Can anyone receomend any decent lights for off road use that I can get for under £100?
I do not fancy buying anything from the far east so just lights I can order in the UK please.
So far I have found these...
Cheers
Bike Forum
Which sub £100 trail lights?
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Posted 8 months ago #
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Deal Exteme have a UK warehouse now:
http://club.dealextreme.com/forums/Forums.dx/threadid.954315
eg this is the MJ-808 DX light that lots of us have (and I'd recommend) from a UK warehouse
Posted 8 months ago # -
Oh, though I notice it's currently out of stock
Posted 8 months ago # -
Magicshine.
Been using my MJ-808 for nearly a year and have been very impressed. Works fine on its own and i've been very impressed by Magicshine's service & delivery times.
Posted 8 months ago # -
How about a light from smudge, who frequents this site & does batteries, lights etc....?
Posted 8 months ago # -
If I had £100 to spend, I would get this one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Magicshine-MJ-872-Front-Cycle-Light-Huge-1600-Lumens-/130579422135?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Cycling_Bike_Lights&hash=item1e6723dbb7There's a review here:
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/another-dx-light-option-a-mini-review-and-beamshotsPosted 8 months ago # -
I had the Terra 2 was very good
Posted 8 months ago # -
As per AlexSimon, if I didn't already have light's, I'd be split between Smudge's (MTB Batteries) XM-L unit or the 1600lumen 4x Cree LED units (MJ872/MJ856's) on ebay.
Friend has one on order, so will test/compare them soon (I have a Smudge XML)Posted 8 months ago # -
I've just bought a set from DE but if I can't source a suitable head torch and I like the DE light then I may buy Smudge's version rather than wait a few weeks. Emailed him for advice the other day and he was very helpful and also has a very good reputation on here.
Posted 8 months ago # -
What's the consensus for the best cheapish headtorch?
Posted 8 months ago # -
stumpy01 - Member
How about a light from smudge, who frequents this site & does batteries, lights etc....?I have just got one of these and it is very well made and bright and smudges service couldn't be better.
Posted 8 months ago # -
can the MJ-808 DX light be completely helmet mounted (battery and light)? is 900 lumens considered enough? I don't need to light a footy pitch, but do need to see the trail
sorry for my noobie questions
Posted 8 months ago # -
The MJ808 is plenty bright enough - it's at least twice as bright as what was considered useable about 5 years ago...
Posted 8 months ago # -
thanks. it looks similar to the 'headtorch' light - has anyone actually lid mounted that?
Posted 8 months ago # -
The basic P7 light with battery bag sold for £40 across ebay works well and manages 2h40m on full power, although that hasn't stopped me now spending far too much on an another Exposure light to match up with my helmet mounted Joystick...
Posted 8 months ago # -
not far eastern and not a torch, but I am a big fan of niterider stuff. My Halogen light lasted 12 yrs and only died as I neglected the battery. Got a 150 lumen Minewt USB which is plenty bright enough to get around SITS with no issues, and CRC are doing it in brighter variants for comfortably less than a ton
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=54535
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=70834
quick charge, long life, well made. Ive no idea why people need 1000 lumens, I happily rode with a 15W halogen helmet mount on all sorts of trails (and my night laps were quicker than my day laps at MM/SITS).
Posted 8 months ago # -
MJ-872 here. Very impressed.
£90 off ebay from magicshineuk
Posted 8 months ago # -
Iv'e just bought a jetbeam pa40 from flashaholics. Its 468 lumens. Use it on my helmet and have been very pleased. It cost £70 and uses 4 AA's so quite versitile. I didn't know about the ebay light though, so may have gone for that.
Posted 8 months ago # -
Just did my first ride with a new Magicshine XML light... very spotlighty, but the power of the beam is ridiculous, makes my older P7s seem dull. The pattern's not ideal- the main beam is very bright then there's a less bright (but still well lit) halo, but because of the sheer power of the centre spot and the hard cutouff it still seems dull. I'm pretty sure that the overall useful spread and fill is better than my P7s, but it doesn't feel like it when riding.
Still, it's a fantastic head light. Wouldn't put it on the bars.
