[Closed] Commuter front light recommendation?

STW standard answer... Exposure Strada. Preferably with the remote switch so you can easily switch between full power and something more considerate for oncoming traffic.

Slightly left field... Garmin Varia ([url= http://www.cyclist.co.uk/garmin/770/garmin-varia-front-light-review ]a review[/url]). Good if you run a garmin head unit. Adjusts focus depending on how quick your going. Has a proper road beam pattern. Is good.

Neither is helmet mounted, but you don't need it for road anyway.

I have no idea if the suggestions are in budget as none was stated.

Edit... actually usual STW answer is something totally stupid like a MaxxD 😆

Would you be prepared to think of a dynamo + lamp? We both use the B+M Lumotec IQ2 Luxus U which has a regular and "high" beam. Has good side visibility and being a German lamp has reduced scatter. also has a USB output which would charge a medium battery pack in 3 or 4 hours even whilst doing days with 3000m+ of climbing (and quite a bit of descending...).
The SP dynamoes have been reliable 15mm bolt-thru with a 9mm QR adaptor sleeve, but I also had a SON 12mm hub built up recently for 650b.

B&M Ixon Core. Proper road beam, USB chargeable, doesn't pee off everyone coming from the other direction.

Does anyone know whether the Fluxient Elite S3 is self-contained? It looks too large to just be a head unit, but also looks suspiciously compact for the quoted runtimes. There seems to be almost no information on the web about it.

PS, +1 for the dyno recommendation, as always.

If you're happy with your Moon get another one. I've been using the LX760 for about a year, and it's been fine.I don't think you can get it now but I'm sure there's a new version.

Cheers for the ideas folks, I'll have a look at these.

Neither is helmet mounted, but you don't need it for road anyway.

I don't *need* it per se, but its handy. With helmet mount I don't have to remove the lights when I lock the bike up in town in case they get nicked, nor do I forget to take them into work when they need charged. They also stay toasty as my helmet lives in the house/in the office at work, my bike doesn't. Cold batteries don't work well.

+1 for dynamos
+1 for German beam lamps

You'd be much safer with one of those that won't dazzle oncoming traffic. IME head torch for on road use is a really bad idea - you will look at other road users coming towards them and completely dazzle/blind them.

Add your 'bright as the sun/light the sky/dazzle everyone' light on a switch as a full beam if you want but make sure you can disable it quickly when theres any other traffic.

Exposure Sirius is well worth a look.

head torch for on road use is a really bad idea - you will look at other road users coming towards them and completely dazzle/blind them.

QFT.

With helmet mount I don't have to remove the lights when I lock the bike up in town in case they get nicked, nor do I forget to take them into work when they need charged.

All solved by dynamo lighting 😉

Valid point RE dazzling other road users with helmet mount, hadn't thought of that.

Can't say I'm overly keen on messing about with a dynamo, I'll have a look-see at the options though.

This is a bit old now so prices have changed, but might be worth a read:

https://mashing53.cyclyc.com/the-freedom-of-infinity/

I use a moon 360lx with a remote switch.
It comes with a helmet mount.
Bright enough on unlit country roads, it’s great.

I've got one of [url= https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/trelock-ls-950-ecopower-control-ion-headlight/aid:470889?channable=e8467.NDcwODg5&gclid=Cj0KCQiAi7XQBRDnARIsANeLIethUAIARAWEXnZl7f23Y-KW-YToY6fRkgeO8n7F2DNrQ-V1bPlpOj8aAmSvEALw_wcB ]these[/url] that's been doing a faultless job for coming up on 2 years.

Complimented by one of [url= https://www.evanscycles.com/fwe-rechargeable-front-light-500-lumen-EV277488?esvt=52848-GOUKE1984588&esvq=&esvadt=999999-0-1144608-1&esvcrea=166219976359&esvplace=&esvd=c&esvtg=aud-302411051260:pla-367269230357&esvo=EV277488-NA-BLK&esvaid=50080&gclid=Cj0KCQiAi7XQBRDnARIsANeLIesvshOmMspX_zl1pUXKzDNuq7GmT_K6loyzym38IAHDH0iHHpO4B_kaAuzlEALw_wcB ]these[/url] because 2 is better than one.

