Flashlight for my bike

LED Flashlights – General Info
5

Thanks for your replies and your regards.

@ Be-Seen Triker: Cool constructions. But my flashlight shall be easily mounted/removed on the handlebar. And a single waterproof tail light will be sufficient.

Regarding the questions:

I don't want a special bike light.

Brightness of the flashlight should be best bang for my budget!:)

It should be more a seeing light than a be-seen light as I ride modstly off-road.

The flashlight doesn't need different modes. Only high/low mode would be fine for saving battery in twilight.

Runtime should be about 1-2 hours in high mode.

Rechargeable battery would be fine - or at least Eneloops.

I can wait for shipments from China and even would prefer to buy there becuase of the cheaper prices.

UltraFire WF-502B and Hugsby P31 have been recommended in a "non-budget light forum".
Is one of these a possibility?

Best regards

6

I think I'm spending too much time of facebook...I just tried to "like" your post...

7

IMO an XML light running on a 18650 battery will provide the most bang for buck performance.

The ultrafire WF-502B is similar to the WF-504B i recommended, but the 504 seems to get better reviews here (I have never owned a 502B).

The hugsby p31 is a great light, I own one and love it, but it will not give enough light for off roading at night.

8

https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/2523 I like a flood to throw on a bike ..I agree with bean seen trickster the xpg is a good pick for a bike light too I hate the buy a bad host thought 502 is lame throw down for a decent host . >> buy a solarforce host

9

Okay, I tend to the 502B.
What exactly is the difference between WF-502B and WF-504B?
I don't like the metallic host, black looks better.

Which dropin is more practical for my purpose - XML or XP-G R5?

And regarding the batteries:
What runtime can I expect at high mode with 18650 TrustFires?
Are the Xtar 18700 2600mAh so much better?
What would be the right charger with Euro plug?

Ist there an alternative flashlight to the 502B that can be used with normal batteries and Eneloops?

So I could save the money for Li-Ion batteries and the required charger.

10

This is good deal http://www.budgetlightforum.com/node/2402 .

I have http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ultrafire-wf504b-xm-lt6-510-lumen-white-led-flashlight-with-strap-black-1-x-18650-57097 ordered 19/3/2011. I just received the same light ordered 25/6/2011. It came with different reflector, different dropin, few scratches and some batteries (3 of 4 blue trustfires) will not fit (battery tube has much smaller diameter).

11

You need a flashlight without the stupid flashing modes. With these modes you have to get past the strobe and SOS every time before getting to the high/mid/low.

Yesterday this 3-mode Ultrafire C2 XML arrived from DX http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ultrafire-c2-t60-cree-xm-lt6-3-mode-1200-lumen-white-led-flashlight-w-strap-1-x-18650-1-x-17670-90777 , and it is very bright. On mid it is brighter than the SSC-P7 led of the Magicshine MJ-816 (the three led "Mickey Mouse light"). On high it is too bright if there is oncoming traffic, mid is more then enough, and with 1,16A from the battery it will last about two hours on a good 18650 battery. High can be used for a shorter time if you need some more "power", and low is useable as "being seen light". High = 2,47A, Mid = 1,23A Low = 0,25A at 4,19V on a 2500mAh Trustfire http://www.dealextreme.com/p/trustfire-protected-18650-lithium-battery-2500mah-2-pack-blue-5790 .

You need a charger for the battery, and a bike mount like this http://www.dealextreme.com/p/universal-bicycle-mount-8274

12

Hello Biker,

Welcome to BLF Biker. For a cheap Bike Mount look here and you can use it with hugsby p31 my favourite aa bike light also take a L2 clone with 18650 for more information look here. For 18650 and charger look at BLF.

13

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but can someone suggest also a good red tail light?

14

So many suggestions, I’m losing the overview…
The C88 would be just fine. Is the light so worse compared to 18650?
Any alternatives with normal batteries?
I don’t mind discussing a good red tail light.
I’m looking for a basic one. So I can almost buy this every where. Or are there any detials I have to check? Any recommandations?

15

Is there a beam shot of the Q5 in the forum?
A tight hot spot isn’t really suited as a bike light.
Is there a good alternative to the C88 with a bigger spill?
I really like your self-made superbright tail light.
But for my purposes (mostly of-road with no traffic around) a cheap or engineered model will be sufficient.
Can you show me examples for both?

16

I am looking for this one.Innocent

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I am looking for this one.Innocent

18

No alternative to C88 with bigger spill?
Thus a model with 18650?

19

I think, that very useful are 2 front lights - one on handlebars, and one on helmet. I have on helmet http://www.dealextreme.com/p/trustfire-tr-801-cree-q5-wc-230-lumen-led-flashlight-1-18650-13095 + http://www.dealextreme.com/p/universal-nylon-mount-for-flashlights-and-lasers-12000 , its cheap and not too heavy :)

Good on handlebars should be http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ultrafire-c2-t60-cree-xm-lt6-3-mode-1200-lumen-white-led-flashlight-w-strap-1-x-18650-1-x-17670-90777 , like Hobbyfotograaf wrote, it is very bright (much brighter than 504B "510" lm) and has nice spill too. BTW, reflector size comparison (tr-801, 504B, C2, F15) is here http://h5.abload.de/img/110713_143641-1920kmyp.jpg

20

Thanks for your replies.
@ Be-Seen Triker:
Is it difficult and/ or expensive to mod the C88 to an XP-G R5?
What will be the batteries’ run-time with this mod?
I would be happy to get you help. But the additional shipping costs from the US to Germany are probably to pricey.

21

Well, normally I’m handy with tools.
But I have not worked yet with such small electrical parts.
Can you explain what is exactly to do? Maybe you have some pics of such a mod.
It would be most easiest to get a C88 first and then to decide if a mod is really sufficient.
But as the C88 has a small pill only, I’m quite sure that mod will be necessary.
Is the C88 available any where else (cheaper) than @ Manafont?
And where should I buy the XP-G R5 dropin and the required heatsink glue?

22

Sorry, I meant the spill.
The spill will get comparable to a 18650 after the mod?
Beacuse that is the most mportant thing for me.
Hmm, I haven’t soldered yet and have no soldering gun.
But a friend of mine has one a could help me.
Thanks for posting the links. Looks very inetresting and you seem to be adept in modding.
So what do you think costs shiping from your side to Germany?:slight_smile:

23

That sounds very good.

Are there any shots of a modded C88 here in the forum?

24

http://kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=11117

If you're going to mod this light use this emitter .. much much nicer tint .There's no reason to mod a light using the same stuff every manufacturer uses .. put the better tint in while you're doing it. It will make the light stand apart from everything else you have .

Shipping on all of these items is free worldwide ..

been seen trikins modding services .. priceless