|   need advice on lights | ventanaboy
Sep 11, 2003 1:00 AM | | what seems to be a great all around light. would like a powerful light with a burn time of @ least 4 hours. any comments, suggestions? |
| Lume HID, under $300 with 3.5 burn time, awesome light nm | striker
Sep 11, 2003 4:13 AM | | |
| Real REAL advice on lights | 3G
Sep 11, 2003 8:04 AM | | I know seeing two lights next to each other makes you an expert, however, let's put some other products and opinions under the "spotlight".
First off, L&M supports the Boxer Wilderness Bill as clearly stated by their signing the petition of the sham organization, "Mountain Bikers 4 Wilderness", which turned out to be a group called the Chico Paddleheads. All set up by a wonderful Boxer to promote mtn bikers supported her bill even though we clearly protested and rallied against it. Buyer beware, watch where your money goes, especially if it is to eliminate the sport you do and love.
Secondly, the NR HID is a great light and my service from NR has been nothing short of stellar and I have been dealing with them for four years with various products. The HID is bright and gives me over 4 hours of burn time with one light being enough most of the time. I do, however, run a 10W on my helmet for contrast which helps point out some of the inconsistancies in tread.
Just another opinion. Take them all with a grain of salt, even from the "expert". |
| Speaking from experience | msisti
Sep 11, 2003 8:02 AM | | I as do many people I know, have the Niterider HID lights. Have not heard anyone talking of problems. The are VERY bright and have a 4 hour burn time. Whatever you do, pony up for the HID's |
| I have a couple... | sdbelt
Sep 11, 2003 8:25 AM | | I have a Jet Lite Phantom i for my helmet. It's ~$200, and I rode with it at night 3 days a week all fall last year. I thought it was great, and didn't think I needed better.
Then I rode the 24 hrs in the Old Pueblo and saw what real lights can do. If your terrain is fast, an HID light is dang near a must.
Now I have a L&M HID bar mounted light to go along with the Jet Lite on my helmet. This combo is awesome. I can point the Jet Lite around a corner, while the HID penetrates the darkness.
There's a lot of debate about handlebar vs. helmet. It really is a tough choice. Throughout a ride, I'll want one or the other. If I have to pick one, it would be helmet, but I'd chose this by a very small margin.
--sdb |
| Question about the Phantoms... | Kpicha
Sep 11, 2003 9:21 AM | | The Jet Lites Phantom is at the top of my list right now and I'm wondering if the "i" version is really worth it vs. the regular version. Do you use the fuel gauge just b/c its there or do you feel like you can't do without? Where is the gauge located, anyway?
I won't be doing any 24 hr racing and i don't envision riding more than a couple of hours anyway so, I'm not sure that "i" version would really be worth the extra cost but, I may be wrong :)
Thanks!
Kristina |
| My .02 | JimC.
Sep 11, 2003 9:27 AM | | I have the equivalent, before it was called the phantom. IMHO, don't use/buy the computer, it's one more thing to break. If you need a light to climb say a fire road, get one of those newfangled LED 3 light thingies, about $25, and use that instead. You can't ride trails with it, but climbing it's fine, and saves tha battery for descents, trails, etc.
I've a 20W Jet on mah haid and 12W spot on bars, and LED thing to climb with. Works for me, Jim |
| The CatEye 5 led that pops up on the right... | Fast Eddy
Sep 11, 2003 10:23 AM | |
seems to be calling out to me to use as a backup, and to extend the ride time of my yet-to-be-purchased HID light. I'll bet it's bright enough to ride trails slowly, and surely bright enough for commuting. |
| should be poifect, Eddy... | JimC.
Sep 11, 2003 10:38 AM | | we're all using 3 LED models, and FWIW, they have a flash mode too, so mounted on the front for a commute, or rear for that matter, it's impossible to miss.
I would think a 5 LED would light a trail to the OK mode, and life is 200 hours for 2 AA batteries. I can stay lost a looooonnnnnnnnggggggg time ;P
Jim |
| Thanks...I plan on starting out | Kpicha
Sep 11, 2003 1:55 PM | | with the 20W and if I need more, I'll add a bar mount later. No fireroad climbs here so, I'll be doing tight singletrack and it sounds like the 20W is the way to go.
Thanks for the info.!
Kristina |
| Answers about Phantoms... | sdbelt
Sep 11, 2003 1:11 PM | | The headlight version doesn't have a fuel gauge. The wire goes from my head to the battery, which is in my Camelback. A fuel gauge would be pretty hard to use on any head mounted light.
--sdb |
| Lol-yeah, that's exactly why I asked | Kpicha
Sep 11, 2003 1:53 PM | | But, what about the three way switch? Do you have/use that?
Thanks for the info! |
| 3-way switch... | sdbelt
Sep 12, 2003 8:56 AM | | I've only used it a little, and mostly during the 24 hr race, as I needed to conserve battery. During a regular night ride at home, where the ride is ~1 hr, I pretty much want it on full blast all the time.
If you ride with others, it is nice to put it on the lowest setting, when you shine it in their eyes. It's still a light in their eyes, and off is better, but it's a little less annoying on the lowest setting.
Also, a headlight is very handy when changing a flat at night, or working on any mechanical. You can easily point the light to the problem.
Dimming the light when riding on surface streets will frighten fewer cars.
--sdb |
| Cool, thanks! (nm) | Kpicha
Sep 12, 2003 10:18 AM | | |
| Lupine Edison | ozlongboarder
Sep 12, 2003 12:13 PM | | 5+hour at 65w and 8+ 40w. I love it. Blows niterider away. Got mine from Gretnabikes.com |
| Lupine Edison | Kpicha
Sep 12, 2003 12:39 PM | | Yeah, I've read a lot of excellent reviews on that light setup but $700 is waayyy out of the ballpark for me and a few others. Hopefully, the technology will trickle down in a few years and make it more affordable :)
Cheers,
Kristina |
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