A question about lumens.

Most of the light posts are to do with ultra bright lights for use in the really dark as in woods and trails and am ok in that department.

But for road use i uspect that my cheap but bright light will cause some annoyance to other road users so I tilt it way down and run it on the lowest setting, but still not ideal.

I am looking for one with a dipped beam option which are few and far between and what I have seen offer from 150 up to 2200 lumens from a 10500 *** hr battery but all are let down by the reviews, especially on the battery side.. My cycliq should have 300 lumens but it's no good at any sort of speed.. what's a lumen anyway?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumen_(unit)

problem is some lights flood and some are like hi power flash lights so throw the beam but all light output stated does not mean it does what it says because the lights dont pull enough power for the stated lumen.

http://www.magicshineuk.co.uk/bike-lights/front-bike-lights/magicshine-mj-908-8000-lumens-bike-light-combo.html

that light with 8000 lumen would pull 100watts of power if that is the case the heat sink is no where big enough for that to be the case.

tho bang for the bucks looks about the best you can get for the money.

https://www.lupine-shop.com/en/led-lightsets/helmet-and-bikelights/1295/betty-r-14

if i paid that much for a light id expect ppl to catch on fire lol.

https://www.laserglow.com/GSS

watch some of his vids

I have invested in a new battery powered light for the trike. I liked the previous b+m 40 lux battery light I had bought for the first bike so I got the premium 80 lux model and boy does it throw out some light!

40 lux works fine on my upright up to about 50 km/h

80 lux...

I certify that these pictures taken from the b+m site are a realistic representation of the lights in real life because I took them out in the street and tested them. I can also guarantee the 4-5 hour run time for a set of 2500 mAh AA batteries.

And... drum roll... if you mount the two lights side by side on the handlebars you get 120 lux! The centre part is really well lit, this is their image for 100 lux and is very similar to what I saw with my two lights.

47€ + a pack of rechargeable AA batteries. They slip off the holder so they can't get stolen and you can use them as a torch off the bike, what not to like!

found this and it seems to offer a dipped beam

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B015FFO5DM

Reveiws look reasonable with just a few battery issues..

Look at exposure lights. They have motion tech etc built in and will adjust light and beam. UK product to boot.

Don't waste your money on cheap chinese crap like i did. Many of my friends have exposure lights , service second to none. One friend abused him bike/lights big time, he crashed and light fell off bike at speed hitting tarmac and still worked perfectly. Case damaged and exposure fixed FOC.

Look at exposure lights. They have motion tech etc built in and will adjust light and beam. UK product to boot.

Don't waste your money on cheap chinese crap like i did. Many of my friends have exposure lights , service second to none. One friend abused him bike/lights big time, he crashed and light fell off bike at speed hitting tarmac and still worked perfectly. Case damaged and exposure fixed FOC.

Bit pricey tho! The thing about the cheap Chinese crap that I have already is that its actually dam good apart from a slight weakness in the battery department, but you have to take that in with the price.. I do believe that a lot of the good stuff is made in China as well.

for 500 quid id expect this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7HWeILG7i8

Ha ha. Yes most lights are made in China be they cheap or expensive China does the biz .

That is why I stopped making mtb lights .

Lumens well we have Chinese lumens and real lumens and also fantasy lumens .

Without getting them tested. which I did do in a proper lab you only have the marketing shite to go on .

And of course the laws of physics .

For good quality but not break the bank costs have a look at www.mtbbatteries.co.uk yes they are made in China but the owner Mark is a salt of the earth guy and his backup is top notch .

It’s not how many lumens you have it’s how you send them down the trail or road that is important

Ha ha. Yes most lights are made in China be they cheap or expensive China does the biz .

That is why I stopped making mtb lights .

 

Lumens well we have Chinese lumens and real lumens and also fantasy lumens .

 

Without getting them tested. which I did do in a proper lab you only have the marketing shite to go on .

And of course the laws of physics .

 

For good quality but not break the bank costs have a look at www.mtbbatteries.co.uk yes they are made in China but the owner Mark is a salt of the earth guy and his backup is top notch .

 

It’s not how many lumens you have it’s how you send them down the trail or road that is important

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/99UAAOSwC~tZjChy/s-l1600.jpg

just the man how do i wire this to a batt and then to the led? also will mode change buy on and off i take it.

For good quality but not break the bank costs have a look at www.mtbbatteries.co.uk yes they are made in China but the owner Mark is a salt of the earth guy and his backup is top notch .

Agreed. I upgraded my head-torch batteries with him. Quality.

i had to get the 12v ones when i should of got the 6v ones

So I don't dazzle drivers around town I've just ordered one of these to try, since it is waterproof and runs off typical AA batteries. Not sure about the beam shape though but will point it down anyways.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3000LM-Waterproof-LED-Bike-Bicycle-Head-Light-Front-Handlebar-Lamp-Flashlight/232413727903?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Another option is that best front headlight from last year where you can switch on the outer ring on it's own so other people can see you but your not pointing a beam at them.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401122745835

So I don't dazzle drivers around town I've just ordered one of these to try, since it is waterproof and runs off typical AA batteries. Not sure about the beam shape though but will point it down anyways.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3000LM-Waterproof-LED-Bike-Bicycle-Head-Light-Front-Handlebar-Lamp-Flashlight/232413727903?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

 

Another option is that best front headlight from last year where you can switch on the outer ring on it's own so other people can see you but your not pointing a beam at them.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401122745835

Might be a waste of money but is arriving tomorrow so will soon see and amazon is good for returning faulty or unwanted items... the best front headlight also shows what I my similar one does which is to throw light in all directions which is great in the the woods but not so good on the road.

you could try a yellow felt tip over the glass of the light not tried itbut might be what ur looking for.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cree-XLamp-XHP70-White-LED-6V-12v-16mm-20mm-Copper-PCB-Base-5-25-degree-lens-/162246801305?var=&hash=item0

Edited September 26, 20178 yr by soundwave

I have been out driving at night and seen these lights from the other side..

One word. Blinding!

found this and it seems to offer a dipped beam

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B015FFO5DM

Reveiws look reasonable with just a few battery issues..

I see how it dips by changing to the single LED with the diffuser, similar to this one I use in my single cree light for round town and seems to work.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SEEN-ANGLE-DIFFUSER-LIGHTS-APERTURE/dp/B00DQ5IGMU/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_4?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1506462735&sr=1-4-fkmr1&keywords=magicshine+diffuser

I see how it dips by changing to the single LED with the diffuser, similar to this one I use in my single cree light for round town and seems to work.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SEEN-ANGLE-DIFFUSER-LIGHTS-APERTURE/dp/B00DQ5IGMU/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_4?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1506462735&sr=1-4-fkmr1&keywords=magicshine+diffuser

on the led ? it is a rubber dome you can cut them of but it reduces the beam degrees so you get a more focused beam like a laser if that makes sense.

Bit pricey tho! The thing about the cheap Chinese crap that I have already is that its actually dam good apart from a slight weakness in the battery department, but you have to take that in with the price.. I do believe that a lot of the good stuff is made in China as well.

In most cases, get what you pay for. I was messing about with magnishine, gemini and cree led's etc over 8 years ago for good reason as lupine was king then and prices ran up to £700. Chinese batteries were always crap n never sealed, lights overheated etc

I'm sticking with what i said had my lights now for nearly 3 years and not 1 problem on all 3. If £ tight accept cheap chinese stuff works for a short time.

on the led ? it is a rubber dome you can cut them of but it reduces the beam degrees so you get a more focused beam like a laser if that makes sense.