Actually 4 is better than 2, because I've also got a Cateye Rapid X on the headtube and an exposure link on my helmet. But you get the idea.

The Trelock is ace, on low the battery lasts about 50 hours, and still does 8 on high, you can knock the power up and down in 5 steps either way, I only use it on 2 in the dark, will put it up to 4 or 5 on the unlit sections.

I leave it on my bike year round because its says how long runtime is left and it's never let me down.

Not sexy, dead good.

Edit - I would love a dynamo, but can't afford one and if you need to use another bike/front wheel you need a battery back up anyway. But I'd definitely consider one if your budget allows, especially if you can mount it low.

The exposure Strada is quoted as having a 'road biased beam'. Ime this is either untrue, or a bit of a moot point because it still dazzles oncoming drivers in anything above the lowest mode and in the lowest mode you can't see where you're going! Great light for general off-road riding however, which was how I used mine.

I know you want self contained OP, but I went over to dynamo lighting a year ago and it's ace. The Son lamp (and B+M units with the same reflector) have a proper cut-off like a car, you can see a long way ahead and you don't dazzle anyone.

Dynamo plus German road rated lights for me. I run front and rear light from my dynamo. Proper, road oriented beam and never have to think about making sure that the batteries are charged. The light has about a 10 minute "standlight" so you remain lit even when stopped waiting at junctions.

Had my dynamo system for six years now, I moved it from the first bike it was on over to my current commuter.

The exposure Strada is quoted as having a 'road biased beam'. Ime this is either untrue, or a bit of a moot point because it still dazzles oncoming drivers in anything above the lowest mode and in the lowest mode you can't see where you're going! Great light for general off-road riding however, which was how I used mine.

The Strada definitely isn't a road beam pattern in the same way as the German lights. You need to angle the Strada down a bit. And it does work a lot better with the remote so you can lower the intensity for oncoming traffic. Does work well when riding fast down quiet B roads though. Find the low setting fine much of the time, medium setting when it gets a bit twisty, and high for fast downhill stuff. You just need to use it sensibly and considerately.

Do like the Garmin Varia as it's got a proper road pattern with two boxes of light, one near your front wheel and one projected on the road ahead. And as its linked to your GPS it knows how fast you're going and moves the projected box further ahead the quicker you go. It works well with the light generally being focused where you want it to be. Though on fast downhills (30mph+) I do find I have to hold back a bit as the box doesn't extend quite far enough, whereas the Strada on high is like riding in daylight. And the battery life is not as good as the Strada either. But it doesn't need managing on a ride in the same way the Strada does.

I like my strada, it's not perfect but the battery life is good and the OLED display is excellent

I use a joystick on my head. I use it on pulse and its aimed down so that in the riding position it's pointing ahead of me but down to the road. I find it very helpful being able to 'point' it when needed - the pulse function makes it more noticeable and I do find cars seem to spot it when pointed at/towards them - particularly for cars when you happen to be in their blind spot for whatever reason

I do increasingly find very bright on/off flashing lights to be very hard on the eyes

I've ordered one of these for my "pub bike"
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-420LM-Bike-LED-Front-Light-Bicycle-German-STVZO-Light-Lamp-USB-Rechargeable-/322592988261

I'll let you know if it's any good.

Regarding suitability of lights for road use, this is a pretty good article...

https://www.cyclinguk.org/blog/chris-juden/bobby-dazzlers

For the Strada it does need to be angled down a fair bit due to a lack of proper cut off and run on a low mode or it will be too bright. Mode 2 is probably the most considerate, and that's on my Mk5 800.

The Supernova looks a good bet for a road light.

