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I’ve not done much riding this summer due to family and work commitments and want to get back out once the kids are in bed. I have a light that I bought from Torchy a couple of years ago, this one
http://www.torchy.co.uk/product/torchy-bk500-mk2-500-lumen/
Can anyone tell me what else I’ll need that doesn’t cost the earth? Money is tight at the moment, so below £50 if possible. Will need a rear light too as I’ll be cycling to the local trails and there are road bits in between. Any advice greatly appreciated.
For that sort of money the Magicshine MJ-900 is hard to beat. Tiny head unit, light battery (but you can upgrade to bigger/longer lasting ones), and a decent beam pattern.
Allegedly 1200 lumens, probably isn't, but it's enough even on its own for night riding, and paired with your other light it'd be perfect.
Can be had for as little as £40 if you shop around.
Thanks for the response. Would you use the Torchy as a head unit?
I'd try and helmet mount the torchy. I had a slightly different torchy torch which I used an own brand Evans fte helmet mount to put in the helmet. Any number of the 1200 lumen plus headlamps with separate battery packs to go on the bars wo had mean you have plenty of light in combination with what you have.
I'd check what torchy is selling at the moment. also the above mention d magicshine. You could also check out the brite r Duo if you're happy to bodge the handlebar mount. I've recently got a Ryder Alumina from cycle republic which I've used twice and seems good. Very bright and all in one unit which is convenient.
I've had a Nitenumen X8 for the last year and it's brilliant. Got it from AliExpress for under £40. It's properly bright, nice wide beam pattern, battery lasts hours and hours.
I’ve just bought one of these from amazon (or at least the same thing with a different name on it) for about £35, figured it was worth a punt before splashing out on something a lot more expensive. Much to the annoyance of some of the people I ride with it does look like it is putting out somewhere close to 1800 lumens (when compared to some rather pricey exposure lights) and easily lasted the 1:30 I had it in for this week. It’s very solidly built with a decent handlebar Mount (no helmet mount) and sensible controls; you will need to borrow your mobile charger though as mine didn’t ship with one.
if the link below doesn’t work try a search for cree XM-L2 and you should be able to find some more lights that are of the same construction.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B071DX232Z/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_EhVIBb948DJFP
You can get perfectly serviceable lights on eBay for about 12 quid though maybe factor in a set of quality 18650s and charger if you don't already have them.
bigginge, are the batteries in that light removable? I', assuming it contains 2 x 18650's
+1 for the MJ-900.
Awesome light for the money.
Not easily.
There is a fair chance you could swap them out with the help of a torx driver but it’s not something I’ve tried yet. I probably wouldn’t want to try it in the dark at the side of the trail either as they look like pretty small screws.
OK thanks. So best consider it a sealed unit then.
+1 for the Nitenumen X8 (labelled differently again) type lights. Cheap, effective and with USB charging.
brite r Duo
Got one of these, good light.
The clamp bolt is a little flimsy, but I haven't broken it after a year of use, the charger isn't an intelligent charger so if you have to keep an eye on it, and if you run the battery down it takes a long time to charge.
I had a nitenumen. It’s gone on the blink, one led strobes badly regardless of mode. Shame it worked well up until then. Replaced with a 1500i lezyne, twice the price but brighter and better made
Be careful with Magic Shine UK at the moment. I ordered about 10 days ago, received a tracking number, the number does not exist on the UPS website. I have emailed them twice, no response and their phone number is a dead line. Gone bust?