Hi,

With the pending early morning darkness, I need to purchase a headlight. I will need to use it for approx 1 1/2 to 2 hours per ride, 2 or 3 times a week for road riding only. I would prefer a frame mount battery.

I've narrowed my list down to the CygoLite Dual Cross, Cateye Double Shot, NiteRider MiNewt Dual and the BlackBurn X6.

Does anyone have any opinions as to which one gives the best road performance? Any other suggestions out there?

Thanks for your help.

Custom spec it yourself. This site has pretty much all you need: https://www.batteryspace.com/index.as...S&Category=499

For long run time and low battery weight, go for the nimhs. SLAs/NiCds are cheap compromises.

Check out this review of many LED lights, it's a good one. https://www.gearreview.com/2006_led_lights.php

Thanks for the suggestion operator.

If I were looking at this:

https://www.batteryspace.com/index.as...OD&ProdID=2395

which bulb option would be better for road riding -- 6 degree spot or 12 degree flood?

Thanks.

You might want to do some research on the trailtech light. I've seen several long threads on different boards about problems with their lights.

If you really want light, so that you can see and be seen just as well as the day, then get a Light & Motion Arc Li-ion.

I've been commuting with it for two years. It works great. It is light enough so that you don't dread taking it along.

https://www.bikelights.com/Products/arc_liion_ultra.htm

And, yeah its expensive. But it you cycle before or after work, it can expand your cycling season by months.

Thanks Ziemas -- I did see the gearreview.com writeup and thought it was very helpful. I'll check on the reliability of the trailtech lights.

Ritterview -- thanks for the suggestion but I think the L&M is too far over my budget. Is it a HID light?

For road riding, you probably want something narrow, the other option is to run dual, one spot and one flood. Bulbs are cheap and easy to swap out with a custom spec. They can be typically had for $5-$10 new.

How fast are you planning on riding? There's also a lighting sticky in the commuting forum which discusses many aspects of a light system you may find interesting. There is also a usenet faq here: https://www.burrow.ca/cyclist/bikecurrent-FAQ.html

But they only really deal with slas/nicds with a short paragraph on nimhs.

I was originally thinking about a dual setup since I didn't want to outrun the light and set it up so that one beam was flood and one was spot. But the HIDs look very good. Would I really need a dual HID? The cost is high enough for 1 -- forget 2!

I went this route last fall and it turned out to be a nightmare for me. The battery failed in the middle of a very dark ride and I had to walk home in utter darkness and cold.

I ended up going with Jet Lites. Do yourself a favor and go with a brand that prides themselves in their product. The Jet Lites are hardcore and made for exactly the use you intend them for.

https://www.jetlites.com/

The Starfire Dual Beam is what I use and it is just what the doctor ordered when it comes to early morning training rides in darkness and cold.

I ride with a group that does night rides throughout the year (just started with lights this week), and here's the general wisdom.

LED lights are good for being seen but don't put out enough light to see in the low-power versions. And the high-power versions aren't any more efficient than a halogen light.

Halogens work well - they put out a lot of light.

HID lamps are the best - they put out a ton of light.

And those three are priced in that order. Good lights are in the hundreds, and one of my friends just bought a new top-of-the-line HID lamp for $650.

Some lights give you multiple light levels. You will pay more for that.

For batteries, NiCad are old tech. Either NiMH or Lithium Ion are good batteries - NiMH batteries self-discharge and are heavier, but either work well.

I have a NiteRider that's several years old that works great. It's a 13 watt halogen light.

I'd recommend choosing a system from a company that just makes lights.

I've got the Cygolite dual cross 300, and the advertising is correct it is brighter than a 20 watt halogen.
I have had a several cars flash me when I have come up a rise at night and because of the twin leds, the beam is very wide and consistent, I especially like the battery meter function and the flashing options. I mount the small battery out of way under the bar and as stated it does last the 4 hrs under one charge. Cars actually see me coming now and adjust accordingly. The mounting is unobtrusive and sits in front of your stem, so everything is still pretty sleek on a road bike.

Hands down the best light I have ever used is my starfire single beam light by jet lites. I've tried all the above lights you mentioned for early morning and late night road rides to and from work. It really isn't even a comparison. I have the starfire single beam with smart switch. Puts out an unbelievable amount of light that easily outdoes the lights you mentioned. It's a bit pricey, but trust me you get what you pay for in both quality of product and customer service. Check it out: https://www.jetlites.com

They make HID lights as well if you wanted to drop the extra cash, but I really don't think it's necessary. Hope that helps.

kleng,

Thanks for the response. Are the beams different -- one spot and one flood? I called cygolite and was told that the beams crossed horizontally in front, rather than lengthened vertically in front. Is the depth of light good? I'm concerned about that and outrunning the light.

Thanks.

tate and bike4food,

THaks for the Jet recommendations. I looked at them since they received such high rating on mtb.com. Jet seems like the safe play and I guess I really can't go wrong them. I was hoping to get something cheaper. I guess that is a ridiculous thought considering the price of everything else for this sport

Do you guys suggest going with a single or dual, and do I need the fuel guage? Do they offer the water bottle battery only?

Thanks.

Jet-lites sound nice but for extreme durability I will take www.Night-sun.com. I am still using one of the Team Issue dual halogen headlights my wife gave me as a birthday present eighteen (yes 18) years ago. I have replaced the MR16 bulbs a couple of times and have a much bigger battery so I do not have to worry about missing the occasional recharge. H.I.D. sounds lovely and NiMH and Lithium-Ion are nifty buzz-words. My painfully low-tech lead battery is low cost and the 50 watt headlight cost $9.50. Check out the total geekiness thread over in Commuting,

Woody

Both the led beams are a flood, so by crossing them in the middle, there is a slightly more intense part, there is no way you would out run the light.

This picture came from the website, but in practice they are a brighter than this.

Also something to bear in mind the Cygolites have a better run time at 20 watts, than the jet lite with something closer to 4 as opposed to 2 hours. Their also cheaper than the Jetlites, if cost are a factor in your decision, www.performancebike.com
have a 20% off sale at the moment.

Below is an awsome review of some of your lights mentions by BF member acidinmylegs.

https://www.gearreview.com/2006_led_lights.php

Based on this review, I bought the CatEye Double shot off eBay for $160 + shipping. After 1 year of commuting with it, I've been very impressed with the amount of light it puts out, the 5 hour burn time and a fast 3hr recharge. I think helmet mount is the way to go because you can aim it where you need it.

Check this site out for a few comparisons on lighting. Sounds like one of your problems will be battery life for a return trip so bear this in mind. I have just bought a USE Exposure light and the site is

https://www.mtbr.com/spotlight/lightshootout/

May be expensive in the US- they are expensive over here but the other one I was Looking at was the Blackburn X6. Not quite as powerfull but still a good lamp with enough battery life and the Blackburn for life warranty.

I do still have a Cateye EL300 fitted on the bike in case of low battery or lamp failure and is not an expensive light to use as a reliable back-up.

Check out the commuter forum there is a sticky that has a great spreadsheet of lights including the maximum speed you can go with each light. There are a ton of details.

Thanks for the many replies. You've all been very helpful.

There have been halogen lights as bright as HID's for years, but the run time was too short for most riders. The HID gives you power with good run time.
One can get a good bright HID light for $185 plus shiping. Mid range HID lights are $650. High end HID lights are $1400

Somewhere in the forum there is a favorable new owners report on the $199 HID from batteryspace.com