[Closed] Dealextreme Trorches

Take a look at buying advice bikeradar.com

Lots af advice to wade through

I used a 900 luman torch and a magic shine 900 lum again very good but do get impatient on the delivery times.

There are two main ones which people buy:

This one is small light and cheap. It's a tight spot.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15335

This one is bigger, more powerful and heavier.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/SKU.12060

I bought one of these: It's kind of in-between the others and I haven't decided whether the extra weight is worth it over the TR-801. But I like the spot and power.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.33550

Some other bits you'll need:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6105
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12000
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.20392
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2709

I too found the site difficult to find what i wanted, so went to ebay instead and ordered [url= http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160495618229&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT ]this[/url]

Most people, IMO, are now using the dedicated 'bastid' light unit, rather than the torches. They have (on the whole) better bean pattern and much longer run times.
[url] http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.44459 [/url]
This one has the new waterproof battery, though you'll need to buy the helmet mount seperatly:
[url] http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.32754 [/url]

You can get that lamp unit with a uk plug and helmet mount included, but it uses the old battery. You can get these from a UK dealer, but the markup is just horrendous. If you're happy to wait for delivery from hong kong, you can save a packet.

I've always run a headlamp, rather than a bar flood and helmet spot etc., or any other fiddly setups. I just want a decent headlamp for not much money and plenty of light where I'm looking.

I run a P7 torch on my head and was running a Magicshine on my bar (battery knackered and I got a Mini offa Troutie). I find the P7 torches have a better more focused spot, which I like on my head, but a magicshine unit would be just as good (if slightly floodier) and lighter.
I can't see the point of running a 200 lumen light on my head, as you won't see the beam over a decent light, though Alex's idea of running a 320 unit as it weighs less & is better than the 200Lu unit, is a good one IMO (though I've easily gotten used to a P7 and don't even notice it any more).
[url= http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16092 ]This is my P7 torch[/url], which seems to have lasted better than my other P7 torch (same as above) output wise, no idea why though.

If you do go the Magicshine way, you might need some of [url= http://www.dealextreme.com/search.dx/search.30864 ]these spares[/url]

Why bother with two units, when 900 lumen* on your head will do?

(*, well, as claimed, more like 700-800)

Just dont expect it quickly. I ordered one from them two months ago and still nothing, have contacted them and not heard anything back.

Good value lights once you get them though

remember you may get VAT and charges added too.

I ordered a bunch of stuff 25/10, it was shipped 30/10. I've never had VAT or other charges levied on my 3 pervious orders.

singletracksurfer - Member
remember you may get VAT and charges added too.

Not from Dealextreme, in the two year my friends & I (and STW masses) been buying from them, we have never been charged for VAT or Duty.

daveb - Member
Just dont expect it quickly. I ordered one from them two months ago and still nothing, have contacted them and not heard anything back.

That really doesn't seem right, even at the height of last years Magicshine frenzy, I don't think you had to wait that long... I'd get in touch with them
(I maybe wrong, as I've never waited longer than 10 working days)

I just got a [url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/LED-Lenser-flashlights-Pro-Rechargeable/dp/B001PMP340/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1288881172&sr=8-7 ]Led Lenser H7R[/url] Only used it on one ride but its great, has adjustable focus and brightness.
It's seems to be the workings of the P7 but being a head torch fits lower down on the top of the peak so is less prone to ripping your head off when you go under low branches, its also hinged at the bottom os if it does get hit, should just flip flat.

So, please excuse my ignorance here, with mounting the big daddy 900 lumen sucker on your helmet, where do you put the battert/cable to the lamp?

I assume the battery is strapped onto the bike and somehow you make the cable not interfere with your arms etc... Do you put it on the seatpost or something?

durrrr.

dave

dh - people put them in their packs. Then promptly forget when they take their pack off 🙂

BTW - that ebay link is approx 100% markup over the dealextreme prices (where the seller clearly bought them from).

dh - people put them in their packs.

Or if they are wearing a jersey with pockets on the back - slip it i there. Then you can remove camelback without trouble.

The 'extension cable' thing helps too. I've also seen people velcro the battery to the back of their helmet - a bit too weighty for my liking.

The lamp unit itself is just about light enough for helmet mounting. Its not as light as my old halogen, but its OK. If you persevere with the helmet mount, you can get the unit mounted quite low.

Alex - thanks for that. Why didn't I think of that.... ohhh dear. long day.

daveb - Member
Just dont expect it quickly. I ordered one from them two months ago and still nothing, have contacted them and not heard anything back.

Good value lights once you get them though

Was the stuff actually in stock? If they say it'll be dispatched within 5-10 days, it generally is.

Just recieved one of these for my helmet

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15335

I found it bright and complemented the Magicshine on the bars well. Battery lasted for a least one hour on full

I'd say the bright spot is 1/2 to 2/3 as bright as the magicshine's and about 1/2 of the size which is fine for me as its just to see around the corners a bit earlier.

It did however turn itself off once when I hit a large bump but I'm not complaining for £10. You could go more powerful but I liked the idea of the low weight.

I currently have a wee exposure joystick, which knocks out a piddly 200 lums.

I fancy one of those big boys at 900 though, as I do like to win a "who's got the biggest cock" contest over my mates, so to speak of course...

So I assume best to have the most power on the bars, and then the wee joystick on the helmet?

I like the small, TrustFire TR-801 Cree Q5-WC , mentioned above, as it is light, but is there something similar, that has a battery time of 2 hours, and still quite small, light, for helmet use ??
I would not matter if the battery was seperate, i could just put it in my camelback. -but would like the torch was small, so no heavy helmet head!

dh - you may find that your piddly Joystick has a better beam pattern than some of the cheaper alternatives. I have a 300 lumen 2011 Joystick and it has more useable light than some (but not all) riding mates with torch versions. And yes, general combo of bigger/brighter on the bars and helmet spot to fill in the shadows and see where you are looking works well

iainc, you are ruining my pissing contest.... 😛

by confusing me even more.

