What front light?
Author
Discussion

Lee540

Original Poster:

1,586 posts

173 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
Hi all,

Looking for recommendations of what front light to go for now its getting dark much earlier. I ride on A roads so the light is mainly to be seen rather than to see with but I want to be safe so something to give me a good light spread and if rechargable have a life of at least 3 hours since I'll leave charger in the office.

Thanks

Lee

Rob_T

1,916 posts

280 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
i've used a moon x power 300 for the last 2 years commuting to and from work. on flash mode it is excellent for 'being seen' and it also has 3 or 4 brightness settings for constant, with a good spread. it is also usb chargeable with a long life.

however it does seem to have suffered the effects for wind and rain and bumping around so does have a tendency to switch itself off every once in a while.

the one i will probably get next is this:

http://road.cc/content/review/72271-lezyne-macro-d...

seems very very good indeed

kiethton

14,647 posts

209 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
Rob_T said:
i've used a moon x power 300 for the last 2 years commuting to and from work. on flash mode it is excellent for 'being seen' and it also has 3 or 4 brightness settings for constant, with a good spread. it is also usb chargeable with a long life.

however it does seem to have suffered the effects for wind and rain and bumping around so does have a tendency to switch itself off every once in a while.

the one i will probably get next is this:

http://road.cc/content/review/72271-lezyne-macro-d...

seems very very good indeed
I use the Moon 300 front and shield 60 rear - can't fault them at all (mine don't turn off like the above).

Even better is they re-charge from my work computer every other day

E65Ross

36,729 posts

241 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
kiethton said:
Rob_T said:
i've used a moon x power 300 for the last 2 years commuting to and from work. on flash mode it is excellent for 'being seen' and it also has 3 or 4 brightness settings for constant, with a good spread. it is also usb chargeable with a long life.

however it does seem to have suffered the effects for wind and rain and bumping around so does have a tendency to switch itself off every once in a while.

the one i will probably get next is this:

http://road.cc/content/review/72271-lezyne-macro-d...

seems very very good indeed
I use the Moon 300 front and shield 60 rear - can't fault them at all (mine don't turn off like the above).

Even better is they re-charge from my work computer every other day
I use these 2 lights and they're brilliant. The shield 60 in particular is fantastic.

S10GTA

13,787 posts

196 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
Shield 60 here too, its great. Purchased a Exposure Strada for the front yesterday. Costly but excellent. 30 miles in the dark last night and it was brilliant.

Viperzs

979 posts

196 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
What's your budget? £30, £50, £150?

BikeRadar have been shouting about a new Cateye on their website: http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/access...

It looks great, 300 lumens at £50 is decent! Although you said you mainly want something to 'be seen' it is always best to have something capable of lighting up the road 'just in case'.




Edited by Viperzs on Wednesday 16th October 17:14

Lee540

Original Poster:

1,586 posts

173 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
Viperzs said:
What's your budget? £30, £50, £150?
Bit of a cliche, but can't put a price on safety..

Would like to not spend more than £100 to be honest though!

Thanks for replies so far..

itsnotarace

4,685 posts

238 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
Bought one of these a few weeks ago, am impressed with it's performance so far

http://www.freeborn.co.uk/lezyne-power-drive-xl-le...


il sole

287 posts

173 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
I have used a BBB strike 500 for the past year and it's been excellent. really is mega bright and full charge (USB) lasts about 75 minutes...I'm soon getting another as my new longer commute ride takes me across loads of back roads.
for the rear, a simple AA battery powered cateye.

Viperzs

979 posts

196 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
Lee540 said:
Bit of a cliche, but can't put a price on safety..

Would like to not spend more than £100 to be honest though!

Thanks for replies so far..
It may well be a cliche but it's refreshing to see someone who actually realises that! Up to £100 you will definitely be getting lights to 'see' rather than just 'be seen'.




paulmon

2,209 posts

270 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251288567677?ssPageName=...

