best mountain bike helmet light image
tom90051gu
i'm looking to get some proper big lights for my mountain bike (a felt q620). As i'll be going off road a lot i need some lights that will illuminate quite a distance so i put it to you, what is the most powerful bike light i can buy? some links would be greatly appreciated and money isn't an issue (unless its like £2million each :P)
Answer
Definitely spend the money on an H.I.D. or one of the super bright new generation LED systems. Don't waste money on a halogen light unless you'll be riding at slower speeds on relatively smooth trails that you know well. Halogen just isn't bright enough for fast riding on trails....you'll out-pace the beam and although it makes for a more exciting ride you can really pay the price in blood that way. :o) Even the dual-light 32w-ish halogen systems aren't bright enough for fast riding in my experience.
When shopping, pay attention to lumens output....that's the best way to compare lights. They're all screwy with their marketing because they know people will want to have the brightest light, so there are all kinds of brightness descriptions out there. And watch for the Best "in its class" claims, too. As said above, run time might really matter to you also....you always need to have a secondary backup light with you just in case (even a flashlight will do) but try to pick a light that will last long enough for your rides and keep in mind that batteries will run for shorter periods as they age or when it's really cold outside. If you plan on doing any 24hr races then you'll want a fast charger, too (and possibly an extra battery for an outrageous price).
I have a Light N Motion HID that is fantastic.....I normally ride with it on my helmet. If you plan on doing any jumps or have really rough trails, you'll probably want to use a bright light on your helmet and some other light on your handlebars so that you won't be landing in complete darkness if you take to the air. Otherwise one light is usually enough. For years I used a Niterider 15w halogen and enjoyed it on the road bike, occasionally on the trail....but it was tricky to make fast turns in the trees and tended to wash out the terrain textures in the red dirt we have around here. The HID is way better so long as you don't blind the raccoons or your riding buddies.
I really like Light N Motion much better than Niterider, but in the last couple years Niterider has finally improved their lights and addressed problems. They're both good companies but my money is with the first one. I hear great things about Dianotte, too, but nobody around here has one that I've seen and I have zero experience with them.
Plan on spending $300 and up. Nashbar, Pricepoint, and Jenson often have some super closeout deals on HID lights from Niterider and Light N Motion. I got mine from Nashbar for about $220 with a sale price and a discount coupon...sweet deal.
EDIT: If you really want a SUPER powerful light....a local guy rigged up his bike with two R/C airplane landing lights and a *heavy* 6v gel battery. Crap, that setup was brighter than highbeams on most cars! A bit overkill, though. lol
Definitely spend the money on an H.I.D. or one of the super bright new generation LED systems. Don't waste money on a halogen light unless you'll be riding at slower speeds on relatively smooth trails that you know well. Halogen just isn't bright enough for fast riding on trails....you'll out-pace the beam and although it makes for a more exciting ride you can really pay the price in blood that way. :o) Even the dual-light 32w-ish halogen systems aren't bright enough for fast riding in my experience.
When shopping, pay attention to lumens output....that's the best way to compare lights. They're all screwy with their marketing because they know people will want to have the brightest light, so there are all kinds of brightness descriptions out there. And watch for the Best "in its class" claims, too. As said above, run time might really matter to you also....you always need to have a secondary backup light with you just in case (even a flashlight will do) but try to pick a light that will last long enough for your rides and keep in mind that batteries will run for shorter periods as they age or when it's really cold outside. If you plan on doing any 24hr races then you'll want a fast charger, too (and possibly an extra battery for an outrageous price).
I have a Light N Motion HID that is fantastic.....I normally ride with it on my helmet. If you plan on doing any jumps or have really rough trails, you'll probably want to use a bright light on your helmet and some other light on your handlebars so that you won't be landing in complete darkness if you take to the air. Otherwise one light is usually enough. For years I used a Niterider 15w halogen and enjoyed it on the road bike, occasionally on the trail....but it was tricky to make fast turns in the trees and tended to wash out the terrain textures in the red dirt we have around here. The HID is way better so long as you don't blind the raccoons or your riding buddies.
I really like Light N Motion much better than Niterider, but in the last couple years Niterider has finally improved their lights and addressed problems. They're both good companies but my money is with the first one. I hear great things about Dianotte, too, but nobody around here has one that I've seen and I have zero experience with them.
Plan on spending $300 and up. Nashbar, Pricepoint, and Jenson often have some super closeout deals on HID lights from Niterider and Light N Motion. I got mine from Nashbar for about $220 with a sale price and a discount coupon...sweet deal.
EDIT: If you really want a SUPER powerful light....a local guy rigged up his bike with two R/C airplane landing lights and a *heavy* 6v gel battery. Crap, that setup was brighter than highbeams on most cars! A bit overkill, though. lol
Do I need to have lights on my bicycle when riding at night in AZ?
stevejoble
I am in Phoenix AZ and I have been driving around at night with my mountain bike. I know there is no law that says you need to have a helmet, but what about lights? Do I need lights or are reflectors OK?
Answer
Absolutely you do!
Here is the law http://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/00817.htm
Here is a copy and paste of what exactly it says:
28-817. Bicycle equipment
A. A bicycle that is used at nighttime shall have a lamp on the front that emits a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the front and a red reflector on the rear of a type that is approved by the department and that is visible from all distances from fifty feet to three hundred feet to the rear when the reflector is directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. A bicycle may have a lamp that emits a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear in addition to the red reflector.
B. A person shall not operate a bicycle that is equipped with a siren or whistle.
C. A bicycle shall be equipped with a brake that enables the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
Absolutely you do!
Here is the law http://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/00817.htm
Here is a copy and paste of what exactly it says:
28-817. Bicycle equipment
A. A bicycle that is used at nighttime shall have a lamp on the front that emits a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the front and a red reflector on the rear of a type that is approved by the department and that is visible from all distances from fifty feet to three hundred feet to the rear when the reflector is directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. A bicycle may have a lamp that emits a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear in addition to the red reflector.
B. A person shall not operate a bicycle that is equipped with a siren or whistle.
C. A bicycle shall be equipped with a brake that enables the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
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Title Post: What is the most powerful bike light i can buy?
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