Off-road bike light recommendations please

[lawrenceb]

Im after a cheap set of offroad lights for evening trail riding. I dont want to spend more than £150.

[Si]

Sorry, not up with the current movers and shakers in the MRB lights world. However, powerful LEDs are the thing at the moment, but they are quite costly. If you really want to save money then try some of the MTB specific forums (e.g. SingleTrack, MBUK, etc), and see if anyone has some used HID lights that they want to get rid of 'on the cheap'. Now that those that take it seriously are switching over to LEDs there ought to be plenty of HIDs going spare (although you might have to have a trip to Maplins for a new battery).

[mill4six]

If you're on a budget, I just got the Light and Motion Vega 200 Helmet mount or bars and pretty bright (200 lumens) for about £80. After that, prices go up

[peak_ing]

I have used AY-UP lights for the last couple of years, they are very small but it is like cycling with car headlights. The kit I have has handlebar and helmet lights, but I often split with my son and we have one each which is still very good. battery usually lasts 3 hours though I have a 6 hour one as well.

The full kit is about £300 now but they start at about £150. They came out top in a MBR review one opr 2 years ago.

http://www.ayup-lights.com/

It is well worth looking at getting a good set of lights as some of the cheaper options are not very good for off road, I would also recommend getting helmet and handlbar lights so you can see what is in front of you and what is coming up, especially if out on your own.

[unocogero]

Hi,

Your best and cheapest solution is to go here:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.25149

They are fantastic, the group I ride with has a set and they were used thoughout last winter without a single failure. I also have a set of Hope Vision 2's and they blow them out of the water.

You've got cracking run time on them and Deal Extreme are reputable, even though they are coming from Hong Kong so don't let this put you off.

They work out at £50 delivered, and you can get them in some bike shops in the UK for £150!

You will need a US to UK plug adapter but they are easy to get hold of.

Don't take my word for it though, theres loads about them on Singletrack and Bikeradar forums.

Hope this helps.

[Graham]

. . . . also distributed in the UK

http://www.magicshineuk.co.uk/magicshin ... php?item=1

- A bit more expensive
- with a UK plug
- none of the confusion about import duties and VAT
- faster delivery
- a UK point of contact if anything goes wrong
- e.g. Distance Selling Regulations and UK legal framework appropriate to consumer purchase.

PS. This isn't an advert for the product. I have considered buying but have concerns over build-quality.

[unocogero]

Interesting,

There have been no import duties charged on any of the lights delivered so far but an official UK distributer does give you more piece of mind. I suppose it's a £30 insurance policy.

In terms of quality they are pretty good. At £50 they feel like a well made bargain, at £80 a little less so but like I said, mine are entering their second season and we are riding every week. They are not as well made as my Hopes but better made than the Smart light I had before.

If you are willing to deal with Dealextreme then £80 gets you this bad boy which is pretty much all the light output you'd ever need!

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.36018

Enough to burn the Owls out of the trees

[Mr Fix-a-Lot]

Yep, I also got these from Hong Kong for 50 quid, and highly recommend them, they use the SSCP7 led, and produce 900 lumins.
Four of us got them at the same time at the beginning of this year, one of the battery packs developed a bad connection and out went the light!!!, but other than that they have performed well.

[Graham]

This MTBR Forum topic discusses the newer, more powerful Magicshine 1400 and by comparison the older Magicshine 900.

[FATGAZZER]

These have arrived today.
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/LIABP7/airb ... erlight-sl
Too early to give an assessment but they seem well made and very bright reduced to £75
Gaz

[konaboy2275]

Hi,

Your best and cheapest solution is to go here:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.25149

They are fantastic, the group I ride with has a set and they were used thoughout last winter without a single failure. I also have a set of Hope Vision 2's and they blow them out of the water.

You've got cracking run time on them and Deal Extreme are reputable, even though they are coming from Hong Kong so don't let this put you off.

They work out at £50 delivered, and you can get them in some bike shops in the UK for £150!

You will need a US to UK plug adapter but they are easy to get hold of.

Don't take my word for it though, theres loads about them on Singletrack and Bikeradar forums.

Hope this helps.

+1 for me too. Great lights, nearly as powerful as my mates £500 Light and Motions.

[Steve Kish]

I had a decent amount of dosh a while ago so trebled the value of my bikes by buying a set of Tigerlights and a Hope Vision 2 for my helmet. Far too expensive but at over 2100 lumens, they are actually more powerful than one side of my car headlights on full beam.

The rabbits in Swinley Forest now wear dark glasses!

http://www.tigerlights.co.uk/

[Mrelectric]

Don't spend youe money berroe trying these!
Jan 2010 recommendations from dealextreme.com:
15946 Ultrafire C2 DIY Cree LED Flashlight Shell/Casing Complete Set with Driver Pill (1*18650/2*CR123A)

I'd recommend the above or as the bare DIY version and upgrade below: $11.50
21037 Cree MC-E LED 3-Mode 410-Lumen Drop-in Module w/Copper Heatsink Base (26.5mm*27.5mm)

05776 TrustFire Protected 18650 Lithium Battery (2400mAh 2-Pack Gray)
21314 Universal Bicycle Swivel Mount for Flashlights and Lasers (1.7~3.0cm Flexible Diameter) Bar or helmet $2.85

Larger is the:
14027 Ultrafire C1 Q5-WC 230-Lumen LED Flashlight with Clip 2*CR123A/1*18650) $23.49

I've got these now as helmet lights and would recommend these. :
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.14027
Mounts:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12000
or
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13004

Get 18650 batteries and chargers.

DIY version here too, with P60 size modules for plug in.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.11836

Various optics and all kinds of bits also. DX are good for PC and other stuff too.
Danger, this site may damage your wealth.
Free delivery from HK, though not always quick.

[searat]

Last week I bought the 'Grenade 900L' from Sub66. Good value 10 watt LED (switchable to lower power modes or flashing) for about 80 quid. See http://www.sub66.com/product
Used it for a 2 hour ride in pitch dark, pouring rain ride through the Pelenna forest near my home in Wales on Saturday night, I was very impressed indeed.
Cheers
Steve

[gilesjuk]

Hi,

Your best and cheapest solution is to go here:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.25149

They are fantastic, the group I ride with has a set and they were used thoughout last winter without a single failure. I also have a set of Hope Vision 2's and they blow them out of the water.

They're also nowhere near 900 lumens, around 300-400 and long term durability is questionable.

For £150 you can get a single lamp Ayup configuration. They're sturdy and their claims about lumens (400) is accurate. The optics are good too.