[Closed] Bike hut 1600 v diablo.

Dunno, but after going with no wires, I couldn't go back tbh. I agree re the Diablo runtime, pisses me off having to 'manage' it around a nightride (not enough to go back to battery packs though!) to the point I bought a Joystick so I can just leave it on for 2 hours.

Was tempted by a Four4th unit, but never got round to it, as they were sold out for ages, definitely worth a look mate.

Halfords light is 1600 lumens, so if Diablo is same then illumination will be similar. Halfords has a good spread of usable light (although I never use it on full burn as it is just far too bright)...

I bought a 1600 not long after they came out, and I recently got a 1000 thinking it'd be lighter. It's actually a similar weight, I can't tell the difference in light output, but the runtimes are better. Pretty sure the battery is the same size and if the output is lower the beam pattern is more focused. The 1600 lights up half the woods when it doesn't necessarily need to.

I should be able to help as I've got both but I haven't used them in so long and I've never directly compared them side by side.

The Halfords light is mint for the money but I already had an old Hope mount so I didn't have to use the crappy standard one or spend any more cash. The main difference is that the Diablo is fine on your head and I wouldn't want the bigger Halfords unit on my helmet. Last time I used the 1600 I was cruising around on a mixture of trail and road with it a couple of clicks down from full power.

As above, it's too bright on full power especially when you're dipping in and out of street lights, cars etc.

Worth noting that full power on the bike hut doesn't last very long, I would say 15 - 30 minutes before it throttles itself to prevent overheating. It's still very bright and above 1000 lumens on that setting. Personally, it's not bright enough for downhill but for bridleways and woodland trails it does pretty well. Capacity is good, I always use it on full power but turn it down when between trails. Very easy to blind drivers because it has no focus.

Might be something wrong with your light as I'm pretty sure full burn on mine lasts almost 90 minutes...but that has constant movement so there is air moving over the unit to help cool it.

Wasn't me using the light, was a mate who was trying night riding for the first time and reckoned he needed the sun in front of him so left it on full burn...our ride last about 1 hr 15 mins and light was still running but was on the last LED light of the 4 to indicate how much juice was left.

If the Diablo is anything like my Axis the Bikehut light battery doesn’t drain as quickly. I’m quite disappointed with the battery life of the Axis vs my MaxxD which seems epic (Maxx d replaced the bikehut as I fancied a bit more power).

My night rides have always tended to be 1.5-2 hours and never got close to running out of battery on the bikehut light - and the battery power lights are easy to follow on the unit.

I tended to only use full power down steep tech bits and rode the rest of the time down a few levels. It’s decent enough for the money - but the MaxxD is a big step up (as it should be for the cost).

Might be something wrong with your light as I’m pretty sure full burn on mine lasts almost 90 minutes…but that has constant movement so there is air moving over the unit to help cool it.

I don't want to overstate it, the throttling is minor and would easily go unnoticed if you aren't paying attention at the point when it dims slightly. Or maybe it's a sign that I need to ride faster 😉

Worth noting that full power on the bike hut doesn’t last very long, I would say 15 – 30 minutes before it throttles itself to prevent overheating

Yeah it's a risk, just go faster :). Or don't leave it on full blast - it really isn't practical for much, it doesn't let you see any more than the next setting!

I don’t want to overstate it, the throttling is minor and would easily go unnoticed if you aren’t paying attention at the point when it dims slightly. Or maybe it’s a sign that I need to ride faster

Mine does it too, at first I thought the bumpy ground had turned it down. Mine does it no matter how fast I am going and how cold the air temp.

I'd say the bikehut light is OK, it's nice and bright, battery indicators are accurate and it is great not having the external battery pack but there is something about the beam pattern that is a bit off for me. I still use it but I'm not sure I'd buy another when it stops working.

Oh,is the Diablo that bad? I was seriously considering buying one as a maybe-bar-light-maybe-helmet upgrade first foray into posh lighting from my 4 year old 30 quid Evolva x2/Lezyne 800 Helmet mount combo for <2 hr local rides

That bad? Mibbe I didn't word that correctly, they're very good, but only an hour on full chat is something you have to consider. Yeah, I can drop it down to level 3 and get a full night ride in, but it feels wrong when there's a brighter setting.

