LIGHTS MEGATHREAD - all questions on riding lights asked and answered here!!!

[silentbutdeadly]

I run ayup on both bar and helmet but that is in a very XC situation not so much the higher speed enduro circumstances you might find yourself in...enough light for me but not perhaps enough for you.

 

[Ackland]

Exposure stuff is the BOMB Big JD....

I have a reflex MKII on the bars and waiting on an equinox for helmet use....

NEVER run the Reflex in highest mode. It can be run in reflex mode (auto adjusting) to last 12hrs with a useable light output for solo racing.

I'll expect the same life out of an Equinox with booster (for 12/24) that sits in your jersey pocket and has a wireless bar mounted switch.... BLIIIING

 

[Big JD]

Yeah looking at the Exposure Equinox for the helmet. i do like the AYUP set up alround and they have been bombproof- just a little undergunned

 

[wombat]

I've got an equinox, got it for the Mont but it hasn't seen much use yet. Its stupid bright for something that size, and the beam is nice and even. Pretty broad though, definitely not a focused spot.

 

[John U]

Exposure stuff is the BOMB Big JD....

I have a reflex MKII on the bars and waiting on an equinox for helmet use....

NEVER run the Reflex in highest mode. It can be run in reflex mode (auto adjusting) to last 12hrs with a useable light output for solo racing.

I'll expect the same life out of an Equinox with booster (for 12/24) that sits in your jersey pocket and has a wireless bar mounted switch.... BLIIIING

Auto adjusting? How does that go?

 

[Ackland]

It works so well that I can barely notice it dimming on climbs....

 

[eastie]

Recently got an exposure equinox to add to my ayups for when i ride at night with the daughter or wife. As others said, amazing light, great bar light as its a good spread beam and not a spot like the diablo. Price isnt going to please everyone, but i don't mind that for kit thats quality and works. Pushys had the best price.

 

[ringburner]

Lupine Piko gets me a little EXCITED!!!

Yeah looking at the Exposure Equinox for the helmet. i do like the AYUP set up alround and they have been bombproof- just a little undergunned

Pushys Specials - get on board.
http://www.pushys.com.au/bike-acces.../performance-lights.html?dir=desc&order=price

Check out the specials at the moment. Amazing value for Exposure lights - you need to jag them on special as they are pretty expensive I reckon. But amazing lights - agree with Equinox for helmet, great pickup I reckon.

Niterider.
http://www.pushys.com.au/niterider-pro-1200-race-front-light-2014.html

Seriously good light, bomb proof, it is about the quality of light not so much the 'lumens' (as others have said earlier) - run at medium (600 lumens) and it burns for 3.5 hours!!! Pretty spanking good value for 200 clams - and will not let you down.

Ay-Ups.
As for people saying go for Ay-Ups. I would completely disagree, they are really underpowered and overpriced. I have used these lights numerous times in 24 hour races and agree they are solid, no bomb proof, and have great battery life - but they don't compare to the new breed of lights. It was a different story 7-8 years ago when they really set a new benchmark. I really hope they are working on a new set of lights with 1000 lumens or so.

Lupine Piko - The EXCITEMENT MACHINES...
My two cents worth on Lupine lights. If I had a lazy 500 to spend (which is basically what you need for Ay-Ups) I would snag a set of these babies - amazing German engineering.

And if you read their site you can upgrade batteries and lights if needed in future (pretty sure the piko would need to go back to factory - doubt you would do that!... but, the Wilma and Betty can be upgraded at home! - but again, would you need to do this?).

I think it would be hard to convince yourself you would need more than 1200 Lupine Lumens - I actually think the Wilma and Betty would have too much light, wouldn't they? (suppose Quiggs only runs them on half power or maybe even less...).

The bit I like is the Piko with the big battery you get 4 hours of light - all in a 300g set including battery!!! These lights really excite me - can you tell?

http://www.virtuascape.com.au/light-sets/light-sets-bike/piko-7

Or German webiste:
http://lupine.de/eng/products/helmet-and-bikelights/piko

 

[quiggs]

I'm biased in my opinion with the Lupine lights, the little Piko is an awesome light, for the money the Piko 7 with the larger battery that will give you 4hrs on full power is great value, comes with everything you need to attach to your helmet. Down the track you could purchase a handlebar mount http://www.virtuascape.com.au/lupine-accessories/mounting-options/cnc-bar-mount-piko

Something that needs to be taken into consideration with Lupine lights is there light output measurements are accurate not theoretical measurements like most other companies. So at 1200 lumens this light will look like many others 2000+ lumen lights. check across at the mtbr light forum for more details http://reviews.mtbr.com/2014-mtbr-bike-lights-shootout

I really like Exposure lights, awesome products have great beam spread, fully contained light/battery, weakness run times on full noise are short and they take forever to recharge, which isn't favourable for night racing. External batteries aren't cheap to purchase.