Curse these dark nights!

I've got a TR801 as a helmet light, just the single mode version. Not sure of the runtime but reckon it's around 2 hours. The DX site showed it with an orange peel reflector but it came with a smooth one which gives a narrow beam that throws further than the MTE P7 torch on the bars.

I ordered a new battery last friday from DX, and it was shipped monday, so i'll expect it in a week. Not too shabby.

I've got a 5 mode one but it intermitently seems to drop to around 1/2 brightness (in all modes).

Does anyone elses do that? is there an easy fix?

2-off SKU12060's here. Two years old now, still great.
Mates have them also, no problems whatsoever.
SKU12000 is the DX no for the rubber mount we use. Depnends on helmet but fits most. To be honest, a folded bit of innertube & a pair of zip ties does a good enough job. I use a folded bit of innertube & a big stretchy 'O' ring for my bike mount.

oh i found this
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=227518

anotherdeadhero - Member
Was the stuff actually in stock? If they say it'll be dispatched within 5-10 days, it generally is.

It said it would be 3-5 days before dispatch so i assumed it was in stock. I had the dispatch note last monday (Oct 25th) so it's been about 9 or 10 working days in transit. Is this about normal from HK?

I have the [url= http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16092 ]16092[/url] plus the [url= http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12000 ]12000[/url] helmet mount.

A little heavy (but I got used to it, and the stiff neck encouraged me to go back to Pilates classes, which is a very good thing) but absolutely splendid.

If your light changes mode intermittently, it's probably the control unit behind the LED come a bit loose. Unscrew it all (the body is very tight at first) and tighten everything up.

Can anyone point me in the direction of the DX part number UK charger for the beast...

dh - 2709

How do people's stuff from DX normally arrive? Is it recorded or just normal post? I have followed the tracking info on the DX website and then the HKPost website and links to the UK pages but neither of them recognise the tracking number. So I've no idea where my light is which is a bit annoying.

cheers mr swoosh.

Sorted. $89 bucks lighter.

Mugdock shall never be the same again. Hopefully I will be able to see where I am going now.

Thanks for everyones advice/pointers etc.

Cheers

Dave

swoosh - I wouldn't worry. Your timescale sounds pretty normal. I've never been able to track mine either. Some stuff has taken about 10 days in total - others have taken 20 days.

That really doesn't seem right, even at the height of last years Magicshine frenzy, I don't think you had to wait that long... I'd get in touch with them
(I maybe wrong, as I've never waited longer than 10 working days)

We went through this last time didn't we 😉 ?

My second order was under 3 weeks start to finish (for a battery) - my first took around 8 if I remember right. I was in no hurry so I didn't pursue it, may have been stock issues.

I've got a 5 mode one but it intermitently seems to drop to around 1/2 brightness (in all modes).

Does anyone elses do that? is there an easy fix?

This is an issue with all the DX torches. They're not really designed for ratting about on bike handlebars, unlike the bike light lamp units.

As the springs are not super heavy duty, the battery can bounce about a bit, blipping power supply. This is exactly what the switch does to shift between modes, so the circuitry interprets the battery bounce as a shift mode command.

You can pack the battery out a bit with some aluminium foil, folded into a cube and placed behind the minus terminal. It helps, but won't completely alleviate the problem. Its easy to loose the foil though. Or find some super beefy springs.

Its particularly bad on rigid road bikes battering though potholes. My fenix has no problems, my old DX torch was pretty much useless.

I bought one of [url= http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bike-Cycle-Light-Helmet-Lamp-Torch-Cree-LED-230-Lumen_W0QQitemZ160495618229QQcategoryZ60840QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp5197.m7QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D2%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D4738883644219131915 ]these Trustfire TR-801s[/url] off of eBay. It's just arrived. Thought it worth the slight extra outlay to have a definite delivery date and get all the assorted gubbins at once from the one place.

Initial impressions are, it's well made, very light and stupidly bright at 230 lumens. Stated 2 hour runtime, but that's per battery, and you get a spare battery with it. This in conjunction with some bar mounted Lumis should see me through the winter. 8)

Ive been selling P7 flashlights for years, and if you want to stop it flickering/changing modes itself, put a post-it inside the barrel (perfect fit) and also make sure the tail cap and pill/led are tight, if you're still having problems, then you can get little magnet spacers that'll make the battery longer.
Quite a few off my customers have been using five mode lights for years, on road & off-road bikes without any problems, just make sure everything is tight and clean.

Just got my DX P7 and it's awesome - think I paid less than £50 and the light is really bright - actually got flashed/beeped a couple of times on the road as it seems to be too bright for oncoming vehicles on the highest setting.

Haven't properly taken it off road yet but I imagine it's bright enough. I don't get the dimming problem yet even bar mounted on a road bike on shitty country roads!

For anyone reading this and wondering which is the "best" DX torch, a word of advice from my personal POV. You can spend your entire life perusing the bewildering array and still not know what to get. Best thing to do is just pick one and go for it.
All the latest LED torches using the high output emitters are bright enough for off road riding, so you can't really get it very wrong. A P7 is VERY bright, so just pick one of those for the bars and either another for head if you want it, or maybe something a little smaller - in which case at present I'd say look for something with an CREE xpg as the emitter.
Give yourself a pre-set amount of time for messing about on the DX site and then just hit the order button or you'll be there for weeks. I have a couple of P7s and while there may be others with "better" beam patterns, the two of them together chuck out so much light it's not really a big deal - they are more than enough for me...