A quick thank you for all the helpful advice I've received and some details of what I've discovered in the last year (in case it helps anyone).

One of the great things about this forum is the amount of info available. Before I joined I wasn't really up to date with modern LEDs and I had no idea how much better a Q5 or P7 would be than the halogen and luxeon cycle lights I had been using.

Anyway, thanks to the efforts of some great guys on here I was reluctantly convinced to try a modern torch. I settled on an Ultrafire Q5 WF-606A torch - this runs on 2 x AA.



UltraFire WF-606A Cree Q5-WC 230-Lumen LED Flashlight with Extension Tube

I fitted the torch with this mount:

Universal Bicycle Mount (22mm~32.8mm)

As this was the first torch I bought from DX and it has consequently had a lot of use, I can highly recommend it.

If you want a quality torch that mounts easily on the handlebars and is a thrower, look no further. It also has a removable section to allow it to run on a CR2, making it very small indeed - I haven't tried this yet, but could be ideal for helmet mounting

Build quality is great, light output is much more than I originally expected and it's stood the test of time.

Realistically, I can't see how it could be any better, so in all fairness I have to give it 10/10.

My next adventure into the world of 21st century lighting was to replace my helmet light, I had already reworked the LED helmet light I had and getting any more light out of it wasn't very likely.

I bought this:

Mini 1W LED Head Lamp

I chose this one because if it's small size and separate battery pack, which made it ideal for helmet mounting. All in all a very good helmet light for the price, especially if you want a light that isn't too large or heavy.

I've now got two of them mounted on my helmet and I've done away with the separate battery packs. The aluminium body is held in with a clip, the switch is momentary and the light output it good.

Recommended

none of your links work

Cheers.

They should be correct, maybe it's the site they link to ?

Bandwidth issue or maintenance, maybe ?

Once I had had the Ultrafire WF-606A for a while I thought I had better try a P7 to see what all the fuss was about and after asking advice on here and much deliberation, I ordered this beauty:



Aurora AK-P7-3 SSC P7-C 900-Lumen 2-Mode LED Flashlight

This arrived very quickly and I was surprised at the quality of construction, the body and head is machined out of one piece of aluminium, so no worries about water getting in. I was also surprised at the amount of light, my once noble Q5 was suddenly looking a bit dim.

Obviously there are a lot of different P7 torches to choose from and I think I was lucky to find/choose this one. I specifically wanted a minimum number of modes and for it to run on 2 x 18650 - for longer runtimes.

Light output on high is obviously very good and runtime on low is outstanding. A lot of my nighttime cycling is on completely unlit lanes and the Aurora manages to light up the road surface for as far as I can see and the hedgerows as well - all without throwing too much light into the windscreens of oncoming cars.

However if you do want to blind oncoming drivers simply raising the beam slightly will have them braking and swerving to your heart's content. apparently...

With this being a fairly large torch, several of the mounts I bought from Deal Extreme weren't large enough to hold this torch.

This one fitted perfectly:

Universal Bicycle Mount for Flashlights

It also allowed me to fit the torch above or below the bars and held it very firmly in place too. I often cycle through a farm where the road is unmade in one place and the surface has broken up in another and despite being very violently shaken it has performed faultlessly.

Pros: amazing build quality and light output + runtimes of up to 5 hours, not having to change the batteries every day

Cons: size, might be more difficult to mount on some more compact frames

Seriously, if you are going to use a 1 x 18650 P7 torch and carry spare batteries, then have to stop on the way home and change the battery - why not consider a 2 x 18650 torch instead ?

Conclusion: Outstanding, slightly heavy, but I didn't want a torch made from 4 or 5 little bits of aluminium all screwed together. Feels like a quality item, works like a quality item. Can still be disassembled. If you want to spend more time cycling in the dark than changing batteries in the dark or you just want a well built quality torch - buy this one.

If there is any way this product could be inmproved, I can't see it so....10/10

So this thread was created so you could shill for this huge light again..

