I checked out some video at YouTube of a P7 in real-world use. If that's how little throw the P7 has at full power, I think I'd gladly take a Fenix L2D on Turbo for 2.4 hours, instead of a P7 on medium. I have sustained 20-25mph sections in my commute, though, with some descents that can approach 40mph... it's not a casual 12mph trip on an MUP ;)

that video has the P7 pointed short of what it can really do.

I honestly wouldn't want to be on the other end of a P7 on high going down a mup at 20-25mph.

If you're rejecting a light because of a Youtube video, you deserve whatever bad conclusions you land at. Lots of folks here have actually bought and used P7s, and a few on DX own both P7s and Fenixes and report the P7 provides a much more usable light. At any rate, I ride on the road at night, and at well over 12mph (wouldn't feel comfortable using the whole lane otherwise). Never had any trouble seeing anything in front of me with my P7. Do what you think is best with your money. :beer:

drill a hole into the side of the flashlight, solder in the + and - to were the battery would touch, Fill the hole with some silicon, build a battery pack (google is nice) and mount, walla.

Or keep it simple and change batteries every hour....which isn't that bad at all. Which is what I'd be doing for a while. My new ligt coming has good runtime so not like I'll be stuck in the dark while changing bats. To each their own.

I'm working on a cool little setup of dual 5-mode P7s plus an 8 x 18650 supply. It does seem that such a holder does not exist, I'm making one myself using some plastic hose and springs salvaged from an old AA battery pack. I'm wiring mine up with anderson power pole connectors so I can easily swap battery packs and charge them without removing from the bike if I want. I'm going to drill a small hole into the side of each light and solder directly to the battery terminals. I'll be sure to post some pictures when I'm all done. I should be completed of the battery pack this weekend and the lights may be in on Monday.

Sounds sweet. Post pictures when you're done. :beer:

Just making sure you don't have the lumen-count-is-all-that-matters goggles on again :thumb: My best Q5 light will show roadkill at 500+ feet in darkness. My DiNotte 600L? No chance, despite twice the lumen output.

But whatever makes you happy, I guess :beer:

Uke, you need to change your message under your username to The P7 guy:)

I wouldn't have figured you'd try to use a light pointed into the ground as an excuse for dismissing a P7 outright, but I can't stop you from doing so. Anyway, for everyone else honestly interested in these lights, there are also two threads in the MTBR forum dealing with P7s, and at least one of them might have feedback on the new MC-E lights shortly. I'm very interested in seeing how they stack up in comparison to the SSCs. DX now has a Cree MC-E subheading on their lights page.

http://forums.mtbr.com/forumdisplay.php?f=124

http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.925

I'm holding off on purchasing one at least until I see some reviews on DX. If these provide more output or an equal output with better battery life, I won't hesitate to start recommend them instead of P7s.

Those MC-Es might be less floody than the P7s, if so I may get one as a helmet light. But I too will wait for a little feedback.

I think you're forgetting that I have the DiNotte 600L, which is quite similar in beam pattern (compare that guy's DiNotte 600L video to his MTE P7 video, or read comparisons at MTBR), and has more output as well. So I've been using a similar light for a lot longer than you have :thumb: and my well-informed opinion is that flood beams are good for a bar-mounted light for off-roading, but not good for seeing road hazards at a distance. Given a choice between my DiNotte 600L at half-power or my Fenix L2D Q5 on Turbo, the Fenix would be preferable for road riding. Less raw output, but it goes where it's needed: forward, not sideways or off into the sky.

Have you seen any P7 lights at DX that do have good throw, at least relative to the usual "wheee, total flood beam!" type?
As for the MC-E, what I've seen so far at DX and Kaidomain is not encouraging. You might as well get a decent Q5 light, because they're running them at output levels similar to a Q5 driven hard.

I'm not sure what took me so long to come upon this thread.

As I started to read it, I thought for sure maybe I should change directions from my AA Fenix Q5's to the P7, I mean, what the heck, a guy can get the light, batteries and charger for under $80 and the high lumen estimate is incredible.

On the other hand, I very much respect mechBgon's opinion and now wonder if I already have all I need. I'm on the road for my entire commute and have no complaints so far with a bar and helmet mounted Fenix L2D's.

What's a commuter to do in the never ending quest for more light at poor man's wages?

I do have to wonder about that $12 UltraFire charger though. Seems pretty cheap.

Nope. As I said, do what you want with your money. Not going to go back and forth any more with you on this. :beer:

Yeah, in the thread on MTBR, at least a few people have ordered them and are waiting for them to come in, so reviews should be there hopefully by next week.

