He earned his cash - the lupine buyer can do anything he wants with it.. In the same vein - I can go on craigslist and buy a decent bike for under 1000 but people still spend 5 to 10k dollars on bikes these days.

I've often wondered the same thing. Not only what they want, but how they can possibly afford it. Often those same people seem to be rather clear that money is tight and they can't afford things that seem like they ought to be rather more important.

As for your list, I would add things like plastic toys (well, not so much plastic, as premade things that are almost knickknacks), ridiculous "gadgets" that are more gimmick than use, restaurant meals, and packaged foods.

Then again, I (and my family) tend to be the practical sort who like making things, which might bias my list a little.

Tor

For those of use with more modest budgets, how are the lights in this Gizmodo article?

http://gizmodo.com/5940425/the-best-...-for-under-100

The NiteRider is the only one I have experience with, and it is very, very good. The others in the comparison are probably good also, but I haven't used them. The lumia line of lights are the next generation of the old MiNewt Cordless series which, viewing from a cost to quality perspective, are legendary. I still use the MiNewt 600 Cordless and it is great, although it's no match for my 1500 Race flamethrower on my bar.

For $800+ I know they are up there. I would like to see a comparison of those lights up against the el cheapo Chinese lights. I burn a hole in the night with $40 for both lights.. ;)

Chinese is the way to go however it is not for me.. I have about $1600.00 USD wrapped up in a Lupine betty Six Kit and a Lupine Pico Helmet Kit. I use it every single morning for a hour ride and it sure works quite well for me..

cehoward - I totally agree - I had a friend with a lupine a couple years back, the quality and build was impressive but 20x for what I can have the same output for is a little much.

I actually do not even feel it upon my helmet anymore then i do the helmet itself. It works fantastic and i have no cords hanging all over me. This is the new upgraded Pico that is now 900 Lumens from i htink it was 750 before. Also Dan at Lupine told me htis fall the new Lupine Betty 6 will jump from 2600Lumens to 3600 Lumens...

Thanks.. I definitely liked the helmet light.. I would only run it around medium mode.. Helmet lights for me are about being seen and maximizing burn time for longer 2-4 hour rides..

Actually the brightest light is not the Lupine but rather the Exposure Lights Six PAck, but don't take my word for it just look at the comparisons: http://reviews.mtbr.com/2012-bike-li...pattern-photos But the problem with those comparisons is that those lights look very bright, but are misleading because the sky above the ground, in other words the trees, are all lit up. You don't need to see what the bird in the tree, you need see the road just as a car or motorcycle headlight does. The Phillips Saferide does just that, it puts the light on the road where you need it not in the trees for almost 2/3rds less cost and the beam is actually wider then any of the ones compared.

Mmmmmmm .... actually those are all 4 sec exposures, which is an indication that NONE of them are particularly bright or effective. I went for the last box ... none of the above.

I am quite sure in LUMENS Ratings that Lupine Betty 6 @ 2600 Lumens had the most lumens of ANY BICYCLE Light...Nothing elese was remotely close in Lumens ratings...

There is an alternative...simply strap one a 25 million candlepower SunForce spot light to your bike for far less money and it would be far brighter. Sunforce also makes a 40 million but it's too large.

You could also just get a single electrolumens bruiser light at 3000 lumens.. I wish wayne would try bike lights again.

http://elektrolumens.com/Big-Bruiser/BigBruiser.html

Might blind the guys and gals in the space station! :lol:

"Best light" is sort of like "what bike"- it depends on your comfort level, budget, speed, terrain, environment. Some people make do with a 200 lumen light to see by, while others think that the 200 lumens would be a good 'be seen' light.

I tried running a cheap (or most powerful 3xAAA Coleman) flashlight in conjunction with a Zefal bike specific light. The combo put out just enough to see by at walking speeds for me. Finally upgraded to a 18650 flashlight rated at 510 lumens. There is enough for me to see by in my neighborhood on the Medium mode; I run it on High when on streets I'm not that familiar with or there is more traffic about.

Night riding is a strange thing. I have been leading night rides for my local group.. We make front and rear lights mandatory and what people show up with is amazing. Most people think that the 15.00 light they buy at there LBS is plenty strong enough, most of these are 5 nichia led putting out at most 50 lumens.. Then you show them lights with 700 lumens and there mouths fall open. Many riders just do not think that lights like many of us use exist or that they can afford them..

