Illumination

[TrailBate]

So I stubbed my toe, and suddenly I had a vision of the Lord...oh, wrong message board. my bad.

I would like to bike at night this winter. I never have and I have no lights and kwno nothing about them, other than I guess it makes it less dark at night.

I'm a cheap bastard. What should I get?

[gnurider1080]

So I stubbed my toe, and suddenly I had a vision of the Lord...oh, wrong message board. my bad.

I would like to bike at night this winter. I never have and I have no lights and kwno nothing about them, other than I guess it makes it less dark at night.

I'm a cheap bastard. What should I get?




how cheap? like duct tape and a flashlight cheap or $100 for lights cheap?

[splat]

Cheap ! right up my Alley !

If I had not gotten a killer deal on a HID setup I would really be looking at this

http://www.nemba.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=5413;st art=0


But there is also this too!

http://www.nemba.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=297;sta rt=0

[Ben-O]

I would like to bike at night this winter. I never have and I have no lights and kwno nothing about them, other than I guess it makes it less dark at night.

I'm a cheap bastard. What should I get?



Well, you can either be a cheap bastard, or bike at night, but not both. :)

Seriously, before laying down any $$$, I would recommend to borrow a light, go on a night ride and see the differences between various wattages, and regular halogens vs HID. Then you'll know what's worth what to do, because there are some big differences.

You'll probably be happy with a regular Niterider Evolution off E-Bay, or you might come down with "HID envy". ;D

[gnurider1080]

you could always get in touch with your inner jedi and ride without lights. its fun! ;D

[catbbq]

I suggest a backup battery whatever you get.

I rode with some guys on a night right a couple years ago only to have my rented lights die about an hour into it. And it isn't a graceful death. It is catastrophic failure. Went from high vision, no problems to no power no light in about 5 seconds.

Luckily the guys I was riding with had a backup light.

That may be because of the type of battery. Of course, I don't know what it was.

[TA]

If you are cheap buy the Hid now that will save you from buying the cheap then the Hid like I did. Night pro $300+- online very reliable 3.5 hr burn time, bar and helmet mount.

[TrailBate]

Cool. Thanks for the suggestions. I'll go with the guy who suggested the duct tape and the mini Mag lite.

[nhiker]

Cheap ! right up my Alley !

If I had not gotten a killer deal on a HID setup I would really be looking at this

http://www.nemba.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=5413;st art=0


But there is also this too!

http://www.nemba.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=297;sta rt=0






I just picked one of these up for Jean, Splat. How do you like yours?
Harry

Hey look at me with a bike related posted :o ;D

[splat]

Cheap ! right up my Alley !

If I had not gotten a killer deal on a HID setup I would really be looking at this

http://www.nemba.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=5413;st art=0


But there is also this too!

http://www.nemba.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=297;sta rt=0






I just picked one of these up for Jean, Splat. How do you like yours?
Harry

Hey look at me with a bike related posted :o ;D


what did you just get for Jean ? the Home made HID ? I don't have one I actually have a Night rider HID I got from Knuckles.

[nhiker]

Sorry the same one that IF was showing in this thread. It seems to be pretty cool when charged and helmet mounted.


HID lights for $170??
« on: Dec 22, 2004, 11:00 am »

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I found this source for ATV HID lights the other day. $130 for the kit and add your own battery for another $40. Looks promising.

Light:
http://www.trailtech.net/helmet_mounted_light_kits_1.htm


Battery:
http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=712


single_helmet_hid.jpg
« Last Edit: Dec 22, 2004, 11:02 am by If_Rider » Report to moderator Logged

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http://www.nemba.org/yabbse/attachments/single_helmet_hid.jpg

[splat]

I'd really like to hear how that works ! let us know. and it might mean we'd haveto make a road trip to check out how it works on a Night ride up your way. Fomba ?

[nhiker]

Cheap ! right up my Alley !

If I had not gotten a killer deal on a HID setup I would really be looking at this

http://www.nemba.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=5413;st art=0


But there is also this too!

http://www.nemba.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=297;sta rt=0





As a matter of fact She will be testing them in Fomba on Tuesday nite. Meeting at 6pm if you are interested...If not then anytime just PM us and we will set something up there.
Cya Soon
Harry

[MissJean]

You may have noticed that the picture on the web site for these lights shows the light stuck directly onto the helmet via the Velcro sticky tab. I did not want a Velcro tab stuck permanently to my helmet so I did a little modification. The old light that I had been using had a housing that could be clipped onto a holder, which was then strapped onto the helmet. So I sliced off the plastic bits off the housing that held the old light in place and stuck the Velcro tab onto that and then the light. So now I can use the old holder and easily take the light on & off.

[MissJean]

One draw back is there is a ton of wire for this thing! I stuck most of it in the case, but there was still a lot left hanging down my back. I looped it inside the curly-q thing to contain it and I'll stick that in the first pocket of my back pack.
I'm looking forward to trying it out Tues. :)

[If_Rider]

Slick mod OB. Let us know how these work in the woods.

[MMcG]

Yeah that looks Pimpin - how heavy is the battery pack? Will you put it inside your camelback?

