What is the difference in practice between the CREE U2 double light that looks like an owl and the CREE XML single light that looks like a headlight?
Which should I have on my bars/head for offroad riding?
Thanks!
I was wondering similar about U2/L2's and came to the conclusion L2 may be slightly brighter and less powerhungry but much of a muchness.
I'd be interested to hear.
I'm not sure exactly which lights you're talking about - Cree is just the manufacturer of the LEDs and lots of different lights use them.
Cree make various different LEDs, such as the XP-G, XP-G2, XM-L, and XM-L2, and these come in various brightnesses, identified by a "bin" code such as T6 and U2, with U2 being the brightest (although I think I've seen reference to a U3)
I think that most bike lights are currently using XM-L or XM-L2. From the datasheet for XM-L2:
The XLamp XM-L2 LED builds on the unprecedented performance of the original XM-L, increasing lumen output up to 20% while providing a single die LED point source for precise optical control.
So in terms of raw power, an XM-L2 U2 is going to be pretty much as bright as it gets.
The XP-G/XP-G2s have largely fallen out of favour as they're not as bright, but they do have the advantage of a smaller source meaning that they can be better focused.
Thanks. To clarify:
[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121212930987?var=420197808085&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649 ]owl type lamp[/url]
versus
[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121158828084?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649 ]ordinary looking lamp[/url]
From what I can see, the first has 2 x U2 which is brighter in the first place than the single T6 in the second - is that right?
Should I have brightest on the bar and less bright on the helmet?
Brightest and spotiest on helmet, floodiest on bar.
From what I can see, the first has 2 x U2 which is brighter in the first place than the single T6 in the second - is that right?
Yep, although the differences between T6 and U2 aren't great (less than 10%) the fact that there are two of them will make a significant difference. I think when that Solarstorm was discussed on here we concluded it was actually about 1,500 lumens.
It's less than 1500 lumens - I have a U2 unit and it is roughly the same, maybe a little less, than my Gloworm X2 which is about 1150 lumens.
Run high it is a decent bar light to combine with something spottier for the helmet.
The "owl" one is usually referred to as a solarstorm x2. They're decent wee lights but the batteries and chargers quality can be questionable. The same goes for thr head unit itself.. still a great wee light for the price, as long as you get a decent one.
I had one of them but it conked out after 2 rides..
Look for yinding lights, similar output but seem to be much better made. Bit more floody than the x2s and there's still a question over the battery and charger but for a similar price it seems a better bet.