|
Often during my MTB Night Rides, the subject of what lights to get for MTB
night riding come up.
No doubt that they need to be more powerful than for road ridding, hence
much higher price, but you do not need to spend a little fortune to get yourself
a set to ride with us!
I have put a comparison table together showing
7 lights under £79.99.
If you do a Google search you will no doubt find some more but beware of
some of the over claimed output and runtime given by some manufacturers! The
same apply for batteries!
To give a rough guide, you will not get much more than
about 400 lumens for about 1 to 1.30h out of any light with an XM-L or P7 led
driven by a single 3.7v battery,
the same light with an XPG R2 or R5 will give you
approx. half the lumens with about twice the run time.
So only the lights driven by external multy
batteries packs will give you
the 800 Lumens plus that some manufacturers are claiming.
All this is reflected in the price of the light, so the more you can spend
the more light you will have with the longer runtime as long as run by a battery
pack!
If you are on a tight budget, you can opt for buying several cheaper lights
and taking some spare batteries with you.
Usually full power is only
required on downhill trails and by having a light with several power levels
(modes) and by managing your light setting well, you can be out for a couple of
hours on just one set of batteries. (I have done it many time)
Replacement 18650 Li-ion batteries are
available starting around £5 for a cheap
brand and going to £16 for a high
quality AW 2900 mah battery. (warning, a lot
of fakes are on e-bay, with much lower
amperage capacity than advertised) A 18650 Li-ion battery charger will cost
you around £10
I hope this help, if you need to know where I have purchased any of my
Solarforce or Jetbeam please ask and I will send you the links
(I can also get you
7% discount with a free bar mount on the ST CYCLER from a British retailer),
for the other lights, your best option is doing a Google search for the
best deal available.
For any one wanting to start Night Trail
Riding, I would advise to have a minimum of 2
lights: one on bar and one on helmet.
Obviously the more combine Lumens power the
better, regarding run time, as long as
you have several modes on your lights, you can
plan your Lumens output to suit your ride
time.
See you on the Trails
Luc
|
NAME
|
Solarforce
L2T XM-L 3M
|
Solarforce
L2 XPG R5 3M
|
Jetbeam Cycler
XM-L 7M
|
Lesyne
Power Drive
|
Exposure Spark MKI
Seoul P4
|
HOPE
ONE
|
Magicshine
MJ-808E XM-L
|
|
Lumens
|
820L (rated)
estimated 410L
|
320L (rated) estimated 200L
|
Turbo 425L / High 190L
(rated)
|
High
300L (rated)
Medium
200L (rated)
|
220L (Rated)
|
240L (rated)
|
1000L (rated)
|
|
Runtime
H
high
M medium
L low
|
H 100% - 2.5 h home test 1h (plus on some batteries)
M 60% - 4.5h
L10% - 25h
Note
during test: run times and output
were about 1/2 of advertised
ones
|
H 100% - 3.5 h home test 2h (plus on some batteries)
M 40% - 6h
L10% - 35h
Note during test: run times and output were about 2/3 of advertised ones
|
T 425L -
1.5h
H 190L -
3.50h
M 50L - 14h
Warning Lighting:
270L -2H
Note
advertised Run times/output true
on quality rechargeable batts
AW
2600 mAh
|
H 300L 2h
M 200L 3h
L 100L 5.5h
Flash
Run time and output not tested
|
(rated with disposable
Lithium)
H 2.5H
M 8H
L 20H
Note half run
time reported on rechargeable, but not tested
|
3 hours (rated)
Run time and output not tested. Note: once the batteries are drained this
light will switch off without prior
warning
|
H 3.5H (rated)
Run time and output not tested
|
|
Battery
|
1 x 18650
rechargeable Li-ion 3.7v
|
1 x 18650
rechargeable Li-ion 3.7v
|
1 x 18650
rechargeable Li-ion
3.7v
|
1 x 18650
rechargeable Li-ion
3.7v
|
2 x CR123
rechargeable Li-ion 3.7v
|
4 x AAA (disposable or
rechargeable)
|
External battery back
Running on 8.4v
|
|
Modes
|
3 modes
|
3 modes
|
8 modes
inc 1 flash
|
4 modes
Inc 1 flash
|
4 modes
Inc 1 flash
|
4 modes
inc 1 flash
|
3 modes inc 1 flash
|
|
Weight
|
175gr with batteries
|
175gr with batteries
|
116gr with batteries
|
166gr with batteries
|
108gr with batteries
|
224gr with batteries
|
|
|
Size
length x head x body
|
136 x 32 x 25
mm
|
146 x 32 x 25
mm
|
121x26x26 mm
|
125x25mm
|
|
|
43 x 52mm
|
|
Fittings
|
None,
but UK price cycle fitting is under £5
|
None,
but UK price cycle fitting is under £5
|
Wrist lanyard, spare o
rings and switch cover. Bar fitting is
under £5 & is included by some UK retailers
|
Bar
mounting, integral USB port, USB
lead, can be charge from computer or
Smart phone charger
|
Wrist lanyard and bar mounting
|
Reinforced nylon helmet mount, bar mount & wrist
lanyard
|
Charger, 2×silicagel mount O-ring for bar
mounting
|
|
My views
|
For: price,
upgradeable, parts replaceable, good output,
double up as a torch, replaceable battery, gradual output decrease,
spare battery can be carried for extended time, wide beam ideal for bar
mounting
|
For: price, upgradeable, parts replaceable, good output, double up as
a torch, replaceable battery, gradual output, spare battery can be carried
for extended time, narrow beam, but with good spread, ideal for helmet
|
For: size, weight, runtime,
dedicated cycle light, double up as a torch, replaceable battery, gradual
output decrease, spare battery can be carried for extended time, wide beam/
Ideal for commuting or road cycling or MTB.
