CBBaron

Its now
https://www.cateye.com/en/products/vi...d=7&subCatId=1
Though its not cheap.
3W and 5W LEDs are comercially available and LEDs have similar efficiency to HID lights, which is better than twice the light output per watt than Halogen. Therefore a pair of 3W or single 5W should be brighter than a single 10W halogen. I believe the Cateye uses three 3W LEDs. As you can tell from the shape of the Cateye the biggest problem with the higher power lights is keeping them cool. To keep a 5W LED at a temperture that does not shorten its life will require substantial expense in cooling (better heatsink or fan).
Craig

John Ridley

BTW, I said "LEDs are OK in the back" - I should qualify that. A standard 5-LED light is NOT good enough in the dark. You need reflective stuff. A BIG reflector (1.5x4" truck marker is my recommendation) and also reflective stuff on your body.

I came upon a rider a few nights ago. He had a blinking LED, and a few strips of reflective tape on his jacket. I saw the tape at least 50 feet before I saw the LED. He had a very bright light, possibly HID, up front, but could have used more in the back.

Reflective stuff is cheap, extremely bright and doesn't need batteries. Take advantage of it.

Seanholio

I've not read this entire thread, so forgive me if I am repeating someone else's suggestion.

I read elsewhere on BF that someone had a light shining on their back from the rack on their bike, which lit up their hi-vis jacket and made them very visible to vehicles. This sounds like a great idea to me.

froze

Well that's all well and good except for two things (and I like Cateye as a company), the light cost over $300 and puts out the light equivalent of about a 20 watt halogen. not even close to a HID. For the same $300+ dollars you can get a HID; or for $100 you can get a 25 watt halogen light.

Juha

I agree. After all, there have been powerful but hideously expensive LED lights available for some time now. For example, I believe Lupine are in their second or third generation of high-output LED lights. The new Cateyes are not quite THAT expensive, but still it's a lot of money compared to what you get with other technologies. Anyways, I welcome their new lights as they bring the "joyful event" (of affordable, good LED headlights) a little closer.

--J

Patellapedler

Where does everyone get all their reflective gear from? I need to light myself up better and was wondering where I can get some of these things. I am going to check my LBS but it is a small mom and pop store (must be great though cause it has been around for years and years) How about any websites?

Sloth

https://nordicgroup.us/s78/wattslumens.html

An overvolted halogen is more efficient than either HID or LED lights, at the cost of reducing bulb life to "only" a couple of hundred hours. That's probably about a year of night riding for most everyone, and the bulbs are cheap (as is the entire halogen system.)

Walkafire

https://www.alertshirt.com/higvisshirfo.html

I have one of the Sweatshirts from here... great prices and it will light ya up!
Check it out.

Sigurdd50

I want to balance the $$ saved by commuting, along with the extra activity -- against spending lots of $$ on gadgets I may not need.

Although potholes do increase over seasons -- more at the end of Winter, I'm wondering how necessary it is to have a light as bright as a Motorcycle. There are always little nuances in the road, but I'm pretty well acquainted with my route and the bumps. Except for the stretch of bike path it is fairly well lit.

Seems a couple good blinkers, reflective tape, a bell, and a reflective vest should cover safety issues.