In my experience the Solarforce L2 with an XM-L drop-in has plenty of spill for totally unlit roads. It also fits nicely in a Lockblock.

Here's a good budget setup.

This host: http://www.solarforce-sales.com/prod...t=FB&s=1&id=19

With this drop-in: http://www.solarforce-sales.com/prod...RB&s=40&id=200

Magicshine XML clone for $57.70
 

I am have been comparing some XM-L options for my bicycle and came across this magicshine clone from manafont.com at a nice $57.70 price:
http://www.manafont.com/product_info...-418650-p-7107

I actually came across it on the budgetlight forum but so far only one buyer has purchased and reviewed the light but the review was positive:
http://budgetlightforum.com/node/2830

I did some calculations and at this price it is $10 cheaper than solarforce L2 with charger, two batteries, and a twofish holder. It is only $10 more than the getting a ultrafire wf501b, ultrafire charger, and the $9.99 trustfire batteries twopack from DX.

With the many problems that people have had over the last few years with really cheap Chinese bike lights I'd say 'buyer beware'. Sometimes it's a lot less expensive to spend a little more in the beginning. As the old saying goes 'I'm too poor to buy cheap things'. YMMV.

That dealer has some interesting offerings - I saw a T6 emitter using 2x18650 for 34.80 - but as you say - beware.

I rode Friday night with a Solarforce M8 - very deep reflector - slightly tighter flood than a TK41 - and after comparing the "eye effects" upon using a flood light and a spot beam I have concluded there simply is no best "light." The situation defines the lighting need.

One thing is obvious though - a flood is the best way to assure coverage on a trail. And a "spot" is the only way to get "throw" on a long way down the road.

Hence - I'll be riding with both........

Hands down a set of Reelights when you can find them for less than $50. Not the brightest but always there and no batteries.

Arent these described as "be seen" lights, but not to see? Nice function, but think the goal of this thread is seeing things.

I agree that 'needing a headlight' is usually combined with other needs like easy removal from (or locking to) the bicycle.

My college commuting experience led me to desire

• lights bright enough to help draw attention during daylight
• mounting to the bicycle (vs wearing on the knapsack which I stuff into a locker at the gym)
• easy removal/unclipping of lights from their mounts
• accepting an even number of AA or AAA batteries (making it easy to share rechargeable batteries with other electronics)
• effective battery life of 1-2 weeks (running up to 1 hour a day round trip)

Quick mount + long batter life --->> newer LED light designed for bicycle use

For a tail light, I use Blackburn Mars 4, a 1W single-LED light powered by 2xAAA.

For a headlight, I use a five-LED model from NiteRider's past. Their current Mako line of lights uses an extra-bright single-LED available up to 2W powered by 2xAA.

Both clip into mounts which require no tools to install/adjust/remove. Without the lights, they must look unappealing in comparison to the lights left on the bicycles locked up beside mine.

Both could be mounted to a helmet or knapsack: The tail light by its belt clip or frame mount; the headlight with its frame mount. Then you could never forget to bring them with you after locking up.

Both can bounce light back to me off stop signs and other reflective objects 2-3 residential blocks away. In full daylight, I find it uncomfortable to look at these lights from ten feet away. (In stop-n-go traffic, I try to remember to angle my bicycle to avoid blinding whomever is behind me.)

College also implies low-cost:

• $5 DOT reflectors on your bicycle = leveraging the power of motor vehicle headlights
• $5-10 high visibility clothing/vest (bright color and reflective stripes) = leveraging the power of motor vehicle headlights
• depending on your local laws: headlight and/or tail light = active lighting. If only a headlight is required by law, perhaps a DIY flashlight helmet mount would let you use a small flashlight you already own as your headlight.