I’ve got the Zenith which has similar run times. Granted it would be great to just switch it on and ride but just have to accept that the output needs managing to last. I tend not to put it on at all until the first downhill on a ride and then toggle to minimum for any climbs. Can easily make it last three hours doing that which is more than far enough on a night ride given my fitness.

OP, sorry, I had it in my head that the Halfords light was a cable to battery affair, ignore me!.

Anyone have info on battery life for the Halfords light - I can't see it on the website?

Also it's rated IBX5. Doesn't seem very high to me. What are people's experience in the wet?

Replaced bikehut 1600 with an MaxxD, it's much better focused beam, but also cost a lot more. I used my BH 1600 all last winter and didn't experience any water issues, the USB connector seems to be the weak point (unsurprisingly) but if you keep it plugged with the bung, I can't see it being an issue (broke my remote early on). Can't comment on specified burn times in high mode, other than mine was fine for a couple of hours, but I do turn my lights down, for the easy stuff (canals/fire roads)

When I used a Joystick I also attached the spare tube battery to it (and my helmet), gave twice the runtime and light enough you'd never notice.

I just zip-tied it to the back of the helmet - I use an older helmet for night rides, then I can just leave mounts attached etc, and charge as a 'unit'.

https://exposurelights.com/products/bike/batteries-and-chargers/support-cell-3-4a

Only downside of the support cell (apart from weight etc) is that you can't use the wee rear facing exposure plug in light.

I much prefer my joystick to the diablo, far punchier more penetrative beam.

BikeHut light seems to work very well at staying dry, but if the USB plug isn't installed then it really isn't waterproof - that is the weak spot of the light...the remote is a nice idea but is so basic that it is better to not use it (making the light waterproof).

My Bikehut light seems to have defaulted to a single brightness setting and flashing green battery indicator. Does anyone know why this is or what it is symptomatic of?

Love Exposure lights but also feel slightly let down by the run time on the Diablo. My night rides are usually a little over 2 hours, I have a Toro on the bars and Diablo on the helmet, don't turn the Diablo on until well into the ride when I hit the first fast twisty bits. If I forget to turn it down it's generally dead long before the ride is over.

They are extremely well made though - my Diablo is a mk4 (8 years old?) and still going strong. I also have a flash/flare combo that is probably 10 years and mostly OK, and a Sirius for the road bike which bounced out of the (underslung) bar mount at 30mph. I had to push it back together but it still works fine.

I find that my Joystick is as heavy as I'd ever want attached to my helmet, I wouldn't fancy adding more weight with an additional battery pack.

Eh? heavy? You got a neck like Gollum? 🙂

I wouldn’t fancy adding more weight with an additional battery pack.

I just went to weigh them.

My Joystick weighs 80g and the cell weighs 80g - I bet you could find a pea under a mattress 🙂

Re bikehut 1600.
It’s a great light for the money, but the mount is absolute crap.
I replaced it with an exposure cleat, which is far sturdier.
I also never use full power, 1 step down is plenty of light for my riding.

bikehut 1600.
It’s a great light for the money, but the mount is absolute crap.

Yeah. Fortunately, the Hope (£12?) mount is compatible and solves that problem. The only other thing is it's got too many modes (8, I think) I have to cycle through them all to use the only 2 I ever want (full, and low). But that's a minor annoyance.

I have it on full power for descents.

I always post this when BH lights threads pop up But I think it's worth looking at the BH-1000 depending on your requirements (do you really need 1300 Lumens?), a little less powerful, less weight, less cost, similar run times(?) to the 1600, it's worth considering IMO.
I seldom use mine above the ~600 lumen setting offroad TBH.

It does have the same issue as the 1600 of having too many modes (IMO) and forcing you to cycle through them all to get to the next lowest setting.

The inevitable trade-off for less spend is quality and durability, at least these days you can buy these lights form a UK retailer...

I always post this when BH lights threads pop up But I think it’s worth looking at the BH-1000 depending on your requirements (do you really need 1300 Lumens?), a little less powerful, less weight, less cost, similar run times(?) to the 1600, it’s worth considering IMO.
I seldom use mine above the ~600 lumen setting offroad TBH.

