Ok so I've read the posts and could be persuaded to splash out some cash on lights but not £200-300+ for the 'proven' bike lights. I understand that those converted to night riding will view these as bone questions but I'd rather splash out big money on bike upgrades.
So I'm looking at some of the cheaper alternatives.
I've read reviews on here but what are peoples real experiences (DX/LUU/Hope)?
Are these lights bright enough for off-roading? (where/are you riding as opposed to your regular trails?)
Waterproof?
How long is a DX bike light taking for delivery at the mo?
What helmet/bars combination are you using?
Cheers
Hi, I've been night riding for quite a few years and struggling by with 10watt nimh stuff (Smart, Vista light etc). They are okay for riding slowly and for a short time, but my mates all progressed to Halide, which is bright, but £300 for a set of lights?? I recently ordered some of the DX lights, but cancelled after a week of waiting for the order to change from 'awaiting supplier' and instead, today took delivery of a set of LUUs from On One. Just been out in the garden with them and they are brilliant! Buy some!
The P7 emmitter is where it is at, its a powerful tool.
But you pays your choice.
In a DX its £50.00, in a LUU its £140.00, in an Exposure its over £200.00, in a Nuke Proof Reactor Eco its £199.99, in a Lupine Tesla 4 its £235.00
I would say a DX but I have been waiting 3 weeks
DX would be my choice, but they're definately having a spot of bother with demand just now (not too surprising, it's getting dark across europe and they're getting incredible word of mouth).
I've got a DX but I've managed to bust it - I ran it completely and utterly flat and I think I've managed to do something to the internals - my complete lack of knowledge on electrics and my vague grasp of this LED technology is suggesting that because the battery wasn't capable of providing the required power output, the torch ended up dying as it was forcing itslef to try to run on less power and it did some damage.
Saying that, I've had the light since March-ish and it has been superb - a nice light from it - not shaped but certainly wide enough and the battery last about 1.5 hours on mid power output - but as I carry (although managed to not on last week's ride!) spare batteries it's a 10-20 second job to swap them over...
I'd have another DX light, for the money they are excellent...obviously not built to the same standard as the more expensive lights but if you are on a budget it is a very good place to start.
Once I get paid at the end of the month I think I'll be ordering up the dedicated bike light version of it - 3.5hours of burn would be plenty time for me...
I've had a chance to play with a Lupine Tesla 5 (not 4) and it is very good, also played with a Hope Vision 4 (if I had the cash this is what I'd be going for) and an Exposure Maxx something and a Diablo - Diablo I think is a better light than the Maxx but there isn't much in it - both put out a very usable light.
Only real drawback with these lights is the cost - they are all very good but you need to have the readies to purchase them, if you don't, the DX is a very good alternative but just be aware that it isn't made to quite such a high standard.
I ran it completely and utterly flat and I think I've managed to do something to the internals
I would have thought that the batteries are protected which means they'll switch off before they're allowed to be drained too far - could be wrong though.
Yes, that was my understanding as well...and my knowledge is very limited so it's just a complete stab in the dark...but I've now put a freshly charged battery in (actually tried 5 of them) and none of them are working...if I turn the screw top 1/8th of a turn it can flicker on but then flickers and goes off...the torch is dead...it hasn't been dropped or knocked as far as I know and the only thing that has been done to it that it normally doesn't get is used with a completely flat battery...
Like I said, I've no understanding of how all this works and that is the thought that is in my head...I'm sure it is wrong but that is what I keep coming abck to...I drained the battery beyond what the torch was actually needing to work.
thread here:
[url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/on-one-luu-lights-have-landed#post-727415 ]Luu vs Exposure[/url]
i've got a Luu, and i'm borrowing a friends Exposure race.
(900 lumens vs 500)
a friend of mine has the 900 lumen Dx light.
conclusion:
our senses are logarythmic, something with twice the light output isn't twice as bright, it's only a little bit lighter.
something with twice the sound output isn't twice as loud, it's only a little bit louder.
The 500 lumen exposure race is great. the 900 lumen Luu and Dx lights are a little brighter, and do throw their light over more ground, but you've got to be paying attention to notice any difference between the three whilst riding.
the real winning set-up is getting a 100 lumen (maybe a little more) led head torch on your helmet.
when you're moving your handlebars, you'll be swinging your bar-mounted light all over the place, it's actually quite hard to get your light pointing where you want to see, a little head torch fills in these gaps (points light where you're looking).
the Dx light is a good light, but it seems there have been some reliability issues/long delivery times , and the Luu comes with a long run-time battery.
Ahwiles
That must be the most sensable review to date. I have a "bastid" and yes it is alot better than my old lumi halogens but the real winner as you put it is a lamp on yer bonce, I use a dinotte 200L and it is not the brightest thing in the world but it does light where you are loooking
I use the Dinotte 200L on my head and the DX P7 on my bars as well. Only problem i find is that i am jumping from lots of light to quite low level light in comparison with the dinotte. Enough to see but it can be a little distracting.