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Looking for a front light for casual night-time roadbike use, something to have in the backpack in case I need it going home from school and perhaps the occasional ride at night.
1. Quick to remove light completely (no handlebar adapter left behind)
2. USB-C
3. At least 200 lumen
4. STVZO or similar tech to not blind oncoming traffic
5. Under 50 GBP
I don't know how Lux compares directly with lumens, but these Sigma's are great. Meet all your other requirements.
Ravemen CR range from CRC?
Lidl had something like this a while ago, not sure if they're still available? Came bundled with an stvzo approved rear light too
I don’t know how Lux compares directly with lumens, but these Sigma’s are great. Meet all your other requirements.
Different things, lumens is how much light there is in total, lux is the intensity.
Lumens makes sense off-road as you're measuring a big cone of light. Lux makes sense on the road as you just want to know how bright the light is on the road surface.
Lidl +1, although surely you've got more choice over there in Germany?
Both Sigma and Ravenmen are micro usb.. maybe USB-C isn't a thing yet?
Sigma BUSTER 400 FL has USB-C, but is made for off-road with no "dont blind cars" feature, but perhaps 400 lumen doesn't do that or I could tape it I guess.
Prox Hamal 600 lumen has USB-C and some sort of lens for 15 gbp.. (polish brand)
Depends which version he scalping but the latest ones definitely have usb-C, older one is micro usb which is irritating as they're the same appart from that.
Ali Express Newboler LIG520 approx £20 delivered, took two weeks.
https://www.aliexpress.com/i/1005003745985767.html
Really good cut off and bright enough for unlit road rides
Magicshines allty range has a beam cut off/diffuser and are USB-C, and they use a Garmin quarter turn mount.
https://magicshineuk.com/product/magicshine-allty-400-front-bike-light/
https://magicshineuk.com/product/magicshine-allty-600-front-bike-light/
The Lidl set is 100% USB-C. I know because I bought a set and bodged the front light onto the front reflector mount of my Brompton, fits really well under the luggage mount. The rear light on my set is different to the one in that ebay link
For the money it's a cracking little light
I have a B&M Ixon core light previously. I'd say that was a better light, build quality was higher, but it's was probably more than twice the price of the full Lidl set, I paid £13!
The magicshine looks very sweet with a couple of downsides
1. Would need to find an easily/quickly removable Garmin mount adapter for the handlebar - not sure it exists? (this is for purely aesthetic reasons mostly ride my old pinarello without a light).
EDIT: they have one that i guess works https://www.tradeinn.com/bikeinn/pl/magic-shine-garmin-do-wspornika-kierownicy-allty-lights/137782378/p
2. Mounting it upside down doesn't work (if using with a bike computer - relevant for my racing bike)
I was going to suggest you could adapt the Hope QR mount to accept a Garmin mount with the rights bits, but that would work.
I just imported the Outbound Detour Road light - mostly meets your spec, but it costs a lot, particularly once duties added. When I looked I could not find anything USB-C, with beam cutoff at a sensible price; although I now see the newer Ravemen lights might have addressed this.
Some of the Moon lights have a reversible lense to enable you to mount it under a Garmin mount. Don't think they at StVZO though.
https://moon-sport.com/product/rigel-pro/
Otherwise, I don't see how you'll get StVZO to work both above and below the bars.
Extra 60% off these two lights. Nearly got tempted myself...!
No stvzo light can mount upside down. On the same logic you can't mount a car headlight upside down, they have angled beams
I have 2 Olight/Magishine RN1200 which I switch between on a Garmin out front mount for Commuting and Audaxing. Just one of them got me through the whole night on a 600km Audax in May on low setting, which is easily enough light even on dark lanes. I bought the second one for London Edinburgh London and only had to top them up once over 1500km/115 hours/5 nights.
They are not StVZO (I think mainly as that standard doesn't even allow lights this bright, so it's not worth trying) but the beam pattern is good when pointed down a bit. I never put them on full on road.
I really like having the Garmin mount and with the GoPro->Garmin adapter you have loads of options for mounting. They are very quick to take off when you stop, give you a little bit of side to side adjustment and they have never come off on potholes/bumps.
As you say they cant be mounted upside down, but using out front Garmin mounts frees up the handlebar space - I switch the GPS and light between a stem mount and an out front mount at night.
I had a Ravemen CR900 which was OK, and can be mounted upside down by unscrewing the front and spinning the lens. The beam pattern and battery life weren't as good and it was very flaky and not very waterproof if you use the remote. Also, even with the remote you have to cycle through all the settings (including flashing) to find the one you want. the Olight/Magicshine has no remote, but can be set to only cycle through the continuous settings. I also had a Ravemen CR1000 - it can't be used upside down and would randomly change settings and drain the battery for no reason, I wouldn't bother with one of those.
Ravenmen looks very good for both on top of the bar use (easy to remove the whole thing incl adapter) and under the headunit use (can get a gopro adapter for it and turn the lens), but MICRO USB WHYYYY
Moonlight Rigel fits the bill, but it doesn't get great reviews, also not fan of the graphics and availability here is low.
Maybe I'll just get a Sigma buster 400 and put some electrican tape on the lens to make it "STVZO" esque. I see they also have a gopro mount adapter for sale so it could be turned into a upside down light.
Got this one, Prox Heze 400 lm USB-C with anti glare, cost me 11 gbp here in Poland (it's a polish brand, generally decent stuff!) - basically a magicshine.
Now for the USB-C rear light.. see there's cube light III and some other options
My Ravemen PR1600 is USB C.
Was going to point out the Ixion above at 60% off.
I have the posher version which is a fantastic commuter light.
I was doing a nine mile stretch of unlit country A road, it was basically the perfect light for this.
My Ravemen PR1600 is USB C.
Unfortunately their 1000 and below series are micro usb for now. They have a nice USB C rear light however.
djflexure, how do you like the Outbound Detour? I've been looking at it but the £100 of postage and import taxes sticks in my throat a bit!!
They are one of the only high power stvzo style lights around. My commuting roads are all pitch black country ones so loads of light without having to constantly switch to low power for cars seems ideal.
Also considering the Outbound Detour for my race bike..but I don't want the huge action cam adapter to be permanently stuck on (not my bike, but I have the same K-edge)
Think a gopro quarter turn quick release would be strong enough to hold the adapter and light?
Then agai the 1500 lumen MOON RIGEL MAX is only 44 gbp vs 263 gbp for the Detour delivered..not as good as a full on STVZO lens but it has an anti glare lens at least.
Then the RAVENMEN CR1000 is much sleeker and offers better better beam shaping, but damn it's micro usb :S
Think I've found my budget Gopro mount light: Rockbros D3-1000.
The lens should have a better beam cutoff than the Ravenmen CR1000, so good enough - check this review:
https://www.mtbr.com/threads/ravemen-cr1000-vs-rockbros-yq-400.1156521/
USB-C, side illumination, 2.5 hour runtime at 1000 lumen, 150 grams 11.5x3x3 cm, cost 17 gbp plus shipping from aliexpress.
..and of course it's sold out everywhere..
That's the same light as I have, but with the different mount. They come with about 3 different cases to take different mounts. Rockbros/Newboler are the same lights.
Don't forget OFFBONDAGE, I was able to find and order this one for 22 gbp delivered :))
🙂
PS I'm impressed with mine, nice and bright, get's the light down on the road and not above waist height for on-coming folk.
Sweet - seems like a very reasonable option, ordered a gopro to garmin-male quarter turn adapter to I can just slot the light+adapter into my k-edge from below when I use it:)
I've used their (Rockbros') round taillights in the past and they've been excellent.