Best Lights, Opinions?

Baja Designs! https://www.bajadesigns.com/NET/C-396/BICYCLES

 

A lot of people will argue but Geoman has taken care of us very well with the Magicshine. Very good pricing and they really stand behind what they sell. Geomangear.com

 

Contact Geoman. He can hook you up with a light.

 

Is he a STR member or is that the name of the website?

 

I'm assuming this is for dirt right? Go with a nice bar mounted light if you can have only one. If you are doing twisty singletrack than add a helmet light as well. Bar mounted lights cast shadows on trail features giving you better depth perception. With only a helmet mount it washes everything out. Helmet mounts do help if you are going around tight corners. For brands it's hard to wrong with any of the new LED's out there. I would shoot for a minimum of 400 lumens, more is better. But 400 lumens will feel like a glow stick if the person behind you has 900, so buy the same as your riding buddy.

 

Yes, Reed is an STR and his handle here is 'Geoman' +1 on his lights. (and he's fun to ride with too )

 

+1 on Baja lights if you have the $$ for one. Awesome products.

 

You cannot beat these for the money.

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/LS258A03-Niterider+Minewt+600+Cordless.aspx

 

Get the Magicshine from Geoman. You can't beat the brightness for the price. I have the Nightrider Trinewt which I bought at 4 times the price of a Magicshine and I only use the Magicshine now because it's brighter, lighter and much simpler to set up.

It's inexpensive enough for you to buy 2 - one on the bar and one on the helmet. That is the setup for brightness and reach. Aim the bar light closer to you and the helmet light ahead of the bar light, or you can aim them side-by-side for a really wide swath of light. I have a buddy that uses 3! Two on the bar for side-to-side wide beam and then another on the helmet for reach. Try that with Niterider or the other highend brands and they may cost more than the bike!!

Magicshine had a battery recall issue in the past but the new units ships with really nice updated batteries. Although the battery recall and replacement process took a very long time due to various reasons I still think Geoman portrayed outstanding character in standing behind his product and taking the financial hit for it.

http://www.geomangear.com/index.php...ducts_id=295&zenid=1ukkbfo8rbtntub02aj54opda4

 

I bought a magicshine from ebay and its awesome no problems with it at all

 

Thx for adressing this. I had seen some comments about the battery issue and was hesitant to go the Magicshine route. Thanks again for the info.

 

I also use 3 magicShine lights. 2 900's on the bar and 1 on the helmet. It's like riding in daylight.
As an american I would love to support american companies making stuff here but at a cost of about 4 or 5 times as much with about the same performance I just cannot justify the extra cost.

 

Do not buy your Magicshine from anywhere other than Geoman, trust me. You will not get the same battery. Although I had no problems with my old battery, Geoman was the only company, that I am aware of, that did a recall. I have dual mininewts and would gladly trade them for the 2 Magicshines I could have bought.

 

This for the bars
http://www.geomangear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4_41&products_id=311
and this for your helmet
http://www.geomangear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4_41&products_id=314

This will be the biggest bang for the buck
I have over 11 magicshine lights all except 1 I bought from Geoman ! Best customer service in the business...

 

Nocturn! Got it from a member here, ARGAMA, happy so far with it!!

Http://global-gear.com/products_1.html

 

niterider minewt dual x2


i swear by these...even over my baja designs stryker. the stryker is definitely brighter, but at the same time cosequently heavier....MUCH heavier.
the minewt dual x2s are plenty of light, and very light weight as well....no pun intended.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/BRAND-NEW-N...871?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1da5d277

 

I needed to borrow lights one night since my magicshine was out of commission (the battery thing) for the Thursday Fullerton Loop Tea Party and ARGAMA let me borrow some of his lights (Nocturn?). I own a magicshine and while I am happy with it (minus the whole battery issue, haha I still need to take care of that), I was pretty impressed with ARGAMA's light. It seemed smaller and brighter, a lot brighter! And if I remember right from what he said, they were being sold for a really reasonable price. I'd pm him and see if you can test out one of his lights!

 

I was on the magicshine plan last season, but with the battery cluster F. I have two light heads and no batts. I'm currently running baja designs lights. Better quality than the MS. Baja designs also has some pretty awesome deals on trading in older light systems. If you are ever in fullerton for a night ride pm me or mountianbikerfred and there may just be a baja designs light you can demo.

 

It doesn't mention the lumens on this one though. I like the setup and sleekness of this one as well... hmm so many decisions!

 

Another thing to think about. Where are you going to ride at night? Many county and state parks don't allow night riding. I am pretty sure most National Forest is open though.