New Front Light suggestions
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New Front Light suggestions
Postby Dr_Mutley » Sat Mar 07, 2015 1:09 pm
What do I need and my uses?
#80% road use, some Mtbing at night...
#Some fast descents so need a decent light with good throw...
#Will be on flash mainly as a be seen light
#No budget (when it comes to safety - my health is worth more)
#Would prefer small - which has its obvious disadvantages... But 100 to 120mm is prob max size...
#Self contained battery preferred with USB charging
#Long runtime NOT all that important - as longest descents are about 10mins, so then it will go back to flash or low power mode
#Ability to function as a torch or have helmet mounting options would be a plus
#Decent, easily removable mount - as when I'm not using it I don't want a mount on my bars...
Any suggestions?
Anyone recommend or not the exposure range for reliability and back up?
Any learned advice is greatly appreciated...
Cheers
Harry
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby MattyK » Sat Mar 07, 2015 2:31 pm
The rattle in the mount doesn't impress me but everything else does (except the price I guess)
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby warthog1 » Sat Mar 07, 2015 3:19 pm
How does it go compared to the saferide 80?MattyK wrote:Specialized Flux Expert. Internal battery. External (wired) thumb remote for high/low beam. Proper high/low beam pattern (automotive style), not just high/low power (which it also has).
The rattle in the mount doesn't impress me but everything else does (except the price I guess)
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby MattyK » Sat Mar 07, 2015 7:26 pm
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby warthog1 » Sat Mar 07, 2015 11:01 pm
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby NhiTrac » Sat Mar 07, 2015 11:02 pm
I love my Airstream but HATE it's mounting solution, rubber o-rings.
Question about lumens. If I have two beams on at 370lm each, does that equal to 740lm total?
BMC Teammachine SLR01
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby Dr_Mutley » Sat Mar 07, 2015 11:40 pm
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby ball bearing » Sun Mar 08, 2015 12:02 am
I have two Diablo Mk 5. They have been very reliable, which is the best thing I can say about them. Run time is very short, beam is very narrow and the pulse flash (which is my primary use) is weak compared to the Moon X-Power 700 lights my children use. The Diablo is an exceptional helmet light and a barely adequate main light.Dr_Mutley wrote:Exposure Diablo mk6 or joystick mk9 ppl?!
I have gone the way of a separate battery which has several advantages as the battery is not propriety and is easily replaced and I can use a big capacity battery if I plan on a long ride or a small light one for short rides. I thought I was going to prefer the self-contained lights because of the absence of wires and the convenience. It turns out I prefer to carry the battery in my Topeak Wedge II saddle bag and run both my tail light and headlight off of a Y adaptor and an extension. Running a wire from the bag to the head unit is really very simple. This set up gives me far more options than a self-contained unit does. The self-contained lights with long run times and useful brightness levels end up being quite heavy and I prefer to carry that weight under my saddle and not on top of the bars.
I am currently using Designshine front and rear lights. Expensive, but absolutely quality design, build and performance. The front light is out of stock and after the next batch of ten or so it will be unavailable for the rest of the year and it is possible that production will cease altogether.
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby Chef » Sun Mar 08, 2015 12:08 am
Hi Doc,Dr_Mutley wrote:Exposure Diablo mk6 or joystick mk9 ppl?!
The Diablo is great and will do everything you want it to; I used to have one, but now have a Toro which I prefer for its longer battery life.
Pushy's often have good pricing on Exposure lights.
Cheers
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby Dr_Mutley » Sun Mar 08, 2015 12:16 am
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby ball bearing » Sun Mar 08, 2015 12:26 am
Wiggle do have good prices on Exposure.Dr_Mutley wrote:Thanks chef & BB - u seem to have differing opinions! A little worrying that u think the pulse mode is poo on the Diablo... I must admit I just pulled the trigger on a Diablo from wiggle, but after reading your comment BB I quickly cancelled it and decided to wait for more opinions and read more reviews...
The reason I know that the pulse is weak compared to the X-Power 700 is because when I wait for my wife and daughter to catch up I watch them and the difference in visibility is very noticeable. The Diablo also has a much narrower effective line of sight.
Where I ride I need really good lights. Descending down 20% hills at 5 am with grazing roos on both sides of the road requires exceptional lighting for survival. Riding with the Designshine set up is very flexible and I can crank the lumens up in heavy and fast traffic. It is hard to really understand how good these lights are without experience.
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby Chef » Sun Mar 08, 2015 8:43 am
I agree about the beam pattern on the Diablo - it is fairly narrow compared with some, but still think it is adequate, and it fits your other criteria.
If you want brighter and less focused the equinox is similar but kicks out a lot more lumen. Personally I would recommend the Toro which sits between the two, but it has a permanent bar mount which you don't want.
