Lights


hairylittlehobbit's picture

By hairylittlehobbit - Posted on 12 May 2010

Im looking at getting my first set of lights for riding the dam and terrey hill and other areas.

1. Nite Lights 900, $185-220 from local bike shops

2. Magic Lights 900 or 1400, not sure of price around 100 bucks

3. Save up and get Ay ups, approx $500

What is everyone's experiences?

Rob's picture

I think the current quality light of choice is a HID Technologies Pygmy:

http://www.hidtechnologies.com.au/Lumen8rPygmyMa...

$380 to $420 according to their page right now, so actually cheaper than Ay-Up.

Another advantage the Pygmy has over Ay-Up is that the dude running that show will sell upgrades when newer LED emitters become available so you don't have to buy a new set to get brighter in the future - just upgrade that part. Steve01 & Whisperer did that I believe.

As recently discussed, the NiteLights 900 looks identical to the DX MagicShine so for the cheaper option you might as well go super cheap.

That said - buying cheaper lights is a false economy in the long run so you might as well get something that will last and take a beating out on the trail.

hawkeye's picture

I thought there was a policy that ayup allowed you to upgrade to the new emitter unit when a new one came out? Has this been discontinued?

Rob's picture

... but...

The HID Tech upgrade involves simply changing out the emitter board keeping existing housing, lens, driver, etc. They use triples, like the part sat under the lens on the right here:

XPE Single + Triples with lenses

I think Ay-Up change the whole light head.

cambo's picture

Me and two mates just got one of each (one for bars, one for helmet). The extension cord is required for the helmet light unless you want to strap the battery to your helmet as well (supplied cord too short which is the only criticism I have)
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.29489
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.32751
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.25149
They work really well and I have used them several times on TH trails and at the Mont. Battery life is true 3hrs plus on full burn. Light weighs 110gms, battery 222gms and the LED's can be swapped out if something better comes along
I got it all for $180 delivered to my door inside 10days
Log on , check them out and read the reviews. No complaints from me either except short cord
Tip - don't look directly at cars with these on as I have had a few high beam flashes come my way Eye-wink

fer's picture

I have them too. Used them once a week for 2 months and still going fine. The bike fall a couple of times with lights on it and no worries. I don't know if they will be usable in 3 years but by then I just buy a new set with new battery that has to be replaced anyway.

hairylittlehobbit's picture

So basically, if you buy the cheap ones dont expect them to last forever.

cambo's picture

as I haven't had them for long enough. They certainly don't appear cheap in build quality and the LED's in them are pretty reputable components. The lifetime of any rechargeable battery is finite and depending on how you run them down and recharge can effect this greatly. From my experience they are robust and do the job extremely well. If you want to check them out give me a PM or call me Smiling. I have a couple of short tracks around my way you are welcome to join me on one night

lorrie's picture

what about 2 x magicshine vs the ayup v4?

Who has had magicshine for a long(ish) time and how do they withstand the test of time?

Rob's picture

Did you see this on the other thread: http://nobmob.com/node/14788#comment-46269

Scottboy's picture

are on ebay for $160.00 I think , I bought mine at the Mont & am happy with the output of light the only drawback is it sits a little higher on your helmet that is all

Whisperer's picture

I've been running ayups in the past, both the original luxeons (long gone) and now the high efficiency LEDs, and an upgraded original HID Tech Pygmy (approx 700 lumens).
The single pygmy is brighter than both of my ayups on the bars, so I use it on the helmet, and a narrow & medium set of ayups on the bars. That's good enough for flying down stromlo etc.
I like the bulletproof nature of both sets of lights as my team is usually racing at the pointy end of the field in most events and I can't afford a failure. People are saying good things about the cheaper lights particularly if you upgrade the heatsink & apply plenty of thermal paste.
My next light will certainly be a pygmy max, and put the ayups out to road commuting service once I can afford it.

kitttheknightrider's picture

don't forget about Slowpup's lights. $ for $ they will outshine anything commercially available but you'll need to source your own batteries etc Their upgrade path could not be easier.

If you're not handy with a soldering iron then there may be others here that can help assemble them for you, I'm guessing all care but no responsibility though.

Dual SquidLED

Jandrew's picture

I have ay-ups, have had them for around 2 months now and I have been riding around the Duck holes/Centre trail loop most evenings. I find them good, I also have not used anything else so its hard to compare them against anything else for me.

For the money I am happy with what I got, which was the V4 pack. Definatly enough lights for the fire trails I have been on and the odd single trail I have been down.

Good luck in your choice!
James

Chuck's picture

We order six Magicshine Series 2 or Nitelight lights in a group order back in November from a local supplier when they were A$125. There has been a couple of issues with a light that didn't work at the start(and the first replacement) and then a battery that died when it got wet in a light rain shower. The replacement battery died after two or three rides and I'm waiting for a local supplier to return my e-mail re warranty. I did dismantled the first light that failed and the build quality is average, but it's what you would expect for A$100.

The other lights and batteries have been great and it's got at least six of us out riding at night over summer and now winter, so that's got to be a positive. If your budget allows, go for a better light, if not, buy the cheaper lights from Geoman or DX and get out there!

My next light for the helmet will be the Ay Ups or Pigmy lights.

daveh's picture

Instead of adding another post about lights hopefully people read old posts. I am about to buy lights and saved a bit on my roadie purchase so am happy to spend on a decent set. It has been said that the HIDs are cheaper than the Ay Ups but I must be missing something. I figure I should be getting a set, handle bar and helmet. From what I can see I can get the Ay Up set for $517 but the HIDs I would need to buy two and few other bits and pieces which amount to around $900.

Am I missing something here??

Rob's picture

Forget HID - that tech is dead.

I'd still be going a PygmyMax if having to buy off the shelf though.

daveh's picture

"HIDTechnologies" Lumen8r Pygmy-Max. Still, I would need to purchase two, right?

muvro's picture

Yeah, I have to agree. My Hope HID, is good, but not that good. It's heavy, not as bright, the colour is really blue. On the upside, the beam spread is excellent. My Ay-Up's win hands down for me! Mind you, they were only $440 when i got mine.

Flynny's picture

Save up and go Klites. Better price, reliability and service as ay up with way more light.

have a bit of a read about them from the experts
http://www.rotorburn.com/forums/showthread.php?1...

Been running a single one on the helmet with wide beam on medium setting. More than capable for all the stuff we do up here in da rangers

Rob's picture

Is this K-lite a DIY option? Clearly there are loads of DIY options which are generally cheaper, better and more satisfying to build... but I was staying away from that as thought the question was about off the shelf products.

Flynny's picture

Kerry sells them complete off the shelf.
You can look out for him and his race specials at the Single track mind races, buy them direct on line or get you friendly neighborhood bike store to order them in.

http://cncdelite.com/

Best option imo is the race kit with warm lens and 240 adapter

daveh's picture

Thanks for the info., sounds like K-lite or Ay-Ups it is. Definitely off the shelf, I am somewhat in awe of the many, many, many lights that people have constructed themselves from kits or from scratch but the risk of accidentally soldering phone to my bike frame means that I should probably buy them off the shelf.

I am spending less than expected to on my, ahem, new "other" bike so can afford to make sure that I get a good set of lights.

CROMERBOY's picture

Hey Dave - what is the "other" bike.
I've been looking around for a "training bike" you know big wheels and goes on the black stuff.
Did you get a deal??
Steve

daveh's picture

PM'd you with details and thread for the bike as at http://road.nobmob.com/

[Mod. fixed URL... that's a bit embarrasing ;)]

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