Btw, the 1200 Strada is on sale at SigmaSport today for 200 quid. Lord knows why you'd ever want 1200 lumens from a road light though, my 800 on full is like riding in daylight 😕

Ixon IQ Premium or Ixon Core, from Rose or Bike24

+1 for "something with a proper road beam" i.e. something German, not a Strada.

B&M have a new one on it's way - self-contained, battery powered and with a bit more oomph than previous models.

As well as not blinding others, the "proper" road lights also do a much better job of illuminating the road, giving you a nice big even patch of light on the road.

Regarding the suggest of a Moon LX760. I've got a Vortex Pro which I think is it's replacement. Great helmet light, but wouldn't want to use it as a road light, as the beam is a pretty tight spot.

B&M have a new one on it's way - self-contained, battery powered and with a bit more oomph than previous models.

Oooh - do you have a link? I like my Ixon Premium but it could do with a touch more forward throw for fast descending.

Oooh - do you have a link? I like my Ixon Premium but it could do with a touch more forward throw for fast descending.

Might have mentioned it before, but that's the great thing about the Garmin one. With the Ixon the big patch of light is at a fixed point ahead of you, and once you get above a certain speed it's not far enough ahead. More power isn't going to change that. The Garmin one moves the patch of light further ahead of you the faster you go so the light is where you need it to be. Doesn't get any brighter, just moves the light around.

Oh and it also works with the light sensor on the Garmin head unit and adjusts the light brightness based on ambient light, which again seems to work well.

The Garmin tag line for them is that "Your Lights Need To Be Smarter, Not Brighter" and I think they are quite possibly right.

Ixon Space - bit vapourware at the minute
https://www.rosebikes.com/article/b--m-ixon-space-led-150-lux-battery-powered-headlight/aid:2669801

Anyone used an IQ-X yet?

Ixon Space - bit vapourware at the minute

Yeah, that's the one. I'm sure when I last looked it was expected before the end of the year, but seems that my have slipped.

With the Ixon the big patch of light is at a fixed point ahead of you, and once you get above a certain speed it's not far enough ahead. More power isn't going to change that.

Err, no, but tweaking the angle will do, surely? Certainly on my Phillips light, you just set the angle so it's just shy of horizontal to get maximum distance, and that still gives plenty of near-field illumination.

Err, no, but tweaking the angle will do, surely? Certainly on my Phillips light, you just set the angle so it's just shy of horizontal to get maximum distance, and that still gives plenty of near-field illumination.

Indeed, thats another reason I have 2 lights, the german one points down the road, the cheaper one is angled down to light the road infront of me. All the benefits of the garmin light, at half the price with built in redundancy. Only issue is I have to charge 2 lights, but even doing 200 miles a week I get more than a week out of the Trelock, and charge the Evans one every other day or less.

Rapids get charged once a week at this time of year, and don't need that, it just helps me remember to do it.

Does anyone know whether the Fluxient Elite S3 is self-contained?

Yep its one box roughly 4cm wide 6cm long and 3cm tall about the same as a go pro camera with a plastic case. Sorry don't have it in front of me for actual measurements. I just got in the post yesterday, I will try and give it a test on Monday night riding back from work and report back.

But a quick test of the light in my flat suggested it should be good. The beam shape was rectangular with a sharp cut off and plenty bright enough for me. Standing at the other of lounge and looking at the light didn't blind me at all. Will see how it performs in real action next week.

What's wrong with lezyne? Was just about to replace one that I loved but is now lost. Are there issues with them?

I just got in the post yesterday, I will try and give it a test on Monday night riding back from work and report back.

That'd be ace, thanks. Would be interested to know how good the beam is (mainly in terms of not having too much light in the near/midfield) and also how good the clamp is. Might replace my backup Joysticks with one of these if it's any good.

I'd be interested to hear about the Fluxient too.

There is a few on the chinese websites now too, including a "1000" lumen T6 headlamp unit (battery not included I think)
https://www.banggood.com/search/german-light.html

Reading threads like this I always wonder if 4x4 and BMW owners with mega-bright Xenon headlights are concerned with dazzling oncoming drivers? Not in my experience.

