Had two of those on my handlebar for years. Time to get something stronger.

i am basically looking for similar setup, just stronger.

On my old L2D i liked :

1) self contain system.
2) easy to transfer them from my MTB to my road.
3) can use it as a general purpose flash light.
4) Can use regular AA or AAA.
5) high quality and Bright !

Any suggestions ?

thanks

Info request:

• Will you ride on urban streets, or quiet rural roads, or off-road?
• How long will your longest ride in the dark be?
• How fast will you ride?
• Will you ride with other cyclists or solo or both?
• What is the most you will spend?

>> Will you ride on urban streets, or quiet rural roads, or off-road?

i used to ride road in complete darkness road. So yeah more of that
and off-road(that is complete new to me, so i'm not sure what i need there).

>> How long will your longest ride in the dark be?
one and half hours probably.

>> How fast will you ride?
Down hill maybe about 30mph, but mostly average 16-17

>> Will you ride with other cyclists or solo or both?
Both but mostly solo.

>> What is the most you will spend?

~ $150

thanks

Al Ruscelli has a nice page on the lights you've got: Fenix L2D Premium 100 Flashlights as Bicycle Headlights.

Since you have two L2Ds I'd say that you'd be well served with one new bright light. It looks like the L2Ds can fill the secondary roles of back-up light on the handlebars, and helmet light.

So you want something bright enough to give you safe lighting ahead of you at speeds on the road of at least 30 mph and around you in off-road conditions. And with enough battery power to provide that level of lighting for at least 1.5 hours.

On the other hand, riding with a group calls for an option for a low light level.

You want to switch the light quickly between a road bike and a mountain bike, so that rules out getting a dynamo system.

You can definitely get a good main light for your handlebars at a price under $150. One of the main questions is whether a well-shaped beam is important. Some lights are engineered to put more of the light on the road, and less above the vertical level. At a given level of light, these are more expensive, and the maximum levels have not been really high. Maybe not enough for 30 mph. But they do make better use on the road of the lumens they supply. On the other hand, off road a rounder light pattern might be useful.

I would expect that your best light choice would not involve AA or AAA batteries. The best engineered and most economical cycling lights now either provide their own internal batteries recharged with a USB cable, or use more specialized batteries like 18650s.

But many can be handheld and used as a flashlight.

Lezyne has a new version of my main head light: Super Drive 1200XXL. List price is $120.
From Lezyne:


Their next model up, the Deca Drive 1500XXL, lists for $150.

Others here will have perspectives and recommendations on other lights. I'd especially look at how many lumens you need on the road downhill at 30+ mph.

I like Cygolite headlights as well but I'm not sure that they have one today that is both bright enough and has a long enough run time at this price point. And with three LEDs, the Lezyne pattern may be better on the road than the Cygolite's. On the other hand, their Expilion 850 USB, like other Expilions, has a removeable battery that may be more practical on the road than Lezyne's. There you could buy the light and an extra battery for less than $150 and have more than enough run-time on high. I do like the daytime flash mode that some Cygolites have.

I think you limit your potential by wanting a light that uses AA or AAA batteries. I have moved up to 18650 batteries and never looked back. The Zebra SC62 is tiny and super powerful with a long run time and lumens out your a$$.

4xAA in the B&M Ixon IQ2 premium uses advanced optics in the reflector design, to put the light down on the road,
where it will do the Most Good.

REVIEW: Busch & Muller Ixon IQ Premium - Warning Photo Heavy

they offer a recharge in place Plug and charger, or you take the batteries out and use your regular chargers ..

I don't consider the light output from the Busch & Muller Ixon IQ Premium to be adequate by itself at 30 mph. It would provide light ahead of your path for perhaps 2 seconds, certainly less than 3. That's not good time to see and react to conditions ahead.

I've used the Ixon IQ Premium. It does put a greater percentage of its light onto the road surface. That may or may not be desirable when you're riding off road. But I want more lumens, which led me to the Lezyne light when I saw it on sale.

The Ixon IQ Premium also would not be as handy as a flashlight. But it does use AA batteries.

I used a Fenix L2D for years and still have it. However, a self contained LED rechargeable like the Light & Urban Motion 800 or 650 will provide much brighter beam, longer run time, and easier recharge. My L&M Urban 800 is a great light for the money and weighs next to nothing.

good stuff, well you guys convinced me to go and look for something that uses Lithiums.
So far the "Zebralight SC600w Mk II L2" looks like will fit me the best.
thought there are cheaper options for about less then half that price. That i assume are not
as good, but i can buy maybe two of them. Decisions .....

This is the current model, smaller than the 600 and just as bright
SC62w 18650 Flashlight Neutral White

I remember him, "the Fenix shillguy" from about 2007!! I bought a L2DQ5 premium light back then with a LaCrosse battery charger and some rechargeable batteries thinking I'd be set for a few years. And after that I'd end up with a nice flashlight that I could use in my car/condo after I replaced it with something better and cheaper like some of my other electrical stuff. I now wonder how I ever saw where I was going then after several lighting upgrades. For $150 you can get several much much brighter LiIon powered lights that will outperform the L2D as well as give you redundancy.
I use this light as my main light now and it costs half of what I paid for the L2D. Get a decent battery (a Panasonic or Samsung) and a charger to go with it and you've got enough left over to buy another flashlight and not go over your budget.

I went the way of the cheap chinese batteries. Bright and light enough BUT the flashlight falls apart with lite use. My old Fenix L2D is still going strong, though relegated to camping and household uses.

Ended up with Zebra Light SC600w II L2.

i wish i still had the L2D around to compare the light output. I was a bit disappointed from the output. Didn't seems like it's 1020 lumens and the L2D only ~200.
But maybe my memory is misleading me because the Zebra seems less focus than the Fenix and it's warm vs Cold.
I got it with a tiny blemish, trying to see if i can replace or maybe just keep it.

Any one can recommend hoister for it ?

thanks