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Lights for night rides
I'm interested in doing a night ride but currently don't have a light.
What lights do you guys use and what would you recommend me to get as first purchase that doesn't blow the budget.
Pete
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Can't really go past Ayup Lights for all round performance and value. There are plenty of other brands out there but if you look around at any 24 hour MTB event Ayups are by far the most popular.
you have the same name as me!.
HeLp! I might have a double!
mate give the cell or nitelights a look in, cheap cousins to the more expensive 900lumen and prob a good argument that they are not quite 900 but still bloody bright at an entry level price. I got the cell bikes 900 and have been happy with it so far
The Ayup light kits are so well thought out. Mounts easy and pretty sturdy.
Yeah I know I sound like a broken record... But K-lites are the go
bit of a video comparison here
http://ctmbc.net/node/22415
I have the Ayups (V4 Adventure kit) and can't fault them.
Maybe a bit pricey for 1st set of lights, but I went on the notion of buy right, buy once. (they are now offering to upgrade kits for the lights)
with what you get in the kit, its even useful around the house as a torch light.
I think also Nite Rider lights are popular among riders as well.
Here we go again... this topic has been discussed at great length before. Pete, save yourself the headache of trawling through the forums and get the Ayups.
http://www.ayup-lights.com/systems/lighting-syst...
Pete
Go and check recent copies of Australian Mountain Bike mag and Mountain Biking Australia as they have both recently done side by side tests on lights.
Unfortunately there is pretty much a direct correlation between amount of good quality light and price. You spend less you see less.
In my other sport of rallying we have a rule that if you think you have enough light you haven't, get more. Same principles apply - going at any sort of speed you don't want to hit a pothole you thought was a shadow and go for a somersault. If you have enough light then you don't get shadows so you can see the terrain so much better and have a lot more fun. Those of us that started our night riding using yellowish halogen lights have broken bones & scars to show for our experience.
Should've done a forum search first, sorry about that.
The Cell Lights look great value, does anyone here have any experience with them? I don't think I can justify to the wife why I spent over $450 on the Ay Ups.
N.B. "Ay up" is a greeting from where I'm from in Derby, England. "ay up mate, how you going?"
It is where I am from too (Sheffield). GAZZA is another fellow Yorkshireman, though there's rumours he prefers to drink Shandy these days. Pretty sure there's more than just a few of us Northerners lurking around on these forums, we're like shit in a field. Didn't know 'Ayup' made it so far south of the border.
FWIW Ay-up lights was actually started by a bloke from Ribble Valley so go figure
http://www.ayup-lights.com/contact/about-us/
Value for money vs lumen, kicks Ayup's backside!
New website here http://www.klite.com.au/
75grams - 1,100 lumens - $399
Aussie made
can be upgraded as new technology comes through.
+4 for those Ayups.
Fantastic quality, an Aussie product, excellent light intensity - for the money, very small and lighweight, choices of light beam widths available to suit your riding preferences, and heaps of people have them so if you forget your Ayups at an event you can interchange their parts on your bike in a pinch. Perfect!
Heaps of votes for Ayups, but reading the spec on the K-lite, they seem to be a good option.
Does anyone know if there has been a test comparison between the 2, or has anyone been in the fortunate position to own or have a go at both?
Lighting like most things bikes is a very perplexing matter, would love a pro cons list to help make a decision about what to buy.
Down at the Mont, my now 3 year old Ayups were adequate but a lot of guys had a lot more light. Felt like I was going to be beamed up on a few occasions! Suffered a bit from tunnel vision, too - a wider beam spread with the same brightness would be welcome.
Will probably look to upgrading mine soon. The price for upgrading to stronger emitters is pretty reasonable with Ayups.
Most of my after-dark riding is commuting, so for now they achieve the desired outcome of getting me seen by motorists.
Tommy, check these images out - http://www.klite.com.au/content/beam-shots
Spec comparison: http://www.klite.com.au/content/compare-klite-specs
Thanks
Press the button too quickly
Thanks Hawkeye and Winco, I really like the K-lite for the light pattern and output, but I like the Ayups for the flexibility to use then as a head torch, this is my dilemma.
I agree with the other comments you cant have enough light, and its worth spending the cash to be seen. I have a Light and Motion Stella 120 for commuting, even though its quite bright, on the really dark streets its barely enough, I think thats more to do with the beam pattern though.
Anyway thanks again, and I'll keep deliberating over this problem.
Check the first video in the link I gave earlier. First half is using the K-lite second half Ay up.
K-lite= lighter, brighter, cheaper
K-lite does have a helmet mount option and it would be pretty simple to rig up a head band system to us it as a simple head torch
Depending on what you are going to use them for, there are plenty of cheap options too. If you're only going to be doing occassional social night rides, then you can't beat the magic shines (http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ha-iii-cree-ssc-p7-...) or nitestar (http://www.cellbikes.com.au/900-Lumen-LED-Bike-L...).
I have 2 of the magic shines - one for bar mount, one on the helmet and they are perfect. Can ride Yellowmundee at basically full pace and my local Winmalee loop as fast as during the day. Only problem is the US charger that needs a pin adaptor. Others have had battery problems, but mine have been fine (touch wood). Not the lightest or best mounting option, but very close in terms of brightness and spread to more expensive lights. Very good light for the price - but apparently poor warranty and follow up service.
A mate has one of the cell lights and they are not as bright as the magic shines and have shorter battery life. Funny considering they appear to be almost the same light and battery pack.
I have done many rides with people with much more expensive lights and the difference is neglible. I think the biggest factors would be burn time for races and back-up for problems.
In short, buy quality if you can afford it - you wont regret it. But I have found the cheapies to be excellent as well.
I don't think you could use this as a head torch on high. As they are prone to getting quite hot without air moving over them!
for the Ay Up's from another pom and I won't hold it against you that you're from Derby
They've never led me into a tree yet!
The beauty of Ayups is you get everything you need for a head spotlight and handlebar spotlight, right out of the box. Everything is there, no mess, no fuss. And you have light beam width choice when purchasing. Get a narrow beam option for your head, and the medium beam option for your handlebars, so you get an even spread of light. I have found absolutely nothing wrong with the light intensity from Ayups. They do the job well enough. However I would concede there are brighter options available.