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looking for a good lighting system that mounts to helmet, not for commuting but for trail riding...two - three hours maybe....
what worx...thanks
what worx...thanks
night riders.. post up
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8,196 Posts
Here's one
You have a wide variety of options in all price ranges. If you're budget minded, this works very well. I've had one for about a year, and it's a good choice in the under $100 category. It's basically a re-badged Marwi product.
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=19457&subcategory_ID=4320
Bob
You have a wide variety of options in all price ranges. If you're budget minded, this works very well. I've had one for about a year, and it's a good choice in the under $100 category. It's basically a re-badged Marwi product.
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=19457&subcategory_ID=4320
Bob
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182 Posts
Aww man,kinda misleading title.Thought this was going to be a shoutout to us psychos that like to jump loading docks at 12am under the street lights when there's noone there to chase us off 
.So,umm,anyhow,big ups to my fellow creatures of the night!Nocturnal trail riding is cool too,but I haven't been able to bring myself to shell out hundreds of dollars for a good light...kinda chaps my [email protected]$$ having to pay that much just to see.If I MUST shell out hundreds of dollars just for the gift of vision, I'd just as soon buy one of these babies...
http://www.nightvisionmall.com/page/NVM/PROD/BG/D-112MG
Mind you,I'd only use it for trails 'cuz it doesn't make you any more visible to drivers.
2-3 hours battery time my butt....try 30 hours.Also has optional camera adapter and 3x magnification.Added coolness factor for playing night ninja.Spend wisely.
.So,umm,anyhow,big ups to my fellow creatures of the night!Nocturnal trail riding is cool too,but I haven't been able to bring myself to shell out hundreds of dollars for a good light...kinda chaps my [email protected]$$ having to pay that much just to see.If I MUST shell out hundreds of dollars just for the gift of vision, I'd just as soon buy one of these babies...http://www.nightvisionmall.com/page/NVM/PROD/BG/D-112MG
Mind you,I'd only use it for trails 'cuz it doesn't make you any more visible to drivers.
2-3 hours battery time my butt....try 30 hours.Also has optional camera adapter and 3x magnification.Added coolness factor for playing night ninja.Spend wisely.
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2,061 Posts
Cateye Double Shot
Look into the Cateye Double Shot
It's more than enough light to rage on the trails with. Runs for 5 hours on a 3 hour charge. Not sure of your price-point, but this could be an option.
Happy shopping
Look into the Cateye Double Shot
It's more than enough light to rage on the trails with. Runs for 5 hours on a 3 hour charge. Not sure of your price-point, but this could be an option.
Happy shopping
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325 Posts
<<<<rides slow/crashes into trees @ night, but
Night riding is a blast!!!!!!!!!!!
You MUST have a helmet mounted light to really enjoy night riding.
I have a Trailrat 2.0. It produces decent light, three hour burn time, and works in most situations. I had to pay extra for the helmet mount, but my appreciation of post-sundown riding jumped 100% after acquiring and riding using the helment mounted light.
A bar mounted light shines light on the trail, but the beam is not always pointed at the spot where the light needs to be--where the EYES and HEAD are viewing.
Also, if you decide to take the night riding plunge, invest in an HID light. My friends ride with with HID lights. Their lights are the SUN at night!
Just go for it!
Daniel
Night riding is a blast!!!!!!!!!!!
You MUST have a helmet mounted light to really enjoy night riding.
I have a Trailrat 2.0. It produces decent light, three hour burn time, and works in most situations. I had to pay extra for the helmet mount, but my appreciation of post-sundown riding jumped 100% after acquiring and riding using the helment mounted light.
A bar mounted light shines light on the trail, but the beam is not always pointed at the spot where the light needs to be--where the EYES and HEAD are viewing.
Also, if you decide to take the night riding plunge, invest in an HID light. My friends ride with with HID lights. Their lights are the SUN at night!
Just go for it!
Daniel
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4,672 Posts
I like my Jetlites
http://www.jetlites.com/2005products.html
I bought a 6 volt first, and then added a 13 volt later. Jim at Jetlites is really good about answering questions too.
I wish that I had gotten both 13 volt lights. I also find that my personal taste for the way I wish to use my lights does differ from what Jim originally recommended. If I could do it over, I would have gotten a 20 watt flood for the bar, and a 12 watt spot for my helmet.
