Originally Posted by
nivekdodge
I've looked at a couple of these threads and am still wondering what to compare the ratings to? What does a car headlight put out or a 60 watt bulb or....??
Just curious
A 9004 automotive low-beam puts out about 700 lumens, and an incandescent 60-watt light bulb puts out about 850 lumens. And those two are examples of why beam pattern is important, since you obviously can't safely drive a car by putting a 60-watt table lamp on the roof
So if you're looking at new lights, think about the beam pattern as it applies to your riding environment. For me, I like to see a long way ahead because I ride fairly fast on dark highways and streets, so I pick lights with a relatively good "throw" (long-distance reach). Some people prefer more of a "fog light" beam pattern with a lot of width and less reach.