Oh good. Because one thing on my agenda is to get a cheapie P7 flashlight and do a little comparison testing so people can see what they're getting, and decide if it's what they want or not :) Which one's supposed to be a good one these days?

I went to the MTBR thread uke, and now am even more confused.

A $26 250 lumen light is now in the mix. Or a pair! :o

or get the best of both and get a P7 and any Q5/R2 for the bright hot spot to match the flood.

The MTE P7 is very good all around, roadie or MTB. But since it's a flood, it won't do well in fog or on wet ground or if you want to see 200+ft down road..

Having a pair of Q5/R2 lights is good for the road, point one up and one down, but won't be good for MTB since the hot spot is so narrow (width of a singletracK). This is why you find most dual bike lights to have one spot and one flood. Best of both worlds and very diverese for any type of riding.

I LOVE my P7, most bang for buck then another out there, but lacks the bright hotspot and throw. I bypassed getting a cheap Q5 and got a good Q5 light (JetBeam III). Should be here end of next week, so I'll have better info on the combo. I'd rather have this combo then two P7 or two Q5's

Maybe I've missed it, but what charger do you all recommend for the 18650 battery?
I have the Trustfire and it is cheesy.
I can make the indicator light change from red to green by spinning the batterys.
And the sliding contact binds.
And it takes a long time to charge.
And it's just cheap.

I use the Trustfire charger. The long charging time means the battery will last longer than it would through fast chargers.

This one's OK: https://www.4sevens.com/product_info...roducts_id=207

This one's deluxe: http://www.flashlightz.com/product.php?product=171829

Any recommendations for rechargeable CR2's or are they pretty much all the same? I have an UltraFire that runs on AA or CR2 and if I'm going to get a P7 and a charger for it I might as well get some CR2's. That makes this Q5 UltraFire a neat little light.

From what I have read, you should not charge batteries in parallel. It is OK to charge if wired in series. Something to do with cells not charging equally.

I also use the trustfire charger and it works just fine.. I have extra cells so needing them charged fast is not an issue.. The only quirk is that you must use the left bay when charging just 1 cell.. If you want a great charger the Pila charger is seen as one of the best, which cost around 50.00..

OK, I think I am going to spring for one of these. Presently the 8 mode which has been recommended is not in stock. I don't really need 8 modes because I generally will run it on bright only. Can someone recommend one of these that is regulated, not all of them state if they are or not. I say this as if I know what that means anyway. :o

So, any recommendations for one that is in stock?

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16092

Looks like that 5-mode is in stock. I just ordered three :D

wow 3 of those suckers!!!!!!! How many bats did you order?

8 modes are in stock as well

the shipment is coming in next week i got 2 of those pending.

Just to keep an update on my progress from beginning to end:

Order: XXXXXXXX placed on 10/14/2008 X:XX:XX PM
Status: (of current shipment) On 10/16/2008: Shipped

Latest Shipment:
5 to 14 days as quoted by the post office by Tracked Air Mail

Latest USPS Updates:
Detailed Results:
http://trkcnfrm1.smi.usps.com/PTSInt...let_circle.gif Foreign International Dispatch, October 18, 2008, XX:XX , HONG KONG AIR MAIL CENTRE, HONG KONG
http://trkcnfrm1.smi.usps.com/PTSInt...let_circle.gif Foreign Acceptance, October 17, 2008, XX:XX , HONG KONG

I wussed out a bit, only went 6 x 18650, oh well should still have good run time:)

Got the pack 90% done, and the bike is wired with anderson connectors on the back rack for the batteries and front handlebars for the modified P7s. There is a very good chance my lights will be in tomorrow so I'll post some beamshots first just in case I fry it trying to mod it.

I got my 5-mode in today and it's quite a light. I haven't had a chance to try it in the outdoors yet but I've played with it in the darkest area in my house. It throws out a ton of light, probably around triple that of the L2D or slightly more. The main spot is larger, brighter and there is more fringe light as well. The tint on mine is slightly blue but nothing distracting. Medium is about equal to the L2D. Tonight I'll be testing in my backyard or maybe a short bike run if the weather is decent.

The build quality is decent as well, not as nice as the Fenix but not cheap enough to detract from it. It's a bit bigger than I expected, I mean I read the measurements but I guess you don't really realize how big it is til you hold it and realize its alot bigger than an L2D.

Specifically which 5 mode did you get Wiggle and do you know if it is regulated?