recommendation: PrincetonTec Quad
 

These lights have been on my bike for 2 years. Sure, they are headlamps, but remove the strap and there's a nice pivoting bracket with a hole in the middle. Use a rubber coated c-clamp to mount to handlebars, and now they flip down when you don't need them, and stay put when you flip them up. The c-clamp also allows you to position the light up and down, and they will turn laterally on the bolt as well so they can be aimed any way you please.

With one of these on either side of the stem, they are bright enough to trail ride at night (on not particularly tech singletrack), or light up a whole street and stop signs 2 blocks away. Wide pattern with no distracting shadows.

8 total LEDs, 40-60 hour (non-continuous) run time on 3 AAA each. About $40 each.

I haven't seen a brighter solution in a purpose built bike light at an $80 price point... ever. Apparently, there's a new version which comes just shy of doubling the light output at a slightly higher price. I would check it out, but am very happy with the lights I have now.

And no, I don't work for these folks... I was just in the market for lights for a new bike, and couldn't find anything better without spending $$$.

Princeton Tec does make good lights. You should look into the Princeton Tec "EOS-Bike". Better than the quad in my opinion and comes with both helmet and handlebar mounting. A pair of those wouldn't cost any more than those quads. If you like the quad, then another option to look at would be the Corona-Bike. 8-LEDs that also can be either handlebar or helmet mounted. A friend of mine does Rando rides of 200 to 1200K with one and loves it.

You might consider moving one of those to your helmet so you can pan and tilt the light independent of the bike's direction. To me at least, having one of your lights on the helmet increases the utility of the lights. It is really nice looking into turns. If you ever have to stop to repair a flat or something else, then you have a headlight to work with too.

Still, I like a brighter light light on my handlebars (Dinotte) and use my EOS on the helmet. But I know I can get home (slowly) on the EOS alone if my handlebar lights ever failed.

I've used a PT quad for years as a front flasher only. Mounted to a piece of nickel flat stock, bent, drilled, bolted thru fork fender mount hole.

It makes a decent nightime flasher, but not enough light IMO for a primary front light. I don't think a motorist would even notice the flash during daylight.

Perhaps the leds have been revised since I purchased mine, I dunno. Actually took mine off in latest lighting revision cause it's just too puny once you start running P7s.

I'd buy another if they were 3-4X brighter, ran on AAs and didn't cost more than $25.

How about pics of the lights and pics of how they're mounted? Thanks!

I have the Eos-bike which I use as a helmet light. I really like it.