It's time for me to replace my 8 year old Dinotte 200L as the batteries are no longer holding their charge long enough.

I'm looking at a few different replacement lights. Been really happy with the Dinotte so considering both the XML-3 and XML-4.

For a similar price I can also get any of the following:
- NiteRider Pro 2200 Dual Beam Race
- Light & Motion Seca 1500
- NiteRider Pro 1800 LED Race

My riding is a mix of road and trail, so I'm looking for a good, all round light.

Any comments on these three lights vs the Dinottes?

Thanks

Just get a new battery...

https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-66...JDRY818C7CQG69

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._email_1p_0_ti

I had the 200L, the four AA battery version. I got the Dinotte XML-3 last year. It's the "old" 1100 lumen version. Now the newer version at Dinotte is 1600 lumens.

The new version would be high 1600 / medium 800 / low 400 lumens!

The very wide beam is both good and bad. See the comments below. But I don't ride on trails, and the wide beam would be great there.

Good:
The main beam is very wide, at least triple the width of the 200L.

The wide beam is really good in the city, aimed down toward the road. It's a big pool of light and covers the whole road, and up onto the sidewalk. I run it on High and it stands out among all the car headlights and streetlights. I think it helps me to be visible, even to cars overtaking me from the back.

The beam is very even, with no hot spots or sharp edges at the side.

On high, the beam is about as bright as the cheap Magicshine (which are approx 700-800 lumens?), but way wider and more even.

The quarter power, 275 lumens (now 400 lumens), is brighter than the 200L on high!

It's a lot cooler when on than the 200L.

2.5 hours on high, 10 hours on low.

Low, 275 (now 400) lumens, is great for group rides. I can aim down toward the road when in the middle of the group, and it stays out of rider's eyes.

The mounting strap is fast and secure.

Disadvantages:
The very wide beam doesn't quite reach far enough ahead for fast downhills.

The battery pack is heavier.

It blinks and goes to half power fairly early, maybe 1.25 to 1.5 hours, when it's cold (under 50F). But then that mode seems to last a long time.

The same power setting modes as the 200L--low, med, high, and the 3 blink modes. I'd like a 1/10 power mode, that's 100 lumens for 25 hours!

The wide beam on high is kind of too bright on dark country roads. When aimed slightly down from horizontal, the closest part of the beam on the road is a bit too bright for my night vision, but I want the rest of the beam to project far down the road. I tend to use Medium on dark roads unless they are twisty or have potholes. If there's no traffic, I can aim it up more to project down the road better and not be too bright near the bike. It lights up the trees too!

I expected oncoming cars to flash their high beams, since the wide beam projects upwards and downwards. Nobody has done it so far, but I do try to aim it down more if there is traffic.

By "trail" do you mean mountain bike trail or bike trail?

I have a Light and Motion Seca 1400. It's a great light for mountain biking. It's an atrociously terrible light for bike trail riding - the wide beam is blinding to oncoming bikers and pedestrians. I've had people yelling at me, clearing off the trail, etc. If your road riding with a group it's annoying to other riders as they get blinded if they look back - it doesn't really matter the power level, on low it's to low and on medium and high it's blinding.

However, if you're riding by yourself on roads it's ok. Still not great though, as it doesn't have as much throw as I would like. The beam also has a bit of a hotspot in front of the bike, reducing your ability to see around you and making you need more light.

I guess of those choices, the NiteRider looks the most promising, as it has a low power mode and both a narrow and wide beam - maybe at lower power it turns on the narrow beam more?

For road riding, I've been debating between the Ixon IQ Premium and the v2 Phillips Saferide -
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/...e-ranking.html

They have a shaped beam, so they don't blind oncoming bikers on bike trails, and not on bike trails they have an even beam pattern on the road (technically it's brighter at the top but the result is an even spread of light).

I've already written to much, I'd have to rewrite an entire essay, but basically bike lighting is weird. You double the light output, and your eye only perceives it as about 10% more light. Your eyeball also adjust to the brightest light it's looking at, if the light has a hotspot your eye adjusts to it and can't see as well. Also, the more light you throw out in general, the less you can see through peripheral vision (as your eye adjusts to the light output in front of you).

So far, the Phillips Saferide v2 has been the best light I've used for road riding, though that's partially because I haven't had a chance to ride on the road with the Ixon IQ Premium yet (took it out in the driveway, but not on a real ride yet). I own a 200l - it's better than that, better than 2 400L's, better than my Seca 1400 (imo) as it has longer throw and less negative affect on my night vision.

Only thing that's better is a combination of both my Seca 900 and Seca 1400, because it gives a better beam pattern - and then "better" is subjective as I'm putting out so much light I seem to be blinding oncoming cars.

Whatever, just try to order from some place that you can return to if you're not happy with it.

Since you are a user of DiNotte lights I would suggest trading in your 200L ( yes, they do that ) and getting the Li-ion version of the XML-1. I figure you might get a ~$20 discount if trading in your 200L.

Otherwise, since you are mentioning the Niterider and L&M lamps which are not cheap I would highly recommend the Gloworm X2 lamp ( now in it's third version...~1500 lumen ). Things I like about the Gloworm X2 ( I own 4 of them )....; Great all around beam pattern off the bars....switchable optics.....wired remote, you never have to take your hand off the bars.....great mounting system with a very small footprint....programmable modes, if you chose to do so. Reasonable price. Warning; Once you get used to a lamp that operates with a remote you never want to go back.

( *Note; I also own a couple 200L's, a 600L and a slew of the cheaper Chinese made bike lights. I own so many lamps I forget how many. Collecting and testing bike lights is kind of a hobby of mine and yes, I use them on rides from time to time. )

I've spoken with Dinotte and they have given me some discount on trading in my 200L. I can actually get the Niterider and L&M lamps on special such that they are slightly cheaper than the Dinotte, even after the trade-in. My decision therefore is mainly based on which one is the better lamp...the Niteride and L&M are usually nearly double the price of the Dinotte XML-3 so are they actually that much better?

Personally, I really prefer lights with a self-contained battery rather than separate. Have you looked at the Light & Motion Taz and Urban series? All of the models are very light weight with good run times and can be charged with a simple USB cable. Just about any of these would provide a lot more light than the DiNotte you've been using, and the Urban 800 or Taz models would simply blow it away.

I didn't know that was possible, thanks for the tip.

I would think selling the Dinotte would net you something

Not saying the Niterider and L&M aren't good lamps, but no I don't think they would be worth double the price. The L&M lamps are known to have a very good beam pattern for MTB'ing. That said the people who I've read commenting about their ( older model ) XML-3's have really liked them. If you are seriously considering getting the new ( upgraded ) XML-3 if it were me I wouldn't hesitate. DiNotte is listing it as ( +1600 lumen ). That said DiNotte ( historically speaking ) has never over estimated the output of their lamps. Although I've never seen the beam pattern of the XML-3's in person I trust that DiNotte has improved the product. Heck, for that matter if you don't like the beam pattern you could always return it and try something else. Customer service with DiNotte has always been one of their strong points.

I like the BT-20 from Fenix. If you don't want to buy 18650 batteries you can get the BTR-20. Fenix BT20 750 Lumen Bike light - Uses 4 x CR123 or 2 x 18650 batteries Fenix BTR20 Rechargeable LED Bike Light - 800 Lumens - CREE XM-L(T6) Neutral White LED - Uses 4x 18650 Batteries (Included). You could also get a battery pack that holds rechargeables. PANNOVO B-C04 Water Resistant 4 x 18650 Battery Pack Case for Bike Lamp - Black - Free Shipping - DealExtreme