Warning
lighting has been used successfully
during some of my rides when I
wanted a good versus good
runtime
|
For: size, weight, runtime,
dedicated cycle light, replaceable battery, integral USB port and cable for computer or phone
charging, spare battery can be carried for extended time,
Ideal for road cycling commuting
or MTB
|
For: size, weight, runtime,
dedicated cycle light, battery replaceable,
double up as a torch , spare battery can be carried for extended time.
|
For: good output, takes
popular AA, good
run time on rechargeable, spare batteries can be carried for extended time.
Ideal for commuting or road cycling.
|
For: excellent output, very good value, and good run time, total package
including batteries and charger
|
|
Against: no cycle mounting included, short run time
on full output, (but can use universal fitting for
helmet or bar).
|
Against: no cycle mounting included,
(but can use
universal fitting for helmet
or bar).
|
Against: shorter runtime on
turbo mode, in some cases
no cycle mounting included. (but can use
universal fitting for helmet
or bar)
|
Against:
no helmet mounting supplied,
( but can use universal velcro
fitting for helmet)
|
Against: short run time on rechargeable, quoted time only on disposable
lithium batteries (expensive)
Very narrow beam, not much spread. Helmet mounting not included for that price.
Please note various package are available at different prices
|
Against: size and weight,
really limit you to bar mounting, will switch off without warning, so must be
used with another light.
|
Against: bulky, external battery pack,
risk of cable disconnecting while
ridding, better suited to bar fitting due to size. Expensive battery back to
replace.
Quality inconsistency and premature wear on battery pack
on early models, but this may have been resolved by now.
I would advise to
buy from established
UK dealers, so you will have
a guarantee.
|
|
Li-ion battery
and charger need to be purchased: approx £15
For more info
contact Luc
|
Li-ion battery
and charger need to be purchased: approx £15
For more info
contact Luc
|
Li-ion battery
and charger need to be purchased: approx £15
For more info
contact Luc
OR
see my review on CPF
|
Li-ion
battery charger or USB smart phone
charger may be purchased
if required: approx £15
Unclear
what amperage the
supplied battery is, this will
have implication on the run
time.
|
Li-ion
or disposable batteries
and charger need to be purchased: approx £15
|
AA batteries and
charger need to be purchased at a cost
of about £20.
|
|
|
Prices
|
China $34 - approx £25
|
China $26 - approx £20
|
£64.95 (UK PRICE)
|
£79.95 (UK PRICE)
Worth
noting
a Lezyne Super drive (£99) is also
available with output and run time
very similar to the
ST Cycler
H
450L - 1.5H
M 300L - 2.5H
L 150L - 4H
|
From £64 (UK PRICE)
|
£65-70 (UK PRICE)
|
£75 (e bay UK PRICE)
|
Since writing this review,
thanks to another club member, I have come across
the BIKERAY range,
these are external battery back driven which
will give you outstanding output and run
time for an affordable price.
They are better suited as a bar light but
do come with helmet fitting.
You have a range of spot or flood light with various amperage and quality
batteries.
Don't forget your battery
will have a direct affect on your runtime and in
some cases this is the week point
as some manufacturer do use non branded
batteries/ lower quality single cell batteries
for their packs.
Three of us in our MTB section
are using very successfully the RAY III 3
lead flood type which can be purchased
from
two places in the UK,
they start at £95.
(do your Google search; one dealer is the
official UK dealer the other is not and we had
good service from both)
Also one of them is offering
some high quality German made battery packs
(this the type I went for).
It is also worth visiting the RAYBIKE USA
website for more info on the range.
My Experience with the RAY
III
I have now done four rides
with it and I am well impressed with the run
time and output. My longest ride had the light
on full power for just over two hours and the
charge warning light was still showing green ie
showing a charge of still over 50%. I must say
this is great not to have to turn them off when
stopping (to preserve the batteries as you would
have to do with an integral single cell light).
I have not done any test yet but the light
output appear to very steady without drop of
lumens as the battery discharge.
The method of fitting is the
"o" ring as used by many manufacturer.
I must say I am not over keen on this and much prefer
the old fashion clamp type where you do not run
the risk of having the light moving on a very
bumpy downhill ride. The lead connectors are grooved
giving a very positive and water tight connection,
the light also come with an cable extension for
helmet fitting where the battery would have to
be positioned either in your ruck or a pocket.
The battery pouch I did get with mine is the old
fashion type, a different type was supplied with
the other two lights. The beam is very floody
with not much throw and for me is better suited
as a bar light.
During many of my power
/runtime tests, I have established that the
battery quality and amperage has a very strong
influence on the runtime and life itself of the
battery.
Bearing in mind that once the battery run out
you are in the dark and a spare battery pack for
this is a bit heavy and bulky, I decided to
spend a little more and went for the 8.7Ah
German built open light battery pack who
according to the manufacturer only use high
quality Panasonic cells.
I still use on my bar next to
the RAY III the JETBEAM ST CYCLER (flood type
but with a better trow) on the WARNING LIGHT
SETTING giving me 270 lumens flood light
for 2 hours
and on my lid an other Jetbeam or
Solarforce R2 or R5 to see around corners where
my bar lights do not reach.
|