Posted 8 months ago # -
Still, it's a fantastic head light. Wouldn't put it on the bars
Not what I'm wanting to hear!!
Posted 8 months ago # -
Sorry dude! You might find your results vary, I've not got great night vision so the high contrasts might give me more trouble than normal people.
Did I mention it's a fantastic head light? It really is... Weighs very little too.
Posted 8 months ago # -
IIRC there were some issues with the batteries not being very well sealed on some earlier models. How do the new ones compare? Some of the newer variants have a battery with a display on them, are these any good?
I'd b looking a5 psiring one of these with my DIY hammond box light on either bars or lid depending.
Posted 8 months ago # -
I wrote up the 4*xpg mj-872 review mentioned up above.
I can only add that I'm a fan of cheap lights and tend to buy one each year (which makes them not so cheap!) I've owned an original P7 bastid, a mickey mouse and and XML before I got the mj-872.
I dont quiet know how to put this - but similar to Northwind - the XML's hotspot overwhelms my eye (or minds eye) : if that makes sense.
When in the woods at night the XML has a small fantastically lit and well defined hot spot. On the other hand it is very difficult to tell where the centre of the mj-872's beam is. It's that "wide" in use. But it is a lot more expensive.
stayhigh - the later batteries are much much better sealed. The one with the display is so sealed could probably be used outside a submarine. But as someone pointed out - they are heavier than the recent non-display ones.
Posted 8 months ago # -
I use Terra 2s for unlit b roads and canals. Got them because I prefer the charging system to aa bats. They have been fine in wet conditions and the charge lasts well.
Posted 8 months ago # -
See another thread where I got a reflector out of a p7 and put it in the XML in order to make the beam a flood. The reflectors cost around £9 if you don't have a spare already.
AFAIK Smudge's light already includes a orange peel reflector, but I don't know how this compares.It's a shame the XML manufacturers didn't just do a little more research before producing. If it had been floodier then it would have been a perfect budget light.
I'll be keeping my eye open to see if the specs on DX change.Posted 8 months ago # -
Ging back to batteries it would seem that only the more expensive lights on DX have the new style LED battery. I'll have atrawl over flea bay and see what that turns up.
If nothing useful then I may go for the Smudge light on the premise that he knows more about these things then me lol
That and it will get here sooner rather then the DX lottery post
Posted 8 months ago # -
See another thread where I got a reflector out of a p7 and put it in the XML in order to make the beam a flood. The reflectors cost around £9 if you don't have a spare already.
So that's all it takes to change it to a flood then?! Have you got a before and after beam shot on that other thread?
Posted 8 months ago # -
Sorry Taff, no - I should do one I suppose!
Posted 8 months ago # -
Anyone know where the best price can be had for the MJ-872.
Looks like the best value for money performance light out there.
Looking to have my first off road rides this winter.
Posted 8 months ago # -
nick5
that jetbeam one (xm-l but using AA's looks exactly what I'm after). Run times look ok and I'm keen to use my stock of rechargeable AAs and good charger rather than invest in a whole new set up of 18650's.
How do you mount it (I have a lockblock for my current fenix)?
Is it light enough to wear on the helmet though in your experience? Or are you quickly developing the neck muscles of an F1 driver?
Note just weighed 4 x AA = 100g so plus torch is 285g....not sure what people think of that on the
Posted 8 months ago # -
I’m chuffed to bits this topic had popped up. Been racking my brain for what light to get Mrs S’eater that didn’t cost the earth. Didn’t realise there was so much choice.
Posted 8 months ago # -
Where can one obtain a floody reflector for the latest XML lights for £9? I've just bought one and it does seem a bit spotlighty.
Posted 8 months ago # -
failedengineer I saw them here, but this isn't the route I went down so can't guarantee it's the same (although it should be).
http://www.magicshinebikelights.co.uk/magicshine-mj-808-silver-reflector-cup.php?it=56&ca=12&p=1&so=0#I think I might have seen them on ebay too, but can't be sure.
Posted 8 months ago # -
Thanks Alex.
Posted 8 months ago #
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