even more important than beam pattern. Are you sure you mounted it right? Would adding friction washers help? Does your non-standard way of mounting cause the problem?

byrd48

The way I mounted it certainly does give it more bounce, being mounted on the end of a cantlever reflector mount, however no matter how tight the bolts are torqued, it still will rotate with not too much force. I tried to get the star washers in the hinge area, but wasn't able to by hand anyway, I may need something to help spread the jaws apart to allow it.
My next plan of action is to make a custom mount. I think I'll need a metal plate that can screw onto the reflector mount, rise up, and have the sides wrap around the sides of the riser portion of the light, then bolt on to both sections on the sides of the light. That would at least keep the bottom pivot point from rotating. I'll post an update if / when I get around to it. I'm not much in metal working