[Closed] Front lights - 1000 Chinese lumens vs £100+ sets

Sorry, but anything like £100 for what is, frankly, a torch is just mental. I could maybe understand it if you were talking about unsupported forays into the artic circle or similar where robustness and longevity were at a premium but we're mostly pootling around in woods and/or on the commute.

The all in one Exposure I have now is great, love the beam pattern, decent weight an control for an all in one helmet light, lots of control and I expect to be using it in 4 years time.

There's a middle ground between cheap chinese and expensive branded, I got a pair of Magicshine MJ872s about 3 winters ago for I think £70 each. They've both had replacement batteries (largely my fault for not looking after them) but otherwise are still good as new, and came with good chargers too. (it's a very similiar design to the Nitefinder BT40 mentioned up the page)

The real cheapies seem a false economy to me, if nothing else cheap chargers are pretty undependable and the worst case scenarios there are pretty worsty. And the batteries are rarely much cop. So you replace the battery, and then maybe you replace the charger, and you've spent twice as much as the light cost. And they often have pretty horrible beam patterns- with modern light levels, spotlights make no sense, you just end up chasing the bright dot and losing all your peripheral vision, a 1000+ lumen light can give a good field of vision as well as range. But you really don't need to spend a lot.

(I can't make a recommendation but if I had to get a new light tomorrow it'd be a Torchy most likely)

As for selfcontained, it always means settling for less batteries, less power, or a lot of weight on your noggin and it cuts choice and adds cost. You have to really not like cables for it to be a good option for most riding

medoramas - Member

For solo riding the LOW settings on both is sufficient for 95% of fast XC riding. Goes up to MED on scary stuff.

Are you a bat? 200 lumens is really not much.

Buy them on Amazon from Amazon that way u get the a-z guarantee for a refund, as regards blowing up and burning down your house, as with any recharging only recharge them when you are in the house never leave charging when you are out or on work tops or carpet, best to charge on the oven top I'd say

Used to extol the virtues of cheap lights.

Then discovered mtbbatteries lights.

Now on exposure.

Won't be going back.

New helmet light needed here!
Is it worth getting an Exposure Joystick over a tactical light like a Fenix TK15?
The Fenix is cheaper and has a massive beam range.
Would the exposure create a more suitable beam pattern for looking ahead at the trail 20metres or so ahead?

Over the years ive purchesed a bunch of lights. I'd say the sweet sport is around the £100 area. It offers quality, support and usually a decent beam profile.
Much beyond this you have nicer materials and features, but no real increase in output. Below this is usually crap battery's, chargers, clamps etc.

I think the best value light was an inton - I paid £100 and it's still gets used 5 years later.
My new exposure strada 1200 is a quality but of kit but it's the same output as the into but much longer battery life - thanks 5 years of led technology for you. I can't say it's three times better.

The one key thing I've learnt. Output should come second to a decent beam profile. I spent fat too long chasing a very bright circle though the woods.

I would buy the joystick it's a great light and it weighs next to nothing.

Has anyone else tried the ones from Aldi? Cheap at £20

https://www.aldi.co.uk/cree-high-lumen-bike-light/p/070187027744400

If you already have good quality 18650 batteries (3400 Panasonics for example) and the charging kit, then this is worth a look:

https://www.fasttech.com/product/4217401-niwalker-mm15mb-led-flashlight

I got one for £110 from a chinese seller and it's performed brilliantly. You can run @ 2800L for nearly 3 hours. If you need even more light the 6900L Turbo setting is insanely bright - it will turn a football pitch sized area into daylight basically. It has a universal tripod mount so I cheekily purchased the Exposure Bar mount and Shoe and used that. Its rock solid and takes two seconds to mount so no faffing about with shonky wobbly bracketry. I needed to bond on a small aluminium riser plate so the Exposure mount shoe cleared the bezel but easy enough to do.

This is way better than all the other Chinese stuff I've bought over the years and once you've ditched separate batteries there is no going back. Basically you get virtually top end Exposure performance for about a third of the price. Doesn't have the plug and play charging simplicity of the Exposure set - up (you need to take the batteries out obviously)but its not a big issue to me. Ive also got Exposure lights, if you've got the cash they are still the best option out there.

Just ordered a claimed 1000 lumen light from aldi on line reduced from £40 to £20
UK plug and good returns policy
I think for the money you can't go wrong

https://www.aldi.co.uk/cree-high-lumen-bike-light/p/070187027744400

(I can't make a recommendation but if I had to get a new light tomorrow it'd be a Torchy most likely)

I bought a fluxient set from Torchy with a 50% higher power rating than my glowworms for a mate, but was pretty dissappointed in them. Well build though.

after a melted charger and some problems with the original batteries
on an older magicshine light
i rode with this setup quite a while...
18650 samsungs, a good charger and DIY housing...
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now on exposure...

[Url=just chucked £12 at this on eBay] http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401038253698 [/url]

Plus some some more batteries, reckon I'll be able to try it out in a month or so...

