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Need a front light

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Old 01-10-15 | 05:34 PM
  #1  
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From: Israel

Bikes: Italwin eLight (20" folding ebike)

Need a front light

Hi,

My electric bike came with a Spanninga Kendo front light which doesn't help very much. In addition, it uses the main battery, which is a huge bonus when I ride with the battery, but I do many rides for fun without the main battery, and then I have no front light at all.

I spent hours researching models today, but I can't really decide.

Here are some details:

My current, Kendo light is rated at 13 lux by the manufacturer. That info is useless to me because I read that you can't really convert lux to lumens.
I am willing to spend up to 50 US dollars.
It needs to be one piece - without a separate battery. In addition, I'd prefer a light that uses AA or AAA batteries, but it's OK if it's got a rechargeable battery.
If 15 lux does mean anything to you, then I'd like my new light to be twice as powerful or more.
I'd like the light to be relatively small, unlike those huge "best bike light on amazon".

I have one contender, and would like to know what you think of it:
Smart BL 185 700L Front Light | Chain Reaction Cycles

There's also a 500 lumens model that's $10 cheaper.
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Old 01-11-15 | 05:27 PM
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From: Brooklyn NY

Bikes: Kuota Kredo/Chorus, Trek 7000 commuter, Trek 8000 MTB and a few others

The light you chose looks to be a good one. It has a Panasonic 18650 3300mah battery, which is good, 700 lumens (but don't expect it to really be 700). Finned for cooling. I'd say go for it. By an extra battery or two if you need longer runtime, and you can buy them on eBay, just make sure you get Panasonic as those are the best. The Chinese *Fire batteries aren't as good.

13 lux is not much. My dynamo light is rated at 80 lux and is bright, 13 lux would barely be visible.
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Old 01-11-15 | 06:02 PM
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From: Turlock, Ca

Bikes: Invacare Force 3 handcycle

Lux by itself is meaningless. You need to know the distance it was measured at.
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Old 01-12-15 | 06:19 AM
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From: Israel

Bikes: Italwin eLight (20" folding ebike)

Originally Posted by zacster
The light you chose looks to be a good one. It has a Panasonic 18650 3300mah battery, which is good, 700 lumens (but don't expect it to really be 700). Finned for cooling. I'd say go for it. By an extra battery or two if you need longer runtime, and you can buy them on eBay, just make sure you get Panasonic as those are the best. The Chinese *Fire batteries aren't as good.

13 lux is not much. My dynamo light is rated at 80 lux and is bright, 13 lux would barely be visible.
Thanks. I'll get that Smart light.
Since I'll be ordering from CRC, I might as well buy a rear light from them (I have to pay $10 shipping). I couldn't find Radbot 1000 on their site. Do you know a good rear light that they sell?
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Old 01-12-15 | 10:29 AM
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From: Stephenville TX

Bikes: 2010 Trek 7100

Originally Posted by YonathanZ
I am willing to spend up to 50 US dollars.
Aw, come on.

You know you want to try it.
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Old 01-12-15 | 04:01 PM
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From: Israel

Bikes: Italwin eLight (20" folding ebike)

OK, I bought the Smart LB 185 700L front light and a Smart 1W rear light. My current rear light died a few days ago, and the front light... Well, today I almost collided with an e-rider who didn't have his front light on. It's so weak I often wonder if it's even on.
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Old 01-15-15 | 11:52 AM
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From: Israel

Bikes: Italwin eLight (20" folding ebike)

Originally Posted by zacster
The light you chose looks to be a good one. It has a Panasonic 18650 3300mah battery, which is good, 700 lumens (but don't expect it to really be 700). Finned for cooling. I'd say go for it. By an extra battery or two if you need longer runtime, and you can buy them on eBay, just make sure you get Panasonic as those are the best. The Chinese *Fire batteries aren't as good.

13 lux is not much. My dynamo light is rated at 80 lux and is bright, 13 lux would barely be visible.
How many lumens should I expect? Is 500 a reasonable expectation?
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