Commuter lighting. Ravemen PR1600

[marcva]

I'm looking for lighting options for my commuter bike...a BBSHD Anthem that will move at 35 mph on the flats with some pedaling.

I'm looking at the Ravemen PR1600 front light...review below:

https://road.cc/content/review/267368-ravemen-pr1600-front-light

It has high/low capability to keep from dazzling others with lots of light when I'm in the boonies moving fast. I can also add external power to extend its life. I'm hoping to wire this and a tail light to my battery to power them when the motor is running.

Has anyone done this wiring from a battery harness? what is required?
Does anyone know of a tail light that can be hard wired to the bike battery?


Thanks

[73Eldo]

That looks like a decent light. I too originally wondered if I should get something that has high and low. What I found so far is at least for what I have done so far I don't have to switch back and fourth that often so its not a big deal to dim it and tilt it a bit if I'm around others which usually also means there is some level of other lighting around. The tilting may just be be because I'm not an inconsiderate a hole that doesn't care if they are blinding others with my cycle or even car light. I'm not generally trying to maintain 35mph so with that requirement I can see wanting something pretty bright and that shoots pretty far forward so the switch seems like a good idea.

Do you need more than that 1.5 full and 2.5 range? I forgot to look and don't want to click again and have to clear out a dozen more pop up ads but I assume its rechargeable? If it is can it operate from the charge cord? If so that gives you more options to extend its run time. Connecting to the main pack can be complicated and not especially cheap so if it can run off a USB charger just a USB power pack may be the easiest way to get more run time. Some of the BBSHD controllers have a USB port on them for charging but you would want to make sure it had enough amps to run a big light like that. Based on the size of the wires and pins going to them it can't be much but worth looking into. Other options require some sort of converter that has to be wired and mounted and paid for so that is how I come back to the usb power bank.

Tail lights have pretty long run times using a regular AAA battery especially if you run one of the flash modes like in the 100's of hours. I like the 'Night Rider' mode and I'm speaking of the TV show but I think the Nite Rider brand of lights have that feature too. With that kind of run time not likely worth the hassle unless it happens to work of the same device you do the headlamp with.

-edit-just re read the post and I think he already has the BBSHD's bike so this next part isn't useful to him but maybe will be to others so I will leave it in

35 MPH on the flats with some pedaling is doable but unless you are a real spinner you will have to watch your gearing. A 42 or smaller chain ring up front with a 10 or 11 on the back is going to really have you spinning to keep up at that speed. If you start looking at a 48 then you will be hurting your hill climbing unless you have a mega range cassette. It will also help a lot if you are not fat and causing a lot of wind drag because that really adds up once you get into the 20's. If I tried to do that at 250lbs for very long I would be worried about the nylon gear and general stress on things not to mention getting less than 10 miles of range out of my 13ish AH pack. If I pedal and do more in the teens I can comfortably do 20 miles, maybe 30 if I do more pedaling and keep off the throttle.

[marcva]

35 MPH on the flats with some pedaling is doable but unless you are a real spinner you will have to watch your gearing. A 42 or smaller chain ring up front with a 10 or 11 on the back is going to really have you spinning to keep up at that speed. If you start looking at a 48 then you will be hurting your hill climbing unless you have a mega range cassette. It will also help a lot if you are not fat and causing a lot of wind drag because that really adds up once you get into the 20's. If I tried to do that at 250lbs for very long I would be worried about the nylon gear and general stress on things not to mention getting less than 10 miles of range out of my 13ish AH pack. If I pedal and do more in the teens I can comfortably do 20 miles, maybe 30 if I do more pedaling and keep off the throttle.

I should be fine with the range, but was thinking of just having one power source to charge rather than pulling and plugging in lights all the time. I hope to be commuting regularly with this when Covid clears up, so headlight use will be pretty heavy.

I actually run a 52 bling ring up front. I weigh 135 and my full rig weighs 53 lbs. Also, there isn't a lot of serious climbing in my area so my 30(ish) 11 works OK (11 speed). My last build was a cannondale F700 BBS02 that weighed 43 lbs with a 13.5 battery. It felt very bike-like. The anthem sort of feels motorcycle like with its additional weight (IMO).

[73Eldo]

What's your lowest gear on the cassette? If its an 11 speed must be in the 40's?

If you search 'offroad' LED lights you do sometimes find some that have a 12-60v range so they could go direct to a 52v battery. I have not seen many that are switchable beam tho.

[marcva]

Sorry. No I've been away for a while. If I pedal, I can get to the upper 30s. I haven't hit any long downhills to get over 40.

Steady 30-35 is perfect for secondary streets.