Can anyone recommend the best of the latest rear lights?
 

I'm riding all winter and I will be doing mostly commuting in the dark. I live in a suburb and am on a combination of low-trafficked and high-trafficked roads. I've done some research online, but it's difficult to find all of the most up-to-date info. Currently I'm using a Planet Bike Blinky Superflash. I'm thinking that it might be best to get something stronger so that cars see me from a farther distance to increase their available time to react since I'm sure the road conditions will make it more likely for cars to be sliding.

Of the best ones I've found so far they are:

Dinotte: 140R at $119, 300R at $199, or the 400r at $229

Light and Motion: Vis 180 at $99

If you have experience with any of these or you have other suggestions it would be very appreciated.

Thanks everyone!

Hmm, I'd never even thought about going more powerful than the current generations of Superflash/Radbot/Cherrybomb-type lights. I think I'd sooner get a second identical light (in case one light or mount is dead/damaged/stolen) or further beef up my headlight. if a $100-200 for a taillight is no issue to you, though, please grab one and report back :)

Yeah, not that those aren't supremely lust worthy (I particularly want a Vis 180)... I don't see much NEED for anything beyond Superflash / Radbot (or Danger Zone) / Ptec Swerve... but if you really want brighter you can get this:

http://totcycle.com/blog/get-lit.html

PS - I'm not sure I've seen that the Vis is necessarily brighter than a AA light... it's just handy that it recharges from a computer. If that's you're concern, toss some rechargable AA batteries in a USB battery charger...

However, like Raiden said. If you can afford it, by all means get what you'd like.

I recently saw a L&M Vis 180, and it's fairly impressive. I haven't seen a Dinotte recently, but it impresses me that it's at least as bright as the 140's I've seen

My wife went by me in a car on a 35 mph road where I had a Planet Bike Superflash and said she didn't see me until she got close. We all get a sense of confidence that we are seen with that light but we usually don't experience what it's like in a car approaching fast.

The DiNotte 140 should have about 3x the power of the Vis180 to the rear. If you want long-range daytime visibility on fast roads, or in difficult conditions like fog/snow/rain/zombie apocolypse, I can certainly recommend the DiNotte. It's gotten unsolicited compliments from motorists over and over, saying how easy I was to notice and/or wanting to know what kind of light it is.

I also have the DiNotte 300, which is taking the place of my 140. More info and comparison photos here: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...cs-amp-remarks Haven't tried the 400, but I hear it's a beast :)

get the dinotte 140

put the pbsf on the back of your helmet

edit:

If you're not already doing so, get some rechargeable AAA and AAs and charger for these lights. You'll save money in the long run. From many years experience, I can recommend Sanyo Eneloops and either Maha or La Crosse chargers.

here's a pretty good deal (la crosse's batteries are actually pretty good too):

http://www.amazon.com/Crosse-Technol...0017584&sr=8-1

When you look back and see your rear light reflecting in the road signs over a mile behind you, you know you are visible. And that is just the DiNotte 140R. There is just no comparison between the Dinotte and a superflash. In fact, when I put two superflashes on with the Dinotte, you can't even see the superflashes. I find that I get a lot more space from the carcissists with the Dinotte. I am very happy with that particular purchase.

thanks for your link

I have the Dinotte 140 red and amber. Dinotte is in a different league in comparison most other bike lights. It is that good. You can spend 30 on 3 lights, but you still won't come close to the brightness of the Dinotte. The main reason I bought the Dinotte is reports that it is effective during the day as well as the night which is true after testing it out. Just get it!

Well, as the owner of multiple Dinottes, I'll give you my take on the ones you listed.

140R: All the light from a brightness standpoint that you really need. That said, limited mounting options. Unless you use the seatpost/oring option you're left with fabricating an alternative mount and then the leads aren't all that long.

300R: Good choice if you need a removable light, like you ride the bike into the office and take the lights off and inside. Rechargeable from your desktop/laptop computer if need be. About half again as bright as the 140R, but a different kind of light. The 140 seems to have more throw rearward where the 300 seems more diffused but lights a larger area.

400R: Insanely stupid bright. Almost annoyingly so. If you have concerns about part of your ride that you're going to be seen, this one will eliminate all doubt. Cars will see you and move over. Limited however to fixed mounting so unless you fab a quick release (not hard) it stays with the bike, so if security is an issue it may not be the best choice.

Can't really go wrong with any of them IMHO, but it's about getting the one that's right for you. Hope that helps. I started out with PBSF's and the like, I'll never go back. The PBSF's and Radbots (the latest johnny come lately) are fine for the casual rider or the person on a budget IMHO, but if you want to go with the gold standard Dinotte is it. That said, I understand that the $$ isn't for everyone.

Does anyone know how the various dynamo tailights compair? I run a Supernova E3 taillight along with a PBSF. I also have lots of reflective stuff.

