Best & Brightest battery operated Red TailLight ???
#52
Galveston County Texas
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 33,335
Likes: 1,285
From: In The Wind
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
#53
Galveston County Texas
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 33,335
Likes: 1,285
From: In The Wind
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
#54
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,863
Likes: 6
From: Washington, DC
Bikes: Some bikes. Hell, they're all the same, ain't they?
Bonus points for being visible in daylight, though.
#55
Galveston County Texas
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 33,335
Likes: 1,285
From: In The Wind
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
#56
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 306
Likes: 0
From: Snohomish Washington
Bikes: Trek Portland
I have 2 of those, one on the back of the bike and one on the helmet.
The first time my neighbor saw me with it in the morning (from 1/2 mile away) he thought I was a cop or a tow truck. Either way he slowed down.
(this is the planetbike unit)
The first time my neighbor saw me with it in the morning (from 1/2 mile away) he thought I was a cop or a tow truck. Either way he slowed down.
(this is the planetbike unit)
#57
?
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,775
Likes: 0
#58
The Fenix Shillboy
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 477
Likes: 0
From: League City, Texas
Bikes: Raleigh F500 mountain bike and an exceptionally old (mid-60's) Schwinn Collegiate 5-speed.
To sort of repeat 10 Wheels question: What light do you have? I can see that it's a Nite Hawk...but what model is it? (Photo is not quite clear enough for me to see the numbers on the power pack.)
Looks pretty powerful, in any case.
Looks pretty powerful, in any case.
#59
Senior Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,766
Likes: 0
From: North of the 49th Parallel (GPS grid soon)
Bikes: MTB Peugoet Canyon (forgot the model), Nikishi? roadbike, MTB custom build,
It looks like a DIY dual cube or Nova Bull I think. I'm leaning more on DIY just by the looks of the silver alum and the button switch.
#60
?
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,775
Likes: 0
Yup, DIY. Details here. https://www.bikeforums.net/electronics-lighting-gadgets/440641-my-diy-taillight-version-2-a.html
#61
Galveston County Texas
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 33,335
Likes: 1,285
From: In The Wind
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
#63
Banned.
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,761
Likes: 3
From: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Bikes: 84 Trek 660 Suntour Superbe; 87 Giant Rincon Shimano XT; 07 Mercian Vincitore Campy Veloce
HEE HAW here we go again. I like the Cateye LD600 because it's cheap, uses very little battery energy, and it's very bright from the rear, plus if mounted vertically can readily be seen from the sides whereas other tl's cannot.
#66
?
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,775
Likes: 0
The only lights I use is Planet Bike Superflash and my DIYs. Rest of the blinkies on the market sucks.
#67
Hills!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 7
From: Rolling hills of Piedmont NC
Bikes: 2008 Trek Madone 5.5, 2005 Marin Novato, Trek 7100
Anybody mount a PBSF on the '08 Madone? I don't think the PBSF will fit the new seat post design like it fits the standard round one.
#69
#70
Banned.
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,761
Likes: 3
From: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Bikes: 84 Trek 660 Suntour Superbe; 87 Giant Rincon Shimano XT; 07 Mercian Vincitore Campy Veloce
But the poster wanted to use only 1 light thus in that regard all around performance for rear and side visiblity is cleary won by the LD600.
#71
Zoom zoom zoom zoom bonk

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,922
Likes: 979
From: New Zealand
Bikes: Giant Defy, Trek 1.7c, BMC GF02, Trek Marlin 6, Scott Sub 35, Kona Rove, Trek Verve+2
Brightness approx same as PBSF.
Dual control so flashing and steady.
AA batteries so good runtime.
Side shinning LEDs
Batteries replaceable without taking light off bike, no tools needed.
Solid seatpost mount (but crappy belt mount).
Have these too...
Mars 2.0 need screwdrivers to replace batteries, short running aaa batteries(nice wide beam though). Big. Has rack mount which is nice.
LD600 rattle in holders and batteries you have to dig out. Again shortish runtimes as AAA batteries. Nice seatstay mounting as low profile.
Don't have these...
PBSF no side Viz. Small so good for helmet mount (ld100 smaller though).
Dinotte short runtimes funny seatpost mount $$$
#72
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, WA
Bikes: Cannondale Six13, Noble F4, Ridley Supercross, GT Xizang, GT Edge CX. Fat Tire cruiser bike
I don't follow brightest=most safety. I think there is a point when all those super bright lights turn you into a distraction rather than another vehicle on the road. People tend to steer toward what they are looking at. If it's you with all that 'blink' then that's not a good thing.
After years of different setup I think the best balance is a ViewPoint on a blinking setting with a solid LED on second locale. I use a Knog on my messanger bike for this.
After years of different setup I think the best balance is a ViewPoint on a blinking setting with a solid LED on second locale. I use a Knog on my messanger bike for this.
#73
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 779
Likes: 1
From: Portland, Maine USA
Bikes: Trek 850 Antelope
I recommend two tail lights that work really well.
The Planet Bike Superflash (PBSF), has these options going for it.
1. It is really bright for its being a small, battery-operated tail light.
2. It can be easily clipped or mounted anywhere on the rider, the bicycle or its bags/trunks/paniers.
3. It is lightweight.
4, It works for a long time on one set of batteries.
5. It is cheaper to buy but its quality is good.
The CatEye TL-1100 also has these going for it.
1. It, is large, bright and is more obvious.
2. It can be mounted to a rack, seatstay, or clipped to a bag or panier.
3. It is heavier.
4. It has more patterns and features than the Superflash.
You can't go wrong with either one. I bought three Superflashes and mounted two of them to the chainstays of my bicycle. I have the third one clipped to my helmet.
The Planet Bike Superflash (PBSF), has these options going for it.
1. It is really bright for its being a small, battery-operated tail light.
2. It can be easily clipped or mounted anywhere on the rider, the bicycle or its bags/trunks/paniers.
3. It is lightweight.
4, It works for a long time on one set of batteries.
5. It is cheaper to buy but its quality is good.
The CatEye TL-1100 also has these going for it.
1. It, is large, bright and is more obvious.
2. It can be mounted to a rack, seatstay, or clipped to a bag or panier.
3. It is heavier.
4. It has more patterns and features than the Superflash.
You can't go wrong with either one. I bought three Superflashes and mounted two of them to the chainstays of my bicycle. I have the third one clipped to my helmet.
#75
Paramount Fan


Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 502
Likes: 445
From: Vermont
Bikes: Marinoni, Paramounts, Raleigh Pros, Colnago, DeRosa, Gios, Masis, Pinarello, R. Sachs, Look, Falcon, D. Moulton, Witcomb, Woodrup, Atala, Motobecane, Bianchis, Fat City, Frejus, Follis, Waterford, Litespeed, d'Autremont, others, mostly '70s-'80s
This is a very old posting, but in case you're reading, the current version of the Blackburn Mars taillight has a snap closure and no longer uses screws to hold the battery cover in place. It is quite bright from both the rear and sides and very well made, in spite of its low cost. The use of AAA batteries keeps the unit lightweight, yet I still get good battery life, in spite of using rechargeables. It comes with a variety of mounting options, including a neat rack mount that attaches to the reflector bracket of a rear rack. It also has a built-in belt clip, when all else fails. I've used these for years, along with several other styles, including the ridiculously overpriced CatEye LD1000. Although I wouldn't touch the rest of the Mars lighting series, the taillght is my favorite of all the blinkies.







