[Closed] Joystick or Diablo

Have you considered the Axis? I'd say the perfect trade off between the two.

I prefer the spot light/weight of the Joystick. Pal's prefer the extra power of the Diablo/don't notice the extra weight.

Either are good.

EDIT: Yep, Joystick will be fine for what you describe.

They'll both do. You'll get a more focussed beam with a Joystick, a broader, floodier one with a Diablo. You may or may not notice the extra few grammes on your head. I can tell the difference, some people seem not to.

What's quite neat about the Diablo, is you can also plonk it on your bars as a lightweight bar-light on rides when you may or may not get home in the dark, whereas the Joystick is a little spotty for that - though that arguably works better on the road as the beam's more directional.

I have both and probably use the Joystick more as a helmet light than the Diablo, but that's my snowflake weight-sensing tendencies as much as anything.

Neither is a bad choice, but in hindsight I wish I had bought a Diablo instead of my joystick

I had a Joystick but found it too 'spotty'. Sold it and bought a Diablo.

I like steep technical descents so wanted a brighter light to look corners.

Thanks all,

I should have said I use an old Troute Lumen Liberator on the bars , so sort of have the flood thing covered by that. But I do like the idea of being able to use the Diablo as an emergency get me home light.

Not consideredthe Axis, will have a look now.

Thanks

I have the joystick on my road lid and the diablo on my MTB lid

Diablo makes a better emergency bar light, but overall they're both good. The Joystick is smaller and lighter but I don't notice the weight difference. On my versions the diablo has a bigger battery capacity, I think they're the same in the latest versions

Get the red eye micro for it, it's an excellent little addition. I have one for both my lights and always use them

Have a look at Four4th's Scorch. Mrs Yak was running them on her head at wembo and they were spot on. 700lumens for over 4hrs with a max of 1600 lumens for when you really need the power. Best bit is you can undo a collar and push a new battery in when the first is depleted.

I had a Joystick but found it too ‘spotty’. Sold it and bought a Diablo.

I like steep technical descents so wanted a brighter light to look corners.

In typical STW fashion! I'll disagree!.

I have a Diablo, and think it's too floody, and not spotty enough to look as far down the trail as I want to look, either on the steep stuff, or on really fast open moorland stuff. Diablo I have is the current model, Joystick is the old 400 lumen one, I'm for a new model, and use the diablo on the bars or for commuting.

Edit - That Axis looks the business btw, if it is as punchy as the Joystick.

I have a Diablo, and think it’s too floody, and not spotty enough to look as far down the trail as I want to look, either on the steep stuff, or on really fast open moorland stuff.

I'd kind of agree, I think the Joystick's the perfect helmet light for that reason. My bar-light does the floody thing, the helmet light is a more directional spot that just illuminates exactly where you're staring. I guess if you had a less powerful bar-light, the Diablo might make more sense on the head.

Also the micro red-eye is indeed brilliant. I used to have one of the earlier ones permanently fixed to my older Joystick with a thin cord to stop me losing it.

I have a Diablo, couple of friends have the Four4th’s. If I was spending again I'd get the Four4th’s, its a better product.

Edit – That Axis looks the business btw, if it is as punchy as the Joystick.

i like it, ride with one as my only light

Ideal, I'll see if my lbs has one to try.

Jam bo, I use the Diablo as my only light too, use the joystick (mk7!) on the bars to get to the good bits, then just the Diablo on the helmet, but as I said, I'd like something punchier.

I sometimes ride with just the Diablo, on rides that run into darkness or when I've forgotten my bar light.

It's adequate but not quite enough for full-on riding, on it's own.

Totally fine as a helmet light with a bar light, IMO. I think it makes sense to have a floody light on my head to illuminate closer stuff in the direction I'm looking when turning - with a bar light throwing further down the trail in the direction I'm pointing for going faster.

I find it really hard to ride with just a helmet light or just a bar light. Seems to flatten everything out. Having both adds some perspective and helps you tell the difference between a shadow and a step.

Totally agree, helmet light is do-able - bar light only can be scary AF, not seeing what's past drops for example.

This is quite good for comparing the exposure lights beams

https://exposurelights.com/light-comparison-tool

I was looking at a diablo for the helmet but quite intriged by the Four4th...more research needed...

Ah no go pro mount for light thats a bummer.

Slightly OT but how do people find the Four4th’s scorch? I got one at the cycle show as it was on offer. Not sure if I like the fact you have to touch the lens to turn it on and change mode, a button would be easier, especially with thick winter gloves. Also it seems quite floody, I'd almost prefer it to be a bit more of a spot light. But it's my first helmet light so nothing to compare it to. Finally does anyone know if it will fit an exposure helmet mount. Kinda looks like it should do.

This is quite good for comparing the exposure lights beams

Pretty poor that it's the older models though.

Joystick is a brilliant helmet light, my Joystick maxx 2 is now 11 years old and still going strong.

Had the same dilemma last year and plumped for the Axis as I thought the Diablo was to floody for a helmet. The Axis is perfect - also ideal as a bar light on the roadie.

road.cc do (did?) a bike light comparison. Amazingly I'd bookmarked it -  https://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/212914-best-2018-front-lights-cycling-40-light-beam-comparison-plus-how-choose

I've recently bought an Axis and I like it.  Good beam spread, but not too floody.  Battery life is OK, cycling between modes it will last a typical (2.5/3 hr) MTB ride, but is normally on reduced power by the end of the ride.  The only "issue" for me is that the LED is much whiter than all my bar lights (and the joystick I had before) so there is a bit of a clash where the light pools overlap, but I don't think it's a problem as such.  Disabled the TAP function as I found it occasionally changing the power without me touching it.

Get the red eye micro for it, it’s an excellent little addition.

+1

Really it depends on what you like your lights to do.

I like my helmet light to be a tight spot for looking into things and my main light on the bars and more floody (but still focussed).  Some prefer their main ‘seeing’ light on their hat.  Matter of preference.

My set is old now but still fully functional - 1600Lm MaxxD (mk4? Row of red lights row of blue lights) and 600Lm Joystick (Mk8 I think).

First decide what you want your lights to do and then decide beam patterns then go looking.  In reality the apparently underpowered by modern standards set I use is perfectly fine if riding solo but will struggle a bit in the arms race of a group with three times the lumens in their main lights.