Looking for a good tail light
 

Need your advice on a good bright tail light, living in the Sacramento there will be a lot of fog and i need to be seen.

Suggestions?

The Planet Bike Superflash! It's "brilliant" (pardon the pun)

PBSF is a no brainer if cost is a concern. There is a dinotte that get's a lot of run around this place, but, it is close to 10X the SF price. My suggestion you go with dual SFs. One on blink, one steady.

Dinotte 140L. They go on sale for $100 or so, for the version that takes AA rechargables, if you supply your own charger and batteries.

Seriously, there are cheaper alternatives but they are not in the same class as the dinotte. After my 12V system (with strobe in the back) died, I rode with Planet Bike Superflashes (two of them) for a few months, but as soon as I thought about those lights in fog or rain, I sprung for the Dinotte.

Here's a video I made, Planet Bike Superflash on the top, Dinotte on the bottom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI52d5bGKHQ

IMO, the superflash is fine if the weather is clear, but NOT AT ALL even close to adequate in fog.

Super flash best bang for the buck. :thumb:

+1 :thumb: Yup it works great for me also. In fact with all these crazy Atlanta drivers I'm thinking about getting another one since it's getting darker earlier.

I have a NiteRider Cherry Bomb, and like it a lot. Also visible from the side. I have to ride in the rear when I go on group rides as it blinds whoever is with me. Doubles as a reflector when turned off.
http://www.pricepoint.com/images/sty...5%20NITCB8.jpg

+1

Two super flash are more then noticeable from blocks away.

There are brighter lights, but they cost quite a lot, and can be overkill except certain situations (heavy traffic comes to mind.)

I have a Cherry Bomb too. It's a decent light with a nice horizontal spread to the beam pattern, but it's NOT a reflector (despite NiteRider's inexplicable claim that it is):

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...eflector-1.png

You want reflectivity, hook up with some prismatic reflective tape :thumb: Regarding the original topic, the SuperFlash is a good starting point. Aim it level and straight back so the hotspot of the beam is aiming right at overtaking traffic, not up, down or sideways. Since your scenario includes fog, the DiNotte is definitely recommended. Available in regular (140) and maximum-strength (400-series).

princeton tec swerve.

As MechBgon suggests, don't depend on just one light. You want to take a variety of steps; also consider a good ANSI Class 2 or 3 reflective vest.

Another tail light to consider is the Ultrafire WF-501 B. Do note, however, you would have to make the investment in 18650 batteries and charger.

I've ridden and driven in that thick Tule fog... DiNotte is the best choice. It's expensive, but it just might save your life.

Well i bit the bullet today and orderd a Dinotte 140L, i bought a superflash the other day and not real happy with so i orderd the Dinotte.

That video says it all. The Dinotte is FREAKING INSANE!


As far as the more affordable lights, I compared the Cherry Bomb and PBSF and the Cherry Bomb is better.

Basically set up the two at REI then got on the other side of the store and looked at brightness and visibility at various angles.

+1 for the PB super flash

Much as I like and use the PBSF, it has some drawbacks that make it a pain.

Even with the seam wrapped in electrical tape it lets water in. This causes the switch to malfunction - spontaneously turning itself on or off, even after having sat still for hours, or not working at all.

Also the mounting clip is poorly designed, requiring a rubber band around the body of the light to keep it from ejecting itself into traffic.

Sinlac, I live car free, and the bike which is my daily commuter has a Dinltte 140L tail light on it (as well as a second tail light, which cannot be seen when the Dinotte light is on.) I have the PB Superflash on another bike, since it is good enough when I find myself out with that bike after dark, but if I know that I will be out in the dark, I use the Dinotte.

The PB Superflash is plenty bright to allow you to be seen. The Dinotte is in a whole other class, it does not merely allow you to be seen, it forces drivers to notice you. With all of the distracted drivers on the road, if I am going to be sharing the road with a distracted driver I want to be the distraction, and the Dinotte tail light does that for me. I have a Dinotte 200L on the front, which I set on flash mode, for the same reason, that light forces drivers to see me. I have a separate headlight (Supernova E3, powered from a generator hub) which I use to see the road - in an urban environment, it is enough to see by.

Do people with the Dinotte find it is too bright to use in urban situations? When I had a superflash (which was stolen so I just use a less bright taillight now), I'd have people leaning out of cabs to say my light was giving them seizures (jokingly) But seriously I think it might blind some drivers into having an accident.

+1000000000000000000

I have this light and even with the cost of batteries and charger, the total is under $30.
It's searing to the eyes -- you will injure your retina looking into it.

It's awesome for fog or for the mornings you ride directly into the sun and you need something to make you stand out (for the drivers with dirty windshields).

Have the SuperFlash too, and I use them both. The Ultrafire is 10x more powerful though.

I don't worry about car drivers, but I do turn off the Dinotte tail light if I am riding with a bunch of other cyclists. I balance the negative of the annoyance to the driver against my additional safety, and decide that my skin is valuable enough to be worth annoying a motorist for.


BTW - are you the same crazybikerchick as writes http://crazybikerchick.blogspot.com/?- If so, I love your "open letter to motorists".

I've had nothing but positive comments from motorists for my DiNotte 140 taillight.

That's what i want them to Notice me and avoid me.;)