AngryScientist 

its not entirely apparent from the website, but do any of the dinnotte barrel style lights NOT require an external battery pack?

i need a little more light output, most noteably in the tail light department (i want my rear lights to SCREAM to cars who are about to pass me), but i'm not too keen on having an external battery pack??

10 Wheels

They all have a battery pack.
Get a 140L you will be very happy.

NoRacer

^^^^^^^^^^^
+1 on the 140L.

I use rechargeable AA NiMH with it for regular use, but I'm very glad that AA batteries are available in most convenience stores. I've been out on 14 hour rides. Replacing them, on the road, is easy.

The 140L "screams" even set on steady low.

ItsJustMe

There's a red LED flashlight on DealExtreme but it does take 18650 LiIon batteries, so you're getting into that whole world of special batteries and chargers.

Personally I use the 140L with NiMH rechargables. Spare battery holders are < $2 at Radio Shack, I keep a spare in my bag loaded with low-self-discharge cells so I don't have to worry about keeping them topped up all the time.

You do have to take the pack off the bike and inside to dry it if it gets wet during a ride, if you don't the pack will start behaving weird (cutting in and out a lot). Apart from that I haven't had any trouble with mine after more than a year, and it's kind of the gold standard. No generic red flashlight is going to have the great bike-specific strobe modes that the Dinotte has.

woodway

I use a 140L on the back and a 140 Daytime Running Light (same as the 140L but with an Amber lense) on the front. I've got them connected together through a Y-Adaper to a 4-cell external battery pack. The external packs are small and light enough that you can find many places to stash them on your bike. The packs are waterproof and will power a 140L for something like 24 hours in certain flash modes. Plus the same pack will work for a Dinotte headlight if you ever get one of those.

poopisnotfood

Another 140L user here. Incredible light, the external pack does not bother me in the slightest. If you want cars to see you, this is the light to get that done, and then some. Good customer service too.

ks1g

One more 140L user (have 2- AA battery model and the 200L lithium-powered one -each bike has it's own). If you want something reasonably bright (not as much as the Dinotte), self-contained, small and cheaper, look at Planet Bike Superflash ($20-$30). Performance (if I dare say their name in the same post as Dinotte and PB!) has a PBSF copy - ViewPoint Flashpoint Ultra Taillight that may be a little cheaper.

AngryScientist 

thanks for the great input all. one more question...

on the dinotte site they have the 140L that we are talking about here and the 140R, which they describe as coming on and off the bike very quickly, but having less battery life and being brighter. is this the case? i thought all of the dinotte mounting systems were the same, why is this one quicker on/off.

for what its worth, thats my real point for wanting no battery pack, currently i leave my taillight on the bike when its parked outside, but if i had a >100 light id want to take it in with me, and i want something very convenient for on/off. anyone care to chime in on these points?

10 Wheels

The light engine is held on by an o-ring. Easy to remove.

GriddleCakes

Hey 10 wheels, since you have both; how does the DiNotte taillight compare to the PB Superflash? And does the DiNotte have a flash setting?

I'm looking to increase rear visibility for both my lady and myself. I've already got a Superflash taillight on my ride, and am not sure that adding a second is going help a whole lot more.

CFXMarauder

I also have both and the 140 lays waste to the Superflash..The 140 has several different flash patterns to choose from..Only complaint id have bout the 140 is the battery pack could be better and when mounted the on/off button can be hard to get to with my fat fingers..

GriddleCakes

Thanks!

dynodonn 

In that case, you may want to look at the 400L, my 400L really lights up the road whenever I happen to look into my rear view mirror at night, and that's just in medium steady mode. I feel that I don't need to put it into strobe on any part of my commute, since the damn thing is really annoying, but it's a good option to have if I ever have to deal with higher speed traffic than I deal with now.

ks1g

Not 10W but I also have both - let me go look....... MY EYES!

