That time of year is coming again – what's hot in the lighting world?

I feel it is worth noting in passing that my 4-year-old Lumicycles are still going really, really well.

8)

Any reliable sellers for the UltraFire 501b XML2?

http://www.lightmalls.com/ultrafire-wf-501b-cree-xm-l2-5-modes-led-flashlight-torch-1-18650

Ordered from Lightmalls and they never arrived!

^ Don’t know about the XML2 bit but I replaced my 501b with the new mini zoom T6 torch, half the weight @ 50g. Love it. Ebay item 350800657075

Cheers Richard – I’ll take a look now.

Good as a helmet mounted light i assume?

Halfords are knocking some Lezyne look a likes out at £20 for Christmas. Brought a pair today to try out. They are rechargeable via USB. The front light has a 18650 hardwired inside. Tested side by side in the shop the Halfords one out shines the Lezyne micro drive which is 200lm at full tilt. Front one weighs in at 100g and the batterys are rated at, 2400mah for the front and 600mah for the rear. I’ll report back later when I have given them a proper test.

http://bikerayuk.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=54

Great light, good build quality (better than most of the chinese crap), Decent 6 cell battery (lasts 2.5-3 hours on max)

Does anyone know where I could get a replacement Led bulb for my Ultrafire wf-501b torch in the Uk please?
Many thanks

The torches are cheap enough so why not just buy a new one.?

@tubthumped. Perfect on the lid, fits Exposure mount (£10 at wiggle), you will hardly feel it’s there 🙂

neilsonwheels – Member

The torches are cheap enough so why not just buy a new one.?
.
.
I ‘could’ but I just hate the waste!

A word of warning to those with cheaper battery packs:
My mate had his battery pack start sizzling and then explode. Proper explode, burned walls/floors/carpet/doors, fire brigade out too!

Charge mine outside under a sturdy bucket now!

Cheers Richard.

Ordered 🙂

Gavstorie,

http://bikerayuk.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=54

Great light, good build quality (better than most of the chinese crap), Decent 6 cell battery (lasts 2.5-3 hours on max)

Seems like a good call. Do you use on head? Is a bit more than the Solarstorm, but could be worth it.

Since I have still not found a link to the solarstorm other than the fastech from cruzcampo and it seems they have sold out when I go to “order” of the quality one from the site.

Thanks for the link.

Jim

I have ordered one of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Torchy-Oriole-2x-XM-L-T6-1000-lumen-led-bike-light-/291255176012?pt=UK_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item43d0294b4c

I figured it was only a few quid more than a decent battery for a solarstorm. I will put an update here when it arrives and I get to use it.

As an update, this arrived yesterday and it seems very good. You can tell the quality difference between this and the cheap XML’s I normally use. The light unit itself is very small, has a remote switch and plenty of wire to put the battery anywhere on the bike. If anything, the wire is a it too long so needs wrapping around the frame here and there. Yet to use it in anger but it lights the garden up pretty effectively.

http://www.tweekscycles.com/maia-front-lights these things are awesome and they stock loads of spares as well.

Ive just bought the exposure helmet mount but i can’t do it up tight enough because of the thickness of my helmet (too thin). Anyone know the best way to modify it?? Cut the mount down or some kind of plastic washer?

cloudnine, I had a similar thing in that the mount would move on the glossy surface, so i placed a spare chinese-light-rubber-mounting-ring thing under the mount, where it meets the helmet. This adds a few mm to the height and stops it moving around. If that were not enough I’d modify the underneath part or one of the supplied plastic screws.

You can see the rubber ring in this pic

There is now the triple cree xml for just 20 quid! Absolute bargain imo…..

triple cree light £20

One of them with a hope QR mount from crc and your into a winner

the “big” lights that folk have with the battery pack and such – if you want to mount on the helmet do you just run the cable into your camelback or similar? does it get in the way?

My pack is cable tied to the back of my lid to counter weight it. I’d be tempted by sticking it in the bag if it was a bigger battery pack

The triple Cree mentioned above comes with a lead long enough to put battery in camelback, extensions are also available to give a bit more length!

After reading this thread I got the C&B Seen lights, 1200 lumens for £50ish. Not managed to get out since but they seem pretty good quality…too big for a helmet though I reckon despite coming with a helmet mount and extension lead.

Need a new battery pack for my ssx2 after mine dies after 20 minutes last night.

Was looking at the torchy battery pack but also looking at a new light after reading this thread.

Those X40’s look ace, especially with the battery box, which batteries would people recommend?

Other thought is one of the Oriole t6 from torchy for the price of the battery pack.

Choices choices.

I went with the individual batteries Torchy sells on eBay – he claims they’re Panasonic inside, and I believe him. They seem to be quite well regarded amongst previous customers.

