Lights

[BFloFoxRider.]

Sorry for the dumb questions, and im sure theres been threads on this alot, but i need a light. I will be commutting early am hours (5am) and its dark, so i need something bright, and i hope to start doing night rides as well.
I want something pretty bright. Not sure on lumens?
and do i want Hid or LED?or NI-MH?
i dont know the difference really.
Please help

[faded1004]

there have been alot of talk about lights... if you need the punch and don't have the dough, get a used halogen system. if you got some money get the hid system... if you want to get techy and got a bit of dough do led.

what is your budget?

this is kinda old, so the prices are a bit off... but it is a good place to start if you have never looked at lights...

http://lupine.de/content/_uni/press/AMB%202007%20-%20Wilma%206.pdf

i personally bought the blackburn x6 system. there has been some talk about the battery issues, and i think i am having them. simply, i wanted to have some fun with modding and it is a good base system as is, very nice all in one system (helmet and bar light, or put both on the bar, one spot and one wide)... i got it for 95 shipped and that is kinda hard to beat lately... of course if i can figure out this battery issue...

saving my opinions for my full thread, but this is just a taste...

the blackburn is nice, and a good buy since they are on closeout... i am getting 1 hour and 20 min on high, it is supposed to be around 3.5? anyways, i hear people had about 2+ and anything less is a bad battery... i am going to try to call them tomorrow and get is trouble shooted... but initially, the light is really bright.

[BFloFoxRider.]

well for now, Im hoping to get something fro around $150 max... I know the minewt are about 189, but i just wanted to see my options for such a low price

[faded1004]

yea, that one is good too... it uses newer leds which are brighter then last years stuff... you know tech is a super fast grower... i have no experience with their beam pattern (how wide can be a personal preference, only way to find out is to try a few out.)...

i am sure people will chime in with current recommedations... if i get a good response from blackburn, i will totally recommend you get the blackburn system... it is only 95 which is great... i will post my efforts...

[mfoga]

Originally Posted by faded1004

yea, that one is good too... it uses newer leds which are brighter then last years stuff... you know tech is a super fast grower... i have no experience with their beam pattern (how wide can be a personal preference, only way to find out is to try a few out.)...

i am sure people will chime in with current recommedations... if i get a good response from blackburn, i will totally recommend you get the blackburn system... it is only 95 which is great... i will post my efforts...

what is the Battery issue I was looking at those since they were cheap, I just figured they were cheap because they had been replaced.

[Rockinthecasbah]

i have a minewt x2 for sale and a sol, both are led one is lithium ion wan is ni-mh

[faded1004]

i did alot of research on the x6 systm as they were really nicely priced...

i have come across a few people who said the run time was not as good as stated... and when they got replacements, it was better? anyways, i am going to call blackbur tomorrow for mine, i am only getting alittle over an hour of run time right now... not even close to the 3.5 hours stated on high...

the deal is because of the new model beign released... jenson said they bought 500 units to get that price?

[Zippy]

Originally Posted by Rockinthecasbah

i have a minewt x2 for sale and a sol, both are led one is lithium ion wan is ni-mh

PM Sent....

[92se-r]

Brewmaster has a pretty good thread on how to make one for cheap. Don't bother buying one. YOu'll pay way less and have more lumens if you make one.

[Zippy]

I built a home made light and the power delivery is iffy. It's left me in the dark on several occasions and I'm leery of trying to build another.

[92se-r]

Give me some swim advice and I'll give you some light making advice. Tell you what, borrow my light for a few rides. Let me know what you think.

It's a 360 lumen dual K2 setup.

I plan on making a 1200 lumen setup soon.

[BFloFoxRider.]

Originally Posted by 92se-r

Give me some swim advice and I'll give you some light making advice. Tell you what, borrow my light for a few rides. Let me know what you think.

It's a 360 lumen dual K2 setup.

I plan on making a 1200 lumen setup soon.

You built the light?
well can i give you some money towards your new light to "rent" the light or something?

And i got advice, Paddle and kick and paddle and kick. Just kidding, but i have a pool if you want to swim?
Hopefully, ill have an STR BBQ... Ride Marshall or claremont to marshall then party, swim and eat grub at my house..
And we have basically a full bar and a tapper...
Hopefully around my BDay... (may 30th)

[0gravity]

search tool

[BFloFoxRider.]

