Best and Brightest Headlight under $100 for road riding
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,163
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 344 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 20 Times
in
18 Posts
Best and Brightest Headlight under $100 for road riding
With the days getting shorter I have been caught out road riding a few times and it was getting rather dark. So i am thinking of getting a good, bright headlight that will allow me to get home in the dark for about the last hour or so of my ride. I have seen quite a few lights but I have never used one. I would like for it to be bright enough so I can carry a reasonable high speed and still see what's in front of me without the danger of running over or hitting something. I was told anything under 500 lumins would not be bright enough. Could someone who has more experience in using lights give me a few lights to choose from that would serve my needs for under $100?
Cheers,
Rick in Tennessee
Cheers,
Rick in Tennessee
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ
Posts: 367
Bikes: 2014 Boardman SLS 9.4 Di2, 2011 CAAD 10 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Check some here: https://bicyclelightreview.com/bike-light-review/
It's not just brightness you need to worry about - you should also check beam patterns. If you wide in areas with street lighting the beam pattern's not as important as if you're on back roads.
If you get something really bright (I have an 1800 lumen light) you may want to check for one that has a beam pattern that won't annoy oncoming motorists. I believe Germany has laws enforcing these standards, so you'll see that more on lights sold in Europe. I know my light annoys the crap out of some people, but at least it's a temporary inconvenience for them and I'm visible.
It's not just brightness you need to worry about - you should also check beam patterns. If you wide in areas with street lighting the beam pattern's not as important as if you're on back roads.
If you get something really bright (I have an 1800 lumen light) you may want to check for one that has a beam pattern that won't annoy oncoming motorists. I believe Germany has laws enforcing these standards, so you'll see that more on lights sold in Europe. I know my light annoys the crap out of some people, but at least it's a temporary inconvenience for them and I'm visible.
#3
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: SW MI
Posts: 16
Bikes: '06 Specialized Tarmac Comp, '98 Diamondback Voyager II
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Search the Electronics & Lighting forum: https://www.bikeforums.net/forumdispl...ng-amp-Gadgets
I use one of the Cree XML T6 lights from DealExtreme.com, but you can find the same lights and deals from Amazon, now. Mine just has a single LED and I find it more than bright enough on high when riding on unlit rural roads early in the morning (dark). When I bought mine, the going price was around $40, now there are lots of similar ones for under $30.
I use one of the Cree XML T6 lights from DealExtreme.com, but you can find the same lights and deals from Amazon, now. Mine just has a single LED and I find it more than bright enough on high when riding on unlit rural roads early in the morning (dark). When I bought mine, the going price was around $40, now there are lots of similar ones for under $30.
#4
Senior Member
#5
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,052
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22598 Post(s)
Liked 8,925 Times
in
4,158 Posts
edit: here is one on Amazon, under $25 now.
https://www.amazon.com/Lumen-Bicycle-...ght+1200+lumen
Last edited by datlas; 09-09-13 at 10:44 AM.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 122
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
you'd be surprised how cheaply you can make one yourself.
I've made two ultra-bright 9-LED bulb flashlight mounts quite easily. The pictured setup didn't work on one of my bikes with wider/tapered handlebars towards the center, so I instead used a plastic clamp that came with the stock dork reflectors.
Total price of the two of them? under 20$. Having made it myself and saved over 50$? Priceless. These things light up the path enough for me to ride through dark areas at night - yet alone be seen!
I also am still very happy with my Knog blinder from my LBS for ~40 at the time - this one lights up a wider area, but is not as focused as my custom set.
https://www.amazon.com/Knog-Blinder-R...nder+headlight
I've made two ultra-bright 9-LED bulb flashlight mounts quite easily. The pictured setup didn't work on one of my bikes with wider/tapered handlebars towards the center, so I instead used a plastic clamp that came with the stock dork reflectors.
Total price of the two of them? under 20$. Having made it myself and saved over 50$? Priceless. These things light up the path enough for me to ride through dark areas at night - yet alone be seen!
I also am still very happy with my Knog blinder from my LBS for ~40 at the time - this one lights up a wider area, but is not as focused as my custom set.
https://www.amazon.com/Knog-Blinder-R...nder+headlight
#7
Portland, OR, USA
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: portland
Posts: 1,626
Bikes: kona paddywagon, trek 2.1, lemond nevada city, gt zrx
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
lights are becoming cheaper and cheaper so a $100 budget should be plenty. for pitch black, dry riding, id say 250 lumens is probably fine. throw rain into the equation and id definitely go brighter, 500 or higher. ive got a 250 lumen serfas brand light and a 600 lumen from night rider. that 600 lumen fffr is plenty bright and usually enough to ellicit some scoWlly looks and curses from on coming cyclists. they are just jealous. both were about 100 bucks when i bought them a few years ago so light have to be even cheaper now. id shy away from those cheapo chinese knock off like magic shine and stick with a company that might actually honor its warantee, light and motion, nite rider, even some of those planet bike light are getting brighter, close to 200 lumens for cheap.
