rekmeyata

Huh? either you're so incorrect it isn't funny or you're trying to be funny!

On the incorrect side of what you said, the Philips light is actually very noticeable just as a car or motorcycle light is very noticeable to oncoming vehicles. I did a test with my wife by mounting both my Cygolite MityCross 480 and the Philips on my handlebar and had her approach me at night in downpouring rain, absolute worse conditions for a bicyclist, when she rounded the the corner from 4 blocks away the first light she noticed due to it's much larger size lens and increased brilliance was the Philips; I noticed something too, I could see the road better with the Philips because it was slicing through the rain rather than hitting the rain drops high and reflecting back, I could do that with the MityCross but I had to re-aim the light down toward the ground in front of the bike which gave me far less forward lighting than the Philips had.

I've even had cops tell me that they could see me from a much further distance quicker than normal lights they see and wanted to know what light it was.

Handlebar mounted light will not annoy drivers as much as a helmet mounted light will, because with a helmet mounted light you can aim the light at a drivers side window or into the front windshield which is why I use the Mitycross as a helmet light (I didn't do that though with test with my wife I mentioned earlier). The Mitycross is a bit weird to use as a helmet light but because the headlight head is so small and light no problem with mounting that but the battery is slightly bulky and mounts toward the rear of the helmet; someday I'll buy a brighter all in one light/battery system for the helmet, but right now it works fine so I'm not in a hurry.

spare_wheel

It's almost as if you are replying to some other "spare_wheel" whose primary concern when it comes to very bright lights is to be "noticed". I don't particularly feel the need to use bright lights in the city, but when I do I value them precisely because they help me see other people and animals. In other words, I value my lights precisely because they have more spread and can light up people and animals adjacent to the road. The philips light, and stvzo-compliant lights in general, are exactly the kind of bright light I don't want to buy.

rekmeyata

I can tell you have some sort of agenda against the Philips Saferide light for some reason you're not willing to say, and if you don't then I forgive your ignorance because I can tell you've never used the light. I have a Cygolite Mitycross, not a bad light, but the spread of the Philips is about 3 times that of the Cygolite, and I can see the edge of the road including any animals and or people far better then I can with the Cygolite, in fact the beam spreads across the lane I'm riding on and across the next lane! The Cygolite is just a round spot that doesn't even cover the lane I'm in. You are completely 100% incorrect, and here's the proof:

First picture is the Philips Saferide: Philips SafeRide - Mtbr.com

Here is the equivalent Cygolite in Lumens, actually the Cygolite has more lumens: Cygolite Expilion 350 - Mtbr.com

Here is a 750 lumen Cygolite which is 3 times more lumens than the Philips: Cygolite TridenX 750 - Mtbr.com

And just to really shove the point home, here is a 975 lumen Diablo: Exposure Lights Diablo - Mtbr.com

And to really make even worse here is a 1400 lumen JetLites Dual: JetLites Dual A-51 - Mtbr.com

With the Philips I can see the edge of the road much better than with most lights on the market and the above photos prove it.

spare_wheel

Those tests are a joke. For example:

Niterider Mako 1 - Mtbr.com

Princeton Tec Push - Mtbr.com

https://reviews.mtbr.com/2012-bike-li...ye-nano-shot-2

bikemig 

You convinced me to buy one esp. after reading this interchange. Thanks!

rekmeyata

I'm not going to sit here and spew out crap to a person who has never owned one thus has no clue about how the Philips looks on the road compared to most, not all, headlights. If this aimed optic thing is as bad as you say it is then why are more and more bike light manufactures slowly embracing aimed optics instead of the standard round flashlight type of beam? Almost all dynamo powered headlights have moved in this direction because the efficiency of the light is superior over the round beam, it's the same reason cars and motorcycles use aimed optics and not round flashlight beam pattern.

So I'm done hashing this out with a person as ignorant as you are in regards to lights. Go on and post whatever you want, I won't be entertaining you on this subject any further.

dognamedbanjo

The risk of failure is why I insist on using 2 lights now - one helmet, one bar. I have definitely had lights fail, and have unfortunately learned this lesson the hard way. Most recently, my Cygolite Mitycross died. It has decided that it will turn on/off/blink whenever it pleases (but not when I want it to). Not ok.

I like to keep the helmet on blink so that I can shine it at cars to alert them when they are pulling out into traffic (hopefully not in front of me).

Everyone thinks my helmet light is a Go Pro. It's the most frequent question I have gotten for years. Do others get this?

GeneO 

I have this Lezyne mega-drive and love it. Ride trails through woods at night and it is bright enough for that. USB charger, removable battery, weather resistant.

Amazon.com : Lezyne Mega Drive Light Box Set with Loaded Kit : Sports & Outdoors

spare_wheel

1. Ever heard of high beams? Could those possible be useful for seeing people and animals?

2. The cygolite and night rider lights I use have focused optics. It's incredibly dishonest to claim otherwise.

3. I see ZERO interest in stvzo guidelines for manufacturers outside of continental europe.

4. Stvzo standards when it comes to light throw and flashing are designed for the convenience of motorists, not the safety of cyclists.

