Lights for night time trail riding?

[robp]

A mate suggested hitting the trails after work now it is getting a bit dark in the evenings. Had a quick scan around the forums and Ay Up comes up often. They are a bit pricey so wondered if anyone had any other suggestions. I know I should be supporting Aussie companies and maybe you get what you pay for. Just wondered if there are any other possible setups people might be using? I am assuming it is recommended to get a helmet mounted light for looking ahead at the trail plus a set for the bars.

thanks for any help.

[Anakist]

I ordered AyUps last week. As soon as they get here I will have a play and take some pictures. Ah ha. They lost it at AAE. I am just about to go get it!

I currently have a 900lm Magicshine, and a Trustfire 1300lm torch to compare with.

James

[robp]

Hi James,

Is the Magicshine a bike specific light? It seems to be known as Nitelight here in Aus according to the importers website assuming we are talking about the same thing. Good price so will be interested to see how it compares to the Ay Up you have ordered. Just not sure I can justify the big spend on the Ay Up so something like this might be good to start with and maybe upgrade down the track.

thanks

[Anakist]

Yeah it is a bike light. This one: http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ha-iii-cre ... uded-30864 . Very narrow throw though. Not good for general riding. I am thinking this one can be a helmet light with the AyUps on the handlebars.

The AyUps seem pretty bloody awesome just playing with them in the living room!

James

[TimW]

Yeah it is a bike light. This one: http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ha-iii-cre ... uded-30864 . Very narrow throw though. Not good for general riding. I am thinking this one can be a helmet light with the AyUps on the handlebars.

The AyUps seem pretty bloody awesome just playing with them in the living room!

James

I am thinking of getting a set of Ayups.Are they easily transferable from bike to bike??
they come with 2 handlebar mounts yes?

[Jean]

Ay-ups are superb lights. For off road you'll want two sets, which gets expensive. I use 1x Ay-ups and a pair of 18650 torches and that set up works pretty well. Many MTBers use the DX headlights and they give excellent light, but many buyers experience reliability issues, so they can be a bit of a punt.

There's a zillion threads on both lights around the forum so searching will give you heaps of information.

[TimW]

Thanks Jean, I'll be using mine on the road, will have a look around the forum.Tim

[Jean]

Yeah it is a bike light. This one: http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ha-iii-cre ... uded-30864 . Very narrow throw though. Not good for general riding. I am thinking this one can be a helmet light with the AyUps on the handlebars.

The AyUps seem pretty bloody awesome just playing with them in the living room!

James

You might find the DX lights, with their high output, may wash out/swamp the Ay-ups, negating the value of having two light sources. I'm not sure if that's a real problem, but I have heard it talked about. Not having used the DX lights I can't offer personal experience.

Cheers

[ireland57]

Yeah it is a bike light. This one: http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ha-iii-cre ... uded-30864 . Very narrow throw though. Not good for general riding. I am thinking this one can be a helmet light with the AyUps on the handlebars.

The AyUps seem pretty bloody awesome just playing with them in the living room!

James

You might find the DX lights, with their high output, may wash out/swamp the Ay-ups, negating the value of having two light sources. I'm not sure if that's a real problem, but I have heard it talked about. Not having used the DX lights I can't offer personal experience.

Cheers

I own both types and rarely use the big light. The Ayups are better all round especially if you're doing endurance rides. If you're doing off road some people get away with one helmet mounted DX/Nitelite but I like bar and helmet mounts. It's only a matter of time before you crash because your bars weren't pointing in the right direction with a single light. Single lights (regardless of where it's mounted) don't show depth and angles of rises and drops as well as a high and a low mounted light.

I should have brought the Ayups first; it would've saved me some headaches and money.

[robp]

I should have brought the Ayups first; it would've saved me some headaches and money.

And this is what worries me about buying the cheaper ones and then realising at a later point I should have spent the extra dollars on something decent. Will be interested to hear back from James as to how he gets on with the new lights in action and how they compare to his old ones. I just somehow need to persuade my missus that this is an essential purchase and we don't need more scatter cushions and throws for the bed. And really do the kids need all that food.