#8
Galveston County Texas
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: In The Wind
Posts: 33,222
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1350 Post(s)
Liked 1,245 Times
in
623 Posts
Get two of these and ride as fast as you want. I have two of them.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._email_1p_0_ti
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._email_1p_0_ti
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
#9
Senior Member
Lastly, the one I posted has the latest Cree XM-L2 emitter, it's not the regular MJ808. XM-L2 is state of the art right now.
Last edited by Hiro11; 09-09-13 at 12:18 PM.
#10
Galveston County Texas
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: In The Wind
Posts: 33,222
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1350 Post(s)
Liked 1,245 Times
in
623 Posts
Not True...(The knock-off ones have truly crap reliability.)
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
#11
SuperGimp
I have a real magicshine and a fake magicshine... the real one has a better (more waterproof) connector to the battery pack and the build quality is a little higher. The beam pattern isn't identical but it's very close.
Run two of them on your bars and you should have no problem riding in any light conditions.
Run two of them on your bars and you should have no problem riding in any light conditions.
#12
Portland Fred
Check some here: https://bicyclelightreview.com/bike-light-review/
It's not just brightness you need to worry about - you should also check beam patterns. If you wide in areas with street lighting the beam pattern's not as important as if you're on back roads.
It's not just brightness you need to worry about - you should also check beam patterns. If you wide in areas with street lighting the beam pattern's not as important as if you're on back roads.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: S.E. Chester County PA
Posts: 602
Bikes: IF Ti Crown Jewel, Moots Mooto X RSL 29er, Fat Chance Yo Eddy, Lynskey Pro Cross
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
This is a pretty comprehensive list / review which is updated regularly at MTBR. https://reviews.mtbr.com/2013-bike-lights-shootout/2
My personal preference is to have one light mounted on my helmet and one on the bars. Weight is important for helmet mounted lights. Please note that run time is another critical factor to consider.
My personal preference is to have one light mounted on my helmet and one on the bars. Weight is important for helmet mounted lights. Please note that run time is another critical factor to consider.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: S.E. Chester County PA
Posts: 602
Bikes: IF Ti Crown Jewel, Moots Mooto X RSL 29er, Fat Chance Yo Eddy, Lynskey Pro Cross
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
One other point on the list mentioned above. The prices quoted are list prices and you likely can find many of the lights for less on Amazon or Ebay. For example you can find Nightrider Lumina 650s on Ebay for ~ $100 but it is listed in the article at $140.
#15
I got 99 problems....
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
Posts: 2,087
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
500 Lumens? Geesh. I commute 12 rural miles one way (morning rides are now completely dark) with a 35 lumen light (2 AA batts)
I guess I wouldn't mind something a tad brighter, but 250 would be more than enough. Even the 35 is fine, but I do have to keep a close eye on the road for debris.
I guess I wouldn't mind something a tad brighter, but 250 would be more than enough. Even the 35 is fine, but I do have to keep a close eye on the road for debris.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,445
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4234 Post(s)
Liked 2,949 Times
in
1,808 Posts
Get two of these and ride as fast as you want. I have two of them.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._email_1p_0_ti
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._email_1p_0_ti
__________________
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),
#17
Portland Fred
500 Lumens? Geesh. I commute 12 rural miles one way (morning rides are now completely dark) with a 35 lumen light (2 AA batts)
I guess I wouldn't mind something a tad brighter, but 250 would be more than enough. Even the 35 is fine, but I do have to keep a close eye on the road for debris.
I guess I wouldn't mind something a tad brighter, but 250 would be more than enough. Even the 35 is fine, but I do have to keep a close eye on the road for debris.
Now that I live in an urban area where there is a lot of ambient lighting, I can and do get along well with way less. But you really do need real lighting, especially for riding in slop, highways where there is a lot of spray, or in fog.
#18
Portland, OR, USA
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: portland
Posts: 1,626
Bikes: kona paddywagon, trek 2.1, lemond nevada city, gt zrx
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
550 lumens, 93 bucks!
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...0&category=105
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...0&category=105
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,445
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4234 Post(s)
Liked 2,949 Times
in
1,808 Posts
What do people use for taillights these days? When I got my original Magicshine 1000 or whatever it was, I got a tail light that fed off the same battery back via a splitter. Are those still near the top of the end? I used to pair that with a couple of PBSF's which were top of the line, but like I said, it's been a number of years and I'm sure things have moved on.