....OK, afterimages have decayed sufficiently that I can type. Ran a Dinotte, ViewPoint, PBSF, and cheap blinkie. All on flash: ViewPoint and PBSF on main strobe, Dinotte on single flash (has a rapid flash and intensity-cycle flashing modes, too), blinky on all-lights flash pattern. The Dinotte (LI-powered model) is definitely the brightest by far (AA-version is on back of road bike & I didn't feel like taking it down to check). From trailing someone on local bike trail who has the same light, I know it is visible at night for at least a 1/2 mile, probably further. Next brightest (but noticably down from the Dinotte) is a new ViewPoint Flashpoint Ultra. The PBSF is slightly less obnoxious than the Viewpoint, may be due to significantly older batteries. Cheap blinky provides a nice garnish on the scene when the flash cycles leave it the only one visible.

I *think* I can attach a video I took with my phone.
Yeah. The rapid flashing light on left is the Viewpoint, the periodic big bloom is the Dinotte. The PBSF is the smaller flasher to the right, was pointed a bit off-axis for this shot. (And the shot needs to be rotated 90 deg right for proper orientation). Cheap blinkie is almost unnoticable. Range is about 10 ft inside a dark garage.

Here's another one I found that also gets the idea across:

If you feel your life is worth the money (mine is), get the Dinotte (either AA or Li model) and a PBSF or the Viewpoint as backup. If you can only afford $20-$30 now, PBSF or Viewpoint are way better than blinkie or nothing. If you are in a contributory negligence state (or if not), check local laws for cycling at night then get a reflector anyway just in case you or your heirs need to sue the cretin who nails you from behind because of the light show.

Mr. Fly

All the Dinotte lights are very high-powered lights with the corresponding high power consumption. I don't know if you'll get significant battery light if you want a smallish light with an internal battery. Current battery technology cannot yet pack that many Ah to meet that expectation.

Nevertheless, I'm yet another satisfied 140L user. I've been stopped numerous times by both cyclists and motorists to ask about the 140L simply because it is so visible. It's expensive, but worth it if you can spare the money.

The external 4-AA battery pack is fairly small and can be stashed many ways. I have a 140L on my commuter Brompton and I basically assembled the helmet mount upside down with the 4-AA battery pack on top of the light but "underneath" and "in" the saddle. The whole assembly is not intrusive at all. The 2-cell Li-ion battery is also quite small but of a different, flatter-but-longer/wider shape.

727336257_CJrab-L.jpg

GriddleCakes

Just a heads up, the DiNotte taillight is on sale at the manufacturer's website.

SSfreak

I believe the "L" is the light and battery pack and the"R" is just the light. Both are the same light. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I own a Dinotte 140 and two PBSF. The Dinotte really does kick ass. Cars tend to go to the farthest lane just to get away from my light and that's a really good feeling. As you can tell, I really do enjoy my light.

ItsJustMe

Here's a link to my video; on the first half, a Dinotte 140L and a PB Superflash. On the way back, MagicShine P7.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI52d5bGKHQ

JeffSG

I just recently purchased the 400R after trying out all other rear lights. I should have went with Dinotte to begin with. This 300 lumen light is by far the brightest tail light on the market. I mount mine to my helmet along with the battery. I bring my helmet inside with me as I don't want to leave an expensive light like this on my bike as someone might steal it. Cars weave all the way over to the other lane now.

Call Dinotte and talk to them before you purchase. I asked for 10% off and got it...maybe I should have tried 20%??

You won't regret this purchase as the rear light is the most important part of your bike when riding at night (IMO).

Next fall I plan to get a Dinotte headlight.

Ride safe,

Jeff

PaulRivers

I'm sure they do. Imagine when some ass in a car sees you coming from the other way, and turns on their brights, practically blinding you.

Pointing 300 lumens at someone's face...it's pretty much like that, I would imagine.

neilfein

It you want brightness in a headlight, you'll need a battery pack (or a dynamo). As for a bright taillight, I never wanted to spend the $$$ on a Dinotte taillight. I figure a Superflash and a helmet blinky are enough for me.

That said, my 200L headlight on flashing mode makes road signs 100' away flash - in daylight. Perhaps I should look at a Dinotte taillight...

10 Wheels

You should:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-Test-Part-Two

hopperja

It's got two of the LEDs found in the 140L. It probably doesn't put out quite 300L but it's got to be close.

I have a 140L and use it whenever I ride.

As for headlights, the DiNotte is great. However, I like my Magicshine from Geoman better. It's brighter, has twice the run time, and was much cheaper.