[Closed] Summer night front light?

I ride unlit country lanes, fireroads, towpaths, light singletrack and urban. Found that my MTB lights (Solarstorm X2) were dazzling/blinding for other road users unless I pointed them a few feet in front of my wheel. So were essentially crap for road use.

Deliberated and researched for ages over a more sophisticated light with a cutoff beam and decided on a Ravemen PR900 which was on offer at £60something. The difference from a splashy flood/spot is quite remarkable. Wide, even, far-reaching beam from emitter 1, with a second bright spot from emitter 2 that can be called in whenever required.

The main emitter (with the cutoff optics) is a joy. I can now see even small irregularities in the road surface from verge to verge and ahead, with no distracting centre-spot or noticeable bias. Have experimented with fork-crown mount and above handlebar. Both give a good effect. The relief/shadow of the road surface is shown in a starker contrast when fork-crown mounted (adapter required)

Adjustable through 4 brightness modes, with a useful attention-nudging pulse-mode that I have found excellent for urban/city use.

Additional bonus is a numeric (LED display) battery meter on top that reads in approx battery hrs remaining. It’s not super-accurate by nature of the but IMO is more useful than a few lights/bars.

Main emitter gives a slightly warm, rosey tint, easy on the eyes. Wired remote button sits inboard my bar grip and activated by thumb. IME this is a game-changer for mixed environments/surfaces as it can cycle modes, flash on ‘full-beam’ (both emitters on full) or hold for a duration of max output on tricky sections. This works well for two reason:

1. Keep hands on bars at all times
2. Saves juice by only activating full-beam when really required*

*There is of course the (non-remote) option of selecting steady full beam by way of the large button on the light unit.

The whole shebang works more like a motorcycle light. I find it’s all I need for unlit lanes, paths and easy offroad. I’d go up to a PR1200 if the budget allowed, or even a 1600 for offroad touring. The exterior build-quality looks very high compared to any other light I’ve owned (except maybe for a Moon Meteor Dual which was an option I first chose, yet it was faulty and also the beam was round and therefore silly for roads).

The housing all metal except for the battery-meter display panel, the rubber covers for charging port and the mount-cleat (which is hard plastic and is fixed to the underside of the light unit by two tiny allen-bolts/screws)

Light unit also doubles as a USB out for charging other devices. The internal battery on the PR900 (and PR1200) is 5200mAh. On medium brightness (which is more than enough IMO for dark lanes) it reads 7hrs from full charge. Haven’t tested this as I don’t typically ride for that long. I use eco mode (lowest) on very dark and quiet lanes and it reads 22hrs! Really pleased on the whole, hence the mini-review. Only ‘problems’ encountered are it came with a different mount-bracket to advertised, so I got one which didn’t cover both 22.2 and 31.8 bars (I swap the light between retro and modern bikes) The supplier responded quickly and sent me the ‘correct’ one gratis, so am now covered 👍🏼

http://www.ravemen.com/product/PR1200.html

I got a £12.99 set of STVZO lights from Lidl a few months ago. Great for this time of year as it even has an auto-brightness setting so I can just leave after work and it comes on in daytime mode (i.e. barely on, just enough to make you stand out at tree covered junctions) and by the time it's dark it's light enough to ride by.

Lezyne do a similar (but expensive) light. Otherwise Amazon is full of generic ones which probably work just as well.

STVZO lights are the way forward. A Joystick has 5x the lumens, but it's trying to light up 5x the area.

+1 on the Ravemen PR light range. I've got a PR1600 and it's a great light.

Fenix bike lights are pretty good, have a decent shaped beam. eg BC21R V2 is available for about £50, bright enough for most road riding. Or BC35R if you want something bigger and brighter, about £100.

I got a £12.99 set of STVZO lights from Lidl a few months ago

I bought a set after your initial report and very happy with them so far, the rear light is so compact yet lightweight and effective it's become my go to rear light for my "last minute dash before sunset rides" on the road bike since.

For a few weeks when it became dark again at ~0600 for my commutes, I was using the front on the fatbike, but on the road bike I've stuck to using the Aldi not-Moon Meteor knock-off... Part laziness of not removing mount of fatbike, part thinking it will create more aero drag than the not-Meteor. 😉

Exposure joystick?

Or look at Polaris as they had some all in ones at 40 odd quid

I'm using the same lights I use in the winter, my rising is after dark

Combination of joystick/diablo/strada

https://www.polaris-bikewear.co.uk/Navigator-800-Lumen-Rechargeable-Front-Light-p/pol01-7710.htm?goal=0_897d869ee3-f273bab31c-316968153&mc_cid=f273bab31c&mc_eid=be88019c33