Originally Posted by 0gravity

search tool

I figured i'd start my own thread since everyone needs a different lighting system or has a different need, and opinions change..
I find to learn more when i post new threads and ask questions that are more personalized..

[0gravity]

Originally Posted by BFloFoxRider.

I figured i'd start my own thread since everyone needs a different lighting system or has a different need, and opinions change..
I find to learn more when i post new threads and ask questions that are more personalized..

With all due respect, what was personalized about your initial questions? Lots of threads that would have covered the difference between HID, LED, and NiMH batteries.

"Sorry for the dumb questions, and im sure theres been threads on this alot, but i need a light. I will be commutting early am hours (5am) and its dark, so i need something bright, and i hope to start doing night rides as well.
I want something pretty bright. Not sure on lumens?
and do i want Hid or LED?or NI-MH?
i dont know the difference really."

[Lambda_drive]

Originally Posted by 92se-r

Brewmaster has a pretty good thread on how to make one for cheap. Don't bother buying one. YOu'll pay way less and have more lumens if you make one.

So far this is the best advice in this thread, at least in my opinion.


It cost brewmaster about $100 for a really kickass light, the only catch was that he had to build it. It's actually quite simple and it doesn't require many tools. As long as you know which end of the soldering iron to hold your pretty much good to go.
How I Built My Own MTB Light




If you don't care about weight, and you want RAW POWER, you can build a light like mine, it cost me about $70 to build mine, and bulbs are about $4. With a 50 watt halogen bulb my light is so powerful, riders in front of me get sun tans.
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=245737

[92se-r]

I'd sell you it cheap if you REALLY wanted it, but I can't stand 100% behind it. Not because of my workmanship, but because I found out after I built it, that Phillips recalled that batch of K2's I used. I personally haven't had any problems with it, and I've used it about 5-6 times, over 2 hours each time. But, because there was a recall, I can't in my good conscience sell it to someone. I'm fine with it failing on me, but I wouldn't want it to fail on someone else.

If you guys are REALLY interested, I have no problem doing a very comprehensive write up. I'm actually going to help one of the local SD guys make one.

Do you have a knowledge of basic tools like a dremel and chop saw? Soldering iron? Drill?

Originally Posted by BFloFoxRider.

You built the light?
well can i give you some money towards your new light to "rent" the light or something?

And i got advice, Paddle and kick and paddle and kick. Just kidding, but i have a pool if you want to swim?
Hopefully, ill have an STR BBQ... Ride Marshall or claremont to marshall then party, swim and eat grub at my house..
And we have basically a full bar and a tapper...
Hopefully around my BDay... (may 30th)

[BFloFoxRider.]

Originally Posted by 92se-r

I'd sell you it cheap if you REALLY wanted it, but I can't stand 100% behind it. Not because of my workmanship, but because I found out after I built it, that Phillips recalled that batch of K2's I used. I personally haven't had any problems with it, and I've used it about 5-6 times, over 2 hours each time. But, because there was a recall, I can't in my good conscience sell it to someone. I'm fine with it failing on me, but I wouldn't want it to fail on someone else.

If you guys are REALLY interested, I have no problem doing a very comprehensive write up. I'm actually going to help one of the local SD guys make one.

Do you have a knowledge of basic tools like a dremel and chop saw? Soldering iron? Drill?

i know a dremmel spins and grinds things down, and a chop saw cuts things, and asoldering iron is a pointy thing and you touch it to something with the strip to solder them together, and yes, i know a drill screws things

I have basic skills, but im not sure how id hold up to the task

[faded1004]

is it craft time?
i wanna join an led build session... i got a few parts here and there to use and join with! wish i had to biuld everything in my head... so many good ideas...

[Lambda_drive]

Originally Posted by BFloFoxRider.

i know a dremmel spins and grinds things down, and a chop saw cuts things, and asoldering iron is a pointy thing and you touch it to something with the strip to solder them together, and yes, i know a drill screws things

I have basic skills, but im not sure how id hold up to the task

I can help you build a light, if you want. Though building a light is so extremely simple. As long as you have common sense you'll do just fine.