Bicycle Headlights

[Stevsie]

Been looking on ebay for a light for my 07 yz450 that's rechargeable and puts out good light. My plan would be to only use it when I really need it. So it really only needs to last a few hours. Just kinda something I'd probably keep in my bag to get me home if I'm out late.

Anyone used these before? This is the one I was thinking of getting.
Hunting 15000 LM 9x CREE XM-L2 LED Torch Front Bicycle light Bike Lamp Headlight
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hunting-15000-LM-9x-CREE-XM-L2-LED-Torch-Front-Bicycle-light-Bike-Lamp-Headlight-/251768768186?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item3a9e9686ba

[ryani]

You are definitely on the right track.  Keep in mind the Chinese made light specs are grossly exaggerated.  So take the lumen output with a grain of salt. 

I found this one with almost a full 1 a/hr battery and optics for both beams for significantly less. I think that would light up the trail.  Some of those unfocused beams have terrible spread. Just throw light everywhere.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/2in1-CREE-XM-L-L2-LED-2000Lm-Front-Bicycle-High-Low-Beams-Lights-9600mAh-Battery-/261476958963?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ce13dc2f3

[tannerc]

A lot of the bike lights you see on ebay come from china, deal extreme sells all those same lights... some times cheaper but not always. http://www.dx.com/c/lights-lighting-1399/flashlights-1307
Check out the lights on DX, check the comments because a lot of people show pictures of projects they have done with the lights and or have youtube vid links. There are some really impressive Chinese led light out there for cheap..

[greatbuffalo]

ALL LED lumen numbers are subjective and are up to the manufacturer to determine. That being said, Cree makes 95% of the LED components the industrial world uses and usually the manufacturers of the product uses Cree's lumen numbers. I know several night landscape photographers that swear by Cree lightning for natural white light, intensity and power management.

I also know a couple guys that race mountain bikes in 24 hour challenges. They all use Trail tech lights. here is the website for them.
http://www.trailtech.net/lighting/by-application/helmet-lighting

[tannerc]

Another good source for light info

http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?86-Bicycle

You got me thinking how fun it would be to run some night trails with some good lighting. (helmet mounted light to support the headlight)


http://www.dx.com/p/trustfire-tr-d014-7-x-cree-xm-l2-t6-2400lm-4-mode-white-bicycle-light-grey-purple-4-x-18650-331518?tc=USD&gclid=Cj0KEQiA99qnBRDnrYCkt4ClzZABEiQAvqPaLM84Ne2OX1bP2glzqQH4fyoZ3uGFIOb-Zd3T9w9EexsaAhSa8P8HAQ#.VPf23y5ry0s



http://forums.mtbr.com/lights-night-riding/first-impressions-trustfire-tr-d014-926087.html

[ryani]

Im in for a night ride.  I upgraded my headlight to LED this winter. I'm going to look for some aux helmet lights that can plug into the bike. 

[Dr Psyko]

I ride my bicycle through the winter, and after work (which is dark most of the winter) have an LED light on my helmet. Works much better than a fixed light on the bike. Can be beautiful riding through a light snowfall...

[Stevsie]

Cool! I'm finding this would be a ton easier than actually putting a light kit on my bike and will probably work just as well. Its not something i'll use or even take with me every ride but I'd like to be able to stay out later and make it home without riding by braille. I was thinking a bike mounted light and a decent head lamp for when I'm going out at night on purpose. The just grab one of those red signal lights that clip on your bag from walmart.

[greatbuffalo]

Check out this video of Hard Enduro at Hell's Gate. This will give you an idea of what helmet mounted lights can do for you. If you don't want to watch the whole thing, but I would suggest it, then you can FF to 18:15. That's where they talk a bit about lights and show them in action.

http://www.redbull.tv/episodes/AP-1GRZBMJU12111/hell-s-gate#autostart

Most of these guys seem to use the Hope Tech lights. Their site is here:

http://www.hopetech.com/products/lights/

[Stevsie]

I have the redbull tv app on my xbox and watch all the hard endure series religiously. lol One step ahead of ya!!!

[greatbuffalo]

I added the Hope Tech site above.

[tannerc]

Ultrafire vs car headlights