K1NJO

Just looking for something cheap but effective. This isn't really for any nighttime riding on the regular, but more for those times when I'm coming from a friend's house at night, for example.

kf5nd

I have the Cateye EL-500, I like it alot! You can probably get one for under $50

dekindy

https://www.fenix-store.com/product_...roducts_id=362

Cyclist0383

This light with a Two Fish holder would be great. You'd have enough money leftover for a charger and batteries too.

https://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/t...CREE-Q5/Detail

K1NJO

Anything that's not a flashlight? Seems like the last two suggestions were flashlights.

Cyclist0383

Many of us use flashlights with a bike mount. Believe it or not, but they make a great and extremely bright bike light for a fraction of the cost of a bike specific light. For such a small budget you aren't going to get much beyond a little blinkey front light if you insist on a bike specific light.

n4zou

MTE SSC P7 C-Bin 900-Lumen 8-Mode LED Flashlight. $45.90 free ship.
Brighter than automobile headlights on high mode, medium and low power modes for longer run times. Flash modes make you visible even in bright daylight.
P7 flashlights are selling out almost as fast as there listed. Hurry if you want one.
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13060

Inthe10ring

I have seen NiteRider Trail Rat 2.0/Road Rat 2.0 systems online for $70 on sale every now and again...
It's 20 bucks more here, but with free shipping...
https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...Rat+20+06.aspx
Or you could opt for this blackburn system.
https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...System+X6.aspx

Neither of these systems are the latest or greatest, but they have come down quite a bit in price.
This is a big step up from the "be seen" lights to the "lights to see with" catagory. You will not be disapointed... Cheers!

dekindy

I was skeptical at first also. But many of us on the forum have had a little faith and taken the advice of the original forum members that discovered the great utility and value these "flashlights".

Don't let the bike light/flashlight packaging fool you. A cyclist that I ride with had budgeted $400 for new lights and was astounded at the output and effectiveness of these lights for cycling. He now has one "flashlight" mounted on the bars and another helmet mounted and $250 still in his pocket and could not be happier. He is retired and has been riding at night for years.

dekindy

If you werer able to compare these directly against the fenix flashlight/holders, you would not even consider them.

dekindy

I would personally stick with AA powered flashlights.

K1NJO

Thanks guys for the info. Sorry for my ignorance with the flashlights. I think I'm interested in the Romisen. And at that price, I could still get 2 of them!

Ziemas, do you know the difference with the RC-N3 and the RC-C3?

10 Wheels

Take your pick. No Shipping cost.
https://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.905

Cyclist0383

The RC-N3 uses a CR123A battery, which looks like the below photo. The RC-C3 can use either a CR123A battery or standard AA rechargeable batteries. I strongly suggest that you go for the RC-C3 model because finding AA batteries and a charger is much easier should you need replacements, and the run time is very good. Also AA rechargeable are cheaper than CR123A. I use AAs in my light, and am very happy with them, plus you can use the charger to charge batteries for all the other AA and AAA batteries you stick in stuff.

Buy the light from the link I gave you as his lights are brighter than the ones at DealExtreme (he has them specially made with brighter LEDs that the DX models), they are in stock (sometimes you need to wait a few weeks for DX to get product from their suppliers), he ships a lot faster, and they'll ship from within the US. Even when I placed an order from him to be shipped to Latvia it came very quickly.

Have you looked for a mount yet?

K1NJO

I thought the N3 has the AA battery option? That's what it says on the link. Anyway, I've only looked at the Two Fish holder, which seems pretty good.

Cyclist0383

You are correct. I got it backwards. Go for the N3 in the link.

n4zou

P7 flashlights are not available for use with AA batteries. DX has a pair of 18650 Lithium rechargeable Battery's for $10.
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5790
and a fully automatic charger for $8.80.
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6105
You could power a P7 flashlight for 2 hours running in high mode swapping out batteries only once. Running in low mode the flashlight will operate 8+ hours on a single Lithium battery or 4+ hours on medium mode. These two batteries would allow you to run all night in medium mode swapping out battery's once.

Cyclist0383

Did you actually read the OP? He needs nothing like what you have suggested.

ModoVincere

I disagree. N4 posted some options worth looking at. The OP did not give a lot of detail other than the occasional trip at night from a freinds house. How far is that? How long will it take? What time of the night? What is the ambient lighting like? all of that should factor in to a decision. That said, the flashlight with multiple modes and rechargeables is a very flexible option and reasonably priced.

Cyclist0383

Would all of that be less than $50?

ModoVincere

$10 batteries
$ 9 Charger
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6145
$17 flashlight

$36 total...add a mounting system and total for about $40 you would have an adequate lighting system for the occasional ride home at an easy pace and 1 or 2 hour ride.

While the light originally posted by N4 was overkill, it is a very nice light.

Cyclist0383

That style of light has already been suggested, although with a brighter LED.

n4zou

Lights are never overkill unless you actually kill someone or something with it!

K1NJO

The night ride for me would be something small...around 5 miles. Also, I already have rechargeable batteries and charger. So those items wouldn't factor into the total cost. I think I have decided on the Romisen suggested by Ziemas. Maybe the pics from this review sold me on it.

Cyclist0383

Please let us know how it turns out for you.