Right now I use the 6 volt on the handlebar, and the 13 volt on the helmet. My helmet sometimes washes out the handlebar light, which sucks. I wish I had the spot on the helmet so that the light could pierce farther into the dark. Right now, when I'm going fast downhill, I find that I have to move my head from side to side in order to see upcoming turns better.
http://www.jetlites.com/2005products.html
I bought a 6 volt first, and then added a 13 volt later. Jim at Jetlites is really good about answering questions too.
I wish that I had gotten both 13 volt lights. I also find that my personal taste for the way I wish to use my lights does differ from what Jim originally recommended. If I could do it over, I would have gotten a 20 watt flood for the bar, and a 12 watt spot for my helmet.
Right now I use the 6 volt on the handlebar, and the 13 volt on the helmet. My helmet sometimes washes out the handlebar light, which sucks. I wish I had the spot on the helmet so that the light could pierce farther into the dark. Right now, when I'm going fast downhill, I find that I have to move my head from side to side in order to see upcoming turns better.
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1,645 Posts
ok, i was checking JET out...expensive but if it really worx i will pony up...your experiences is stuff i was after...thanks...could one get away with just running a 20 spot light on the helmet? thanksWish I Were Riding said:
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323 Posts
I ride with a Light & Motion ARC Nimh. I got it for 335 out the door at my lbs. I'll just say, I reccomend it.
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You could get away with it, but there are downsides to running just a helmet light. Light from the helmet will reflect back (unfavorabley) if you are following someone who is kicking up dirt, off rain, and is bothersome in fog. The angle of light to the ground is also pretty steep and that causes shadows on the ground (behind objects) to seem smaller than they really are. That is why a good bar light really helps too. But again, yeah, you could just get one helmet light. Oh, I just read that you said 20 watt Spot only, I think I'd get a flood if I only used one light for sure.adamantane said:
This is why (even though I don't own yet) I would prefer a nice flood on the bar, and a spot light on the helmet to see further down the trail (and towards those creepy noises too).
LED's are really cool, like the Cateye Double and Triple Shots. Many people say HID's are the only way to go. Those all seem to cost a lot as well. For me, the Jetlite Halogens are just fine. I can go stupid fast with them, and I haven't had any problems.
Good luck!
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8,196 Posts
Good points
Just my thoughts.
Bob
While I have never personally experienced the reflection issues described here, the point of a two light system is very valid. A flood light on the bars to light up the area directly in front of the bike along with a spot on the helmet is the ideal combination, IMO. If you can only go with one, the helmet light is the way to go, as you need the flexibility of being able to shine the beam ahead of you, to the side, directly in front, or wherever you need the light to shine in the line you are taking. Bar lights shine wherever the bike is pointed, period.Wish I Were Riding said:
Just my thoughts.
Bob
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1,633 Posts
FWIW, I'd recommend using a HID for the bar lights and a halogen for the helmet light.
A HID on the helmet will have two disadvantages:
1) It will eliminate the shadows on the ground affecting your depth perception. You won't be able to tell when a dip or bump is occurring on the trail in front of you. You wouldn't think this is a big deal until you experience it.
2) You will inevitably blind everyone you ride with or past. We naturally look at the person we are talking to. Trust me, it hurts to have a HID flashed in the eyes. The halogen on the helmet does not affect depth perception as easily and is easy on your partners' eyes.
The HID on the bars will give you plenty of light range in front and excellent peripheral vision. I've found the HID is all I need for 80% of the ride. Only when it gets twisty and technical will you need the helmet light.
A bright halogen spotlight on the helmet works great for the twisty and technical sections to allow you to scan ahead for the best lines. Something else to remember, the brighter the helmet light, the harder it will be to see in fog or when trailing behind someone who is kicking up the dust. (Kind of like driving at night through a fog bank or snow storm with your brights on) It's amazing how much dust is stirred up, you just doin't notice it as much in the daytime. The yellow light of a halogen will work better than a HID in those conditions, and it will save you some coin!