As in this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fluxient-6600mAh-7-4v-battery-with-pouch-compatible-with-Magicshine-Solar-Storm/301343510085?_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140328180637%26meid%3D3d8c25dc6e5c4970ae8e2708dbd7b885%26pid%3D100009%26prg%3D20140328180637%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D291255176012

There is now the triple cree xml for just 20 quid! Absolute bargain imo…..

Pfffftttt, I ordered a 7x XML2 for £25, will see when it arrives. I only really wanted the battery, but the light was only £5 more!

Scandal – no, he had pairs of 18650 batteries for sale last week, in both 3100mAh and 3400mAh. I bought 2 last week. They must have been polular

I always buy torchys batteries from here £16.99 a pair delivered!

18650 3400mah button top…

http://ukvapers.org/Thread-Torchy-battery-prices

After the links earlier in this thread, I bought one of these. Only one ride in the rain and mud so far, but it held up just fine for a few hours without really using much of the battery (I switched it off or to single LED modes for the non-descending sections). The rubber band type mount was solid enough, and didn’t slip anywhere near as much as I thought it would. I think I’d still like to replace it with a proper locking clamp though, which should be easy if I can find one, as the existing plastic block just screws into a hole on the base of the aluminium housing.

I also have a bunch of 501b and 502b XPG and XML torches. They make alright lights for your helmet, but one by itself without anything else on your lid or handlebars is pretty weak once you’re going fast. This and this are the best helmet mounts I’ve found (for anything with average sized vents, at least). They’re cheap, the velcro locks them down tight, and thought it can flex, the torch won’t move too much when it’s on your head. If you put one on the bars it’ll bounce really annoyingly though.

Have read this thread a fair few times and am just hoping for any updates on your purchases before choosing. Interested in getting a legitimate Solarstorm/Trustfire if anyone has a link to one they are happy with?

Scandal42 I’ve just got one of those.highly recommend also a longer run time

I’m new to this light stuff but is there a head torch that is enough for off road with no separate battery pack or do I need the extra power of one? Thanks

Look at the exposure joystick – more than enough lumens

@isto, this has all the traits of being genuine, in the original box too, same link where I got my original SSX2 from

http://www.fasttech.com/product/1285800-solarstorm-x2-cree-xm-l-u2-4-mode-2000-lumen-led

This is the one NOT to buy, philips screws, cheaper fascia metal, no retail box, square power cable out light, rubber on button etc etc

http://www.fasttech.com/product/1502001-solarstorm-x2-l2-2-cree-xm-l2-t6-4-mode-2000lm

Thanks for that cruzcampo – just what i needed.

Hey all, I think I bought a dud solar storm . Used it for 1st time last weds and despite charging batteries it showed only one green light on the back, so it cut out after maybe 30secs. First night ride with just a headtorch was sketchy!

Anyhow charged batteries again, have put them in and it shows 3 green
Light but won’t even switch on. Boo. Can anyone confirm? It was one that was linked to on page 2 of this thread

[

http://www.lightmalls.com/black-color-solarstorm-x2-2-cree-xm-l2-2200-lumen-led-bike-light-without-battery-pack

Hi guys and gals, ive followed this thread avidly now for at least a couple of months. Ive just invested in a c and b seen handlebar light but am looking for a helmet mounted option. Should i just order another c and b seen or go for something like this.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ultrafire-E17-Cree-XML-T6-MTB-bike-lights-helmet-torch-light-head-lamp-charger-/390909510732?pt=UK_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item5b0405c44c

Any thoughts my helmet light friends….

Hi guys and gals, ive followed this thread avidly now for at least a couple of months. Ive just invested in a c and b seen handlebar light but am looking for a helmet mounted option. Should i just order another c and b seen or go for something like this.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ultrafire-E17-Cree-XML-T6-MTB-bike-lights-helmet-torch-light-head-lamp-charger-/390909510732?pt=UK_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item5b0405c44c

170g is probably a bit heavy if you ask me.

+1, I ran a 140g P7 torch for a couple of years and your neck muscles know about it, also that weight means you have to strap it down well or it’ll shake about badly off-road. That and you’ll potentially need to swap batteries during a ride, it’s also awkward (but not impossible) to cycle thru 5 different beam settings to get the right output. Worth having one as a backup light though, in the bag for stops/repairs or when other riders lights die. I used to recommend those type torches as they were much cheaper than anything else available but now my preference is for the likes of the SSX2, nice light head unit, (a good) battery should last 2hr on full, and the dual beam is much wider and usable

howsyourdad1 – it’s not right, talk to lightmalls asap! You issue is returning it to “china”, which is why it’s probably worth paying a bit more from a local suppliers (Amazon with it feedback service always seems a good choice)

Go back a page or two for the 50g T6 single helmet torch.