It's that time of year...Lights

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Originally Posted by Groomer Gambler

Thinking about buying one of these too: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0727N3L9B...ing=UTF8&psc=1

Worth the $70 price tag?

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Yea, if you can still get that deal, it's definitely worth it. As mentioned, most 1000 =/- lumen lights are north of $100 bucks. The Lezyne is a solid light and the strap works good on the bars. I bought the $10 helmet mount which is less streamlined than a GoPro type mount but works well. No MTBing at night as often these days, but mrs jm2e has been commuting and using this light every day in sub freezing temps, rain and snow. No problems. Since we have 2, one is on bike and one is charging. Expensive commuter light, but hey she's worth it!

I made an okay set with a couple of these:
https://www.amazon.com/UltraFire-WF-...cree+led+18650
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
And I used double stick tape & zip ties to attach these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Already had gopro mounts on helmets. This is what I toss in the bottom of my pack when I'm worried about being nighted on afternoon rides. And they pair well with the Lezyne lights for proper night rides. As with a lot of knockoff lights, I've found that the beam is too narrow work well as an only light. Good for the helmet though, to complement a more flood like beam from the bars.

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Originally Posted by teletele

Definitely need a helmet and bar light...trust me, it sucks with just one.

Between myself and 3 other guys we all have magic shines and have had no issues after a couple of years. I have one mounted on my helmet and a Lumina 750 on my bars. I like the Lumina because it is easy to use as a flashlight too. The other guys have 2 magic shines each.

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Thanks everyone for the input! By Magic shines, meaning something like this? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...L3JRXLHD&psc=1

Yes, but that particular model may be better as a helmet light than bar light due to the 20 degree (narrow-ish) beam spread. It could possibly pair well with a wide-throw, diffuse (large lens) light on the bar. I can’t remember their models but they have a I wish I lived close enough to Mac Dunn to come up to ride at night, but it’s a good hour from these parts ...

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Originally Posted by Groomer Gambler

Thanks everyone for the input! By Magic shines, meaning something like this? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...L3JRXLHD&psc=1

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I'm pretty sure they have that one x2, it is definitely finned to dissipate heat.
Mine is the older 872 model: https://www.amazon.com/MagicShine-Bi...AX5YDVTND8VQFM

I'm just here to say fuck Amazon. Buy from somebody else.

Bump, getting to be that time of year.

Anyone have anything to say on Magicshine vs Light and Motion?

Magic shines are still working great for me, as are the $17 amazon chinese knock offs. I also bought a usb chargeable light from Portland Design works that has been good. And nice since there are no wires for helmet mount.

I sell http://www.ravemen.com/index.html and will give mags 20% off. PM me, they're stocked in Boulder.

Where are the prices on that website? Also, if you were going to recommend a two-light system, which two would your recommend, and why?

Oops, I spoke too soon. We're running a special, so I'll give an additional 5% off the 25% on this site: https://www.velosportimports.com/ravemen-lights
The dual light units are for road/commuting AND mountain bike. The single light units are designed for road/commuting.
The website has decent pictures of the way the light pattern looks on the 2 light units. If you are using it for mountain biking, it would be better to have the HiLo beam system so the light shines up and not just low to the ground.
The model numbers are the lumens, so get the most lumens, if you can.

PR1200 looks enticing. Any thoughts on that vs Lezyne 1100?

The Lezyne 1100 is probably sturdy, but the PR1200 is waterproof to 2 meters for 30 minutes. PR1200 has a nice small display, that helps you to keep track of the mode and power output, and battery, etc. that the Lezyne lacks. It has a instant max mode which is kind of like the Lezyne's overdrive/recovery mode, but maybe more useful. The PR1200 also comes with a wired remote button that is nice to place right next to your grip or finger. It also has a USB so you can plug in your phone and use it as a charger. $64.01 is a very good price. This includes a free TR20 tail light as well.

Plugboots, Velosports would be the vendor of choice?

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Originally Posted by Magic Carpet

Plugboots, Velosports would be the vendor of choice?

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Yes. If any other mags want to partake, PM me. Cheers.

Any thoughts on NiteRider 900?

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Originally Posted by Peruvian

Any thoughts on NiteRider 900?

