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-   -   Bar end lights for bullhorn bars (https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespeed-fixed-gear/337625-bar-end-lights-bullhorn-bars.html)

trob 08-27-07 03:36 PM

Bar end lights for bullhorn bars
 
Any suggestions?

Thanks!

barba 08-27-07 03:43 PM

Could you say a little more on what you are looking for?

rob3rto 08-27-07 03:46 PM

I don't think they'd be any different than regular bar end lights unless your bullhorns are really strangely shaped: http://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...End+Light.aspx

bbattle 08-27-07 03:48 PM

yes, Performance and others sell bar end lights; the commuter forum says they aren't bright enough but for bull horns they could look pretty wicked. Like red eyes coming at you in the dark.

get some and post pics on your bullhorns
http://www.performancebike.com/produ...-NCL-ANGLE.jpg

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=4322

barba 08-27-07 03:49 PM

Red lights on the front of your bike seems questionable to me. People recognize red as the rear of vehicles. I think the ones linked above are made for flat bars (white light pointing forward, red pointing backwards).

Edit: I am referring to the link from rob3rto

Gambutrol 08-27-07 04:10 PM

bar end lights?! i had no idea. I'm gonna get some for my riz0rs.

Hirohsima 08-27-07 05:14 PM

The ends of most bullhorns point up, so the only creature that will see them will be the odd bird circling above you and the bus driver who is about ready to run you over.

Plus they are dim, as others have noted. I use this with much success: http://www.niterider.com/prod_sol.shtml

trob 08-27-07 09:10 PM

Yes, I know that bullhorns point upwards. That's why I posted this. I'm wondering if there are any bar end lights that stick out a little and shine a white LED almost perpendicular to the direction the bar points.

Hirohsima 08-27-07 09:22 PM


Originally Posted by trob (Post 5157794)
I'm wondering if there are any bar end lights that stick out a little and shine a white LED almost perpendicular to the direction the bar points.

They don't exist, unless you fabricate them yourself. What you are describing would be useless to anyone using drops, and white LED's that small provide next to no light for forward facing applications.

cc700 08-27-07 09:31 PM

they could however be good for being seen by.

there was a video, i think a 3bansho vid on youtube, with someone that had them in nitto drops and my god they looked awesome... like a badass demon with sand in his eyes in the shadows and lights on a bike when he went under streetlights.

you can find them for 15 bucks online, 20 bucks at performance in store, and 15 bucks from some cooler stores.

it astounds me that these things aren't under ten dollars. i'm thinking of making my own out of tireflys.

tireflys, tape, and some pushing should do the trick. just need lots of tape. first, i need drops though. major taylors look about right, but i want that NJS stamp from the more expensive b123's.

a b seize 08-27-07 09:59 PM

these are some fancy products. sometimes i wear a headlamp at night...it's just that i had one of those and i didn't have the money for a bike light.

cc700 08-27-07 10:19 PM

if you're worried about seeing the road in front of you, you really don't have any other options than a 20+ dollar battery powered system that sucks and is only good for being seen by, or a 80+ rechargable halogen lighting system that actually works. expect to pay 120 for one that will make you happy.

if you're worried about being seen, buy some 10-20 blinkie lights along with some reflective stuff and blink the **** out of others. they work fine, especially for cars that will light up your reflector stickers/vest/cuffs/tape.

thequickfix 08-27-07 11:16 PM

I've always wanted to get a bunch of these and festoon my steel bike. I wonder how strong the magnet is.
http://www.extremeglow.com/Merchant4...0001/bl3br.gif

cc700 08-27-07 11:31 PM

ooh handy. what are they called? where? how much?

thequickfix 08-27-07 11:46 PM

They're popular with the raver crowd. I don't know where to buy them besides online. The thing is that most places seem to sell them in sets of 50 or so. Google something like "magnetic LED body light".

mander 08-28-07 12:29 AM

The magnets on those things are real strong quickfix. I seem to remember it exerting a bit of force even all the way through my finger, though my memory is fuzzy as i was on a lot of drugs at the time.

bward1028 08-28-07 12:55 AM


Originally Posted by barba (Post 5155736)
Red lights on the front of your bike seems questionable to me. People recognize red as the rear of vehicles. I think the ones linked above are made for flat bars (white light pointing forward, red pointing backwards).

+1
it seems like they'd shine into my eyes, too

Astronomical 08-28-07 01:08 AM

pop those dual sided ones in some tempos and you're legit.

