Now there's an idea :)

I'll concede that point. I was thinking of runtime if you use the lower power modes on most p7s. I forgot that this light also has a multiple modes.

The point being that the homebrew solution gives you the option of having better quality p7s, better housings, heatsinking, lenses, switches, etc. than is standard with this light. This won't necessarily always be the case, but the cost to upgrade the quality of the flashlight is marginal. Upgrading the DX light calls for some pretty serious mod's, from what I can tell.

Not exactly. My cost calculation included 2 chargers, during which time you can use the holder with another set of batteries. Or, you can have 2 extra batteries and stagger the charges so you can still have 2 lights operating while 2 batt's at a time are charging. Or, you can forego the holder entirely and just put the batt's directly in the flashlight temporarily. If your p7 takes other kinds of batt's, you can use those as spares or emergency batts. None of this is an option with the DX light's dedicated soldered pack. As for extra weight, remember you are comparing one of these holders to two DX batt. packs.

I figured 2 chargers initially. They're less than $8 ea. for a pretty decent one.

It might not be any cheaper to swap LEDs, but it might not even be possible depending on what you want to swap it with. What is nice is that you can swap entire lights , mix & match lights (i.e. red luxeon in rear), and easily replace broken components like switches, mounts, etc. The main thing is that you can still use the P7s as handheld flashlights. They're not married to your bike. I'm not a big fan of "integrated solutions" like this unless they are highly engineered. I still prefer a separate printer, fax, copier.

I'm not saying there is anything really wrong with this system. But it's far from a "no brainer". Most people who buy it will use it "as is". That's fine. But unless you do extensive mod's to it there are definite advantages to a separate component based system despite the admittedly high cost of that holder, especially if you're not into hacking up an already built light set in order to "improve" it. And especially if you already have a p7 or two. And double especially if you have already modded a P7 or two and would like to use them on your bike.

Just from the picture it shows it has no collimator lens, the reflector only catches the sideways spill from the LED. The beam shot shows a huge cone of spill illumination. I wouldn't use this on roads and especially not on cycle paths -- if it drives the P7 at all well you're just going to blind oncoming traffic. To avoid driving other cyclists off the path you'd have to point it 30 degrees down, uselessly. Might be able to mod it to take a collimator.

That's a nice idea in theory, but in reality you'd have to disconnect the external pack, remove the P7 from the bars take it apart, remove the wiring - then reassemble. I think most people would just go look for another torch......in fact I'd buy another torch just to avoid having to do that.....

Connecting all your lights to one battery pack isn't 'nice' it's foolish, as there is no redundancy. If you have a mechanical or electrical failure or the pack goes flat - no lights.

I'm not saying one idea is better than the other and to a large extent it depends on what you already have - I already have a P7, a stack of 18650s and a charger - if I didn't I'd buy the P7 cycle light immediately.

However, I was just about to add a second P7 torch before this cycle light came out and as I already have 18650s, charger and bar mount my additional outlay is just the cost of another torch.

That said because I want long run times the P7 I have is 2 x 18650 and weighs 374g not including the bar mount - I wouldn't be surprised if the new P7 cycle light weighs less than that.

Realistically for me the benefits of the cycle light over another P7 would be - 2 x larger battery pack, probably no weight penalty, easier charging, nicer install, longer run times and it's a cycle light - not a torch.

I don't think it will be more difficult to mod than a torch and there's no reason why it should be less reliable or of lower quality, after all it must be made by one of the companies that makes P7 torches and from mostly the same components.

If I was starting from scratch, the cycle light would cost less than the P7 torch, batteries, mount and charger I have so it really would be a no brainer.

I think it will be a lot easier (and more sensible) to discuss the pros and cons after a few people here have tried them.

I don't like to take part in a trial where the defendent isn't even present.

:thumb:

I'm not sure what you are on about ?

Every P7 torch I've seen uses a similar traditional reflector and there are lots and lots and lots of people successfully and happily using those as cycle lights.

That includes me - and as for having to point it 30 degrees down that's just an old wives tale spread by people who have bought very expensive cycle lights and are trying to make themselves feel better.

All I've had to do is point the torch (or several torches) at the road in front of me - exactly as I would with any cycle light in existence (and I've tried a lot of them) - and - this is the clever part - the light leaves the torch and lights up the road - how about that ?

:)

I guarantee you for every rider that is very happy with his uncollimated P7 torch there are several more who become very unhappy whenever they encounter him on the cycle path. You are approaching automotive headlamp levels of light output here. DOT regulations limit the upward extent of headlamp beams for a reason.

Not expensive. Say you have a couple of torches with 35mm reflectors. Just get one of these for the near field:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1919
and one of these for the far field:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4544
and you will be shocked how much better the road is lit up (and how much less cursing you hear!)

Yeah, it lights up the road and oncoming rider's retinas. I make sure my lights just light up the road. Funny enough they happen to light up the road brighter when they aren't spilling half their output into space.

Will that fit a P7 ?

We have a bunch enroute from Magicshine and will be selling them at about the same price as DE starting around June 7.

Cool. $83.99 shipped CONUS from a reputable dealer is great for the folks in the US. What are your initial impressions about the build quality of this light? Have you thought about asking for a production run without the silly sharp bezel?

Frankly? The ETA is early this coming week so we've only seen a couple units that didn't belong to us.

No, we're not at a point where we'll seek customization on the bezels - yet!

Let us know your feedback.

Thank you!

Holy cow! I thought that price included the light.

And you still have to drill your torch and hope that you don't make mistake for that .05 cent grommet.

If you are that handy, you might as well get the bike light, then use the battery holder and split the cable to feed both the bike light and another light (torch to helmet). Its not difficult to make a dummy cell - just get a round wood or plastic tube (anything that will fit your torch), drill down the middle and add some spring/wire.

I made my own dummy cell and I'm now running 4 torch (2 front/2 red rear lights) with 8 or 12 batteries. I'm still going to get this though (maybe make a copy for 2 light combination).

See this thread for dummy cell - http://endless-sphere.com/forums/vie...=8660&start=60