Cycle lights

[Jakubclaret]

Hi, I’m just wondering if anybody can recommend any decent front cycle lights preferably USB rc, above 500 lumens? I’ve been having a look at moon & magicshine, loads of different makes on eBay/amazon but gambling on them lasting, lots of don’t even mention warranty ect. Thanks.

[tim_noone]

Hi, I’m just wondering if anybody can recommend any decent front cycle lights preferably USB rc, above 500 lumens? I’ve been having a look at moon & magicshine, loads of different makes on eBay/amazon but gambling on them lasting, lots of don’t even mention warranty ect. Thanks.

I'm sure halfords or the bike shop in colne would be the best place to go. I've bought online fantastic.....for a week then that's your lot..made in.china

[Jakubclaret]

I'm sure halfords or the bike shop in colne would be the best place to go. I've bought online fantastic.....for a week then that's your lot..made in.china

You’re right, everything breaks at the drop of a hat from there. I’m reluctant to spend a lot of money being what it is, it will sort itself out pointless worrying.

[evensteadiereddie]

You'll probably be paying around £20 for a dependable, bright, multi-flashing USB rechargeable number. As t-n says, anything cheap won't last.
At least you've got a good few weeks to consider your options. A decent bike shop is your best bet.

[Jakubclaret]

You'll probably be paying around £20 for a dependable, bright, multi-flashing USB rechargeable number. As t-n says, anything cheap won't last.
At least you've got a good few weeks to consider your options. A decent bike shop is your best bet.

Thing is, I don’t think you’re guaranteed quality spending money you’re paying for the name, best option buy cheap then not disappointed but maybe surprised.

[evensteadiereddie]

Try a local bike shop staffed by cyclists. Their sound advice will cost you nothing. The rest will be up to you. You may well get the product he/she recommends cheaper on the net but I think it's better sometimes to give the local shop your support. Just ask.

[Pearcey]

I bought some from Amazon that were ok. I do a fair bit of riding at night so I ended up paying £120 for a pair but of lights. They are incredible! You definitely get what you pay for.

[Jakubclaret]

I bought some from Amazon that were ok. I do a fair bit of riding at night so I ended up paying £120 for a pair but of lights. They are incredible! You definitely get what you pay for.

Can you remember the make & model? I’ll check them out, thanks.

[Pearcey]

Nite Rider Lumina 950 on the front and a solas 100 on the back. Might be newer models now though.

[Millertime v1.7]

Mate listen, I paid £180 for a front light last year. It comes with two rechargeable battery packs which strap to the top tube. You don't get these in Halfords, bud.
It's called the Hope R4 and it WILL change your life.

[CombatClaret]

Hi, I’m just wondering if anybody can recommend any decent front cycle lights preferably USB rc, above 500 lumens? I’ve been having a look at moon & magicshine, loads of different makes on eBay/amazon but gambling on them lasting, lots of don’t even mention warranty ect. Thanks.

Highly recommend a pair of Moon Comets, still going great a year later including some very wet winter commutes. At least one way of my journey is night time, in winter both.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Moon-Comet-Fro ... 01M6CSUF9/
Mine are a slightly older model.

For city/town riding the normal Moon Comet is more than enough for letting people know you are there and dimmer paths/parks, you can see it lighting up street signs far away. If you are riding in unlit areas and need to illuminate the whole road maybe look at something like the Moon Meteor Vortex for the front and a Comet on the back.

[Jakubclaret]

Thanks everybody for the advice & suggestions, I've got quite abit to mull over & now I've got more confidence in making the right choice given the above information.

[Rammy1968]

I have the Garmin Varia lights the rear light is a radar and warns you of a car approaching from 100m away. You need a gear in computer which I already had Garmin 1000. The front light is intelligent as well which gets brighter as it gets darker and the spread of the beam increases as you go faster.