Paul

Compare to what? Each other, or to DiNottes?

I can't say about each other, but there is no comparison to DiNottes. I run a B&M D'toplight on the rack. The DiNottes remain leagues brighter and more intense.

As Ccrew reports, the 140R has good "throw", and the 300L is somewhat brighter, but spreads its light over a wider area. The 300R's mounting system is interesting. They send a half-dozen or so different mounts for it, but not a single one fit my standard 27.2mm seatposts. Once I figured out it's just a standard, plastic reflector bracket, I picked up three that fit at my LBS.

Anecdote: My commute is in stop-and-go city traffic. In five years I've been honked maybe a half-dozen times. In the past month with the DiNotte 300R, I'm honked once or twice daily. It may be too bright.

As for the 140R, as others have reported, drivers have reported their approval, and have asked where to get one. So the 140R may be just about right.

EDIT: I also bought the MagicShine taillight. Indeed, it's exactly the same brightness and intensity as a DiNotte 140R. The mounting system is weird. If you mount it on a seatpost, it points down at the back tire. I shimmed mine out with a piece of cable housing. If you already own a MagicShine, it's worth it.

Another vote for the Dinotte 140. It can be seen from a long ways off - it screams "hey, put that blackberry down and pay attention". The day I started riding with mine, I noticed that motorists were giving me more passing room. I also bought the amber version (daytime running light) that I mounted on the front of my bike and I run when riding in traffic during the day - it really shuts down the problem of cars hooking or crossing you because they "did not see you".

Expensive, but well built and worth the $$.

I saw a L&M and was not particularly impressed. It seems to be too narrow of a throw, but I didn't have a dark area to test in. Still fairly comfortable with cateye 1100, but open to suggestions. I'll check out the dino again.

I can certainly recommend the DiNotte 140L.

I have so many drivers stop me to ask: "What is that light"?

That I made a card to hand out to them.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...0lights001.jpg

I'll give you a slightly different point of view:

Think about the traffic where you travel. You say mostly suburbs, but it's important to know also how heavy the traffic and how high the speed is. Usually even a PBSF will stick out nicely in a dark street. But I would recommend a PBSF only if the speed of the cars from behind is slower (let's say residential street). You need the high-powered lights if you travel on streets with high speed limits, where you want cars to see you from as far back as possible and where the possible reaction time is short.

However if you travel on roads at night that are congested (and because of all the car lights, not that dark), you want to make yourself as visible as possible, and that would include very bright clothing, lot's of reflectors etc. A taillight with a very long throw is not as beneficial as it would be on other less travelled, higher speed roads.

I use a Dinotte 140 at the rear, and it is brilliant :) many people have commented on how bright it is. I also have a low end B&M dynamo taillight for backup.

You might be able to get a good deal on some Magicshines these days. ;)

Dinotte 140L. Outshines many front lights (bad pun intended).

My commuter is equipped with a Dinotte 140L, B&M DToplight XS (battery-, not dynamo-powered), and PDW Fenderbot. The Dinotte blows them all away, but I use the other two as backups should the Dinotte's battery run down.

I have the Ultrafire WF 501b red flashlight. I can't compare it to the Dinotte's, B&M's, or Magic Shine's because I have not seen them except on youtube or Electronic Sub Forum clips. It doesn't have a flash mode so it stays on steady while my PBSF or CherryBomb are in flash mode. I attached mine to my left chainstay using this flashlight mount.

With all that info I'm planning on buying the 140 for sure. I like that it won't be so blinding to drivers that they'll want to hit me. I also am glad because that saves me a bunch of money that I would have spent on the 300 or 400. As far as the vis 180, it just seems too narrow of a beam, although I did like that it would charge on my phone chargers and the battery indicator seems pretty nice.

This was my first time posting on Bike Forums and I am so pleased with how quickly everyone responded. All of your input was extremely helpful.

Thanks!

p.s. anyone seen or used either monkey lights or bike wrappers? I think they both look like very fun ways to light up the sides of the bike.

B&M 4D toplight is a nice bright steady light .. German Made, their regulation has required non flashing lights.

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/b&m.asp

I had never even heard of DiNotte lights before. I'd really like to get a rear light from them soon. I have two rear lights right now but they're still not bright enough for me.

Have you all seen this video? They're so bright I feel like they might give motorists a seizure. That wouldn't be very safe, but I still want one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPzmzBu9Y0o

Pedestrians on a MUP like them even less. I run a 400 on my handlebars, another 400 on my helmet and a either the 140 or a 400 on the rear depending on what bike I'm riding. I have killed every zombie within beam reach :)

Like I said in my other post, the 400 is stupid bright. That video does it no justice. The 140 AA version is really all you need though, I've had cops stop me to commend me since I'm on the bike around 3:30 am. .