Night rides and lighting systems

[art23rockpile]

It sounds like night rides are fairly popular with STR members. In the late 80's I used to do solo night rides in Golden Gate Park and Land's End in San Francisco. Riding at night (as I recall) was kind of sketchy... limited visability made slower speeds a necessity. Crashing at night was an experience: you couldn't see where you'd end up or what you were going to hit!

What are some of the better lighting systems out there now? If any of you could share this info with me (along with your night ride experiences) be grateful.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by art23rockpile

It sounds like night rides are fairly popular with STR members. In the late 80's I used to do solo night rides in Golden Gate Park and Land's End in San Francisco. Riding at night (as I recall) was kind of sketchy... limited visability made slower speeds a necessity. Crashing at night was an experience: you couldn't see where you'd end up or what you were going to hit!

What are some of the better lighting systems out there now? If any of you could share this info with me (along with your night ride experiences) be grateful.

plenty of info here

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/lights/index_byrating.shtml

Lot's of good options

[dstepper]

Problem is: in Orange County the lack good of legal places to night ride....we have Fullerton Loop, Cleveland National Forest, San Clemente Single tracks and I think some stuff in Ladera Ranch/Coto. All of Laguna is closed to night riding. We used to ride Santagio Truck Trail Luge weekly but since the fire it has been closed.

Art, I have a extra set of lights when you are ready to give it a try. Good lights are expensive.

Dean

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by dstepper

Problem is: in Orange County the lack of legal places to night ride....we have Fullerton Loop, Cleveland National Forest, San Clemente Single tracks and I think some stuff in Ladera Ranch/Coto. All of Laguna is closed to night riding. We used to ride Santagio Truck Trail Luge weekly but since the fire it has been closed.

Art, I have a extra set of lights when you are ready to give it a try. Good lights are expensive.

Dean

here are a few places in OC

San Clemente ST
Dana Point hills
San Juan
Holy Jim
Trabuco
Blackstar
Fully Loop
Tour of Talega

[atomrat]

JensonUSA has the Blackburn System X6 on sale for $99. I have used one of the Blackburn LED lights and really liked it. I purchased the X6 system over the weekend and have not had a chance to try it out yet.

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/LS503A00-Blackburn+System+X6.aspx?sc=EM021408&x=y

Added: Maybe this isn't the right setup, just read the review on mtbr.com. The battery doesn't hold the charge long enough. what a disappointment.

[Bryguy17]

if you're handy with a soldering iron and a hacksaw, you might want to consider building your own light. If you aren't going overboard with the components you choose, you can keep it relatively cheap, and still get performance on par with higher end commercial setups.

a good thing to consider would be this:
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=248012

[DISCO]

If you work or have other plans during the day there is no substitute for spending the cash on a decent light. Much like eye protection the investment seems substantial until you are caught without it and must cope with the consequences.

It took 3 LED bar mounts and a Halogen night rider till I finally bit the bullet and dropped the cash on a Tri-Newt. It is brighter and far more robust than HID with longer burn times and no heat. Brighter in fact than the low beam on my car, though the weight will have you cinching the helmet's chin strap. Just bear in mind an ambulance ride will cost you a lot more than four hundred bucks....