Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

Lights, lights, and more lights...

Search
Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

Lights, lights, and more lights...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-19-13 | 01:54 PM
  #26  
jrickards's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 6
From: Sudbury, ON, CA

Bikes: 2012 Kona Sutra, 2002 Look AL 384, 2018 Moose Fat bike

Originally Posted by spivonious
$35 will not get you a headlight to see by, but it will get you decent lights to be seen by. If you'll be riding after sunset, I STRONGLY recommend getting something like the MagicShine 808.
I agree with this in that we should have asked if he needs a light to see the route or to be seen while on the route. My route is well lit so I only need lights to be seen.
jrickards is offline  
Reply
Old 02-19-13 | 01:56 PM
  #27  
Yo Spiff's Avatar
Carpe Velo
 
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,519
Likes: 18
From: Fort Worth, Texas

Bikes: 2000 Bianchi Veloce, '88 Schwinn Prologue, '90 Bianchi Volpe,'94 Yokota Grizzly Peak, Yokota Enterprise, '16 Diamondback Haanjo, '91 Bianchi Boardwalk, Ellsworth cruiser

Originally Posted by hubcap
I have used deal extreme tail lights with pretty good results. https://dx.com/p/bicycle-bike-2-mode-...2-x-aaa-120031

This is obviously a superflash knock off, as are the ones I have previously purchased. Though the ones I bought a couple years ago didn't look so blatantly like a PB product. I have owned deal extreme tail lights, PB superflashes, and radbots (as well as dinotte, cateye, and others). The deal extreme lights have held up as well as the superflashes, but not as well as the radbots.
I have a few of them. I don't think it is a knockoff, but rather the same thing without the brand name. Only real difference I have found is my actual PBSF came with a seatstay bracket while the ones from DX only have a seatpost mount and the clip on the light itself. If you are on an extreme budget it's a good option for a bright tail light. There is also a seller on Amazon offering them for just a touch more, shipping from a US warehouse.

Headlight is going to be more difficult. Lots of good "be seen" lights in that price range, but more powerful ones that work well will be a tougher find.
Yo Spiff is offline  
Reply
Old 02-19-13 | 02:27 PM
  #28  
fuzz2050's Avatar
Real Men Ride Ordinaries
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,723
Likes: 3
Originally Posted by Yo Spiff
I have a few of them. I don't think it is a knockoff, but rather the same thing without the brand name. Only real difference I have found is my actual PBSF came with a seatstay bracket while the ones from DX only have a seatpost mount and the clip on the light itself. If you are on an extreme budget it's a good option for a bright tail light. There is also a seller on Amazon offering them for just a touch more, shipping from a US warehouse.

Headlight is going to be more difficult. Lots of good "be seen" lights in that price range, but more powerful ones that work well will be a tougher find.
I have a few of the Superflash clones. I remember reading someone's circuit analysis of a real Superflash and one of the DX versions, and there were differences. Nothing I can remember, and nothing substantial, but differences.

They are great lights for a great price. Get a few.

DX has a lot of lights that put out a lot of lumens for very little money. If you can manage the detached battery pack, you can get a massively bright light for under $40. I have this one, it's bright, it can induce seizures at 50 feet and it has more than enough battery life for my needs (it lasts three 1.5 hour long commutes, usually on low,before I get paranoid and charge it, even if it isn't low.)
fuzz2050 is offline  
Reply
Old 02-19-13 | 03:17 PM
  #29  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,982
Likes: 11
From: Puget Sound

Bikes: 2007 Rocky Mountain Sherpa 30 (bionx), 2015 Cannondale Synapse Carbon Ultegra

Originally Posted by PatrickGSR94
Where do you find cheap dyno hubs? I looked yesterday and the absolute cheapest Shimano dyno hub was still $100, and the cheapest wheel with dyno hub was nearly $170. Not exactly cheap, to me anyway.

I heard you can get Shimano dyno hubs in Europe for something like $30-$40, but not in the USA.
This is the best deal I've come across ($99 for the hub & wheel)

https://clevercycles.com/blog/product...lex-XCE500-36H

I bought one just to try it out. It has worked great for almost two years. My only complaint is that it comes designed for disc brakes and the braking surface for a rim brake is not machined... it's painted. Oh well, $99... no big deal. I've continued to use the hub/wheel with cantilever brakes on my touring/commuter... I can still stop just fine - especially since my back wheel has a machined surface for braking. I wish I would have tried the dyno hub a lot sooner. I think this wheel and dyno hub will end up on my daughter's bicycle (she has disc brakes) and I'll probably go to the son dyno hub.
InTheRain is offline  
Reply
Old 02-19-13 | 04:27 PM
  #30  
RubeRad's Avatar
Keepin it Wheel
10 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,964
Likes: 5,222
From: San Diego

Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus

Originally Posted by InTheRain
This is the best deal I've come across ($99 for the hub & wheel)

https://clevercycles.com/blog/product...lex-XCE500-36H

I bought one just to try it out. It has worked great for almost two years.
You mean two years...and still going strong, right? All of a sudden, I'm interested in dynamo lighting!