A HID on the helmet will have two disadvantages:
1) It will eliminate the shadows on the ground affecting your depth perception. You won't be able to tell when a dip or bump is occurring on the trail in front of you. You wouldn't think this is a big deal until you experience it.
2) You will inevitably blind everyone you ride with or past. We naturally look at the person we are talking to. Trust me, it hurts to have a HID flashed in the eyes. The halogen on the helmet does not affect depth perception as easily and is easy on your partners' eyes.
The HID on the bars will give you plenty of light range in front and excellent peripheral vision. I've found the HID is all I need for 80% of the ride. Only when it gets twisty and technical will you need the helmet light.
A bright halogen spotlight on the helmet works great for the twisty and technical sections to allow you to scan ahead for the best lines. Something else to remember, the brighter the helmet light, the harder it will be to see in fog or when trailing behind someone who is kicking up the dust. (Kind of like driving at night through a fog bank or snow storm with your brights on) It's amazing how much dust is stirred up, you just doin't notice it as much in the daytime. The yellow light of a halogen will work better than a HID in those conditions, and it will save you some coin!
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you guys are great...thank you for your excellent advice...
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HID on the bars
LED on the Helmet:- for this I recommend either a Cateye Double Shot or the superior Nightlightning Endurenz.
The Helmet mounted LED has many advantages;
- The toughness of LED means that a fall is unlikely to damage the lamp unit unlike HID
- LED 's are more efficient than Halogen so teh battery is smaller for similr run time.
- The Lamp unit is usually Lighter than a Halogen
- The colour of the light is similar to HID so theres no need for your eyes to constantly adjust
- The Endurenz has a S.O.S function which is useful in an emergency.
After extensive testing of various systems I found this combo to be the best for me
LED on the Helmet:- for this I recommend either a Cateye Double Shot or the superior Nightlightning Endurenz.
The Helmet mounted LED has many advantages;
- The toughness of LED means that a fall is unlikely to damage the lamp unit unlike HID
- LED 's are more efficient than Halogen so teh battery is smaller for similr run time.
- The Lamp unit is usually Lighter than a Halogen
- The colour of the light is similar to HID so theres no need for your eyes to constantly adjust
- The Endurenz has a S.O.S function which is useful in an emergency.
After extensive testing of various systems I found this combo to be the best for me
This is a copy/paste from another light thread.......
I lucked out and found an E-Bay store that had ONE Double Shot. I bought it for 200 bucks. I also have the Triple Shot, which I got from AE Bike for $230.
I used to run a 10W helmet and 15W bar light. The Cateye setup is incredibly brighter and better suited for single tracking it. The light color is ultra-white. The T-shot has a bright spot beam I keep aimed about 20 feet in front of me. It also has good flood properties which light the peripheal (sp?) areas just enough. The D-shot is a great compliment to the T-shot. I can use it to look close to the bike for the tech spots, but its still bright enough to look past the T-shot well down the trail.
Not to boast, but these lights drown out all of my buddies set-ups. Last night was my first ride with snow on the ground and it was amazing the way the white light worked on the white backdrop. Crazy bright.
All decent light setups are big bucks. With the 3+ hours runtime of the T-shot and the 5+ hours with the D-shot combined with the good construction, light output and quality, 3 hour charge time (w/ smart charger, yeah!), you can't go wrong for the $$$.
I lucked out and found an E-Bay store that had ONE Double Shot. I bought it for 200 bucks. I also have the Triple Shot, which I got from AE Bike for $230.
I used to run a 10W helmet and 15W bar light. The Cateye setup is incredibly brighter and better suited for single tracking it. The light color is ultra-white. The T-shot has a bright spot beam I keep aimed about 20 feet in front of me. It also has good flood properties which light the peripheal (sp?) areas just enough. The D-shot is a great compliment to the T-shot. I can use it to look close to the bike for the tech spots, but its still bright enough to look past the T-shot well down the trail.
Not to boast, but these lights drown out all of my buddies set-ups. Last night was my first ride with snow on the ground and it was amazing the way the white light worked on the white backdrop. Crazy bright.
All decent light setups are big bucks. With the 3+ hours runtime of the T-shot and the 5+ hours with the D-shot combined with the good construction, light output and quality, 3 hour charge time (w/ smart charger, yeah!), you can't go wrong for the $$$.
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