__________________
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),
#20
Portland Fred
What do people use for taillights these days? When I got my original Magicshine 1000 or whatever it was, I got a tail light that fed off the same battery back via a splitter. Are those still near the top of the end? I used to pair that with a couple of PBSF's which were top of the line, but like I said, it's been a number of years and I'm sure things have moved on.
My preferred tail light is the Cygolite Hotshot. It's cheap, brighter than your PBSF (which is still a great cheapie), crazy long runtime, and recharges via USB
#21
?
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,775
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
These.
https://www.fasttech.com/products/160...umen-white-led
Or these.
https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/1...00-lumen-led-b
https://www.fasttech.com/products/160...00-lumen-white
https://www.fasttech.com/products/160...00-lumen-white
1000+ lumens, all $50 or less, way newer than the popular magic shine. Also way better than some of the suggestions here, like the diy 9 5mm led post.
https://www.fasttech.com/products/160...umen-white-led
Or these.
https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/1...00-lumen-led-b
https://www.fasttech.com/products/160...00-lumen-white
https://www.fasttech.com/products/160...00-lumen-white
1000+ lumens, all $50 or less, way newer than the popular magic shine. Also way better than some of the suggestions here, like the diy 9 5mm led post.
#22
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,440
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3143 Post(s)
Liked 1,707 Times
in
1,031 Posts
The Knog Road 2 is a cool, sub- $100, 200 lumen light...if that's the kind of thing that fits your needs. It's one of a quartet of light options for me, but is one of my favorite because it's so small, so discrete, and so easy to mount, remove, and move between bikes. It simply straps on.
Here's a pic of it on my minivelo; keen eyes will notice the Tacx Lumos bar end lights, which are a nifty little set of 'be seen' lights for travelin' light at night:
Here's a pic of it on my minivelo; keen eyes will notice the Tacx Lumos bar end lights, which are a nifty little set of 'be seen' lights for travelin' light at night:
#23
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,052
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22598 Post(s)
Liked 8,925 Times
in
4,158 Posts
Get two of these and ride as fast as you want. I have two of them.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._email_1p_0_ti
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._email_1p_0_ti
And the nay-sayers who claim crap reliability, you can get the two of them for $50 and if one dies you can still get by on the other one!
#24
Senior Member
MagicShine copies are the best lumens/$ (even after you account for the lights putting out about half the claimed lumens).
Here's my summary of lumens and lighting functionality:
<50 lumens: Night-time visibility light
50-200 Lumens: Day-time visibility light or night-time helmet spot light
500+ Lumens: Night-time headlight.
~1500 Lumens: Single car headlight
If you actually want a proper headlight you want 500+ lumens. Less than that just doesn't put out enough light to provide any visibility above 10 mph. Additionally, that's a bright enough light to put a spot on the pavement well in front of you, allowing you to be seen without direct line-of-sight. In my opinion, lights between 200-400 lumens are a waste of money, they're expensive and don't provide enough like for anything beyond a slow cruise at 8-10 mph. That Knog is a prime example, for an extra $50 you can get quality lights with 3-4x the light.
The magicshine copies are cheap, have a pretty crappy beam pattern, but throw a ton of light, making up for the crappy beam.
Light and Motion make excellent (but pricey) lights.
Here's my summary of lumens and lighting functionality:
<50 lumens: Night-time visibility light
50-200 Lumens: Day-time visibility light or night-time helmet spot light
500+ Lumens: Night-time headlight.
~1500 Lumens: Single car headlight
If you actually want a proper headlight you want 500+ lumens. Less than that just doesn't put out enough light to provide any visibility above 10 mph. Additionally, that's a bright enough light to put a spot on the pavement well in front of you, allowing you to be seen without direct line-of-sight. In my opinion, lights between 200-400 lumens are a waste of money, they're expensive and don't provide enough like for anything beyond a slow cruise at 8-10 mph. That Knog is a prime example, for an extra $50 you can get quality lights with 3-4x the light.
The magicshine copies are cheap, have a pretty crappy beam pattern, but throw a ton of light, making up for the crappy beam.
Light and Motion make excellent (but pricey) lights.
Last edited by gsa103; 09-09-13 at 02:52 PM.
#25
Ride on!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Mesa AZ
Posts: 398
Bikes: 2013 TARMAC Expert, 2011 specialized roubaix SL3, 2012 Raleigh Rush hour FIXIE
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
650 lunums way bright enough, NO WIRES lithium battery inside USB charge, easy release clamp cannot see wh anyone pays 2-400 bucks for a light
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1