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No personal experience, but:
Comparable to PR900, the NiteRider 900 has:
- No small display
- No wired remote
- No dual light, (which is a cool feature, to not blind cars, BTW)
- No USB port to charge another device
- A lower ipx rating, (6 vs 8), PR900 is more sealed for waterproofness.
Pretty close in price, we're probably cheaper, but maybe our free tail light makes it a better deal.

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Originally Posted by zion zig zag

Bump, getting to be that time of year.

Anyone have anything to say on Magicshine vs Light and Motion?

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I have a Light and Motion seca 1800, no experience with Magicshine but I really like my light. Compared to my buddies Niterider 1400 it lights up a much larger area and seems to be more yellow less blue on the color spectrum. Have had it a couple of seasons now, no issues.

I would never buy a Serfas light again. Even the warranty replacements were failing on the first ride out for myself and a handful of friends who bought them on sale. Plus my 1800 seca lights up a larger area and throws more useful light than the 2500 Serfas I had.

What's battery life like on the PR1200?

Plug what is your recommendation on helmet/bar lights, run the PR1200 on the bars and...on the head?

I've found that a lot of the lights are pretty good, but the mounting hardware has been the most concern. The nightriders have had issues as well as the cygolite

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Originally Posted by John_B

Plug what is your recommendation on helmet/bar lights, run the PR1200 on the bars and...on the head?

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Other mags may have better suggestions, but I use a BD rechargeable LED headlamp, because they were selling them for cheap at their end of year sale. I think my model isn't available anymore, but it's like the Spot. We have a few of these, so I grab the close one, I rarely use it, just to finish a dusk ride/skate ski.

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Originally Posted by Bean

What's battery life like on the PR1200?

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I'll just post this:
Attachment 246632

It all depends on how long you stay in each setting. Turbo is more like an instant-on high beam flash with the wired remote, so you wouldn't be riding and holding that down.

Bump- hey Plugboots, where’s the best place to order one of your lights these days?

FWIW - Shenkey 1000 lumen lights are $25/each and come with both bar and helmet mounts. I bought two and they have worked very well for my sub 2 hour night rides.

https://www.outboundlighting.com/product/hangover/
Guy I know designed this. Pretty dope setup.

Personally, I can't ride with a helmet light on a half shell. Moves around too much. Fortunately, I've got a Fox Proframe.

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Originally Posted by jm2e

https://www.outboundlighting.com/product/hangover/
Guy I know designed this. Pretty dope setup.

Personally, I can't ride with a helmet light on a half shell. Moves around too much. Fortunately, I've got a Fox Proframe.

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Yeah, as annoying as a cord can be I prefer to have the battery in my pack instead of on top of my head. My neck prefers it that way.

100g, fast charge, and a useful beam pattern... that's impressive.

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Originally Posted by jm2e

https://www.outboundlighting.com/product/hangover/
Guy I know designed this. Pretty dope setup.

Personally, I can't ride with a helmet light on a half shell. Moves around too much. Fortunately, I've got a Fox Proframe.

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That looks dope.

I couldn’t quickly see it in a quick scan of the page, but I assume at half power that thing could run for closer to 4 or 5 hours.

As dope as it looks, I’d still recommend pairing it with a good ~1000lm wide distribution flood light (the softer the lens contrast the better) mounted on the bars and then running the Hangover in half power mode.

You’ll end up with a setup where the bar light gives you shadow contrast and the helmet light fills in the details so that you have better 3D depth perception of rocks, roots, low clearance branches, jump landings, etc. The wide flood / soft shadows (lack of hard edged shadow lines) on the bar helps prevent create visual noise from your fork jittering or when you pop quick high speed steering corrections, pre-turn countersteer, etc. And then the helmet with a long throw spot fills in the details where you are looking.

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Originally Posted by Self Jupiter

Bump- hey Plugboots, where’s the best place to order one of your lights these days?

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I’ve spent more time with these and they’re nice.

https://www.velosportimports.com/ravemen-lights

Since I'm all hippack endurobro now, I need a helmet light with the captive battery.

Anyone use the Lights n Motion with GoPro helmet mount? I would assume that's a pretty solid set up.

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Originally Posted by jackstraw

Since I'm all hippack endurobro now, I need a helmet light with the captive battery.

Anyone use the Lights n Motion with GoPro helmet mount? I would assume that's a pretty solid set up.