These beam pics illustrate how the aggressive shaping of the philips beam reduces spread at a distance (and forms an inverted cone):

cyccommute 

I use 3 lights...2 on the bars and one on the helmet... and have had one instance where all 3 failed. It was a crash and I hit hard enough that the mounts sheared off on all 3...it was a very hard hit

Luckily, my helmet light didn't shear off completely so I was able to limp my way home. I did "limp" both figuratively and literally which a giant hematoma on my thigh that was ugly black and green and yellow for about 3 months. I still have a deep lump from the crash about 5 years later.

To each his own, but I'm not a big fan of blinking lights. If you feel the need to run a blinking light, I would suggest using the blinking light on the bars. The helmet light is mobil enough that it grabs its own attention and it's far more useful for illuminating the road than the bar light.

I've never gotten that comment. But I've been riding with a helmet light since before the inventors of GoPro were even born.

rekmeyata

lol! Lmao!!!

spare_wheel

Got a flash mode with your philips? Why not?

RubeRad

How tedious, another lighting flame war. I don't understand why battery vs dynamo inspires more hatred than Sramano vs campy or steel vs carbon etc.

Anyways, I got a cheap magicshine knockoff from Amazon, I don't really like the beam pattern, I find it too narrow even with the extra spreader lens.

However, I really really like my CREE XML T6 Zoomable-head flashlight. I think it was $22 when I got it (including charger and batteries), it's cheaper now. It's big and heavy, but it mounts quite securely with two interlocking hose clamps. The original pair of 18650 batteries were crap, I paid like $10-15 to an american website for more reliable batteries and the originals live in my seatbag as backups. It is so bright on high I just run it on medium, or sometimes I'll run flashing at dusk. In the darkest time of the year a full charge will last me a week (~30min each way x 5 days ~ 5 hours?) I can slide the zoomable head to get a beam width I like very much; good width at the 20-40ft forward distance I want to focus on, and very little light bouncing off of street signs or stop signs or even parked taillights.

kingston 

B&M Ixon IQ Premium

thebird55

So I guess I forgot to include the link.

350 Lumen CREE Q5 LED Cycling Bike Bicycle Head Front Light Torch with Mount New | eBay

dognamedbanjo

I ended up with the Bright Eyes light. I like it. It's definitely bright! I love the mounting style - nice and stable/sturdy, even with crazy pothole season right now.

Some things I think aren't great:
- strobe is actually crazystrobegahhh. I can't imagine it's energy-saving, because it's such a frequent strobe. But, it's definitely an attention-getter!
- There is so much cable. It's not very streamlined on my bike with all of that cable.
- The battery holder is annoying. It's two velcro straps that you have to unstring from the plastic loop thingies in order to take off your bike. You have to take it off your bike to charge it. So that's annoying.

But, so far so good! It didn't die during a 35 degree sleet/rain/hailfest commute home the other night, so I can attest to some waterproof qualities.

RubeRad

Maybe not if you keep the charger/cable plugged into an extension cord that reaches to where you normally park your bike (assuming you keep your bike in the house or garage)

dognamedbanjo

The garage gets pretty cold overnight and I always bring in my batteries to ensure they don't get too cold. Though, in late Spring - Summer - early Fall, this strategy may work.

rekmeyata

Also extreme heat is bad too, you don't want to keep the battery inside a car with the windows rolled up during a 80+ degree day, nor keep them in direct sunlight in that heat.

thebird55

Maybe I should have started another topic for this, but I think I'll introduce a "sub topic" here instead. As long as we're discussing types of lights, let's also cover types of power sources. I've recently become partial to rechargeable Li-ion batteries, the 14500 size in particular.

Pros:
Lot's of power for very little weight.

Cons:
Short run time.
Usually requires the purchase of a new charger.
Slight risk of fire/explosion.
One really should take the time to learn the ins and outs of lithium batteries, for safety and best results.

halcyon100

I really like the Exposure Diablo light. I did a lot of research on lights last year because I wanted something that would help me feel more confident riding at night in the winter. I found something online comparing beam patterns of different lights and the Diablo looked good. It is a great light. I'm not sure it meets all your criteria, but probably most.

kickstart

Yes, European spec headlights are such a hardship foisted on cyclists.

Busch & Muller Luxos U

mrbubbles

^^

Those photos are extremely misleading. The Luxos U does not look that bright at night. (Before you label me a battery light proponent, I have 3 bikes with dynamo lighting, front and back, and use them regularly)>

dognamedbanjo

So, a quick update on the Bright Eyes.

When I received it, it was in good shape, but definitely appeared to have been purchased and used in the past (packed in the box all haphazardly, road grit in the tail light!). I didn't really care and figured someone tried it and just returned it.

Well, recently, my fully charged battery lasted only 70 minutes on flash mode, which is quite a bit less than the 20 hours it suggests. It died 15 minutes into my trip today, which was disappointing.

The company happened to reach out to me today to check in, and so I provided my feedback. I received EXCELLENT customer service. I am getting a new battery shipped and a new tail light, too, for no charge. The person said he would personally ensure that the light lasts at least 2 hours on high and at least 20 on strobe. Hooray! I can't wait to try out the light with a full charge.

TroN0074

Dynamo hub is the best solution for commuters