dirtsqueezer

Looking for a good (affordable) light for off road riding. Will supplement my head lamp with a bar mounted setup - looking for a dual setup something like a 10/20 watt switchable. Cygo-Lite and Nite Hawk seem to be pretty well reviewed and affordable.

Anyone have any other suggestions - I know niteriders are awesome, but spendy.

Thanks

KevinG

Go with Cygo. I have been using one for about 2 years now. They are the best combo of value and quality out there.

fubar5

Get a light for your helmet too.

dirtsqueezer

Mick - How easy is it to remove the lights? I do some commuting want to pop the lights off for security. Did you go with lead acid or Nicad? I am looking at the Night Exlporer in NiCad.

Fubar5 - like I said, will use this setup to compliment my headlamp...

24 Hour race coming up in September, fun fun

:thumbup:

JonR

Whatever light system you decide on, I hope you can get NiMH batteries instead of NiCd. Far fewer problems. Pay more and get a system with a "smart" charger. If you can't afford NiMH, my advice would be to go with lead-acid (less environmentally friendly, however)--but steer clear of NiCd.

KevinG

They come off like any other light of that type, push up on a small lever/button and slide off.

I got the Nicad, I think the model I got is the Night Explorer Pro or something like that. It was $ 49.00 wholesale so like 100 or so retail. Like I said almost 2 years now and no problems yet.

Kevin

dirtsqueezer

Yep,the explorerer that's the one I ordered. The gel-cells sound as picky as the Ni-Cads from what I saw at the website. Roll the dice I guess.

Saw a Nite Hawk at lunch, lots of cable,switches and mounts, not particularly clean.

fubar5

Oops....silly me

JonR

When I read "headlamp" I automatically thought "headlight" from long years of automotive conditioning. Then I realized you were talking about a light mounted on your helmet....

MichaelW understands a lot about lead-acid cells--I'm sure he will confirm that they can be tricky to charge correctly, too. But any rechargeable battery needs to be charged just right or its life is jeopardized.

My preference for NiMH is based on the relatively non-poisonous nature of the ingredients, plus experience which has convinced me they're GENERALLY more reliable than NiCD's. But I've had plenty of problems with NiMH's, too.

Alas.

If they ever develop those plastic "fuel cells" for typical consumer needs, rechargeable devices will be revolutionized. Maybe in our lifetime....

Tomas

my personal favorite off road lamps are those big ones with the smiley-faced covers that say "KC Highliters" on them...but those might be a bit cumbersome on your handlebars...

JonR

In an ideal world, there would be a bike version.

What does the "KC" stand for, by the way? I've always wondered, since I live in KC.

Tomas

i work with a girl named Kacee, and we call her KC. maybe they were named for her? that would be as good an answer as any that i have found yet...which would be none.

i can't stand to have simple little questions like that stump me. i have been searching for quite some time, but most likely not in the right place...i just may send KC HiLiTES an email asking them for their name origins...

Tomas

i emailed the company, and here is what i got back:

rather quick and to the point, but there you have it. dare i risk yet another scathing reply and ask my good buddy Perry just what exactly those initials are?

JonR

I think I would leave it as is, or else you might be out riding some night and suddenly there's this sudden roar, and the glare of 200,000 candle power coming at you out of nowhere and the next thing you know.... You get the picture.