:thumb:

It's weird, and I don't remember saying that. Aha, I wrote it a year ago! Well :thumb: to you, too!

Light & Motion has dropped the price on some older models after introducing some newer lights with more power and/or longer run time. So the Urban 350 is now around $30-$35. Very good value. Several friends use those.

If the Urban 500 drops to the sub-$50 mark it'll be another good value for this thread. Now that Light & Motion has basically upgraded the Urban 500 to the Rando 500 with longer running battery, they might drop the price on the original version.

Hmm.

I'm seeing Shimano DH-2N30-E 6V 2.4W dynamo hubs on ebay for $35 (free shipping), and Foxeye StVZO 40 Lux dynamo headlamps on ebay for $13 (free shipping).

$35 + $13 = $48. Dynamo hub energized headlamp system.

You'd still need spokes and a rim - but a bike needs those anyway.

Hmm.

(Understand, this is not a recommendation. I haven't used this set up and don't know anyone who has. I was looking for other things and surprisingly stumbled across this. I had been under the impression that a hub generator & StVZO headlamp combination would begin at 2.5X our $50 limit on this thread.)

That sure would suit a dedicated errand bike. Even if I decided to sell it later that would make a good selling feature.

[MENTION=81459]tcs[/MENTION], wow! Thanks!

True. One can purchase conventional bike lights for around $30-$50, but if you have some duct tape and you're looking for 360 degrees of visibility, you can find some decent cheap flashlights under $5 that should last for a few years in moderately dry locations. I'm also a fan of a light or two on my helmet; again, not hard to go cheap if budget is an issue.

So you're suggesting to duct tape lights to your bike and to your helmet? great idea!

Pick up the light. Advise inexpensive.

NiteRider Lumina 900 boost is currently on sale at Bike Closet. Just $43 for a really bright and well built headlight.

I have the Redi x2 from virtualbikelane. Happy with it and looks pretty cool :)

Sold out already

What do people think about getting a cheap ebay flashlight, like an inexpensive CREE XML-T6, that uses 18650 batteries, can be focused and mounted in a flashlight holder? I am worried that I'd end up with a oncoming blinding device, because there wouldn't be any nice cut-off...

You can learn to aim it out of people's eyes. My eyes gravitate to a round beam's hot spot which is in the center, not where I want to be looking. But they work for some people.

Of the cheap headlights I've tried, the best one by far is one of the cheapest, the Xanes XLF-01. You can get it for $16.60 on Amazon or for $9.89 on banggood. It might be worth it to pay the extra on Amazon, because you can get a refund if it doesn't work right. I like it so much, I got two. I keep one in my bag as a spare. It makes a beam shape like the one required by German law. It's plenty bright for me. It's tiny and cheap.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...446667c061.jpg

Thanks, that light has been on my Amazon wish list for months. I've been looking for a decent cheap spare light or helmet light. That should do the trick.

No idea about the flashlight without seeing the beam. Most of those types of flashlights I've tried have very even beam patterns but not as much light on the road ahead. Okay for walking/hiking, maybe cycling around 10-12 mph. Some might be better than others.

BTW, the Two Fish holder with rubber block and Velcro straps works well. I used it to replace the broken rubber band strap on one of my bike headlights.

Most dedicated bike headlights for the US market tend to concentrate the beam in the center, with falloff toward the edges. It's an unevenly distributed semi-flood pattern. My Light & Motion Urban 500 and NiteRider Lumina Micro have nearly identical beams -- hot in the center, dimmer toward the edges. Probably helps to get more reach from lower power to get a reasonable compromise between apparent brightness and battery run time per charge.

To minimize spill I use a homemade hood/diffuser on my L&M Urban 500. It's just an empty translucent white pill bottle, cut to shape with scissors and a craft knife. The plastic is soft but tough, easy to cut to shape. Flexible enough for repeated reuse without cracking. I'll attach the hood/diffuser for riding the MUP at night, or group rides. Puts the light where I need it most, minimizing spill that might blind or annoy other folks. On solo rural rides I remove the hood -- easier to see overhanging trees, etc.https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b5099592cb.jpg

Homebrewed diffuser/hood made from white translucent plastic pill bottle.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7352490dce.jpg

Hood helps minimize blinding oncoming cyclists/joggers on the local MUP.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bf83fd365b.jpg

Black tape over the top helps protect my dark adapted eyes at night. I leave just a little of the translucent hood bare toward the bottom. It glows like a light bulb and enhances my visibility to cars from the sides.

It takes a long time to receive it after ordering. I highly suggest buying two.

They are cheaply made. One of mine has a USB charging port that is a little crooked. Don't expect it to last like a well-made light. But it's a great value, and I like to keep it as a spare or giveaway.

It has a useless taillight mode which is the second press after turning it on. It is not bright enough to be useful.

See my review of the 500 here - https://www.bikeforums.net/electroni...00-review.html

Just one man's opinion.

dave

This is great info! Thanks!

Thanks!

Cateye EL-500

Buy these three items and ride happy at night. I have many of these on my various bikes, tandems, and riding mowers without a single complaint. Larger battery sets are available if needed (these have 8 each 18659's instead of 4)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Update 2: The first update above was from 1-16-17. I just started back riding and used this same light Saturday, and I can't believe it still works fine. I only had it on for an hr and a half, but the battery meter never dropped from 3 bars (highest). This is amazing. The links above are dead after 5 years but I'm sure you can find a similar light based on the title. I've been using the light on and off for over 5 years, mostly for ghost crab hunting at the beach lol, and when I need a super bright light outside. Seems like I paid around $25 for the front headlight. I'm excited to be back in the saddle again.

Simply you can search from amazon, eBay and wallmart they are most biggest marketplace and their is a very huge discounted offers available so do it and enjoy ;)