Need a new.commuting tail light
- trailgumby
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Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby trailgumby » Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:20 pm
Radbots with the built in reflector might be good, but there's a bit of newer stuff around that's USB rechargeable.
So, what say you?
- feral grasshopper
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby feral grasshopper » Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:27 pm
I've been using knog blinders but it'd have to go on the seat post rather than a saddle bag, I've got one on my helmet also, USB rechargeable and reliable so far.trailgumby wrote:Lost my tail light off the saddle bag somewhere between Spit Bridge and the top of Allambie Road on Wednesday night. Need a recommendation for a replacement. Needs to be waterproof, bright, and rechargeable would be nice. Clamshell cased units usually die pretty quickly on me feom back tyre spray. I have no intention to fred-ize my 'dale with a fender
Radbots with the built in reflector might be good, but there's a bit of newer stuff around that's USB rechargeable.
So, what say you?
- coyote
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby coyote » Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:50 pm
- familyguy
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby familyguy » Thu Feb 07, 2013 9:09 pm
TG, I'm really liking my Knog Blinder 4V I tested. Nice and bright, seems to hold up to some spray alright. Would like to get a hold of the Moon lights to compare and contrast though, they look quite good.
Jim
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby Magnum9 » Thu Feb 07, 2013 9:19 pm
http://niteflux.com/Products_RedZone4.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby jamesn184 » Thu Feb 07, 2013 9:25 pm
- feral grasshopper
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby feral grasshopper » Thu Feb 07, 2013 9:27 pm
Magnum9 wrote:Niteflux Redzone 4, best tail light available IMO, out of stock though.
http://niteflux.com/Products_RedZone4.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Hhhmmmmm, inclined to agree that it is an excellent light for all around brightness and visibility but has quite a few issues of functionality. Very hard to turn off and on, it's kind of like a 'beta' model, unfinished, has a USB cap that constantly comes off and gets lots, I ended up with sticky tape on mine and then just gave up, so the ISB connection is uncovered, also check out threads on Adelaide Cyclists, there are peeps with warranty and connumication issues, I think with a bit more development on the peripheral issues it could be a great light, though the Knog Blinder has overtaken it a bit and is way cheaper though is more limited in its attachment options
- Mulger bill
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby Mulger bill » Fri Feb 08, 2013 7:12 am
I did MacGyver up a bracket mount for it to fit the old Radbot mount for easy swapping between bikes.
London Boy 29/12/2011
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby AndyRevill » Fri Feb 08, 2013 8:53 am
Also seems to have been out of stock for quite some time (many months). I was interested in one of these and if you search around the interweb there were rumours of a new model coming out late last year but nothing has materialised so farferal grasshopper wrote:Magnum9 wrote:Niteflux Redzone 4, best tail light available IMO, out of stock though.
http://niteflux.com/Products_RedZone4.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Hhhmmmmm, inclined to agree that it is an excellent light for all around brightness and visibility but has quite a few issues of functionality. Very hard to turn off and on, it's kind of like a 'beta' model, unfinished, has a USB cap that constantly comes off and gets lots, I ended up with sticky tape on mine and then just gave up, so the ISB connection is uncovered, also check out threads on Adelaide Cyclists, there are peeps with warranty and connumication issues, I think with a bit more development on the peripheral issues it could be a great light, though the Knog Blinder has overtaken it a bit and is way cheaper though is more limited in its attachment options
Andy
Trek Domane 4.5
- simonn
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby simonn » Fri Feb 08, 2013 9:00 am
The USB ones are all well and good, but I'd rather be able to pop into a servo and buy a couple of AAAs if I need to if I forgot to recharge (or it failed for whatever reason) or even just carry some spares with me. I use NiMH rechargeable and they are fine, and cheap and easy to replace - is this the case with the USB lights where the lithium batteries will lose ~10-30% capacity every year anyway. No problems with rain at all. Much better than superflashes in this regard.
- feral grasshopper
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby feral grasshopper » Fri Feb 08, 2013 9:05 am
simonn wrote:Radbot 1000s.
The USB ones are all well and good, but I'd rather be able to pop into a servo and buy a couple of AAAs if I need to if I forgot to recharge (or it failed for whatever reason) or even just carry some spares with me. I use NiMH rechargeable and they are fine, and cheap and easy to replace - is this the case with the USB lights where the lithium batteries will lose ~10-30% capacity every year anyway. No problems with rain at all. Much better than superflashes in this regard.
agree Radbots are brilliant and have the added advantage of having a reflector so contribute to Audax lighting compliance, but i've noticed mine just chews through the batteries so is exxy to run. maybe the answer is more than one light. different circumstances, different pros and cons............. and bingo i have Niteflux, Radbot AND multiple blinders!
- barefoot
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby barefoot » Fri Feb 08, 2013 9:44 am
http://dx.com/p/3-led-safety-bike-tail- ... 2xaaa-3031" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
They seal with a compressed O-ring, where the guts of the light bayonets in to the shell.
Run them with low-self-discharge NiMH AAAs (which you can charge with a USB charger if that's important to you). Lasts weeks to months on a charge.
I run two of them, so if one gets a bit flat (or dies completely) without me knowing, I still have light.
And if one of them does completely die... meh, it's $3.50 for a replacement.
Only downside to this model is that it doesn't clip on to a saddle bag. That square mounting interface seems to be a quasi-standard across a few brands, so there might be clip-on mount adaptors available somewhere else on DX... but I just stick them on my seatposts.