They shouldn't be dazzling anyway I think? Often when car headlights are dazzling it's because they are dirty, which happens a lot when it's wet or there's salt on the roads in winter. It's like putting scotch tape over the front and diffuses the beam.

They're bright, but they still have a properly shaped beam.

Personally I would (and used to) be a little less fussy about dazzling people if it weren't for the number of times I've been left temporarily blinded by being main-beamed by oncoming drivers on country lanes in response to scattergun bike light beams. I don't get that with German lights.

Cheers for the ideas folks. By way of an update, I ended up taking a punt on a Fluxient Elite S3.

Stuck it on this morning and it seemed to kick out a decent amount of light in the gloomy half-dark for what is quite a small unit. The main beam is fairly focused, so shouldn't be dazzling anyone when pointed at the road. Light outwith the main beam is weak and fairly evenly dispersed. Pretty reasonable at sub-£40 too.

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Only complaint thus far is that the bar mount is a bit fiddly - it's a o-ring type job like on lots of other lights, but the mount is fixed to the body and is right underneath it. A separate quick release mount would be an improvement.

[img] [/img]

We'll see what reliability/battery life is like after a winter of use.

What's wrong with lezyne? Was just about to replace one that I loved but is now lost. Are there issues with them?

Both mscurtain and I have had one die. After sales support was non-existent when we tried to get spare parts. The battery life after a year or two of use was pants too. Anecdote not equal to proof, as I'm sure someone will point out, but they'll not be getting any more of my cash.

Get one of the Hope QR bar mounts. It should bolt straight to the bottom of the light.

Both mscurtain and I have had one die. After sales support was non-existent when we tried to get spare parts. The battery life after a year or two of use was pants to

Which Lezyne? i bought a 'super drive' or similar some years back when my USE went back on warranty - I'm sure the battery is just a (Lezyne branded) 18650 cell. Easy to buy off the shelf.

Almost forgot to write up my review of the Fluxient Elite S3.

The beam is nicely focused and has a sharp cut off. The light output on max is bright enough to ride on totally unlit country roads. Possibly if on a fast descent I may want the light to shine further out but then that defeats the point of the sharp cut off. Also possibly I was being too polite and had the light angled too far down. There is good light in front of your wheel then dark patch and then a main spot, you can kind of see it in kenneththecurtain photos. I never found the dark spot distracting the main beam was more than bright enough for me and I was happy riding along.

I paid extra for the proper bar clamp rather than the o-ring mount. At first I was pretty happy with it as it has a quick release allowing you to separate the the main body from the clamp and it also has horizontal adjustment so if you have mounted the light away from the centre line you can still angle the beam in the middle of your view.

But on todays ride home the screw that attaches the light body to one half of the quick release came loose and my light took a tumble down the road, luckily the road was empty so easy to retrieve it.

So anyone getting the ligth check the screw on the bottom of the body is nice and tight.

I have a Hope QR mount that I use for my Hope Vision 2 when out on the MTB but the bolt is too big diameter to fit into the Fluxient's body. I guess you'd have to drill the hole out and retap the threads?

For £40 I would recommend this light, just check the screw on the bottom of the light.

Quick PSA for anyone thinking about a Strada. Last year's 800 for £110 over at Cycle Republic ([url= https://www.cyclerepublic.com/exposure-strada-800-day-bright-front-bike-light.html ]here[/url]).

As much it's criticised for not being German standards compliant, for long fast dark rides on country lanes it's hard to beat. Angle it down a bit and run it in a high/low mode with the remote switch and it's great.

Bump for the PSA above. Ends midnight tonight apparently.

Mine just arrived 🙂 Quite a bit nicer than my old mk5. Bit smaller and i like the new display. The only thing I'm not sure about is the tabs on the new style remote switch, they hold the rubber band in place but don't look that secure.