Seems like one helluva deal if it proves effective. 8)

[MissJean]

Illumination report:
The new light set up worked out great. I only had it on for a little over an hour, but I guess I should be able to get 3 hours.
The battery is heavy, maybe 3 lbs. I just strapped it to my camel bak.
It snagged on a low branch once but everything stayed put.
Because of the way I have to loop the extra cord, I do have to twist a bit to reach the on/off button.
Boyhowdy! but that light is bright! It makes eveything flat and sort of grey looking at first. It takes a few minutes for your eyes & brain to adjust to it.

[splat]

Jean , How hot does it run ?

3 pounds? that all ? ;D not too bad.

[MMcG]

Jean , How hot does it run ?

3 pounds? that all ? ;D not too bad.


Haha - 3 pounds that's nothing for Splat! He's used to carrying around 10 or 15 in his pack! ;)

[Superb Man]

I think the most cost effective way to get good lights is to buy a high-end HID helmet mounted (or at least mountable) light with a high end battery. Yeah, that's not the cheapest way to go--but it's as effective and cheaper than buying a full set of middling handlebar and helmet mounted lights. One good helmet light (HID with those new 3-5 hour batteries) willl light up the path before you with ample brightness.


Liam

[slapheadmofo]

Bought my first high wattage, high dollar light system 12 years ago, and after going thru at least at $1k worth of top end niteriders (that have all quit working for one reason or other), the only thing I have that fires up every time is a 7 year old POS 10watt vistalite lead-acid setup someone gave me on 'permanent loan' when the last of my digital/nimh/nicad/bs systems gave up the ghost.

There's no need for anything more for trail riding; you could probably find something like that used for under $40, tops. Anything more is overkill unless you're regularly topping 30mph.

If you plan on doing all of your night riding with groups, another option is to not even use a light and just leach off everyone else. I regularly loan my light to others and make due without, and I usually find myself near if not off the front. (I love riding in the dark ;D )

(I love riding in the dark ;D )


Welcome Jedi, come into the fold 8)

[Ben-O]

Bought my first high wattage, high dollar light system 12 years ago, and after going thru at least at $1k worth of top end niteriders (that have all quit working for one reason or other), the only thing I have that fires up every time is a 7 year old POS 10watt vistalite lead-acid setup someone gave me on 'permanent loan' when the last of my digital/nimh/nicad/bs systems gave up the ghost.

There's no need for anything more for trail riding; you could probably find something like that used for under $40, tops. Anything more is overkill unless you're regularly topping 30mph.

If you plan on doing all of your night riding with groups, another option is to not even use a light and just leach off everyone else. I regularly loan my light to others and make due without, and I usually find myself near if not off the front. (I love riding in the dark ;D )


I agree, lights can be expensive to maintain, and that should be considered (e.g. it's about $100 bucks to replace an H.I.D. light-bulb :o). But I don't know if I could go back to a regular halogen, H.I.Ds are just so great... :)

And NO Lights, slapheadmofo!?!! I'll believe it when I see it.... ;D ;D ;D

[Quo Fan]

I love my HID lights. I've ridden in compleat darkness, and it's not fun. I want the trails lit up like daylight. Maybe I'll be like Ben-O and get a couple of more for my handlebars. Yeah, that's the ticket. I'll get a half dozen more and mount them to my helmet and handlebars and point them in a bunch of different directions so everybody can see. Yeah, that's what I'll do.

[slapheadmofo]

And NO Lights, slapheadmofo!?!! I'll believe it when I see it.... ;D ;D ;D


I rode with a light last night and it felt like cheating. Maybe we should schedule a group lampless night ride this fall - we can even schedule it around the full moon for the newbs. ;)

Trail riding in real dark is one of the most immersive experiences you can have on a bike. It's basically the only riding 'skill' that I think I'm better at than most riders. (Or maybe I'm just the only one stupid enough to do it often enough to get good at it. ::) )Take all the things that make riding at night w/ lights different from riding the same trails in the day (much more seat-of-the-pants reaction, spookiness, and that cool kinda otherworldly vibe that always seems to creep in after awhile) and increase it by an order of magnitude. Love it.

[nhiker]

I think the most cost effective way to get good lights is to buy a high-end HID helmet mounted (or at least mountable) light with a high end battery. Yeah, that's not the cheapest way to go--but it's as effective and cheaper than buying a full set of middling handlebar and helmet mounted lights. One good helmet light (HID with those new 3-5 hour batteries) willl light up the path before you with ample brightness.


Liam



Interesting "pov" The HID's that OB has are equivelant in lighting capacity to the High end ones out there but I am not one for spending 400-500 dollars per set up. These lights have the smart switch and charger and cost $200 These lights also have the same battery technologies as their pricier brethren (Ni metal hydride) the only disadvantage I found so far is that you have to sorta modify the mounting system....So I guess Value really is a matter of personal perception. I am going to buy another one for myself shortly.

[Ben-O]

I just saw an HID Niterider Storm 2.0 for $300:


http://www.pricepoint.com/detail.htm?stylePkey=13820&offer=EM059EM1

...not a bad price...