Light service and backup plan
 

rats, double rats, have Trail Rat 2.0 headlight system that is not keeping a decent charge on battery. rated 1.45 hours and I rarely see 1 hour. Have had the system since July 2008! Called Niterider. They said to send entire system back to them for check up and service. That will be 2+ weeks with out a headlight? I don't think so. I have a helmet light to be seen but it is not adequate for real riding. So I have to make a decision. What light do I get as a backup headlight? I don't want to spend more than $200. I would rather spend less than $200. I commute daily and the road has some very dark sections. Definitely need that light. Suggestions anyone? I will keep the Trail Rat as secondary light if I upgrade.

What to do, what to do?

tried using a hand torch? I got some 'lock blocks' and stuck a bright waterproof led light on my rig this week for added light...and I couldn't be happier.

I'm repeating myself here but it took me along time to get the message so I'll bet others will take just as long.

Once you've gone through a few (4 for me)inferior lighting systems (Niterider was one of the ones I used), you will have spent the same amount of money that one Lupine system costs and it will not fail you. So yes Lupine costs a lot, but it will be the only system you'll ever need.

Dinotte is good, durable, and pretty cheap. If you log in early in the morning you might catch a sale and get a 200L for $105.

There was one ride at night in the pouring rain when I couldn't see edge of the asphalt road with my helmet mounted 200L-AA-S, but otherwise the Dinotte has been great. If you want to mount the "light engine" on your helmet while the battery pack is in a jersey pocket, be sure to order the 200L with a long (42 inch) cord. Personally, I like having their battery pouch strapped on the back of my helmet (no more messing around with the cord and finding a pocket for the battery!).

I run a pair of Romisen RC-N3 CREE Q5 LED Flashlights
with cycloblocks. Plenty of light, only one function, and very affordable (~$25/per). :thumb:

I believe the best practice is to carry an LED flashlight with multiple light levels as part of your everyday carry that is also good enough to double as a backup headlamp on the brightest setting, and to keep a power supply available that is adequate for at least one ride. I carry 2 mini bungee cords in the kit I carry when riding, which can be used to attach my flashlight to the frame. My current EDC flashlight is a 1xAA light (the perfect size for pocket carry), and I run it on a NiMH battery that I charge periodically.

I use the dinotte on one bike, cygolite dualcross on another bike.
Topeak moonbeam for a helmet light. I carry a small light with
an adjustable strap for a back up light.

Wow. Have we lost perspective a bit? $200 for a backup light? For commuting?

If a couple of flashlights won't work as a backup, then maybe you should just use the money for cab fare for the two weeks.

So what? If the OP has the money then more power to him or her.

If you have an REI close by, buy your lighting gear there. That or another store with a similar return policy makes a faulty light as simple as going in, saying "this stopped working" and walking out with a replacement or at least another lighting system. I had my first system, a Niterider Sol, die on me after a week in Seattle's rain, and my first Dinotte 200L had a funky connector. Both times getting a replacement took 10 minutes.

the 200l is a little light for rain.

Agreed.

Let me counter with this. If the OP has enough means that $200 for a backup light wasn't a blink of the eye, would he/she be that concerned about maximizing or stretching their dollar to the point that they would come to this board to do so.

Maybe I'm just pissy today.

You and me both.
I don't think anyone wanting to maximize their dollar should use BF as a guide.

Well, it depends on where you go. I found out about P7s through the electronics forum, and bought my Forge after reading of someone's experiences with it in the road forum. However, there's certainly lots of advice one would be better off ignoring here.

Actually I am quite happy with my Classic Plus Niterider... (32watts) after I replaced their battery with a rechargeable battery from battery.com... similar bottle style, but loads more capacity... for less then 1/2 the quoted replacement Niterider price.

The lights are good, it is the service and battery that sucked.

Get the Task Force (cree emmitter 60X btighter) flashlight from Lowes. $30 plus a cheap charger and some rechargeable C batteries, and you are good to go - nice light too...

Fair question... bear in mind however that some people pay thousands for their bikes... and their bike may be their only form of transport. Back when I lived car free... I had no qualms about spending heavy for my bike... it was my only ride and still far far far cheaper than any motor vehicle... and I wanted reliability.

I actually have a secondary light and a tertiary light on my bike. Back then I also had several types of blinkies. There was no way I would be stuck after dark without a lighting system. (I also happened to love riding at around 10PM... so this was a real issue with me.)

I spent more than the cost of my Lupine. If only I knew before!

I agree with genec. Just replace the battery. If you jump the voltage up to 7.2V, you'll double the output. A good 7.2 4.5Ahr RC battery from BatterySpace will cost you about $40. Depending on the wattage of your current bulb, you could see between 2 hour (15W bulb) and 3 hr run times (10W bulb).

It's always a good idea to have more than one light anyway. Some of the P7 LED flashlights (look in Electronics) are cheap and bright. Their run time is poor, however. They only last about an hour and take a nonstandard (at least for consumers;)) battery. Changing batteries for them in the field would be a bit risky, too. Cold, dark and small threaded parts don't make for a happy ending:eek:;)

I carry a Fenix single AA as my, literally, 'when all else fails' light. After getting stuck in the Colorado mountains after dark without any light, I always carry something...sometimes 2 or 3 somethings;)...with me.

After seeing the results of a good lighting system, I'll gladly pay that for a backup lighting. I'll use a flashlight(s), only if nothing else is available. Several nights stay at the local hospital from a left hook or crossover collision, and I could probably outfit every one of my bikes with the most expensive light on the market.

Thanks everyone. Very instructive. I do like the last post regarding the cost of light vs cost of overnight stay in local hospital. Been there done that recently and don't care to repeat it. Hence the search for a good quality light. I will probably go with the Dinotte and use that as primary and keep the TrailRat as backup (after getting the battery issue resolved or not.). So thank you for all the suggestions.