Looking for a second flashlight for biking to complement existing M1

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

Hi, since this is my first post, I wanted to thank this site, other sites, and the many amazing users who have built a collection of knowledge that newbies like me used to learn from!

I was hoping that some of you could offer me advice for purchasing a new flashlight.

A few years ago, I bought two Convoy M1 xm-ls (3c & 5c) to use as lights for biking. I mounted them both on the handlebar and angled them down so that their hotspots formed overlapping ellipses on the road ahead. I would run them both on medium and was happy with the amount of light they provided.

Fast forward to the present, and my 3c tint M1 has died. I’ve been riding with the other light on its own, but it alone doesn’t provide me with a comfortable amount of light. In reading about a replacement, I’ve read so much about beam patterns, spill/flood etc.

Having looked at beamshots lighting up barns and trees, I’m considering a more throwy light like the C8 to complement my M1. The idea would be that although I wouldn’t get the near 100% overlap of hotspots on the road as I did with both M1s, I would gain an additional ellipse created by the C8 further ahead of the M1’s ellipse…giving me additional visibility directly ahead. But I have some concerns regarding this setup.

I’m assuming that because the C8 has a very tight beam, I would need to angle it down less, with respect to horizontal & the M1’s angle, to cast its beam on the road. As a cyclist, I find it important to balance illuminatig the road ahead with not blinding oncoming traffic. I would like some feedback regarding this assumption.

Secondly, based on the beamshots I’ve viewed, it seems that there is still some spillage with the C8 that extends from the source all the way to the hotspot. I’m counting on this because I’d still like some (minor?) overlap with the M1. Granted there will be a lot less overlap in a M1 + C8 configuration vs two M1s, I’ll take what I can get.

Finally, because I want to have my cake and eat it too, the last two thoughts kind of contradict each other. By not lowering the C8 as much as the M1, I risk blinding oncoming traffic. But wait! The C8 has a much tighter beam, so it’s not that bad or at all!!?? Since the C8 isn’t 100% throw, whatever spill I do get, I’ll take to overlap with the M1. Yikes…

So should I get a C8 and use the two elliptical hotspots, one “above” the other on the road ahead, for my riding? Or get a second M1? Something else? Looking forward to any and all feedback!

tl;dr Looking to buy a second light to pair with existing M1 on bike handlebar. Should I get another M1, a throwy C8 or something else?

2

I would get S2+ to complement M1. Unless you are riding very fast, M1 provides more than enough throw when aimed higher, while S2+ will flood the close area better than your two M1s did.

3

Do you feel like you need more light farther ahead? If so I think getting a light with a more throwy beam is a good idea. Or you could put an XPL HI in your M1. This will give it a throwier beam. Depending on how far in angle you have the two lights separated, I doubt the gap in illumination will be too bad.

What if you angle your M1 up so that it illuminates farther up the road? Is it not bright enough then? Or are you concerned about blinding oncoming traffic?

4

I have never felt a shortage of light from both M1s, or even now the single M1, in the immediate area ahead of the handlebars. I consistently travel between 12-18 mph at times at night. A situation in which I do feel things could be somewhat improved ahead of the down-angled elliptical hotspot that the M1s have provided so far.

I completely agree that angling the M1(s) up would give more than sufficient throw, but my experience has showed that it would a create an unsafe situation for oncoming drivers.

Although, I’m not completely confident about the S2/S2+, I feel that the extra flood they would provide between the handlebars and the beginning of the elliptical hotspot of the M1 isn’t something I would benefit from. But possibly, I could stand to benefit with more focused light beyond the M1 hotspot. Maybe? After all, all my biking flashlight life knows is the experience of the dual M1s :slight_smile:

5

Yes, I don’t feel that angling up the M1(s) is something I want to do because of oncoming traffic. The C8 that I’m considering is a C8 with XPL-HI. I believe that it has a better, tighter throw than a plain XPL.

I don’t have any experience with replacing the guts of my flashlight. Does it involve just popping out old components or would I have to solder too? Of course I don’t know the first thing about soldering…

6

What has died in the other M1? They are built simple and mod-friendly so you could replace whatever has broken and also replace the XM-L with an XP-L HI for more throw. A C8 with XP-L HI would also work good. You can maybe think about mounting a TIR optic in the "closer" light to change the beam shape for example.

7

A C8 with XPL HI will indeed be a very narrow beam.

I don’t really know how a flashlight beam affects the vision of oncoming traffic. Honestly I have just been aiming my light to maximize my vision and safety while riding. I imagine it can’t be worse than car headlights to oncoming traffic, but I could be wrong.

One thing you could look into is elliptical TIR optics. I know they make them sized for the S2+. They put out an ellipse instead of a round beam so it more naturally puts light where you need it on the road. I also remember reading about people trying to design a visor of sorts to block light from the top of the beam in order to not blind oncoming traffic.

And yes, mods like changing the emitter and driver are pretty simple, but they do require soldering.