Oh, I see the XHP70 is starting to find its way into inexpensive lights, that could be a big deal if it delivers on potential <orders cheap XHP light from kaidomain>

deano8 - Member

Is it worth getting an Exposure Joystick over a tactical light like a Fenix TK15? The Fenix is cheaper and has a massive beam range.

The joystick helmet mount is pretty much perfect tbh. And the lights are compact and light. Can't relaly comment on the beam quality other than that tactical torches tend to go for narrow beams (for range and for blinding people) which is pretty bad for a bike light. But fenix do make good kit.

My Sunwayman V20c used to be my helmet light. Exposure Diablo now on my lid, nicer beam pattern and more reliable runtime, plus option for rear light

My nitefighter bt40s bar light is often run on low, sometimes medium. Very rarely on high

Zippykona / northwind - thanks for your comments:)

Anyone any experience of the Lezyne Macro drive units?

The 600XL looks good for my needs to replace one of my solarstorms. I know runtime won't be as good but just need something to light the cycle path and want to move away from a remote battery.

I have the 900 version. Really nice beam and easy to use.

Exposure for me, most of my riding is night riding (family duties) and 99% of my riding buddies light issues are from the cheap lights.

Ive had my maxx-d and joystick for 6 years, in those 6 years they have never turned off and i leave them on charge all week without a care in the world, yes they are expensive but they are currently costing me around £50 a year which im more than happy with.

I used cheap Chinese lights for a few years, I had the original magicshine and then a pair of solarstorms (one of which I think is a fake).

I then bought an Exposure Diablo for my helmet as I was starting to ride more without a pack. I added a MaxxD for the bars a month later when all 3 batteries I had for the solar storms decided to throw a fit at once, and the guys at Sherwood pines cycles did me a good deal on the exposure.

If they'd had stock onthe night, I probably would have bought a Hope light instead, but I'm very happy with the exposure, the light spread is fantastic and it pairs very well with the Diablo. Yes they were expensive, but they're about to enter their 3rd winter and I don't expect to need to replace them any time soon! Having the confidence to charge them inside the house is great too as I can come in from a night ride and drop them on the chargers in the office and they're ready for the next days ride.

This has proven perfectly adequate. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172055121022?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Oh, I see the XHP70 is starting to find its way into inexpensive lights

The T6 single led one that accu shows has been good for me for several winters now. No sign of falling apart.

Using good batteries and chargers though from Lupine/Smudge.

I've got a Fluxient light that I use on the bars, cost around £100 a couple of years back. The one with 3 led's, can't remember which type they are but it's bloody bright with a very useful spread of light. Cracking bit of kit and the battery is still going well (has been properly tested). Can't recommend it enough.

Also the charger works well for my solarstorm that I use on the lid, which is also very good and has lasted well.

Thinking of maybe upgrading to an Exposure 6 pack at some point in the future.

I bought the 3000 lumen light from C&Bseen for £65 and it has been amazing. It honestly sounds a bit too good to be true, even came in a nice little zip up carry case?? It feels very well built and came with one of those wireless switches too!

I've been looking at those, out of stock just now and a little more expensive but look promising.

Remind me why I shouldn't just cough for a crappy Chinese light an bin it at the end of winter please.
Sustainability. We need to stop treating our environment as disposable. I've had the same set of Lumicycle bar lights for around five years now. Still working, still brilliant, great customer service on the one occasion I needed it for an ageing switch. They've been used a lot.

This +1 but Exposure instead of Lumicycle - I want things to last and not be disposable. I had three Chinese lights, one didn't work, one lasted a month, one lasted 18 months. As soon as I could afford an Exposure in the sales that's what I got. Maxx-D has done me three years of commuting and night biking without missing a beat. One mount on each bike and it's the quickest, fuss-free lighting out there.

I have a selection; 2/3 Chinese xml lamps the oldest of which is three years old, all on original batteries and chargers. Also have a four4th Genesis with enormabattery which I let get too flat so wouldn't take a charge. Phone call to four4th and posted it back, returned working within a few days. Great off road lamp but beam pattern is purely flood, which I wanted. I have the Chinese lamps mounted as a pair under the bars on the winter bike, one with the flat beam converter that C and B seen did. All bases covered.

I've had cheap chinese lights, torchy lights and now on exposure (Maxx D and a diablo)

Probably 90% of my mtb riding is at night, 30+ min drive each way and possibly my only chance in a week to get out and about.

A ruined ride from a knackered light or battery not holding its charge puts me in a grim mood.

All my old lights have been re batteried and passed on to mates but on more than one occasion they've ended up with my diablo to finish a ride

Always used cheapo chinese lights, current long term fav SolarStorm XT40, only difference is I use a battery box and some TorchyTheBatteryBoy 18650 cells, with an Xtar VP2 charger.

Get around 3-4 night rides from each charge on a mix of high and medium light output.

