I was riding last week and almost got left crossed by a SUV, in front of a well lit High School. I was looking to the right at the car approaching the intersection, he was stopping. So I look straight again and saw headlights right in my face...crap ...I jammed up the brakes and the SUV flew by me within inches. It was about 6:30pm, and dark.

So after that I have been on the hunt for a light set up. Yesterday I got one. I have a 100 lumen flashlight torch for a front light, a Cateye LD500-R for the rear, and a head band light that could be used as an extra tail light since it has night vision. Or used as an extra headlight. Depending on what I need it for at the time of my ride.


I tested it out this morning before the sun came up, I love it! O.K I'll admit I was stupid for riding without lights for over 6 months in the dark. But now I will never look back!! Stay lit! Be safe!


The Headlight





Head Lamp/ Tail light...verstile




Tail light

Add and airzound horn and you will be set.

Ha ha ha... Yeah a horn is good .

Though nothing really works better than being seen. Any form of Lights, Reflectors, and glow equipment can only increase your chances of being seen out there.

Being seen and heard!!! I like that idea!

Good to have lights.

What you SHOULD have gotten, though is :

Terralux Lightstar 2 x AA LED flashlight (google it) - mount with rubber band on your helmet - $28
Rechargeable AAs & charger - $15-$30
Mars 4.0 or Planet bike superflash for rear blinkie -$19
Lockblock if you want a handlebar mount - $5

A killer light setup (180lumens front) that can both be seen and to see with. These have been extensively reviewed and approved in the electronics subsection.

If you want crazy light, the "Magicshine" will put out 600+ lumens for $80.

Don't forget your lightweight camping axe...

I see your point, I live in an urban environment, I just need to be seen, Plus that torch I got 100 lumens lights up the road like a car headlight, along with the head-strap light I am highly visible!. I got everything for free, except or the tail light..I got that at the LBS or $11 even. Good to know friends!!! So 11 bucks for this light system...cant be beat IMO.

Look at the Magic Shine 900 lumen light set. About $90. Got mine yesterday. Well worth the price. Youtube it and see for yourself.

Machete!!! F an Axe!

I have seen it and it looks sweet! I just cant spend 90 bucks on a light unless I was in the country! That thing would blind a UFO!

Ninja = bad.

And don't forget your towel.

You need more light in an urban setting with lots of lights around than in a rural one. Out in the country, I can live just fine with about 180 lumens even when riding on dark gravel roads with potholes. In the city I want more light than that, because it's easy for your little light to get lost in a sea of other lights. Drivers are only looking for "threats" which to them means other cars; if you're significantly less visible than a car, they probably won't see you.

I will post pics of the illumination when I get a chance...give me about 6 hours the sun will be down then!

Towel for what...A little road rash never hurt anybody!!! Unless your scared of blood!

Cool I will go buy a spotlight and carry a car battery in my backpack would that suffice? Wait until I post pics until you judge? I knew people would diss the 11 buck light set up.

Perhaps he meant to say "Don't Panic".

I cant believe everybody on here is critiquing the light set up, instead of saying I'm glad you had the reaction time and luck of not getting ran over that night....man you guys drive a hard bargain!!!

Hey, any light is infinitely better than no light. I'm not dissing it, it's probably a better light than what I use as a backup. I'm just saying, don't think that because you're riding in the city, that there's no reason to get a bright light.

I've ridden in to work with REALLY pathetic little lights, less bright than what the OP has. It was fine when I was out where there were no other lights. But when I get into town where there are other lights and I'm on such a light (years ago before I had better lighting, or if my main light fails now) I assume that NOBODY can see me and I'm riding with my slam-on-brakes reflex on edge whenever I'm near intersections.

FWIW, I used to use something that was pretty close to that - an MR16 halogen spot and a 12 volt lead-acid battery. It cost me about 8 bucks to make the light. The battery would have probably cost me about 12 bucks but I had one lying around (and they throw them out at work all the time for alarm and safety lights, still with enough life in them to run a bike light for an hour). That setup cost me about $15 total with a few connectors, and it was really quite bright.

The MagicShine light is much brighter though, and weighs a lot less, though it is $85.

One thing that really helps if your main light is weak is if it has a flashing mode. I usually switch mine to that if I have to use a dim light.

Share and Enjoy!

Understood, This is my first light set up and will tweak it from here based on my observations. Thanks for you ideas and knowledge!

Got it....

Another possibility for future improvements is Dealextreme's P7-C. Nearly as bright as the magicshine in a flashlight style format. I really like not having to mount/dismount a battery pack. https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16092

Glad you are becoming more visible!

I bought the same light as the OP about 2 months ago. I think it is a Coast brand. I bought it a Lowes for $25. It is very bright and worked great at first, but now it goes on and off. I don't know if it has a short or it is sensitive to the cold or what. Sometimes I tap it and it will go back on and sometimes that does not work. It does have a lifetime warranty, so I need to send it in. It has been very frustrating, because I did love the light at first. I was thinking about buying another one to double my light output. I could aim one closer to the bike and one up the road a bit.

Congrats on your lights & rear reflector, and if you want one more item sometime, the next thing I could suggest is a reflective legband. They're cheap, light, and the motion gets peoples' attention and tells them it's a person.

crayzed27, I'm glad you had the reaction time and luck of not getting ran over that night.