LIGHTS MEGATHREAD - all questions on riding lights asked and answered here!!!

[Labcanary]

While we're on the issue of batteries, I've got to buy some rechargeable AA & AAAs for the little one's toys. They will work in the Nitecore charger, but does anyone have an opinion on which batteries are good and which ones are bad?

I've got a bunch of AA and AAA rechargeables in the Varta brand. They were intended for kids toys and the TV remote but Mr Canary stole a bunch for his synths. I haven't had to do much recharging, so I guess they work pretty well.

 

[rockmoose]

I've used varta, they are about as good as most of the others; chevron, active energy, phillips, duracell, etc etc. They are all pretty crap. Short run times, rapid degradation because most devices don't have the electrodoohickery to prevent over-discharging. I have found eneloop to have the best battery chemistry to handle this.

@johnny try not to expect too much out of aa or aaa rechargeables. Pull them out and recharge well before they are dead flat, and you will see pretty good longevity.

 

[nathanm]

Turns out these aren't complete shit. Picked one up for 20% off or something and saved my butt after the ayups went flat mid ride (another fuckwit confession as I didn't charge them for a year or something).

Figured it would do for commuting but actually makes a pretty decent bar mounted light for occasional MTB night riders like myself. I'd love to do more night riding but Tasmania.

 

[Oddjob]

I'd love to do more night riding but Tasmania.

View attachment 389326

Gotta watch out for those two headed locals.

Sent from my M2012K11AG using Tapatalk

 

[rowdyflat]

https://www.cateye.com/intl/support/manual/data/doc/HL-EL625RC_HP_ENG_v2.pdf

Maybe hard to believe but my 10 year old Cateyes are still going well, used for commuting 3 days a week x 5 months a year.

 

[Litenbror]

Just picked up a Magic Shine MJ-902S with the MJ-6116C 7AH battery. Rode for a couple of hours and had the light on full for most of that (or what I thought was full) and it's reading over half full on the battery. I need to check what output I'm running the light on but it was nice and bright with this and a 1600 lumen helmet light.

Didn't get it from Magic Shine directly but did get some customer support with the purchase and it was exceptional.

MJ-902SB - E-bike

DESCRIPTION MJ-902SB - E-bike Front Light - Motor / Battery Powered - up to 3000 Lumens - MJ-6116C Battery Pack included - Motor cable sold separately MJ-902S Equipped with high efficiency, high transmittance optical lenses, producing the perfect lighting solution for bike and E-Bike 3000 lumens...

www.magicshine.com.au

 

[ozzybmx]

Just picked up a Magic Shine MJ-906S

Awesome lights for the price.

I have the MJ906 and I get 2 hours at full blast.

If you work out run times, keep an eye on time as they turn off from 100% to blackness without warning when the battery runs out

 

[Litenbror]

Awesome lights for the price.

I have the MJ906 and I get 2 hours at full blast.

If you work out run times, keep an eye on time as they turn off from 100% to blackness without warning when the battery runs out

Just updated my post, I got MJ902S (3000 lumen version). It seems that this one (black with no orange) has an indicator for battery level with the button turning from green to red when it gets to half way, might flash when below 25% will find out tomorrow. Really like the set up the battery mounts to the bike well and has its own indicator and can be used as a power bank.

 

[ozzybmx]

Just updated my post, I got MJ902S (3000 lumen version). It seems that this one (black with no orange) has an indicator for battery level with the button turning from green to red when it gets to half way, might flash when below 25% will find out tomorrow.

Yes I seen that you had the newer (S) version. Good to hear they have an indicator, its the only gripe I have about mine. We also have 3 x MJ900 sets as well.

 

[Litenbror]

Yes I seen that you had the newer (S) version. Good to hear they have an indicator, its the only gripe I have about mine. We also have 3 x MJ900 sets as well.

I was going to get the MJ900 which were only $65 but ended up spending a bit more for the 902S as I wanted the extra lumens but also significantly increased battery size.

 

[ozzybmx]

I was going to get the MJ900 which were only $65 but ended up spending a bit more for the 902S as I wanted the extra lumens but also significantly increased battery size.

I use a MJ900 on my 'night riding' helmet now, the smaller battery lasts about 2 hours on full power, so is usually plenty for a ride.

The older lights are a strange shape, nothing stealthy about them.

 

[Rorschach]

Hi All

Looking at some decent lights to try and get out on my bike along some of the paths near me of an evening to get some exercise.
I'm looking for a front light without a battery pack at the minute and a basic rear light. Anyone any recommendation

 

[fjohn860]

Hi All

Looking at some decent lights to try and get out on my bike along some of the paths near me of an evening to get some exercise.
I'm looking for a front light without a battery pack at the minute and a basic rear light. Anyone any recommendation

If you are looking for cheap (but actually quite good) this is what I'm using for night rides at the You Yangs on the "blue" and "black" trails.