Cheers.
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby MattyK » Sun Mar 08, 2015 9:16 am
Several parts to this answer...NhiTrac wrote:First time I've heard of these Specialized lights. Am interested! Wonder how they go up against the Supernova Airstreams (I run two on high beam).
I love my Airstream but HATE it's mounting solution, rubber o-rings.
Question about lumens. If I have two beams on at 370lm each, does that equal to 740lm total?
Yes lumens are additive like that.
But your perception is not. Double lumens is not percieved as double the brightness.
Also the Airstream never made 370 lumens in its dreams. They're rating the Airstream 2 at 205 lumens while also saying it's brighter than the original...
The Specialized is rated at 1200 lumens on high power high beam, 800 on high power low beam. Even if it does half that it should be ok, but $345(iirc) is over my limit...
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby MattyK » Sun Mar 08, 2015 9:27 am
Neither for mine. It would be like driving your car around on high beam all the time. Completely unsociable. Maybe in combo with a separate cutoff beam light or for off-road only, but not on its own.Dr_Mutley wrote:Exposure Diablo mk6 or joystick mk9 ppl?!
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby queequeg » Sun Mar 08, 2015 9:51 am
I considered moving away from the Ay-Ups, but their biggest advantage is the reliability in the most atrocious conditions.
I'll be interested to see how you go with the alternatives, as the Ay-Ups are expensive for what they are (although the lifetime discount does knock the price down a bit).
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby Dr_Mutley » Sun Mar 08, 2015 10:59 am
Yes the comparison will be interesting!
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby biker jk » Sun Mar 08, 2015 1:38 pm
From another similar thread.MattyK wrote:Neither for mine. It would be like driving your car around on high beam all the time. Completely unsociable. Maybe in combo with a separate cutoff beam light or for off-road only, but not on its own.Dr_Mutley wrote:Exposure Diablo mk6 or joystick mk9 ppl?!
stvzo
German bicycle lighting standard written by non-cyclists designed to force cyclists to subject themselves to increased danger by requiring the use of sub-optimal bicycle lighting systems.
"Dude, your lights suck, no one can see you coming and you just ran into a low hanging tree branch."
"Sorry, I have decided to comply with the StVZO standard which is much more important than seeing or being seen."
"Dude, dump the StVZO lights and buy a good light."
"Never, the German way is the only way."
by sms88 October 22, 2013
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=stvzo
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby apsilon » Sun Mar 08, 2015 2:42 pm
Slightly offtopic but what's this lifetime discount? Is it for current owners or something? I have two sets myself and wouldn't mind a third.queequeg wrote:.....as the Ay-Ups are expensive for what they are (although the lifetime discount does knock the price down a bit).
That Specialized Flux looks good as does the Ixon IQ Premium.
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby MattyK » Sun Mar 08, 2015 2:47 pm
Spoken like a true ignoranus.biker jk wrote:From another similar thread.MattyK wrote:Neither for mine. It would be like driving your car around on high beam all the time. Completely unsociable. Maybe in combo with a separate cutoff beam light or for off-road only, but not on its own.Dr_Mutley wrote:Exposure Diablo mk6 or joystick mk9 ppl?!
stvzo
German bicycle lighting standard written by non-cyclists designed to force cyclists to subject themselves to increased danger by requiring the use of sub-optimal bicycle lighting systems.
"Dude, your lights suck, no one can see you coming and you just ran into a low hanging tree branch."
"Sorry, I have decided to comply with the StVZO standard which is much more important than seeing or being seen."
"Dude, dump the StVZO lights and buy a good light."
"Never, the German way is the only way."
by sms88 October 22, 2013
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=stvzo
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby Dr_Mutley » Sun Mar 08, 2015 2:49 pm
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby queequeg » Sun Mar 08, 2015 3:02 pm
Yes, all previous customers get special pricing. All you need to do is use the same email address you used on the original order to get the cheaper pricing, which is 25% discount. On their home page, click on the "Customer Loyalty Program" button on the bottom right.apsilon wrote:Slightly offtopic but what's this lifetime discount? Is it for current owners or something? I have two sets myself and wouldn't mind a third.queequeg wrote:.....as the Ay-Ups are expensive for what they are (although the lifetime discount does knock the price down a bit).
That Specialized Flux looks good as does the Ixon IQ Premium.
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby apsilon » Sun Mar 08, 2015 3:23 pm
Thanks, makes it very tempting.queequeg wrote:Yes, all previous customers get special pricing. All you need to do is use the same email address you used on the original order to get the cheaper pricing, which is 25% discount. On their home page, click on the "Customer Loyalty Program" button on the bottom right.
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Re: New Front Light suggestions
Postby Releng » Sun Mar 08, 2015 4:21 pm
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