I really can't see the point in paying $20+ for a "good" red flashy [1] when you can have 5 good cheap ones for the same money.
tim
[1] brightness aside... I'll concede that a Superflash is brighter than these cheapies... but they're clamshell, so are more prone to leaking. Anyway, DX has Superflash knock-offs for $5, which are almost as bright as a real one
- il padrone
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby il padrone » Fri Feb 08, 2013 10:08 am
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."
- Ross
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby Ross » Fri Feb 08, 2013 10:21 am
- MattyK
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby MattyK » Fri Feb 08, 2013 1:45 pm
No annoying/distracting/blinding blinky, built in reflector, well shaped to indicate your size, position, shape and speed.
- InTheWoods
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby InTheWoods » Fri Feb 08, 2013 2:01 pm
Fully submersibly waterproof
Very, very very bright. At night time I'd be aiming it away from cars, such as at yourself or your bike which makes you very visible without blinding them
Get about 2-2.5 hours runtime off a single NiMH battery, and replacing the batt is easy as its just a screw on end cap with an o-ring that seals it. Best bit is it will clip straight onto your radbot mount
- find_bruce
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby find_bruce » Fri Feb 08, 2013 3:14 pm
The led (cree xp-e red) is what powers my rear light, however the diffuser means that, while visible during the day, it is not blinding at nightInTheWoods wrote:Zebralight H51Fr.
Fully submersibly waterproof
Very, very very bright. At night time I'd be aiming it away from cars, such as at yourself or your bike which makes you very visible without blinding them
Get about 2-2.5 hours runtime off a single NiMH battery, and replacing the batt is easy as its just a screw on end cap with an o-ring that seals it. Best bit is it will clip straight onto your radbot mount
The formfactor for the zebra looks good though - 1 x AA would make it nice & small
- Tim
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby Tim » Fri Feb 08, 2013 10:03 pm
http://dicksmith.com.au/product/S4460/e ... -batteries
It works for me. Not exactly sure how long the batteries last but I was commuting an hour per day last year and changed the batteries fortnightly. Sanyo Eneloops are meant to be amongst the best of the rechargable batteries.
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby macca33 » Fri Feb 08, 2013 10:40 pm
cheers
- trailgumby
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby trailgumby » Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:21 am
Last weeks tail light loss highlights the importance of running two. The radbot will go nicely where the reflector currently sits, and the Knog might go well on the chain stay.
Thanks for the tip on the USB recharger.
I don't think they make Lefty dyno hubs although that's an interesting thought for the upcoming dually mtb upgrade project. Cannondale will likely get the sack after 5 years of buying numerous of their bikes because of their misleading "lifetime" warranty and churlish treatment of a few of my mates.
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby trailgumby » Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:24 am
- il padrone
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby il padrone » Sat Feb 09, 2013 10:26 am
dLumotec Oval
iQ Cyo RT
Luxos U
I have a Luxos U on back-order
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."
- find_bruce
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby find_bruce » Sat Feb 09, 2013 6:42 pm
Good news, SON make a dynamo with a 1mm through axle.trailgumby wrote:Wow! Those dyno prices are extremely reasonable! I wonder if they make them in a 15mm through-axle?
Bad news the price is less reasonable - RRP €269
Some pretty impresive features, including the USB plug. As always Peter White cycles has excellent photos, but it seems Wouter Scholten was less impressed with the B&M photos & the performance of the Luxos B - luxos U review still to comeil padrone wrote:Just came across some beam shots from Peter White Cycles including the new B&M Luxos U
Wouter Scholten wrote:In the middle is a strong hotspot, or perhaps hotcone, which is distracting. The evenness of the beam (on the road) is still nowhere near the quality of the Philips LED bike light/Saferide 80 battery lamp. The intensity of the beam outside that hotspot is a bit too low. The beam is pretty wide and nicely lights up the road I tried it on including the green on the left/right, though at not enough intensity compared to the hotspot
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby il padrone » Sat Feb 09, 2013 6:55 pm
Never have liked the Philips light's profile - silly I know
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."
- find_bruce
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Re: Need a new.commuting tail light
Postby find_bruce » Sat Feb 09, 2013 7:50 pm
Are you sure ?il padrone wrote:The Luxos B lacks most of the features of the Luxos U, including the panorama beam apparently (puzzlingly) so if he describes the B as being a wide beam, the U is even wider. I'm pretty confident I will be happy with it.
My emphasis.Peter White Cycles wrote:These next two photos were taken with the same 45mm focal length lens as all of the other photos. However, the Luxos beam is wider than this lens can capture. So I also took a few shots with a 24mm wide angle lens. They can be seen further down the page. Since even with the 24mm lens, you can't really see how wide this beam is, I then used an even wider lens ... a 16mm (108 degree) wide angle lens ...
Here's the beam at high speed. The Luxos B has the same beam as this.
The Peter White photo clearly shows the uneven light distribution Wouter complains about. To be fair, the "hotspot" of the Luxos U appears to be at least as wide as the full width of other dynamo lights.
We all have out prejudices I have to say despite Wouter's, I am seriously thinking about how I can fit the Luxos U into my cycling budget by the time it starts getting dark. Of course it also means getting a dynamo but that is already on my wishlist.il padrone wrote:Never have liked the Philips light's profile - silly I know
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