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Yeah, I've got a Taz 1200 and Taz 2000. I think they changed the names this year. One goes on a GoPro mount and the other on my bars (I forget which). The lights are good, but you do get a bit of a bobble-head from the weight. I prefer to run it on my full face (TLD Stage) as that coupled with goggles holds the helmet in place better. Barring that, goggles on a half lid help too, if you can manage the fogging.

For helmet mounted lights this outbound looks ideal. Lightweight and good beam pattern.

https://www.outboundlighting.com/product/hangover/

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Originally Posted by Tailwind

For helmet mounted lights this outbound looks ideal. Lightweight and good beam pattern.

https://www.outboundlighting.com/product/hangover/

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I have the downhill package from Outbound and I've been really happy with it. May have to get this as well since the wire on the helmet can get a bit annoying.

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Originally Posted by Tailwind

For helmet mounted lights this outbound looks ideal. Lightweight and good beam pattern.

https://www.outboundlighting.com/product/hangover/

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That looks nice, but it's interesting that they don't spec lumens? It looks bright. The other odd thing is the weight is spec'd at super light (The result is an incredible 100 grams total weight. Absolutely unheard of for a high power light.) And then under - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Weight .9 lbs It looks heavier than 100 grams, but if it actually is, that is pretty sick.

I just ordered the VIS pro 1000 @ 121grams. We'll see how that goes.

I have a light and motion taz 1200 coming to probably use as a light on the bars, figure the weight will be pretty noticeable on the helmet. Thought about a trail 1000 because they're smaller and lighter but wanted something that would have better battery life and a wider beam pattern than my urban 500, which is fine, but not bright enough for things like gravel road descents and trail riding at night.

\also I've had some sort of a magicshine knockoff as a helmet light for years but the battery pack is toast. Any suggestions for a replacement? Looks like there are a couple for like $25-30 on amazon so I guess I'll go that way?

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Originally Posted by jackstraw

That looks nice, but it's interesting that they don't spec lumens? It looks bright. The other odd thing is the weight is spec'd at super light (The result is an incredible 100 grams total weight. Absolutely unheard of for a high power light.) And then under - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Weight .9 lbs It looks heavier than 100 grams, but if it actually is, that is pretty sick.

I just ordered the VIS pro 1000 @ 121grams. We'll see how that goes.

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Looks like on the Downhill package they list detailed specs for both lights. The bar mount one is 1500-1800 lumens, the head one is 900-1000.

Got that L&M 1200 and tried it on the road on the way home last night. I considered spending a little more on a 1500 but this seems plenty bright and it has a much wider beam than the urban 500. It claims to only be 25 degrees wide vs 20 but there's a 3rd led with a diffuser thing that gives good light out to the sides and up close which should be useful for seeing the trail in front of you through corners. The race mode is also cool, just hold the button down for 2 seconds when you turn it on, then it swaps between low and high instead of cycling between high, med, low, flashing.

Also picked up a replacement battery for the helmet light on ebay for $22. Seems to work, went with the 2cell instead of 4 just to trim down some bulk so i'm curious on what my battery life will be like with it. For the price I can always just get a 2nd one or the 4-cell version if I need to.

I got the gopro mount adapters for both the taz and my urban 500 so I could stick either on a helmet if I wanted, but the taz seems like it might be a little heavy for that. Now just need to pick up a fresh helmet as my bell super is pretty old and crusty and the mount isn't that great. Probably giro's motaro. It's pretty nice and the mount is solid.

Attachment 339711

Went and got that helmet. Mount is definitely better than the one on my bell but the mips deal slides around very easily. Wondering if I'm going to notice that.

Attachment 339817

I picked up the Outbound Lighting Hangover, as a replacement for my Taz 1200, and did first ride last night. It's legit. So light weight compared to the 1200, and shorter height, so no more bobble head. I can wear my normal half shell (Fox Speedframe) with glasses rather than having to wear full face and/or goggles. The wider band of light was nicer too, and really felt like I had less tunnel vision than before, even if the brightness was less.

I'm keeping my Taz 2000 for the handlebars though. It's brighter and lighter than their bar light, and doesn't have a separate battery pack.

I'm ready for someone to make a legit integrated helmet/light combo. Distribute the weight evenly.

So far this year I've just been riding with a bar mount light. Doesn't feel very safe taking corners :fm: My neck is phucked :(