[Closed] What light set for under £75?

I bought a fluxient xm l2 off torchy on e bay,for £70. Very impressed with it so far. If you have a look on his website,he has a useful database of lights on there.

You could go for 2 cheap lights - one for the bars and one on the helmet, or one decent quality light.

The single LED Fluxients are a great light - see [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fluxient-xm-l2-light-a-mini-review ]here.[/url]

Or [url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Torchy-Oriole-2x-XM-L-T6-1000-lumen-led-bike-light-/301009317018?pt=UK_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item46158dac9a ]this [/url] on the bars and [url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREE-XM-L-XML-T6-LED-1800-Lm-Bicycle-bike-Head-Light-Headlamp-Rechargeable-Head-/251288567677?pt=UK_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item3a81f73f7d ]this[/url] to mount on the helmet.

There are a lot of cheap, fairly powerful 2 and 3 LED lights out there, but the reality is the batteries aren't up to the job. You'd be better off in the long run spending a little bit more for something with a decent battery.
The Solarstorm twin LED lights have a bit of a following because they're cheap and bright, but you'd need to budget another £25 for a battery, and you'll probably want to change the charger as well.

If he can stretch his budget another 15 quid, then I'd definitely go for [url= http://www.mtbbatteries.co.uk/mountain-bike-lights/v2-bike-light/ ]A set of these [/url] from MTB batteries. They're excellent! You'll find a good few people using them on any group night ride. And for good reason

It's worth that little bit extra for the reassurance of their excellent customer service, which you're just not going to get with cheapie eBay lights

This years current ‘darling’ is the Solarstorm X2, there are cheaper lights available like single XML's units. As per Marks post, they are very bright but the beam pattern is poor, unless your using it on your helmet to compliment another bar mounted unit IMO. I believe a dual XML to the best value
See beam shot [url= http://www.torchythebatteryboy.com/p/bike-light-database.html ]here (Torchy’s site)[/url]

[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SolarStorm-Hotest-X2-2x-CREE-XM-L2-XML2-LED-5200-LM-Bicycle-Bike-Light-Set-UK-/390706822186 ]£30 Complete unit[/url] (listed as the newest version of the LED) with battery & charger. These are usually suspect, but the battery is at least worth trying, there are report of the charger popping and starting to burn... don’t panic just yet, read on..

or

[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solarstorm-CREE-XM-L-XML-2-U2-LED-X2-2000Lm-Bicycle-Light-Bike-Light-Only-/261291459846?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cd62f4506 ] £13 for ‘just’ the head unit[/url] (shipped from china so a wait will be involved)

Now you’ll probably need a good battery
[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fluxient-6600mAh-7-4v-battery-with-pouch-compatible-with-Magicshine-Xeccon-etc-/301022852953?pt=UK_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item46165c3759 ]£35 battery[/url] from Torchy on ebay (Big_F_D_D – battery seller above) contact number: 01413165383, suggest this compatible charger for the battery:

[url= http://www.bikelightsuk.com/accessories/uk_mains_magicshine_charger_P580.html ]£9 charger[/url]

So the cost are potentially £74 for a quick light from UK suppliers or £57 if your willing to wait for post from china. Though if your UK supplier unit has a good battery (lasts 1-2hrs on full beam), just £39 for the cost of a decent charger for safety’s sake

Or you could just buy [url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Torchy-Oriole-2x-XM-L-T6-1000-lumen-led-bike-light-/301009317018?pt=UK_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item46158dac9a ]Torchy’s dual XML unit[/url] for £59 and be done with it (it is a pug ugly unit!)...

or try Ollie (marmaduke on here) for the solarstorm light unit with a proper high quality battery pack.. which is the weak point on all chinese kits
http://mtblights.co.uk/

I personally would forget the Solarstorm - I've had one for testing. My lux tests would suggest it puts out less than 900 lumens.

If you want a cheap light in that price range, the Yinding twin XML is much better. More quality feel and look to it but the downside with it is the optics are unprotected so will scratch and get dirt stuck in them.

It was more than 20% brighter than the Solarstorm in my tests.

my lights been great, got the from C and B seen, great after sales service too!

Then you got a bad solarstorm Neninja, as general opinion of those how have seen both ([url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/forget-your-solarstorm-x2s ]the lights owner, myself, MarkLG from above included[/url] & the MTBR forums thread), agree the solarstorm is the brighter light. The Yindings is a better spread but not as bright, though this does say more about the numerous and varying quality of the solarstorm units (more recommendations than complaints)..

The Yinding also isn't available on ebay, so cannot be had without a potential 4 week wait from china, which is the only reason I didn't mention it.

C&B seen...
Great lights, UK seller and really good service, fast delivery etc.
Can't fault them.

Having had a Solarstorm and a Yinding I found my SS to be brighter, but the YD had a nicer beam.
I suspect a lot of the Solarstorms being sold now are copies of copies, built down to a price from the cheapest components available. You don't know what you're going to get, so comparisons are pretty meaningless.
These cheap lights are OK to get a taste of night riding, but if you get the chance to compare them with a decent light you'll realise that they really aren't upto much.

It does though highlight that buying a Solarstorm will be a total lottery - you might get a good one or a bad one but with no guarantee until it arrives. The one I bought to test was from a seller recommended on here.

For your mates £75 quid he could get 2 of [url= http://www.7dayshop.com/special/december-delights/7dayshop-bike-light-hyper-bright-cree-led-bicycle-light-with-headlight-kit-rechargeable-genuine-cree-t6-xm-l-led?utm_content=DS-009&utm_campaign=2013-12-01-December-Delights&utm_source=emailCampaign&utm_medium=email ]These[/url] one for the bars and one for helmet mounting. Same as the magicshine and Dx one. I got one a 3 years ago and it is quite adequate for beginning night riding. Best of all he will have some change left over.