I bought 3 of these and I'm extremely happy. I can ride safely 15-20 mph and still can see everything on the trial or road, including low hanging branches. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWNX:IT
It's cheap to buy, very well made with cree q5 led, zoom and 3 settings. It also includes awesome mount and belt holder.
Runs on 3 aaa batteries, is waterproof and is made of aluminum.
Most cars slows down or stop when they see this light because they are confused seeing such a strong light moving a lot :-)
You can check my post in "post your hybrid bike pics" to see pics how well it works, or on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlzGoV6BQQc

Got these 5 mode lights for $53. Considering I don't ride that much at night it's good enough for when I need it. I keep it mounted but unplugged so the little green light doesn't drain the battery. Took it out during Irene, where she took out power in the neighborhood for 3 days. I'm not sure if it's truly 1,200 lumens, but I could go 20mph down the street without worrying, since it was so bright.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/5-Mod...#ht_4863wt_892

Are these completely pointless then ?

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=219163
For me, I rarely ride at night but need something "just in case" and its good if they are compact so I can get into my small saddle bag. If these are crap, what is the point of them ?

20€ so less than 30$. Worthwhile, or not ?

^^^^^ The answer for the headlight is easy, if it helps you see where you are going, it's fine. The value of the tail light on the other hand depends on if you are in any traffic and what the other conditions are such as ambient light. You should try to get a look for yourself from the perspective of the cager.

I used this in the St. Paul Pass tunnel on the Trail of the Hiawathas (1.7 mile unlighted tunnel) - it provided a nice bright spot out in front with enough spill to see the gutters and walls on the sides. Thanks for the recommendation.

Buy a Coleman Max headlamp. 100 lumens on high. Comfortable. $25. Can't go wrong.

Can't go wrong? This is half the price and 2.5 times brighter! http://www.ebay.com/itm/120751860934...84.m1438.l2649 I have a couple of brighter lights too, but this is a great deal for the price. I bought four for the whole family. Each comes with a mount and they use AAA s too.

nice recommendation if show more details, budgetlight forum is pro on that, and i get this:http://www.tmart.com/Q5-3-Mode-LED-B...0_p124044.html with Bracket instead, and purchase a trustfire 18650 battery extra. total is in the budget. and feel good till now!

just wish they came in other colors

i love the cateye uno hl-el010. its small but bright enough for night rides, also its only about 30$. just got a second one recently cuz the mount from my first one went MIA when my bike got stolen. also works as a killer flashlight

They have silver, black, red and blue for sure, and possibly other colors.( I'm talking about ring on the front and around the on off switch on the back )

been looking at this. what do you think?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Headlamp-b...item3f0eeffe51

i dont understand that much about lumens and stuff, but it seems there are a lot,

Does anybody have the Cateye HL-EL450N? Its a small lamp that takes 3 AAAs and does steady and flashing.. around $20-30

I'm wondering about these too, they look powerful but I'm not sure if it's all hong kong advertising!

Ok, done some research. Anything with the Cree XM-L emitter is rated at 1000 lumens, at 100 lumens per watt. So running its 8.4v 6.4mha power pack it should reach that, but that output would be pushing past the emitters rating. I don't know enough about LEDs to know if that's a bad thing or not. The main advantage of the battery pack will be running time. So I suppose it depends on how much you want to use it.

I've looked around and there are loads of torches running the same emitter with 2 AA's which should get up to decent outputs, they're also half the money of that one above.

Personally I'll be going for one of those with a 2 fish holder. I won't need more than an hours usage at a time anyway.

Matt

With 2 AA's I doubt that you would get much light or run time from an xm-l emitter. I have a light that uses one 18650 battery and the light will put out over 450 lumens for about 1.5 hours running at 3.7 volts and 1.4 amps.

Due to heat, optics, cooling, and a host of other issues there is no way you are going to get 1000 lumens out of a single XML light. The ad for 1800 lumens is a flat out lie. You aren't even going to get half of that coming out the front of your light.

cool, thanks for that. There are so many ads like that its a nightmare when you dont know much about it all.