All my Aliexpress MTB purchases reviewed.

Now that more people seem to be getting on the gravel/roadie train on here, this was an interesting video I found today:

www.rotorburn.com

 

[bear the bear]

Exposure Diablo or similar for either bars or helmet.
Rear- These are the brightest most annoying lights to ride behind https://www.cateye.com/intl/products/safety_lights/TL-LD820/

 

[ozzybmx]

Rear that will last for years.

Exposure TracerR

Exposure Lights TraceR 75lm Day Bright Rear Light

Buy Exposure Lights TraceR 75lm Day Bright Rear Light Now at Pushys. Lowest Price, Secure Shopping and Fast Delivery from Australia's Best Online Bike Store

www.bikebug.com

And get the saddle rail mount, gets it right up under the saddle away from interfering with a dropper post and looks nice and neat.

Exposure Lights QR Saddle Rail Bracket for Flare Black/Red

Buy Exposure Lights QR Saddle Rail Bracket for Flare Black/Red Now at Pushys. Lowest Price, Secure Shopping and Fast Delivery from Australia's Best Online Bike Store

www.bikebug.com

I reckon my TraceR is 8yrs old and I have just replaced the battery with the battery from a Trace (front equivalent), I used these lights on every road ride, every commute and MTB nightride for years.

You get 6 hours on high pulse when they are new, I was down to about 2 hours on high after 8 years. Only replaced the battery a month ago so hope to get another few years.

I might be able to afford Exposure front lights now that my kids have stopped riding previously tried to keep all our lights interchangeable as it was easier to load someone up with batteries and light power so went for middle range stuff.

 

[rowdyflat]

I have ordered new Knog headlight [BTW they are up to 40% off until midnight today ] but wondered why batteries Lithium or NiMH that havent been used for 2 -3 months or so , need to be put on a charger which in a few minutes will say fully charged but then I switch it off and on again and it charges a lot more.
Is this because the charger is not sophisticated enough or the battery just takes time to get fully charged ?

 

[ForkinGreat]

Rear that will last for years.

Exposure TracerR

Exposure Lights TraceR 75lm Day Bright Rear Light

Buy Exposure Lights TraceR 75lm Day Bright Rear Light Now at Pushys. Lowest Price, Secure Shopping and Fast Delivery from Australia's Best Online Bike Store

www.bikebug.com

And get the saddle rail mount, gets it right up under the saddle away from interfering with a dropper post and looks nice and neat.

Exposure Lights QR Saddle Rail Bracket for Flare Black/Red

Buy Exposure Lights QR Saddle Rail Bracket for Flare Black/Red Now at Pushys. Lowest Price, Secure Shopping and Fast Delivery from Australia's Best Online Bike Store

www.bikebug.com

I reckon my TraceR is 8yrs old and I have just replaced the battery with the battery from a Trace (front equivalent), I used these lights on every road ride, every commute and MTB nightride for years.

You get 6 hours on high pulse when they are new, I was down to about 2 hours on high after 8 years. Only replaced the battery a month ago so hope to get another few years.

I might be able to afford Exposure front lights now that my kids have stopped riding previously tried to keep all our lights interchangeable as it was easier to load someone up with batteries and light power so went for middle range stuff.

hey Ozzy, didn't really notice at the time, but aren't rear lights usually red? seems a bit counter intuitive to have a white rear light, IMO.

 

[shiny]

hey Ozzy, didn't really notice at the time, but aren't rear lights usually red? seems a bit counter intuitive to have a white rear light, IMO.

It is red. Just a clear lense.

 

[ozzybmx]

hey Ozzy, didn't really notice at the time, but aren't rear lights usually red? seems a bit counter intuitive to have a white rear light, IMO.

As shiny says... was a PITA too.

If the rear was as simple as a lens change, I would have used the front as a rear rather than re-soldering a new battery in.

 

[Calvin27]

Getting darker now so thread bump.

I have a set of gemini lights (800 and 1100 lumen) and the 2 cell battery pack has lost a fair bit of it's capacity. I can no longer make the 1 hour commute on full power for the 800 lumen unit.

I would have thought these things would have dropped a fair bit in price but alas no dice. Still looking at $100+ for a battery pack. Cheapest I can find is glowworm packs which are apparently the same connector but they are sold out on MTB direct. Found another for $120 plus post, I'm thinking it might be better to just get a new unit all together. My cateye 800 seems to have outlasted both battery packs and still going strong, I could be swayed to just get a 4 cell pack.

Anyone got a suggestion? Happy to gamble aliexpress or otherwise, but my previous attempts have bee abysmal and I have a 6 cell pack that barely lasted an hour new I bought ages ago.