Not at all, I mentioned THREE other products before mentioning the Aurora - clearly it's to say thank you for all the advice I've received and to let other people who may well be considering buying lights to see what worked for me.

FWIW, I only know two other people in my area who use P7 torches for cycle lighting, both of them bought P7 torches before I did (neither of them Aurora) but both bought 2 x 18650 torches, so not everyone considers a 2 x 18650 torch to be 'huge'.

Having been 'fortunate' with my purchases so far I decided a high power pocket torch would be very handy to have at home and in the saddlebag. Also, I wanted something that could possibly double up as a helmet light.

After having a look at what was available, I decided to go for Ultrafire, as the WF-606A has been superb. I chose this one because it can also run on 14500 lithium cells which don't suffer from self discharge - I figured that usually you pick a torch up when you want to use it and that is probably the worse time to discover that the batteries have decided to go flat.


UltraFire C3 Cree 1xAA 1x14500 Flashlight (with Holster)

Very small, simple it's on or off, lightweight, runs on AA or 14500 and comes complete with a strap and holster. Light output on a 14500 is very, very good though the torch does get warm. Light output on a NIMH AA isn't as good but runtime improves.



TrustFire Protected 14500 3.7V 900mAh Lithium Batteries

All in all it's a great little torch, with a huge output for it's size and amazing VFM.

I can't see how anyone could possibly be disappointed with this one.

When sknhgy suggested that a new red LED torch from Ultrafire might make a good rear light it was something of a no brainer for me, especially as I already had 18650s and a nice charger.

Having already bought some Ultrafire torches I knew that they are very good quality and work very well, and when I discovered that the red LED torch was being retailed for less than $10 - well.... it would be rude not to buy one, wouldn't it ?



Ultrafire WF-501B Philips Luxeon K2 Red LED Flashlight

Here's some specs: 134mm long (about 5 1/4"), 136g (4.8 oz) including battery.

It looked like mounting might be a bit tricky, until I tried the Fenix mount, which was the first mount I bought and had never found a use for.



Fenix Flashlight Bike Mount

As with the other Ultrafire torches I own build quality is great and light output is quite surprising.

There's a lot more info here: Red LED Ultrafire torch

One other thing, it will run for 4 hours on one 18650.

The Ultrafire tail is great. Like my P7, I attached it with this mount. Costs $10, yet brighter than virtually any other light you can buy before the $160 Dinotte, which is only about twice is bright.

I haven't tried that mount yet, I've always been scared the torch will pop out.

However, I know it's a very popular mount and lots of people rate them highly.

The thing that confuses me most about top end lighting is this:

People that have them claim better runtimes and higher outputs - from lights that are using older LEDs and smaller battery packs - seems a little unlikely to me.

Also, the criticisms that these exponents throw at P7 torches and the like are laughable for exactly the same reason, it's like they have a check list...if they can't knock it on one item they move onto the next.

Anyway, I'm glad that you (like me) think the red Ultrafire torch makes a great rear light (it's not hard to work out though) - what did you think of my other reviews ?

^ I liked your other reviews; it's always good to hear what members' experiences with these lights are. The more we have in the forum, the better.

In the meantime, I'm waiting for something twice as bright as the P7 to come along for the same price before buying another headlight. That way, I could run it at half power for twice the battery life!

I think you are right, isn't it about time there were some new LEDs on the market ?

I am waiting for a bit so the new LEDs have a chance to come out! However I am, at the moment, thinking about the red torch + dinotte 140R at the back, and a slow flash / blaze flash at the front with a P7 or better

Hopefully we will see some true 900 Lumen torches soon!

Yep, then we can put two of them on the bars.



Less heat and longer runtimes would be nice to have as well...

when I'm walking around I keep seeing people who have pathetic bicycle lights or none at all, and I keep thinking "I am so glad I found BF!" Big lights = respect on the roads in some cases.

You should take photos of them and start a new thread or maybe a competition to see who can find the least visible cyclist......