Originally Posted by
tarwheel
You can spend anywhere from $20 to $500+ on front lights. The more expensive lights will provide more brightness and better run times, but you can get very effective lighting for minimal bucks.
Originally Posted by
gear
More brightness (a wider light pattern that shines well in front of even the fastest rider), better run times, connectors you can count on (no sudden outages just as you are descending), better mounts (that won't break when you crash or drop the bike), better battery setups (pulling batteries out every time you need a charge will wear out the battery holder in no time), more reliable in wet conditions, just about every aspect of the system will function better and last longer.
The Smart light my SO brought over from England and the NiteRider Classic I bought from Performance Bike are "better" lights. For less, lots less than half the cost my MagicShine spanks them both. Soundly. There is no guarantee that spending more money will get you a better light. It might, but it is not an automatic truism. The LED version of the NiteRider costs $562 and is not quite as bright as a MS. You guys are nutz if you think I can spend more money for a headlight than the bike it is throwing photons for! Spending $20 is one thing, spending $100 is quite another. How many lumens do you get out of a car headlight? Need I say more?
H