Spending any more than £20-30 is just madness. This particular light is more than enough for a road bike. You could buy 2 and carry one as a spare or leave at the office and still spend less than some of the high street brands.

I have one of the ebay ones and on one of these for my MTB bike.



P

strudel

5,889 posts

256 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
E65Ross said:
kiethton said:
Rob_T said:
i've used a moon x power 300 for the last 2 years commuting to and from work. on flash mode it is excellent for 'being seen' and it also has 3 or 4 brightness settings for constant, with a good spread. it is also usb chargeable with a long life.

however it does seem to have suffered the effects for wind and rain and bumping around so does have a tendency to switch itself off every once in a while.

the one i will probably get next is this:

http://road.cc/content/review/72271-lezyne-macro-d...

seems very very good indeed
I use the Moon 300 front and shield 60 rear - can't fault them at all (mine don't turn off like the above).

Even better is they re-charge from my work computer every other day
I use these 2 lights and they're brilliant. The shield 60 in particular is fantastic.
Ordered some yesterday from Halfords for the bargain price of £60: Clicky

The price was the main thing that swayed me - they're £117 on wiggle!

S10GTA

13,787 posts

196 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
strudel said:
Ordered some yesterday from Halfords for the bargain price of £60: Clicky

The price was the main thing that swayed me - they're £117 on wiggle!
Thats good. I paid £40 for the rear on its own.

daddy cool

4,107 posts

258 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
Bought this for £17 a couple of months back - price has gone up to £34 but its still a bargain for 400 lumins.
http://www.ebuyer.com/364226-led-bike-light-mj838b
I bought it as a headtorch for when im mountain biking to complement the 2,000 lumen magicshine I have on the handlebars, but ive also taken to using it on my commute to work. Has 3 settings - bright, dim and strobe.

kiethton

14,647 posts

209 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
S10GTA said:
strudel said:
Ordered some yesterday from Halfords for the bargain price of £60: Clicky

The price was the main thing that swayed me - they're £117 on wiggle!
Thats good. I paid £40 for the rear on its own.
Dammit...I paid £120 odd....was 18 months ago mind

woots787

142 posts

178 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
Viperzs said:
What's your budget? £30, £50, £150?

BikeRadar have been shouting about a new Cateye on their website: http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/access...

It looks great, 300 lumens at £50 is decent! Although you said you mainly want something to 'be seen' it is always best to have something capable of lighting up the road 'just in case'.




Edited by Viperzs on Wednesday 16th October 17:14
I've got this light for my commute, really impressed so far. Enough light for the job, feels like it should last. One click to remove from the bars then USB charge at my desk. I have the £17 1800 lumen eBay specials for mtb, which are a lot brighter but more hassle (separate battery pack, have to route wiring) and I'd worry about them surviving multiple rides in the rain. Depends on your priorities.

kiethton

14,647 posts

209 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
S10GTA said:
strudel said:
Ordered some yesterday from Halfords for the bargain price of £60: Clicky

The price was the main thing that swayed me - they're £117 on wiggle!
Thats good. I paid £40 for the rear on its own.
Dammit...I paid £120 odd....was 18 months ago mind

Vladimir

6,917 posts

187 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
My bar light is 1800, my helmet light is 500. I still need more light sometimes!

Marcellus

7,204 posts

248 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
2400 lumins for £75 on the front and 600 lumins on the lid and sometime still wish for more.

But on the road probably excessive.

Batfink

1,032 posts

287 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
I use the C&B Seen lights
http://www.candb-seen.co.uk/bikehead-lights/

1200 lumen front, 500 lumen rear.
Its bloody bright and one external battery pack runs both. I have that cable tied behind my saddle. I recharge it every 3 days which is much better than the smaller usb units.

Seems to cope with the weather and the front light gives a great spread of light. With fast delivery im not sure why people spend hundreds on lights.