[Billyblah]

Some of the best bicycle lights include those by Lezyne and Catseye. Lights are also marketed by Hope (as mentioned previously) who do a wide range of higher end equipment. You will find products by those manufacturers on websites such as Evans, Chain Reaction and Wiggle.
If you're cycling on poorly lit or unlit roads I'd suggest using two front lights. A flashing lamp at something like 100-200 lumen (to be noticed by motorists) and a more powerful headlamp, minimum 400 lumen. With anything weaker you'll hit the potholes before you see them. Be prepared to spend £40£60 plus but if you shop around on those websites for a few weeks they occasionally have special deals.
I'd avoid Halfords. Generally unremarkable products at top end prices. There are a number of specialist cycle shops around and you may find those products there.

[The Quattro]

I use Lezyne for my smaller lights and I also have an Exposure MaXx-D for winter when I tend to go off road on my commute and need constant powerful light. The MaXx-D is quite bulky though and it does have a tendency to dazzle oncoming traffic so might be a bit much for road riding.

[BennyD]

Work harder and buy a car, they come with headlights already installed.

[Jakubclaret]

Work harder and buy a car, they come with headlights already installed.

Already drive it’s for exercise, thanks for the sagely advice, anyhow.

[Dougall]

Mate listen, I paid £180 for a front light last year. It comes with two rechargeable battery packs which strap to the top tube. You don't get these in Halfords, bud.
It's called the Hope R4 and it WILL change your life.

Made by Hope Technology - from Barnoldswick?

[happyclaret17]

I paid 20 quid for a rechargeable light from china....very bright,,,,3 modes including flash...had it 3 years now...cannot fault it

[Millertime v1.7]

Made by Hope Technology - from Barnoldswick?

Yep, I'm a fanboy, got a lot of their gear. Started with a set of x2 brakes, then got a headset, bottom bracket, hubs, skewers. Finally the light. Breaking the bank with all that because it's expensive, but hey, you get you pay for. Can't get enough of that cnc machined goodness

[aggi]

I've tried a few of the cheap Chinese ones and not been impressed. Also had a couple of Lezyne ones and although good build quality they've never quite won me over for the price (inconsistent battery indicators are particularly annoying on them and not too keen on the button).

I've now got a Moon Meteor Storm and they're definitely a cut above the cheap chinese ones. Something like this is a good deal https://www.evanscycles.com/moon-meteor ... n-EV276569" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you're going expensive then Hope or Exposure are the ones to look at.

[Jakubclaret]

I've tried a few of the cheap Chinese ones and not been impressed. Also had a couple of Lezyne ones and although good build quality they've never quite won me over for the price (inconsistent battery indicators are particularly annoying on them and not too keen on the button).

I've now got a Moon Meteor Storm and they're definitely a cut above the cheap chinese ones. Something like this is a good deal https://www.evanscycles.com/moon-meteor ... n-EV276569" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you're going expensive then Hope or Exposure are the ones to look at.

That looks good for the price, I ended up taking combat clarets advice & going for the moon meteor vortex that fell within my budget,the others were tempting but north of what I wanted to shell out, understandable buying something expensive if you’ve got a top of the range bike & mega serious on all the forest trails ect, my need was simply commuting to work & back on the canal towpath on winter nights & short stretches of road exceeding no more than 10 miles.

[Rick_Muller]

For all the cyclists on here do you know if there are any regulations for mounting the lights on your bike? I ask because modern bike lights seem almost as bright, if not as bright as car headlights - and there are regulations for cars so as not to dazzle and blind other road users. I have found, personally, that some bike lights, especially those that strobe, can be particularly distracting and possible dangerous - hence the question.

[Jakubclaret]

For all the cyclists on here do you know if there are any regulations for mounting the lights on your bike? I ask because modern bike lights seem almost as bright, if not as bright as car headlights - and there are regulations for cars so as not to dazzle and blind other road users. I have found, personally, that some bike lights, especially those that strobe, can be particularly distracting and possible dangerous - hence the question.

Not sure rick, Maybe somebody more educated on the subject can answer, mostly I think it’s down to common sense, I wouldn’t hit a road above 1000 lumens, usually dim for traffic opposite side.