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Isn't it strange how a lot of the popular Chinese lights are no longer available?

Specifically Yinding 900, NiteFighter BT21 and I just did a search for cruzcampo's Solarstorm XT40 and that's not available either.

Either they're too good or too bad.

I think its more a case of they do a run of x thousand and assume that something new will be ready for the next season.

The UK DIY / cottage lot have said that the speed at which the Far East develops stuff is so fast that they struggle to keep competitive.

I had an expensive light then it broke and I couldn't get it fixed so went cheap chinese. I found that the battery was rubbish (like many others on here) so when it gave up I replaced it with a fully waterproof magicshine version. The light unit went after that so I bought a magicshine light to match the battery. All this has been over a 3-4 year period (the magicshine light/battery is now just starting its 3rd winter).

The problem I found with magicshine / cheap chinese is the o-ring mountings are awful and any kind of decent offroad riding renders them a vibrating mess with lights pointing at all kinds of elevations by the time you stop/get to the bottom. As suggested on here I recently got a Hope Universal Light mount and mounted the magicshine on this; amazing difference. It is a great setup now.

I understand why people would buy the cheap chinese and the exposures et al of the world. However, I think the magicshine's with a decent mount are a good compromise (sat in the middle price wise). They seem to have good longevity but not cost 200+.

abeach - Member

The problem I found with magicshine / cheap chinese is the o-ring mountings are awful and any kind of decent offroad riding renders them a vibrating mess with lights pointing at all kinds of elevations by the time you stop/get to the bottom.

Varies a lot with bars, this, same as the Lupine lights they copied the design from- I used to think it was a user error because it never happened to me but then I swapped to smoother carbon bars and my lights all turned upside down 😆 THe Hope bracket is nice but the easier fix is to put a single wrap of cloth tape round the bar, for grip.

With the late nights coming in quicker with the aid of some cable ties .I have attached a £13Boruit 5000lms cree head torch to my bike and as it was only £13 I bought a second set to keep the batteries charged for spare. I get 2.5 hrs burn time on full with 3x beam from one set of batteries can't argue with that

THe Hope bracket is nice but the easier fix is to put a single wrap of cloth tape round the bar, for grip.

I've never liked the rubber O-ring type mounts for lights of any size. At best the light usually vibrates on uneven ground or even worse changes position.

If possible I've always converted to the Hope clamp or the Exposure mount. I won't buy a light now if it doesn't come with that type of clamp or can't be converted easily.

Duct tape's still pretty slippy. I use electician's cloth tape (loom tape, sometimes called), just because I happen to have it, works a charm. But the clamp is neater.

forzafkawi - Member

Isn't it strange how a lot of the popular Chinese lights are no longer available?

Specifically Yinding 900, NiteFighter BT21 and I just did a search for cruzcampo's Solarstorm XT40 and that's not available either.

Either they're too good or too bad.

The Yinding 900 is still available:
http://www.gearbest.com/yinding-_gear/

Solarstorm XT40 is also called the X6 I think and available here:
http://www.kaidomain.com/Search/SearchResult.solarstorm/0/2/20/rank?show=grid

I thought about the XT40 (X6), but thought it might be a little big for the usual mounts, so decided on the Nitefighter BT40S.

Shown side-by-side here:
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The Yinding 900 is still available:
http://www.gearbest.com/yinding-_gear/

A lot of people have had all sorts of issues with GearBest (including me) so you are really taking a double chance if you choose to buy from them. I bought a BT21 from them and it was sent to totally the wrong address.

I had to pay extra for the courier to re-deliver it to me and GearBest didn't answer any of my emails. That seems to be about the level of customer service you can expect from them judging by the MTBR forums.

That seems to be about the level of customer service you can expect from them judging by the MTBR forums.

Do they suggest it's better with lightmalls/Kaidomain/dx?
I've never had a problem with any of them tbh.

I've ordered quite a bit from DX and Kaidomain over the years and never had a problem and haven't really heard of people complaining on other forums about them either. Never ordered from lightmalls or heard anything about them so can't comment.

EDIT: I just Googled "Lightmalls" and hit all sorts of people complaining about them so maybe they are a bit dicey too.

AlexSimon - Member

I thought about the XT40 (X6), but thought it might be a little big for the usual mounts, so decided on the Nitefighter BT40S.

Have you used it yet? Very curious about that one, it's the direct descendent of my old MJ872s but with 2 generations of LED upgrade in it so if it keeps the same awesome beam but adds power and efficiency, as it bloomin should, it'll be pretty ace. (depends how they're driven but the max lumen of the XPG2 isn't far off twice that of the old XPE)

Yes, used a friends - it was great. Didn't really analyse it too much. Quite floody, which is good on a bar-mount imo.
Seems well made (but then so did my BT21).
Neutral white is by far my preference.
I'm not sure it's much brighter than the MJ872 though. Couldn't directly compare. Haven't seen one in a while!