It does have the same issue as the 1600 of having too many modes (IMO) and forcing you to cycle through them all to get to the next lowest setting.

The inevitable trade-off for less spend is quality and durability, at least these days you can buy these lights form a UK retailer…

Ymmv but I wouldn’t want to be riding steep tech stuff off-road in the dark with only 600-1000 lumens on the bars.

The 1600 Bikehut was fine with the 900 lumen Moon Vortex on the helmet I had - but the Max D in reflex mode (max 4000 lumens) on the bars and axis (max 1100 lumens) on the helmet is waaaaaay better again.

It’s the brighter floody bar light that makes the most difference for me.

The issue with a helmet light isn't the weight having any effect on myself, it's that if you're riding rough terrain then you can feel the higher centre of gravity wobbling the helmet. In a crash then that extra weight could lead to the helmet moving and not functioning as it should when you need it most. If you're not going properly off road then you probably wouldn't notice but it's definitely an issue when I'm trail riding at night.

Fwiw I have a Bell super 3 helmet that fits me well so the helmet isn't the issue.

I do often combine it with a (similar output) helmet light off-road, but honestly the full 1000 can easily just cause glare and/or cast confusing shadows (especially when bar mounted).

It's more than likely your night riding is on Gnarlier, more techy stuff at higher speeds. I've just not really seen the benefit of going higher than that sort of output myself.

As said YMMV.

Anyone have info on battery life for the Halfords light – I can’t see it on the website?

From memory it's something like 60 mins on full, which feels about right. Then obviously much more in the dimmer zones.

I've only really used it on 2-3 hour rides, shifting between full beam for the descents and low power (600 lumens?) for the flats / climbs. Doing that I rarely use 50% of the (indicated) battery.

I agree about the brightness, I find any more than about 1000 and I tend to get spots from glare...I reckon 1200 would be the brightest I'd go otherwise it is just to flared and vision isn't great.

Personal choice but several of my riding mates have agreed with their super bright lights and have started riding them slightly dimmer - haven't spotted any reduction in speed as they leave me for dead!

Saying that, I've other mates who reckon 2000 lumens isn't bright enough...so entirely personal choice.

Anyone have info on battery life for the Halfords light – I can’t see it on the website?

6,400mAh unless specs have changed. Worth going for the 1600 model for the bigger battery even if you only ever run it at 1000 lumens.

I'm firmly in the catagory of more lumens is better for tech trails. I just about make do with 1600 lumens and a 800 lumen helmet light. Due to the poor focus the bikehut may not be equivalent in real terms to a 1600 lumen exposure light.

Ymmv but I wouldn’t want to be riding steep tech stuff off-road in the dark with only 600-1000 lumens on the bars.

I do, it's fine. On road I find I need more cos I'm going faster and looking further away. Plus tarmac is black, most trails are a lot lighter in colour.

The mount on the bikehut is rubbish (as someone else noted above), but even with a different mount, you still have to be bit careful as the screw/thread interface is pretty weak.

(see my thread about bonding plastic!)

Diablo user here, full brightness get around an hour, but if I use full brightness on the downs and low on the ups I can get around 2.5 to 3 hours.

Now I'm use to toggling the light levels its fine, has become part of the routine. Goggles or glasses off at base of climbs, light to low or off and up I go, at the top ready to drop in, light to full, goggles or glasses on and off I go.

Ymmv but I wouldn’t want to be riding steep tech stuff off-road in the dark with only 600-1000 lumens on the bars.

I find it depends. A clear, moonlit night out in the open and you can get away with very little light. In the woods or on a dark cloudy night is very different.

Also depends massively on those you ride with and the brightness of their lights. I find I need far more light when with others than when I'm on my own, especially if some of the lights are really bright.

All my night riding is under tree cover. It’s not wildly fast - but it’s fairly steep / covered in roots and off camber sections / leaves everywhere at the moment etc.

1600 on the bars / 900 on the helmet was fine, but 4000 / 1100 is much nicer IMO. I’ve got more confidence on some of the steeper stuff now and can see more detail and further ahead.

Prior to the bikehut I had a 1200 bar light and that was definitely a step down and would not want to go back to that. The bikehut was the first bar light I’ve found was decent off-road after using a variety of budget Chinese type things.