Go the Piko JD, you won't be disappointed

 

[ringburner]

Hmm... Lupine on Head or Handles?

I'm biased in my opinion with the Lupine lights, the little Piko is an awesome light, for the money the Piko 7 with the larger battery that will give you 4hrs on full power is great value, comes with everything you need to attach to your helmet. Down the track you could purchase a handlebar mount http://www.virtuascape.com.au/lupine-accessories/mounting-options/cnc-bar-mount-piko

Something that needs to be taken into consideration with Lupine lights is there light output measurements are accurate not theoretical measurements like most other companies. So at 1200 lumens this light will look like many others 2000+ lumen lights. check across at the mtbr light forum for more details http://reviews.mtbr.com/2014-mtbr-bike-lights-shootout

I really like Exposure lights, awesome products have great beam spread, fully contained light/battery, weakness run times on full noise are short and they take forever to recharge, which isn't favourable for night racing. External batteries aren't cheap to purchase.

Go the Piko JD, you won't be disappointed

So if/when Big JD snags a Lupine Piko set of lights does he run the Piko on his head with and Ay-Up on bars - or brighter Piko on bars with Ay-Up on head? All the talk has been around the latter to ensure the definition of trail (i.e. shadows)... Is that right?

 

[quiggs]

The Piko on the bars at al lower power output till he realises his night riding potential and gets another for his lid!

 

[Big JD]

Supporting my LBS- they made me an offer on gloworm x2 that was amazing.

X2 on the helmet and AyUp on the bar for now. Keep you posted

 

[ChopSticks]

I've gotta give some credit to Chopsticks for this, as he suggested just putting a screw through a GoPro Link.
the screw for the Solar Storm is M4x0.7 if anyone is interested.

Camzh !!! can you please confirm the screw size for the solarstorm is indeed M4 with a pitch of 0.7mm?
I'm not anywhere near my solarstorms and plan to go to bunnings for the correct screw !


EDIT: all good... YES! its a M4 x 0.7 bolt... confirmed on MTBR, and consequently found a few neater methods of mounting my solarstorms!

the plan is to get a new lid (Met Parabellum) that has an integrated camera mount (same as the Bell Super)... which will let me stick a gopro mount onto.
then simply attach the solarstorm with the mount in place.

Vancbiker on MTBR is running a side biz... and looks to be making some sweet mounts!
http://fcdn.mtbr.com/attachments/li...placment-mount-gopro-mount-ssx2-lighthead.jpg

But I'm going to try my luck first with this attachment (slightly lower profile than the tripod mount I bought earlier):
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Bridge-A...LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ed40e04ba&_uhb=1

should allow me to use a M4 x 0.7 bolt without too much grief, lower AND longer than (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/UN3F-Min...H_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item43c7156a6f&_uhb=1) so should allow for a better position?

 

[ringburner]

I like it!

Supporting my LBS- they made me an offer on gloworm x2 that was amazing.

X2 on the helmet and AyUp on the bar for now. Keep you posted

Great call on the X2. I have done a little research and it seems really really good - very Piko like. Really look forward to your review/update Big JD.

 

[geoff_tewierik]

Do you know which version of the X2 you picked up JD?

 

[Big JD]

Do you know which version of the X2 you picked up JD?

didnt kniow there were different versions GT. The latest- they retail for $340 and have a little remote switch.

 

[geoff_tewierik]

didnt kniow there were different versions GT. The latest- they retail for $340 and have a little remote switch.

I have the V2 for bar duties (as well as the X1V1 for helmet duties). X2V2 is the 1200 Lumen one, if you've got the X2V3, that'd be the 1500 lumen one - updated led and lenses - sweet deal.

 

[Big JD]

I have the V2 for bar duties (as well as the X1V1 for helmet duties). X2V2 is the 1200 Lumen one, if you've got the X2V3, that'd be the 1500 lumen one - updated led and lenses - sweet deal.

yes it says 1500 loomen

I got a very sweet deal on it- its going on the helmet and Ayups on the bar - should be more than enough.

 

[effarr]

If you want a lower profile mount, I just cut a GoPro connector arm in half, and recessed a counter bore for the screw head to sit in. Easy and I don't think you'll get a mount that sits lower. I bought an alloy connector off eBay for $10 because the first plastic one I tried just cracked.

I can take a photo later if required.

Leon.

 

[Ackland]

Or buy lights with useable mounts?

:noidea: