Need suggestion for tail + front lights
 

Hi - my trusty Cateye bike light's bracket broke today, so I figure it's probably a good excuse to get a fancy new light. I don't really have a front light right now.

I would like rechargeable front and back. I'm using these lights for my commute which is on fairly busy roads at night. I would like the front to attach to my handlebars, while I would like the back to attach to my rack. The rack has two holes vertically spaced that I used to attach my Cateye light to. To be clear - that means the two screws screw in horizontally (parallel to the ground) and one is above the other.

The Axiom Pulse 60 and the Cygolite Hotshot both look like reasonable options in the back. not sure if they have the appropriate bracket.

I haven't done enough research yet for the front.

I'm hoping to spend under $100 for a total solution, but am open to other options.

Any suggestions?

This is just a suggestion, if you don't need a long runtime, the Phillips Saferide is the best light I've used so far for riding on the road. It uses AA batteries (that do charge inside the light you don't need to remove and charge them). It has one of the best beam patterns you can buy for a bike light - no hotspots, shaped beam that puts light on the road exactly where you need it.

I own about $1,500 in bike lighting and I prefer the Saferide to all the expensive unshaped lights. The other light I use is the Busch and Mueller Ixon Iq Premium - another shaped light with a longer runtime, but it has a bit of a purplish color to it's beam so I don't recommend it as much.

Either light is more like $150. There are definitely cheaper options, just mentioning my favorites.

REI has lights on display you can compare them in the store

Cygolite Metro 360/Hotshot 2W Combo Light Set
 

At $84 or so online for the pair today, the Cygolite Metro 360/Hotshot 2W Combo Light Set is worth consideration. If you decide later you can't live without more light up front, the 360 is still a worthy second light. Or spend a few more dollars now to move up a model and still keep the pair around $100.

I have the Philips Saferide dynamo (not battery) version, and I like it a lot. I also have a dynamo powered tail light.

I have the Cygolite tail light mentioned above. It is outstanding. I'd guess Cygolite headlights are good. I like their mount systems. One nice Cygolite feature is the "steady flashing" mode where there is a steady amount of light you can see by, and it flashes with extra intensity every second or so. Cygolite stuff seems to be well made, and the prices are quite reasonable. It is all USB-rechargeable, too.

I have the Cygolite Hotshot as well as an Expilion 250 (helmet mount). Both good lights. I've also mounted two PlanetBike Superflash on the back of my bike for night after-work rides. For commuting on busy roads, I would suggest a hi-viz yellow safety vest with the silver reflective panels on it. I had a cop tell me that my vest was very visible.

I'm pretty happy with my combo of a Gloworm X1 on the front and Magicshine MJ-818 (running on steady high) on the back, powered by a 4cell Gloworm battery and augmented by a Cygolite Hotshot blinkie on my saddlebag. I can honestly say I have not had a pass within 1mtr since I began running this combo.

The X1 produces all the light one might ever need at all but very high descending speeds and in a much nicer beam pattern than the clone it replaced. The 818 tail lamp on steady high illuminates my rear tire and the road behind me with a nice wide read glow that is not disruptive to the drivers' vision and provides for excellent depth perception. The Hotshot is extremely capable of "getting their attention" as would be a Niterider Solas(which Mrs. Fred has) or Serfas/Moon Shield(which one of my riding buddies has). Of those three I prefer the Hotshot for it's ability to have both brightness and blink rate adjusted up or down for conditions.

I run a Niterider Lumina 350 up front and 1 or 2 Serfas Thunderbolts out back. I like the Luminas because you can pop them off the mount and use it as a flashlight, I bought a extra mount for each of my bikes. The run time is about 1-1/2-2hrs max bright, 4-5 hrs on the second bright setting, 8+hrs on blink, and 10+ hrs on low beam "walk" setting. The Thunderbolt runs about 1-1/2hrs max bright, 2-3hrs second setting, 4-5hrs max blink, 6-8hrs low blink. I ran the lumina on blink and a thunderbolt on low blink for a entire 7.5hr century ride without turning then off. If you need more light the Lumina goes up to 750 without having to add a battery pack. Both lights offer a anti overcharge feature so you can leave them on the charger til needed.

I think you meant Thunderbolt ;)- https://www.serfas.com/products/view...ts|tail-lights.

Lol thanks. Corrected.

I like the Pulse 60 light better than my Hotshot. As for mounting in a reflector bracket, I have this design:

https://www.youmagine.com/designs/bi...0-to-reflector

I'm currently refining it, the one uploaded there doesnt' grab the light properly. I have that fixed but I'm trying to adjust now for using readily available screws (reflector bracket screws are something like #8 x 1/4" which are basically impossible to go to a store and buy). If you wind up wanting one, PM me. I should be done with the design this weekend and I'd be happy to mail you one.

For side visibility, I use a spoke light in my rear wheel. I can't use one in the front because it distracts me too much, but I think having only one is OK. I don't take it off when I lock the bike; so far, no theft. It's nearly inconspicuous.

I was thinking about picking one up, not that I need it but just for the heck of it. If you don't mind my asking which one do you have and what's the battery life like?

I have the Spoke Lit from Nite Ize and also some cheap no-names. They seem equally good. They are not terribly bright, but I don't think they need to be. They are brighter on one side than on the other, which is annoying, and I don't know which way I should face it. Manhattan has tons of one-way streets, and most bike lanes are on the left side, so sometimes I want the bright side on the right and sometimes on the left.

Battery life ain't great, and it uses two 2016 cells, which is also annoying. But I can buy them in bulk, so it's not really that bad. As you may know, I prefer dynamo lights to batteries, so I still have to deal with batteries, and non-standard ones at that. But it's really OK, and these are far from the most essential lights. When they run down, it's not a disaster.

On my Bianchi Volpe, which has dynamo-powered headlight and tail light, I usually use a battery powered tail light -- the Cygolite Hotshot -- as well. That one flashes, and the dynamo powered one is steady. Maybe I ought to have more than one headlight for forward visibility, but I'm not willing to carry tons of equipment most places.

Pretty sure you can still get the old-style B&M Ixon iq (not premium) headlight for $60, which I think is about the best headlight deal going right now. I also like the B&M rack-mounted tail-lights. I just use ordinary NiMh rechargeable AA batteries in both, which works great for me because I always have a few eneloops lying around ready to go so I never get caught with a dead battery.

I owned the old school b&m ixon iq (not the premium), and in my opinion it's not nearly a bright enough light to recommend. It's 40 lux, I returned it, the Cyo (60 lux) was the first b&m shaped beam light that was bright enough for riding, in my opinion, and it's beam is a little narrow. The Ixon Iq Premium (80 lux) is the first one I've seen with a wide enough beam - if only it put out a bit more light and it's color output was better it would be perfect.

I just wouldn't go below the output of a Cyo (60 lux) in my opinion.

I have ridden thousands of miles in the dark with the ixon iq, but I agree with PaulRivers. It's not a very bright light. I would describe it as "adequate"

Looks like the online prices of the Phillips Saferide headlights have come down to around $80, which sounds like a better light and a better deal than the B&M. I may have to get one myself.

Paul sold his to me.It is bright .but not for high speeds.

re: charge - commuters are best using rechargeables and alsways good to keep extra charger at work or dyno hub lites

always opened my lites up at work to be sure they dried out and charged them as well. had a little station on my desk

There's better options in all market segments than ever!


a matched pair:

Amazon.com : Cygolite 2014 Streak 280 Lumen Headlight/Hotshot SL 2W Tail Light USB Rechargeable Bicycle Light Set : Bike Headlight Taillight Combinations : Sports & Outdoors


I use one of these... I usually have a 360+ on but have descended w/o.
Never use high beam, but enough light for 30+ downhill.

Amazon.com : 5000Lm 2x CREE XML U2 LED Cycling Front Bicycle Bike Light HeadLight Headlamp X2 : Cycling Accessories : Sports & Outdoors


Speaking of 360..
Marvelously effective helmet mounted lights.

Amazon.com : Light & Motion Vis 360 Light Brown Shugga, One Size : Sports & Outdoors

I have this, bought one for me and one for my wife. I'm very disappointed with the headlight, and looking to replace or supplement. Just not bright enough for my needs on the dark near rural streets that I ride on nightly. The taillight is great.

Interesting, I occasionally run just the 360+ on low, while it's high setting is rated at 150, and it seems decent to me.

But I do run the "5000" cree, I think I paid $15 for it (but bought 2 and a larger battery) so all in all about $25 each. On low each of it's beams is noticeably brighter and wider... SO I prefer to run that AND the 360+

On the MUP, just the "5000" on low...

I have thought about buying one of the Chinese 500Lms, but I don't know if I want all of that bulk on my bike. This light seems interesting, my local LBS has it in stock. Review: Bontrager Ion 700 - Mtbr.com. I just wish they had done the tunnel test like they did with most lights in their testing, to see a real apples to apples comparison. Lights comparison - http://reviews.mtbr.com/2014-mtbr-bi...-beam-patterns

The one area it's not better in is battery life. But in light output, the Saferide is a much better light.

Ha, oh man, that was so long ago - I forgot that I sold it to a bikeforums.net member...

Hope it kept working for you. :-)