[trailgumby]

Bought my Ayups almost 3 years ago now, mainly for nite time commuting safety. Got sick of the near misses from other - unlit - cyclists on bike paths.

Have used them a few times off-road at night and they've been brilliant (pun intended ). Enough light for 2 or 3 cyclists on fire trails, as we found out when my cousin's lights died mid-ride. Am doing the Mont 24 this weekend as part of a team. Hopefully the lower back settles down (not looking good atm) and I can get a ride in. Will be doing a bit more night riding this year.

Quality, ease of use and longevity is well worth the extra dollars. They're robust as.

I'll second the comments about the bar + helmet combo being much better than either alone. Depth perception is still a bit of a challenge though, and requires much more mental effort than daytime riding.

[johnfelix]

EXPOSURE RACE is on special at Wiggle
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/exposure-race-mk5-front-light
Ordered one today

John

[trailgumby]

What sort of burn time do they claim?

[Anakist]

Sorry guys. failed pretty hard at this. I wanted all the lights fully charged for comparison purposes, but I ended up leaving the magicshine battery at home on my way to work.

I have a comparison, both in pics and a video of the AyUps and the 1200lm torch. I will try to do it again with the magicshine tomorrow at work (I am a live sound engineer so can play with stuff on work time), and will post the pics when I finish tonight.

James

[Anakist]

Here we are. Part 1...

Sitting at a picnic table in a little hut, trees are about 15m, and the edge of the water is about 20m. Slight downhill, maybe 1m vertical.

AyUp Low


AyUp High


Trustfire 1300lm light (1300lm written on the torch, 1200 on the DX description)


Both


James

[mitzikatzi]

Another version of the Magicshine lights. Made to Aus/NZ specs. glowormlites. Seem worth the extra money to me YMMV

[R12RT]

I road with Ayups the first time this morning. I have the 40% brighter, intermediate beam lights.

They are extremely good. Very bright with a decent long wide beam.

Turned them on before I left the driveway and lit up the front of the house across the road.

[aeroslave]

aYUPS

[leximack]

go the ayups for everything night riding
for road one light on the handlebar is all you need
for mtb have one on the handlebar (intermediate) and one on the helmet (high/narrow beam)
They may cost a bit more buit they are super reliable and if they do fail AYUP have awesome support and replace them.
I am pretty sure they have a crash replacement system, if you crash and break them they replace them for free as they fell they are not breakable (check with them if this is still the case).
I have had my set for about 4 years and still going strong with heaps of commuting use and lots of mtb use including numerous 24hrs.
Pay the one off price and be happy with years of use, switching between bikes is easy peasy,just buy an extra mount or 2.

[Hometrail]

This will be my third winter on Ay-UP lights I love them.For some rides this year I will mount two sets on the handle bars.

[Fletch]

Love my AyUps, purchased early 09, intermediate beam on the bars for road and mtb I add a narrow beam set on the helmet. Was just looking at the updates they are currently offerring

[RobM]

http://www.torpedo7.com.au/products/N8LIAN1LS/title/the-ultimate-lighting-system-200
$129.99 - 200 lumens

[flashrider]

Still waiting after a week for my birthday pressie Ay Ups. A week of atrocious customer service. Emails not returned, phonecalls not answered, surly and indignant responses from their front end, incorrect information given, order not processed...The lights had better be bloody good after all this. Certainly does not bode well if there is a warranty issue.

[ireland57]

Still waiting after a week for my birthday pressie Ay Ups. A week of atrocious customer service. Emails not returned, phonecalls not answered, surly and indignant responses from their front end, incorrect information given, order not processed...The lights had better be bloody good after all this. Certainly does not bode well if there is a warranty issue.

There's never an excuse for poor business behaviour but they are very busy.

And from what I've seen up this way all returns and warranties (approx six over a 2 yr period) have been honoured.....including mine.

[flashrider]

I am sure I'll be stoked with the lights when I finally get them, but it's been quite a process. Nobody's perfect and stuffups do happen, and mine does seem to have been a clusterfluff. Hopefully there'll be an excited post from me reporting the Awesomeness of them.