agarose2000

I noticed that there seems to be a big price gap between the Planet Bike Superflash ($30ish) and the high-end Dinotte rear light ($100+).

I myself would love to have a rear blinkie that was bright enough to be seen by day (PBSF is pretty much useless during the day) but not as pricey as the Dinotte.

Is there a midpriced option that would work during the day? I was wondering if FENIX or other tactical flashlight companies make a red-LED flashlight of some sort.

mrbubbles

Nope. Such light doesn't exist. $40-$100 is a dead zone for taillight market, manufacturers have crunched their numbers, nobody wants to touch that area.

However, $40 worth of DIY can get you 2x Dinotte 400L taillight brightness. My other suggestion, buy the Dinotte.

Cyclist0383

Both the Cateye TL-1100 and the Blackburn Mars 4.0 have better daylight visibility than the SF. I own all three lights.

ultramagnetic

The Nova BULL that mechBgon uses is around $60 online. But you have to provide a 12V power source for it.

hammond9705

Get 2 PBSF. I always advise people that you need to have at least 2 taillights in case one fails. It's even more important with taillights since you might not even notice that it failed.

johnny99

+1. One flasher on each chainstay. One one on the saddle and one on the left chainstay.

dclaryjr

I was reading the original MTBR thread on the PondScum light, and I search on the submersible light at Harbor Freight. It comes with different colored lens covers including red. Perhaps this might be a solution? The other thing I was considering was one of these:

https://www.powerflare.com/

SouthFLpix

The solution seems to be to have two rear lights. One that is always on, and one in flash mode. I still think the Dinotte 140L is the king of tailights, but of course it is very expensive.

cdalefan

The king is dead, long live the king

T Waldo

Wrong! Read on.

As a bike light addict always in search of a brighter tail light, I was familiar with the usual cast of characters on the lower end of the price spectrum (Planet bike superflash, Mars 3.0, etc.). I already had 2 PBSF and found them bright when viewed from the correct angle (straight behind). Side visibility is not very good. I wanted something a bit brighter and with a wider spread. I kept looking in hope of finding something different, and was willing to spend a bit more without breaking the bank for a Dinotte.

The other day I came upon the Vetta TSL-C with flatpack on Amazon for 25$ What was this? I had never even heard of it. It runs on 4 AA batteries that are in a separate housing connected to the light by a cable. I ordered 2 of them, not feeling bad because I had a gift certificate and the money had already been spent. I thought they couldn't hurt as a supplement to my PBSF.

Well, they came today and holy &^%*&%^! This thing puts my PBSF (which, by the way, has brand new batteries) to shame! It is more intense and has a wider spread. It may not be not in Dinotte territory, but for the price (25$) it is a steal. Most places sell it for around 75$, but even at that price I think it would be well worth it. Amazon must have some overstock or something.

Flash mode is way too slow, but I prefer steady mode anyway so I will leave them on high.

And I do agree that $40-$100 is a dead zone for the tail light market. That's why I had never heard of this Vetta thing. But my point is that it does exist. Try it!

dclaryjr

Nice find, Waldo. I just ordered one--it's even eligible for free shipping.

dekindy

Waldo

If I knew about the Vetta tail light I had forgotten about it. At that discounted price it is a real find. I just ordered one. Thanks.

BTW - I must confess, I am a bike light addict also.

agarose2000

Link to Vetta, please!

dclaryjr

Just go to amazon and search on Vetta TSL-C (or Google it).

Cygnus67

T Waldo - King of the Forum!

Thanks for sharing the find. I just ordered one from Amazon.

johnny99

Amazon price is now $52. I guess too many of you jumped on the deal.

JeffS

I wonder how that works... if the site automatically detects a selling item and raises the price or what.

I first thought it had sold out and switched to a different vendor, but that doesn't appear to be the case. I didn't really need another light, but I bought the last one that sold at the low price just so I could take some comparison shots, and possibly a video of this with the 140L and superflash.

dclaryjr

Let's hear it for going online at 5am to do some shopping!!

(after I fininshed the thought came to me that I should have ordered two!)

mrbubbles

External battery pack? Definitely avoid that. Unless everyone can get it for $25 like you did, it's still a $50 taillight.

jdmitch

Yeah, I've noticed that happen with Amazon occasionally... rather than a different vendor Amazon may have sold out stock and restocked. I've yet to be able to determine a pattern with Amazon pricing...

Garfield Cat

I always wondered about this. But wouldn't one be dominant? Does the mind make a decision as to which is more dominant over the other?

I would think like when the police or highway patrol car is in front and pulled over a car. Sometimes their bar lights above the roof is blinking, then it seems to attract my attention more than just a steady flashing light.

Does one play a dominant role and the other recessive? Along with this is the ability of the car behind you to judge your distance. If one is more dominant than the other, which will be of better for judgment by the car behind you?

dekindy

Wow, I am glad that I did not procrastinate like I usually do.

chainstrainer

I see powergadget has it on sale for $39.95. You can lower that using their 10% off coupon code. Definitely puts it in the $40-100 range with shipping.

dclaryjr

Why? I currently run a NiteRider tail light with an external battery with no problem. I'm thinking I'll make some modification and run both lights off the same pack.

Cyclist0383

For me the issue with an external battery is that it's a PITA to mount and unmount several times a day in the city when it's below freezing. A simple 'click' and go light is much easier, especially with gloves on.