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Prisoner at War wrote:
> Not sure how I'd prevent their being blinded, anyway: I couldn't
> predict it, could I? But I'm sure the two HIDs I'm considering have
> some kind of optics which should mitigate such circumstances. They
> better, anyway, for $600!!!
In reality, the optics on the higher end bicycle lights are excellent.
It's not a wild unfocused beam such as on the old 2 D cell battery
headlights of the olden days. The quartz-halogen lights are typically
using MR lamps, which are very good optics with matched, mirrored
reflectors.
Most bicycle and motorcycle HID lamps also use MR11 and MR16 type lamps,
as it's become the super-standard for high-end lighting.
One of the big advantages of the MR system is that the bulb is aligned
precisely with the reflector at the factory. One problem with the lamps
where you replace the actual bulb is that you have to align the bulb by
trial and error (not even possible on the cheap lamps with threaded
bulbs, and a hassle on the higher end lamps with a bulb that can be
rotated for proper alignment).
Look at HID lamps on vehicles. If aimed properly, the low beams don't
blind you. Contrast this with some of the crappy daytime running light
implementations that use the high beams at half-brightness, and blind
you even though the lights are not really all that bright.
> So which one do you recommend? Looks like the NiteRider is a winner.
> Funny how I can't really find reviews of these guys online. I've seen
> only one "real" (i.e., useful, with a good photo) review of the Light
> & Motion product, but none yet for the NiteRider (which is newer,
> though).
>
> Anyway, a good reminder, your post. I almost never feel the need for
> a light, but all club rides require them (except the anarchist Time's
> Up! rides -- hooray!), and, in keeping with my nature, if I get
> something I'd like to get the best. ^_^
>
> (Yes yes I know "the best" is a semantically ambiguous term....)
> (Yes yes, I know, "
You really have to look at them to evaluate them. Do any have a metal
mounting bracket to the bike? How rugged is the wiring and the switches?
How much will battery replacement cost? How much is a replacement
lamp? Most of these systems use the MR11 Welch Allyn HID lamp, which
costs close to $90, and you definitely want to have a spare. There will
soon be a flood (no pun intended) of lower-cost replacement HID lamps
coming in from Asia, you can already see them on the manufacturer's web
sites.
> Not sure how I'd prevent their being blinded, anyway: I couldn't
> predict it, could I? But I'm sure the two HIDs I'm considering have
> some kind of optics which should mitigate such circumstances. They
> better, anyway, for $600!!!
In reality, the optics on the higher end bicycle lights are excellent.
It's not a wild unfocused beam such as on the old 2 D cell battery
headlights of the olden days. The quartz-halogen lights are typically
using MR lamps, which are very good optics with matched, mirrored
reflectors.
Most bicycle and motorcycle HID lamps also use MR11 and MR16 type lamps,
as it's become the super-standard for high-end lighting.
One of the big advantages of the MR system is that the bulb is aligned
precisely with the reflector at the factory. One problem with the lamps
where you replace the actual bulb is that you have to align the bulb by
trial and error (not even possible on the cheap lamps with threaded
bulbs, and a hassle on the higher end lamps with a bulb that can be
rotated for proper alignment).
Look at HID lamps on vehicles. If aimed properly, the low beams don't
blind you. Contrast this with some of the crappy daytime running light
implementations that use the high beams at half-brightness, and blind
you even though the lights are not really all that bright.
> So which one do you recommend? Looks like the NiteRider is a winner.
> Funny how I can't really find reviews of these guys online. I've seen
> only one "real" (i.e., useful, with a good photo) review of the Light
> & Motion product, but none yet for the NiteRider (which is newer,
> though).
>
> Anyway, a good reminder, your post. I almost never feel the need for
> a light, but all club rides require them (except the anarchist Time's
> Up! rides -- hooray!), and, in keeping with my nature, if I get
> something I'd like to get the best. ^_^
>
> (Yes yes I know "the best" is a semantically ambiguous term....)
> (Yes yes, I know, "
You really have to look at them to evaluate them. Do any have a metal
mounting bracket to the bike? How rugged is the wiring and the switches?
How much will battery replacement cost? How much is a replacement
lamp? Most of these systems use the MR11 Welch Allyn HID lamp, which
costs close to $90, and you definitely want to have a spare. There will
soon be a flood (no pun intended) of lower-cost replacement HID lamps
coming in from Asia, you can already see them on the manufacturer's web
sites.