I gave many in my group the link to an xml light on amazon for 50.00 and when they showed up with there new lights they rode with so much more confidence at night.. Because they can see now.

Your experience mirrors mine. I don't need 510 lumens to see by, I see just more then just fine at the medium settings. While I do use two lights, both are rated for around 480 max. which means I have them running at about 2/3rds of that. If I'm on a country road and hear or see a car coming from front or rear I will turn the main bar light on high, but that main light is a Phillips Saferide which has a very wide beam (it's pear shape) at the base so turning it on high makes the light go out to about 8 or 9 feet on each side. I like the helmet light because it can be used to flash drivers.

The odd thing about that Phillips light the advertisements all say it puts out 400 lumens, but the box says 1000 lumens, I know it can't be a 1000 but the way they made the beam makes it reach out further and wider and it looks brighter then the Cygolite MityCross 480. If you look at this comparison site you can see the Phillips cast a light on the ground as bright as much more expensive lights, but it's misleading if you don't look close because the more expensive lights light up the middle and top of trees which I don't need to see, but if you compare the width and the reach of the Phillips its better or the same then lights costing over 2 twice the amount. The Phillips acts more like a motorcycle light then a flashlight; I'm really quite impressed with the Phillips, just wish it had a flash mode.

Yeah, that Philips Saferide is something else. Limited domestic sources for it, but when I first heard about it and started digging up some info off of UK based sites, there are different models rated at different output- including one that is powered by a dynohub.

IIRC, Philips also has a tail light called the Illumi Ring or something like that, but now I can't find any mention of it... Of course, since it's designed primarily for EU markets, it's just a steady beam and lacks the strobe/flash effect a lot of us in the States like having the option of using.

Actually, unless we're talking about different lights, Phillips claims 270 lumens, with measurements of actual units ranging from 265 to 291 lumens, according to this review. Just plain good reflector design to get the most out of the lumens it bothers to emit.

As I mentioned, I find it better than lights emitting twice the light, and while I have plans to make a 10 degree 470/900 lumen lamp, I still expect the Saferide to be my primary light.

Tor

PSA: SafeRide rebate
 

While trying to find more info on the Philips tail light (I'm not imagining it), I found a website called philipsbikelight.com. According to it, they have a limited time offer of a $25 rebate when purchasing a SafeRide 80 at the vendor of your choice. I lack the funds, but if you have them and are a strictly road rider, this is worth getting (from all accounts that I've read, anyway).

According to MTB they say it's rated at 400 lumens by Phillips; see: http://reviews.mtbr.com/philips-safe...ights-shootout But on my box the light came in it says word for word: "powered by 2 new generation high-power lumiled led's, 1,000+ equivalent lumens" Not sure what that means but no where on the box or in the instructions does it say 265 to 295, but the Phillips specs on their web site says 220, question is why did MBR claim the manufacture said it was 400 and then what the heck is the 1000 suppose to be on the box? Since it says "equivalent" maybe they mean due to the reflector being used and most of the light energy is directed flat and low thus not wasting any light then that light is the same as 1000 lumens?? It's the only thing I can think of. Then when I compare the Mitycross 480 (480 lumens) with the Phillips the Phillips does appear brighter.

All I know if you look a the beam comparison website I gave earlier, it's clearly one of the brightest lights with the most useful beam on the market for far less money the others. I'm glad I got it.
'

Not only less money than others, but by putting the light where it is useful, you get a longer runtime for the same battery and quality of light. I found the default runtime to be inadequate for my purposes, but was able to use a voltage converter to tie it into my existing system for infinite runtime, subject to the limitations of my main battery. At about 6W, that is about half the drain of my previous HID light, and the Saferide is better.

Tor

Since the Saferide comes in a dynamo-powered version, I'll add it to my short list of headlights to choose from for my next commuter build.

As all have there own idea on what they like or need..Seems like no 2 lights are the same.. With that all in mind..The Lupine Betty Six (2600 Lumens) is in a league entirely of its own...! Everything else falls in down below...Were not talking buying $20.00 Wal mart 30 cazallion candle power stuff..I am talking a "REAL Bicycle LED Light."