Nouia 08-28-07 08:35 AM

This sounds like a fun project. What I would do is get a pair of Cree LED emmiters ( http://dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2394 ) and hook them up to a pre-made regulator board ( http://dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3256 ) designed for LEDs, and hook that to 4-6 "AA" battery cells stashed in a battery holder inside the bars. Install the LED emitters into a some aluminum reflector ( http://dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3257 ) and JB Weld those puppies into a copper 90* elbow fitting, like for plumbing, and mount the elbow fittings somehow (so its easily removable) on the ends of the bullhorn so they face down. Wire it all up, test it, and stash all the AA cells, the regulator, and wiring inside the bars. Add a switch and you're good to go.

Check these guys out:

http://myfwyc.org/bikeled/DIY_LED_Bi...ing_Guide.html
http://myfwyc.org/Timberlake/CreeLEDLight
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...d.php?t=171702
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...d.php?t=126276

I should try this out...

BTW with those CREE emitters, you'll be pumping out some SERIOUS lumens, these aren't just decorative, a rig like this could easily compete with one of the $400 DiNotte lighting systems. WAY bright.

cc700 08-28-07 08:42 AM

****ing cool.

are they brighter than superflux?

fatbat 08-28-07 09:51 AM

another option would be to squeeze one of the little led flashlights into the bar- something like this
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.8219
should fit inside cutoff bars, and give you good visibility.

Nouia 08-28-07 12:13 PM


Originally Posted by cc700 (Post 5159972)
****ing cool.

are they brighter than superflux?

I think so, I'm not that familiar with superflux. The CREE get around 73 lumens per watt, and they totally changed the flashlight game when they came out last fall. They instantly made incandescents obsolete, IMO, just changed everything. Put a CREE drop-in replacement/upgrade in a maglight and you'll be getting 2-3x the output for 2-3x longer, at least. Now Lumileds/Philips is coming out with a new 100 lumen/watt LED, the Rebel 100, thats just now (as in, this month) hitting the shelves with the new Fenixes.

You can make them as bright as you want, its just based on your power source and regulation circuitry. That one guy I linked to, I think he overdrives his to get, like 200 lumens output from each Cree. DealExtreme has some cool 5-mode regulators, so you can get hi/low/strobe functions on there.

I don't know what I was thinking earlier about putting the AAs in the handlebars, thats actually pretty ridiculous ha. I got carried away with my scheming. You'd probably want to mount only the LED/regulator assembly in the copper housing that actually goes on the bullhorns, the run a cord down to a small Neoprene sack (like, one of those neoprene sunglass pouches) attached to the water bottle cage, or in seatbag or somethings, that has your batteries and switch. Definitely want NiMh rechargeables too.

edit: oh, and definitely use copper for the led/reflector housing, because it acts as a heat sink, which you need because these things get real hot. If you try and use PVC or something like that, after 10 minutes runtime you'll have some crispy/dead LEDs. And maybe a small fire.

wearyourtruth 08-28-07 01:06 PM


Originally Posted by trob (Post 5157794)
Yes, I know that bullhorns point upwards. That's why I posted this. I'm wondering if there are any bar end lights that stick out a little and shine a white LED almost perpendicular to the direction the bar points.

the Knog dual direction bar end light is the best you are going to do... it was already linked from jensen...
the lights emit perpendicular from the bar... the white forward and the red faces slightly rearward

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/imgWr...__1.jpg&type=3


there's also another version called the tadpole, not sure what the difference is
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/153...-Twin-Pack.htm
http://www.pricepoint.com/images/sty...5%20KNOTP6.jpg
i can't attest for their quality, but this product was made for exactly what you are asking about. i've seen them mounted on bullhorns once before and instead of shining forward (as if they were on a flat bar) they shoot down at the ground. the only thing i would think might be a problem is that the red is going to be aimed back up at your face...

geist 08-28-07 02:59 PM


Originally Posted by cc700 (Post 5157943)

tireflys, tape, and some pushing should do the trick. just need lots of tape. first, i need drops though. major taylors look about right, but i want that NJS stamp from the more expensive b123's.


You could drill out some end plugs and set the lights in there also.

a b seize 08-28-07 04:08 PM


Originally Posted by thequickfix (Post 5158543)
They're popular with the raver crowd. I don't know where to buy them besides online. The thing is that most places seem to sell them in sets of 50 or so. Google something like "magnetic LED body light".

50 or so eh? somebody organize a bfssfg group buy on these things.


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