There are comments on that page that indicate they at some point added a 26" size as well as the original 700 -- maybe they're improving their offering generally and the rim braking surface would be machined? (It does say "6-bolt disc and rim-brake compatible")
RubeRad is offline  
Reply
Old 02-19-13 | 05:22 PM
  #31  
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,162
Likes: 647
From: Brooklyn NY

Bikes: Kuota Kredo/Chorus, Trek 7000 commuter, Trek 8000 MTB and a few others

I still like my Keygos XML-U2 Cree light. For $39 you get the light, 2 batteries, a charger, a headlamp mount, and a handlebar mount. The thing is super bright, advertised at 1200 lumens but more like 500.
zacster is offline  
Reply
Old 02-20-13 | 10:41 AM
  #32  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,982
Likes: 11
From: Puget Sound

Bikes: 2007 Rocky Mountain Sherpa 30 (bionx), 2015 Cannondale Synapse Carbon Ultegra

Originally Posted by RubeRad
You mean two years...and still going strong, right? All of a sudden, I'm interested in dynamo lighting!

There are comments on that page that indicate they at some point added a 26" size as well as the original 700 -- maybe they're improving their offering generally and the rim braking surface would be machined? (It does say "6-bolt disc and rim-brake compatible")
Yep, still going strong. No problems at all. The lights themselves are more expensive than the hub and wheel. I don't know how many options there are for the lights. I spent $123 on the front light and $39 on the rear light (both are B&M lights on the clever cycles website.) I see they have a front light for as low as $37. As far as the wheel and hub... it's still the same one that I have. It works fine, even though it is not machined for braking... it just squeaks fairly loud if you really clamp down on the front brake.
InTheRain is offline  
Reply
Old 02-21-13 | 08:05 AM
  #33  
tcs's Avatar
tcs
Palmer
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,153
Likes: 2,263
From: Parts Unknown

Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl

The OP announced a total budget of $35 and I rolled my eyes. But hoodibaba! The headlight in post #5 combined the taillight in post #14 will only be about three or four bucks over that after shipping. The set is no Nabendynamo-driven Luxos U and Toplight Line, but it's bright enough to see by and been seen by any driver that's not drunk or texting. Color me impressed.
tcs is offline  
Reply
Old 02-21-13 | 08:47 AM
  #34  
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 18,138
Likes: 324

Bikes: 2 many

Originally Posted by tcs
The OP announced a total budget of $35 and I rolled my eyes. But hoodibaba! The headlight in post #5 combined the taillight in post #14 will only be about three or four bucks over that after shipping. The set is no Nabendynamo-driven Luxos U and Toplight Line, but it's bright enough to see by and been seen by any driver that's not drunk or texting. Color me impressed.
Sidewall generators have problems in the rain, and they wear out the tire. They are not the best solution.
2manybikes is offline  
Reply
Old 02-21-13 | 09:01 AM
  #35  
cyccommute's Avatar
Mad bike riding scientist
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,146
Likes: 6,204
From: Denver, CO

Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones

Originally Posted by tcs
The OP announced a total budget of $35 and I rolled my eyes. But hoodibaba! The headlight in post #5 combined the taillight in post #14 will only be about three or four bucks over that after shipping. The set is no Nabendynamo-driven Luxos U and Toplight Line, but it's bright enough to see by and been seen by any driver that's not drunk or texting. Color me impressed.
I have 3 of the lights that I linked to (well, similar to the link) and they are the lumen/dollar bargain around. Lots of people have poopooed them as delicate or low quality or having warts or causing hair loss but I haven't found them to be of low quality or particularly delicate. They don't seem to have any visible warts and I still have my hair so I think those claims are unwarranted as well And at $25 what's to loose?
__________________
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!





cyccommute is offline  
Reply
Old 02-21-13 | 09:03 AM
  #36  
cyccommute's Avatar
Mad bike riding scientist
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,146
Likes: 6,204
From: Denver, CO

Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones

Originally Posted by RubeRad
Hey, I read your Good Ol Fashion Appalachian Butt Whoopin from your .sig! What a great travelogue! I made a web travelogue kind of like that once for a (much smaller!) touring trip I took with a college friend. I should dig it up and see if I can post it online again.
Thanks for the kudos. crazyguyonabike is a great website and easy to post to. You should dust off your trip and post it.
__________________
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!





cyccommute is offline  
Reply
Old 02-21-13 | 09:51 AM
  #37  
RubeRad's Avatar
Keepin it Wheel
10 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,964
Likes: 5,222
From: San Diego

Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus

Originally Posted by cyccommute
Thanks for the kudos. crazyguyonabike is a great website and easy to post to. You should dust off your trip and post it.
Heycool; I didn't realize crazyguyonabike was like a forum, I thought it was just your personal website! Looks like a place I could get lost in for hours, and it might lead to an expensive addiction to cyclotouring!
RubeRad is offline  
Reply
Old 02-26-13 | 11:09 PM
  #38  
10 Wheels's Avatar
Galveston County Texas
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 33,335
Likes: 1,285
From: In The Wind

Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum

I have 2 of these:

8.5 hour run time on low
4 hours on strobe.

Great Lights.
https://www.amazon.com/Lumen-Bicycle-...-2147483553-20
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"

10 Wheels is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
rodscot
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
32
12-03-17 07:03 AM
Hermes1
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
22
09-19-16 03:03 PM
GeraldF
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
26
05-11-13 10:12 PM
MileHighMark
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
0
01-26-11 10:34 PM
Capecodder
Hybrid Bicycles
17
01-14-11 10:09 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.