Illuminate me.. torch/bike light help, please.

[sunchaser]

I'm in the mood for some night riding so need a new light. I'm interested in an LED torch that can be used with a handle bar mount. Not that interested in a bike specific lamp as I think an LED torch would be more versatile.

Some kit on here http://www.fenixtorch.co.uk I think might work. ie the LD20 & PD30

Any of you folks got any views or ideas that may help me?

Forgot to mention, the lamp will be used for road riding on unlit country roads, tracks & cycle paths with some off road use.

Cheers for any help

 

[REKIBorter]

Don't mess around with lights that do half a job badly. Get some proper ones that do a brilliant job and are backed up with an excellent warranty and outstanding customer service. Expensive initial outlay but pay dividends with years of service.

www.ayup-lights.com/

You will not regret it

 

[sunchaser]

Don't mess around with lights that do half a job badly. Get some proper ones that do a brilliant job and are backed up with an excellent warranty and outstanding customer service. Expensive initial outlay but pay dividends with years of service.

www.ayup-lights.com/

You will not regret it

Hear what your saying but, had expensive off road lights before (Hope HID) but, did not use them enough & as a consequence had trouble with the rechargeable battery, although Hope were very good about this & gave me a FOC replacement even though the light was over a year old.

 

[suburbanreuben]

There's nowt wrong with a couple of Fenix lights for nightriding...
I use an LD20 and a P3D, on e on the bars, one on me lid, and it's plenty of light- 220 lumens each if we're counting.
If I was buying again, I'd go for the LD20, since batteries are more readily available, and cheaper! A couple of Duracell 2650Ah rechargeables are good for nearly 2 hours on full wack.
They're a bit bright for road riding but you can run them at lower power. Unfortunately, to do this you have to twist the head of the torch, which is a two handed affair.

 

[gbsimpsa]

I use a Fenix TK11 on my Lid for the throw and
an LD20 peel reflector on my bars for spread.

TK11 is an alrounder and possibly the most solid torch I have ever known.
That said I find the spot is so bright it leaves an imaginary halo around it when hurtling through the woods in the dark. Served me well for 3 years awesome quality and power for little money, in comparison...

Incidentally these use Cre emitters as do the Ayup lights.
I've compared these lights with many others (SSC, Ultrafire, Hope and others).

If I was looking again I'd first compare the LED technologies, Lumen figures and burn time on particular batteries against the range of situations and scenarios where you might want to use them, and ignore all the other BS.

 

[legrandefromage]

28 pages of info here:

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=111279

 

[REKIBorter]

I tried the bargain ebay lights. They don't really 'cut the mustard' ( that will confuse our euro / us brethren) when riding off road. Found I was always holding back due to the narrow beam they emit.

 

[Neil]

I tried the bargain ebay lights. They don't really 'cut the mustard' ( that will confuse our euro / us brethren) when riding off road. Found I was always holding back due to the narrow beam they emit.

How about the DX ones?

 

[kaiser]

Sunchaser I use the ebay lights for commuting on unlit country roads and they are more than capable. I'd recommend two though. You can bolster this set up with a torch and helmet mount for off road. The beauty of the ebay lights is that bar mount can accept other torches. I run mine with one ebay one and one 900 lumen torch.

 

[BertR00t]

Another vote for Fenix here. I use an LD20 on mine and carry a couple of sets of rechargeable AAs with me. Bright as buggery and good as a torch if needed.