Enlighten Me On Bike Lights

Krank
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Re: Enlighten Me On Bike Lights

Postby Krank » Fri May 13, 2011 9:39 pm

where did you buy this unit Walrus?

besides price, why did you choose this model over the rest?

Krank

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The Walrus
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Re: Enlighten Me On Bike Lights

Postby The Walrus » Fri May 13, 2011 10:51 pm

Hi Krank

I got it through Melbourne company TrailMix for $300

I researched a lot of lights and chose the Exposure brand because it suits my preferences. I want something self contained that doesn't have a separate battery and is easily removed from the mount. I also liked that it has a decent 2 year warranty and appears to be well made. We all have different needs and desires and this light design stood out as it suits mine and that is why I chose it.

Ay Ups are clearly great (along with Dinotte, Nitelights, Niteflux etc etc) but the way the Ay Ups fit to the bars didn't do it for me, these other brands also have cables and an external battery, which all seemed to much hassle for me...each to their own!
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Re: Enlighten Me On Bike Lights

Postby Krank » Sat May 14, 2011 12:33 am

thanks walrus.

i like your thinking and i agree with the battery stuff.

i ilike the exposure brand, and i'm committed to this brand now.

krank

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ColinOldnCranky
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Re: Enlighten Me On Bike Lights

Postby ColinOldnCranky » Sat May 14, 2011 10:25 am

Krank wrote:colin.

what brand of light do u use?

krank
My choice reflects my particular needs which are not the same as yours. Though mine would be more than adequate for many bicyclists.

Off hand I can't tell you the brand, except that the one I use is an LED head-band job using a single LED bought from Katmandu on one of their 70% off sales (retailed normally for $80). It also has a simple wide/narrow beam adjustment which is useful for my mode but probably not of any use to bicyclists. I have a backup single-led job I bought from JayCar for around $55 that is not so good but certainly adequate for my needs. Both are good for speeds well in excess of what I can do.

Without getting to whether or when four and six-set lighting clusters are excessive or essential, many on this forum would get more benefit the big bucks units.

My past top-of-the-line (decades ago) Halo light was retired years ago.
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The Walrus
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Re: Enlighten Me On Bike Lights

Postby The Walrus » Sat May 14, 2011 4:36 pm

Krank wrote:thanks walrus.

i like your thinking and i agree with the battery stuff.

i ilike the exposure brand, and i'm committed to this brand now.

krank

Don't let me persuade you, decide for yourself as its a personal choice based on personal needs. Mine should arrive next week so I'll happily give you some feedback after I've used it.

I realize that there is much talk about how much brightness you 'actually' need but on the way home last night I hit a massive unsighted pot hole and just about stayed on the bike, so even though the road has some lighting I still want to actually see what the hell is in front of me, but I'll be aiming the light at the road not straight ahead.
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Re: Enlighten Me On Bike Lights

Postby Pushy » Sat May 14, 2011 4:59 pm

and the arms race continues
new at DX
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Re: Enlighten Me On Bike Lights

Postby Kalgrm » Sat May 14, 2011 9:58 pm

Pushy wrote:and the arms race continues
new at DX
That's going to be an absolute nightmare to ride into on a bike path. Four Crees, each bright enough to be a light in their own right, put through a diffuser lens to spread the light randomly in all directions? I reckon anybody who buys that light is going to put themselves and others in danger by blinding all oncoming tragic. :(

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Graeme
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Re: Enlighten Me On Bike Lights

Postby Mulger bill » Sat May 14, 2011 10:45 pm

It'd make a great bush light on the bars tho'. Dropbears wouldn't be game and spider webs would melt before you got to them. :wink:
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Re: Enlighten Me On Bike Lights

Postby Pushy » Sun May 15, 2011 8:17 am

Mulger bill wrote:It'd make a great bush light on the bars tho'. Dropbears wouldn't be game and spider webs would melt before you got to them. :wink:
Looking for a bush Light?
Modify two of these. Mine are in transit as we speak :twisted: (kidding).
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Re: Enlighten Me On Bike Lights

Postby Aushiker » Sun May 15, 2011 12:24 pm

Pushy wrote:
Mulger bill wrote:It'd make a great bush light on the bars tho'. Dropbears wouldn't be game and spider webs would melt before you got to them. :wink:
Looking for a bush Light?
Modify two of these. Mine are in transit as we speak :twisted: (kidding).
Maybe it would make a good daytime flashing light?

Andrew

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Re: Enlighten Me On Bike Lights

Postby Rhubarb » Sun May 15, 2011 12:35 pm

Kalgrm wrote:
Pushy wrote:and the arms race continues
new at DX
That's going to be an absolute nightmare to ride into on a bike path. Four Crees, each bright enough to be a light in their own right, put through a diffuser lens to spread the light randomly in all directions? I reckon anybody who buys that light is going to put themselves and others in danger by blinding all oncoming tragic. :(

Cheers,
Graeme
Maybe .. maybe not. It will depend a lot on the focus of the beam etc. but looking at the shallow lens shape ... I'm back thinking maybe ... :)

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Re: Enlighten Me On Bike Lights

Postby Aushiker » Sun May 29, 2011 11:58 pm

Hi

Just thought I would share this one minute video that I recorded on my Friday night commute. It shows the DiNotte 400L in use in medium mode (~ 200 lumens). It is mounted on the handlebars and the camera, a Contour HD1080P is helment mounted.

Regards
Andrew

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Re: Enlighten Me On Bike Lights

Postby Krank » Sat Nov 17, 2012 10:08 am

MaxxD Mk4 2012 vs Six Pack 2013 vs Maxx-D Front Light Mk5 2013

which one would be better for my application - night riding on highways in regional NT without any street lights at all??


Krank

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Re: Enlighten Me On Bike Lights

Postby greyhoundtom » Sat Nov 17, 2012 10:39 am

2000 lumins for the 6 pack against 1280 lumins for the MK 4 and 1600 lumins for the MK 5

Similar in price.

With no street lighting brighter has to be better.

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il padrone
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Re: Enlighten Me On Bike Lights

Postby il padrone » Sat Nov 17, 2012 10:55 am

greyhoundtom wrote:With no street lighting brighter has to be better.
With no street lighting your lights stand out much more to other traffic..... and they light the road surface much more effectively.

I am assuming these NT highways are sealed roads :?:

How far down the road do you really need to see? 200m or 1.5kms? How many lumens do you really need? I'm more than happy to ride dark country roads with my 370 lumens Supernova E3. They light the road very well for 50-70m and highlight objects for 200-300m away. On our Oppy ride, out past Barmah on a pitch black road I had a 'light' ahead of me that was visible for 10-15 mins. Turned out it was the chevron reflective sign at a T-junction..... my own lights reflecting back at me from 4-5kms distance :o . I have observed Cateye 5 led tail-lights flashing from a distance of 4-5 kms on a flat country road.
Last edited by il padrone on Sat Nov 17, 2012 11:03 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Krank
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Re: Enlighten Me On Bike Lights

Postby Krank » Sat Nov 17, 2012 11:00 am

thanks boys.

i guess there ia also a weight penalty with the six pack??

Krank

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Re: Enlighten Me On Bike Lights

Postby greyhoundtom » Sat Nov 17, 2012 12:49 pm

6 pack.........362 g
MK5...........292 g

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