Ayups and Night Riding Lights

I am looking at doing some early morning riding to get the training k's up, but need to invest in a light other than the "be seen" blinky I have.  Ayups seem all the rage, but I am looking for something that doesn't come wired to a battery pack so I can swap quickly between bikes.  What do others use for "seeing" night time lights?

Tags: lights, winter

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Permalink Reply by Dahondude on April 12, 2011 at 21:04

OK heres the low down from BV. They took ten 'judges' and made them stand in an inner city lane way after sunset, standing 200m from the bike lights. They then rated the lights for visibility. The lights were also rated for waterproofness, durability, and usability. So the final score is more based on visibility to cars, than how good they are at illuminating the road for the rider.

Best scoring compact front lights were:

Illumenox Highpower SS-L1222W (81% score), $79, 3xAAA batteries

Knog Gekko bracket-less, (72% score), $50, 2x AAA batteries

Blackburn Flea 2.0USB bracketless (68% score), $65, USB rechargeable

Knog Boomer bracket-less, (66% score), $50, 2x AAA batteries

 

Best scoring high-powered front lights

Literover Trail Blazer (85% score), $199, mains rechargeable

Ay-up twin sport (82% score), $264, mains rechargeable

Niterider Mi-Newt 250 (73% score), $300, USB or mains rechargeable

Cygolite Trion 600 (73% score) $449, mains rechargeable

Niteflux Commuter 6 (72% score), $200, USB rechargeable

BBB Highpower (69% score), $280, mains rechargeable

Cygolite Expilion (69% score), $200, USB or mains rechargeable

 

Like I said previously I have the Cygolite Expilion 250 and bought it primarily to illuminate the road in front of me. Given it is a single unit (no additional battery pack) and can recharge in 3 hrs, it puts out a HUGE amount of light.

Permalink Reply by Dave, Lewiston on April 12, 2011 at 23:37

Agree that the Expilion 250 is bang for the buck, especially when Cell is flogging them off for around $130 delivered. However, I've got to say that 250 lumen only just cuts it in places that are DARK. Like up my way, in Lewiston.

I got one, and it's good, but I might also get one those Dealextreme monsters in the near future to really light up the road. Then I'll have two sets of lights for just over $200, and redundancy, which is handy to have on a long ride. Like the ay up, though, the Magicshine lights run off an external battery.

Permalink Reply by Slammin on April 13, 2011 at 10:32

Yep, 900 lumen is a good bench mark for serious night time riding. With such a high powered solid light you also get the advantage of motorists thinking you're a motor bike and stopping at intersections for you. And any light that is worth putting on will have an external battery, but they are amazingly small these days for a 3 hour burn time.

I don't even need another light but for $79 I'm thinking of getting a magicshine just to see how good they are.

Permalink Reply by MARK FERGUSON (SPARTACUS) on June 23, 2011 at 22:43
I got mine for $119.00 delivered from www.bikes.com.au ordered on Thursday and recieveved on Monday!
Permalink Reply by Gus K on April 12, 2011 at 23:59
Thanks DD. Goggling Iluminox I found the ride on PDF via ayup.
http://www.ayup-lights.com/reviews/magazine-reviews/rideon_apr10_li...
Permalink Reply by Darren on May 4, 2012 at 15:16

I can heartily recommend the Niterider Mi-Newt 250 - got mine at a clearance sale for $65.  Cell still has the more powerful 350 at $96... http://www.cellbikes.com.au/NiteRider-MiNewt-Mini-350-Cordless-Rech...

Permalink Reply by Smudge on April 21, 2011 at 23:43
For road bike riding, I still think bar mounting is the way to go, and have a small but bright LED flasher on the helmet. If you're planning on mountain biking in the dark, then I'd definitely go the helmet mount. I ride the Salisbury Highway at night with a half watt Blaze, and a larger Cateye, but thinking after a couple of near misses with bits of truck tyre, may need to get something a lot brighter!!
Permalink Reply by Steven Orr on April 22, 2011 at 0:24

I do like the little LED blinky on the helmet, and when switched to constant it's a bonus for changing a flat in the dark!

Later I plan on the AY-UP helmet lights as well as my now ever present AY-UP's on the bar....not that at 5.15pm in the afternoon it stopped me getting hit 4weeks ago(second time in a week)...More lighting is better than less?

Permalink Reply by heather on April 22, 2011 at 7:26

Steven, I posted on AC how when I was very visible at night, that I was almost hit by a driver who ran a red light when I had crossed 3 of 4 lanes. One can only try to be very visible. If a negligent driver is apprehended, then it is harder for them to use the excuse of "didn't see you". I believe that being very visible prevented at least one left turn across my path -- the overtaking driver stopped at the last moment.

My bright helmet light enables me to see road debris, and the blue cat eyes of SA Water that are often placed outside of guidelines, so a potential hazard for cyclists. However, I need to keep moving my head, down for debris, up for drivers. With AC members liking Ay-Ups, I am now wondering about fitting these to my handlebars. I use my bike for utility cycling and park it in the street. I have the impression that Ay-ups stay on the handlebar, without being easy to remove and attach. $200 lights left on the bike would be tempting to some. Steven, can you fill me in?

Permalink Reply by Big Block on April 22, 2011 at 8:40

with Ay-Ups only the mount stays behind. Unplug the power from the light, pull on rubber strap to disconnect light from mount, pull on velcro to remove battery

see the step by step photos here for the intial mount and it is apparent. Suggest 5 to 10sec time.

 

I like the AyUps as it allows for one light to be tilted down for the road, and the other to be angled higher to improve your visibility at night in city traffic, or to get a look further up the road away from traffic.

Please no helmet mounted Ay-Ups for group rides!

Permalink Reply by Steven Orr on April 22, 2011 at 10:01

BB, I agree, the twin light setup is perfect for having each light sitting at slightly different angles that suits the riders needs.

In the daylight due to the differing heights of vehicles and their mirrors I always have one set slightly higher than the other trying to make certain I am seen by all road users.

I do know that when you come across walkers or other cyclists as I do in the Belair Park in the mornings I very quickly push them down so as not to blind the persons coming into my ligts as they are like lots of lights now very bright.

Heather as BB said, the lights and battery are removed very quickly and easily, and the mounting bracket to the bar is zip tied. The mounting brackets for the bar come in the kit or can be purchased individually as needed and are inexpensive. I have the brackets on two of my bikes and always remove accessories if my bike is out of my sight.

AY-UPs suit me, but I see other riders with lights even brighter, so there are definitely options to suit all budgets.

Permalink Reply by Martin Turner on May 4, 2012 at 14:28

+1 for the Ayups.

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