LEDs are coming... but right now, the best lights are still HIDs. My NightRider has been completely reliable for me. I also met the owner of Light & Motion at Outdoor Retailer, and he was a super cool guy. I've checked out their lights, and they seem to be totally up to par as well.
All of the HIDs on the market use the exact same light element (they're only produced by one company). The difference between the lights is the reflector, and whether the HID element is "overdriven," or run at a wattage that's higher than the rated 10 watts. When you see a HID light that claims anything more than 10 watts, that means it's being overdriven. Basically, it makes the lights slightly brighter at the expense of bulb longevity. Turbocat has done this with standard incandescent bulbs for quite some time now with good results, so it's a proven thing.
Light & Motion is also overdriving their LED "Vega" light. The LED element they use is actually a 3-watt LED, but they're driving it at 4-watts, and it seems to work well for them.
Personally, I can't wait until LEDs come up in power and down in price. They're the only type of bulb that is totally durable. You can blow up both incandescent and HID elements with a hard enough hit (read: crash), but an LED, because it's a solid piece of silicon, can't be broken or damaged by impact. It's perfect for mountain bike lights. Now it's just a waiting game to see when the power/price ratio is right for high-performance bike lights. They've already wrapped up the commuter market...
hey debaser -- that is a pretty good deal on that nightrider you linked to. that's the light i've got, and as i mentioned in my prior post, it's been awesome for me (over 4 years of use).
is this the light you speak of? yeah, that's not quite available yet. i'm just trying to get the company (my client) to take a look at it and talk to me...
not yet. hopefully dan and i can rejigger my mount to fit my rechargeable light, which is a little bigger diameter than the light the mount is actually designed for.
13 comments:
i wish LEDs would either get cheaper? or brighter? maybe they have?
LEDs are coming... but right now, the best lights are still HIDs. My NightRider has been completely reliable for me. I also met the owner of Light & Motion at Outdoor Retailer, and he was a super cool guy. I've checked out their lights, and they seem to be totally up to par as well.
All of the HIDs on the market use the exact same light element (they're only produced by one company). The difference between the lights is the reflector, and whether the HID element is "overdriven," or run at a wattage that's higher than the rated 10 watts. When you see a HID light that claims anything more than 10 watts, that means it's being overdriven. Basically, it makes the lights slightly brighter at the expense of bulb longevity. Turbocat has done this with standard incandescent bulbs for quite some time now with good results, so it's a proven thing.
Light & Motion is also overdriving their LED "Vega" light. The LED element they use is actually a 3-watt LED, but they're driving it at 4-watts, and it seems to work well for them.
Personally, I can't wait until LEDs come up in power and down in price. They're the only type of bulb that is totally durable. You can blow up both incandescent and HID elements with a hard enough hit (read: crash), but an LED, because it's a solid piece of silicon, can't be broken or damaged by impact. It's perfect for mountain bike lights. Now it's just a waiting game to see when the power/price ratio is right for high-performance bike lights. They've already wrapped up the commuter market...
My $.02.
MG
hey debaser -- that is a pretty good deal on that nightrider you linked to. that's the light i've got, and as i mentioned in my prior post, it's been awesome for me (over 4 years of use).
git 'er done!
mg
Mr. Bike Shop Owners: You guys have anything comparable? If I remember correctly, Niterider deals with dealers directly, right?
i'm about at the point where i think i'll just line my bars with commuter type LED lights and call it good.
if someone would make a mount for the lights that mg (LED) has been sporting then we'd be pretty much set.
mw,
is this the light you speak of?
yeah, that's not quite available yet. i'm just trying to get the company (my client) to take a look at it and talk to me...
Here's another shot...
hook a brother up!!! i'll take 3 or 4 of em!!!
Hmmm... Would they like to sponser an overnight test in the dessert next month?
you'd be sorry... right now they aren't rechargeable. only 3w lithium cells... it'd be expensive.
i'm working on the rechargeable version....
now yer talkin' dan! maybe you could help me modify the mount to take the rechargeable light too. then we'd really be in business!
werd,
mg
so there isn't a rechargeable version now?
not yet. hopefully dan and i can rejigger my mount to fit my rechargeable light, which is a little bigger diameter than the light the mount is actually designed for.
patience, young grasshopper...
:-}
mg
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