Flashlight for my bike

Hi, biker:

I have neither of those lights, but several others that work great for cycling. But what type of riding do you do? Road, trail or MTB, country or city, commuting or fitness? Do you just need flashlights or also recommendations on batteries, mounts, etc.? This is a long thread, so sorry if the answer is buried in another post. You started the thread in July, 2011, what happened to the lights you got last time or did you ever buy any?

Specialized (as in "made for the purpose", not the American bike company) bike lights are way better than just using flashlights, IMO - due to really long runtimes, and no need to fiddle with shady mounts.

A headlamp is also very good to have.

Thanks for your replies.

I had a 504B and was quite happy with this. Only the beam could be a little more for a bike light.

Unfortunately I forgot to demount it for the first time last week and of course the flash light was promptly stolen..

So I'm looking for a nike light for my bike powered by 18650 as I already got batteries and charger.

I don't have the money for specialized bike light and need a flashlight for other purposes.

I understand that 504B isn't the best bang for my buck any longer, right?

Just wondering what the thief is going to do with a 18650-powered light, considering that most thiefs are not smart people really and won’t figure out where to get charger for it.

One of "best bang for the buck" high-quality options would be $8 Solarforce L2 host + $16 MF drop-in.

Shadowww's L2 suggestion is a great one. How much are you wanting to spend? Bang for Buck depends on how many Bucks you have.

Isn't the 504B host a L2 clone as well?
What exactyl is this MF drop-in - a XM-L T6?

It is, but Solarforce versions usually have better quality machining, better thread cuts, better anodizing etc.

Yep. You can also get Intl-Outdoors drop-in if you want U2 (or neutral T6, or even warm T3) but those are kind of pricey - $23 shipped.

IMO, this is a real good bike light. It is 18650 powered, and under $20 shipped.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KEYGOS-KE-5-1300-Lumens-CREE-XML-XM-L-T6-LED-Flashlight-Torch-/150694979592?pt=US_Flashlights&hash=item23161ee808

Shadoww, is the Solarforce drop-in any good if he wants to get from the same source? I never hear anyone recommending that one, only the Manafont or IOS versions.

The 3V - 8.4V one? It uses a buck converter, so it doesn't reaches full brightness with just 1 cell. It's quite good for 2-cell lights though.

If you have one light, and it is fixed to the bars, it should probably be floody. A spot simply does not give a large enough field if view. A cheap option would be to use tir optics which offer a wide range of beam shapes and can be swapped for a spot when you are off the bike. A 15 deg beam will light the whole trail where a spot will only show you the rock on the left as you endo in the hole on the right. A spot is also good for looking ahead/around corners when mounted to a helmet but even then then next 50' is the primary concern so it need not be a tight spot. With only one light for offroad I would go for a 10deg spot and a helmet mount to see where you are looking, single cell xml light with spare cells. Greedbay for a cheap taillight Blackburn, vistalite old stock ~$5. A bar mount is insufficient as a stand alone unless you can afford a floody quad xpg or triple xml and lots of batteries. I ride trails with trees and rocks, logs and drops. If you only ride fire protection roads you can get by with less.

Thanks for your replies.

So should I go again for a L2 clone or better for Keygos M10/ Keygos KE-5 or Ultrafire C2?

@ Shadowww: Where can I get the Solarforce L2 at a good rate? Cheaper then a Ultrafire 504B (what quality I liked pretty much)?

@ Rufusbduck: Do you have a link for me for a flashlight and taillight you recommend?

You can get the L2 at $8 from solarforce-sales.com

I tell you, that M10, and the KE-5 is going to light up the world. However, more knowlegeable posters are advising if you get one, get a floody. Well, I got this one too, and it is floody, and wide...

BeamTech 4000

http://www.tmart.com/BeamTech-BT4000-CREE-XMT6-18W-2700LM-5-Mode-Flashlight-Gray_p136640.html

I got it on sale at Tmart for $37.75 with free shipping. Plus, they are shipping in stateside, so I got it in a couple days.

But this is the body only, right? Where can I get the appropriate drop-in?

@ cehoqardGS: A flashlight with more than one emitter is too expensive and probably too big.

How much bigger is the reflector of a Keygos M10/ Keygos KE-5 or Ultrafire C2? Do these also fit into a pocket?

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-cree-t6-3mode-memory-led-dropin-module-42v-max-p-5178

http://www.intl-outdoor.com/xml-u2-p60-dropin-module-p-336.html

Thanks, Shadowww.

But I can't find the L2 host on Solarforce Sales for 8 USD only..

Oops, it’s $9, my bad.

There also was grey/silver one, but apparently they are sold out. :(

You're welcome. Just wanted some real world riding issues mentioned. Although I mod handlights I don't use them on the bike as I could not achieve high output and long runtime in a host that was practical to put on my head and I did not want to stop for battery changes. Also, I already had a halogen set but as I age I gound I needed more light. Now I'm greedy for more. You are getting plenty of advise from people who know about hosts and mounts. What you are doing is a compromise solution. I prefer a large spot/medium flood but any lightwill help as long as it works so the only really wrong choice you could make would be one that could not handle the abuse. Ask if anyone would be willing to test their favorite by wrapping it in bubble wrap and putting it in the dryer for 45 minutes. That's the one you should pick.

I know you said you were not interested in fixed bike lighting but who knows, maybe someone else is reading this thread or you may change your mind.

Ebay dual vistalite set

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=330724849895&index=0&nav=SEARCH&nid=05450541278

Quite often these sell with few bidders and are a nice platform for DIY.