Commuter Lights

[JWall]

Howdy Commuters,

I'm in the midst of putting together my first e-bike. It's a 2005 (maybe 2006) FELT RXC hardtail, and I'm super pumped to have it running that BBS02 soon.

What I'm less pumped about is having to share a stretch of road from downtown Albuquerque about 2 miles in length with two lanes of same-direction traffic. The biggest concern is that after about a mile, the street passes under the freeway and cars will be merging right to head southbound and turning left to head northbound. I'll be staying straight to pass under the freeway and continue East. The street does, however, have a bright green, buffered bike lane. I recognize that, while I don't have to literally share a lane with traffic or get on the sidewalk, that "bike lane" means nothing for purposes of how I evaluate my safety on the road.

That said, what are some of the better commuter lights out there to take a look at? I want drivers to basically be bothered by my visual presence on the road--I assume that's a decent tactic for being noticed.


----Edit----
I am fully aware that I cannot and should not rely on being noticed, but if I'm doing everything else correctly, I still want to grasp every inch available to me in the opportunity to become noticed by drivers due to my lights.

[mtm408]

It's always good to use lights for visual assistance. Looking forward to recommendations from others, but I find that red flashing tail lights, one on my bike and one on my helmet are the most important. For a front light, I use a flashing white light during the day and just a solid light during night riding. None of them were expensive as I got them on ebay.

[JWall]

It's always good to use lights for visual assistance. Looking forward to recommendations from others, but I find that red flashing tail lights, one on my bike and one on my helmet are the most important. For a front light, I use a flashing white light during the day and just a solid light during night riding. None of them were expensive as I got them on ebay.

Interesting--didn't think to have two flashing in the back..! Thanks for the tip.

Anyone out there power them through the battery? Pros and Cons there?

[Galroc]

I use this vest: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It is a high visibility vest and that is easily seen. You can wear it over any gear.

I use this light: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It is rechargeable and I have a USB cable connecting it to my display controller so it always stays charged.

I bought a chinese head light on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-80V-20W-...JX5iHO&vxp=mtr

The light is not waterproof but I put a shroud made from a plastic soda bottle around it and it solved the issue with not being waterproof and the clear shroud glows when viewed from the side.

[g725s]

OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND... (This works for deterring thieves, but not automobiles)

I like you bought that taillight https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015IEJ0GC . It is a good one.

I also bought this one and like it, as it can take my Eneloop rechargable batteries https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00435IPFK . It has a much stronger beam type light. And I would suggest it over the Blitzu, especially if you use batteries like the Eneloop's

I like the idea of having backup lights, as I don't want to ride without a light, especially a tail light at night.

I bought this headlight https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0188I6YNM and am looking for a good one that will again take the Eneloop's as my backup.

One thing I like about using Eneloops for my lights is that I could take backup batteries if I wanted. I don't have to wait for it to charge if I have backup batteries. Most Eneloop users have extra batteries.

I like the vest idea. That looks like a good choice. Why did you pick that one?

[JWall]

Thanks Galroc!

The vest is a sweet idea as well. I particularly enjoy the 5th picture--how are those tunes?

The USB charging light is awesome--I can charge it at work.

[JPLabs]

I have a headlight which looks just like the one above, as posted by Galrock, on my wife's bike. It's real bright, but has a very tight beam. Not so great for seeing off to the sides. But people sure will see you!

Luna has a nice headlight, and taillight, both of which can run off the main battery, in their store. I like their 3-LED light with the big red button on the back. Wider beam, handy switch. That's what I have on my bike now, with a second ready for the wife's as an upgrade.

I stuck some cheap elliptical optics on mine to widen the beam more than stock, too. Now it's a great light. If you are into that kind of thing....

This thread shows both lights and the optics installation: https://electricbike.com/forum/forum...tics-installed

[Galroc]

I picked the vest because it was cheap, highly reflective and appeared to be well made and it screamed safety! It puts safety in the minds of car drivers.

It also works over anything, jackets, t-shirts, etc.

People see me for miles. I have had people stop me to ask where I bought it.

It was a really good purchase...compared to purchasing a ton of expensive high-visibility biking clothes.

[Tom]

Has anyone tried these "LED by Lite's"? They look like a great idea and even have turn signals. Or does anyone have a better altermnative before I order a set?

http://www.ledbylite.com/

Cheers,

Tom

[theronchaplin]

I've always liked the idea behind those (LED strips on the forks, white in front, red in back) but have been holding out until I find a way to power it by the BBSXX battery. Problem is I know just enough about electricity to blow something up in my face :D

[g725s]

If you have a flashlight check out this inexpensive way to attach your light. You could use a flashlight mount, but could also use this method...

And here is another idea:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy...nt-1/?ALLSTEPS

Just make sure to loop the wrist strap around the handlebars.

[g725s]

And here is another idea with PVC. This could be modified to fit your flashlight and handlebars and even put an oblong slot in the top PVC to put a small bolt loosely there so that you could rotate the top a bit so it won't come off. But still I'd loop the wrist strap around the bars also

http://imgur.com/gallery/ZSDZK

[quantumcloud509]

I bought two sets of used serfas true 1000 for a total of $250. One headlight on my helmet, one on my bike, one taillight on my backpack, one on my seatpost. A reflective Louis garneua vest which I got used, and a third meaningless headlight which I taped into my front rack frame, just a round push on the light hallway wall light, just for looks. In my wheels are monkey lights which act instead of wheel reflectors. My mentality is f everyone else on the road, I'm staying alive this time.

[ykick]

Please don't go overboard folks and blind everyone in your path...

[quantumcloud509]

Yeah thats fine for you to say if you live in a city where things aren't as, hm, vulgar maybe...chucking beer bottles at bikers is a common place thing here, and I aim to blind everyone in my path because Ive been hit and ran on two times too many. So monkey walkers better get the heck away from me.

[MsCynthia]

Rear: I'm running Lunacycle's little red hardwired LED taillight on my left seatstay, along with a battery-powered flashing red LED light on my rear rack, for uber-redundancy purposes.

Front: Lunacycle was out of headlights when I ordered my kit, so I bought a generic hardwired ebike headlight (4 white LEDs) on fleabay for about $4.50. It shipped from Hong Kong and took over a month to get here, but fortunately we were still on Daylight Savings Time when it arrived. <sigh>

I'm using a Lunacycle Mighty Mini battery with an XT60 connector for charging and an XT90 connector for discharging.

To hook everything up, I bought two female XT60 connectors with pigtails and an XT60 splitter parallel connector on Fleabay.

I wired each pigtail connector to the wires on my lights using butt splice crimp connectors and heatshrink tubing. I plugged the two lights into the male side of the splitter and ziptied everything into place.

My headlight doesn't have a switch, so I turn the lights on and off by connecting/disconnecting the splitter thing with the charge connector on my battery. On longer trips, if my battery gets too low to run the motor I can switch to a second battery and the first battery still has enough power for the lights.

The headlight I got is plenty bright. Part of my commute goes along some poorly maintained bike paths and a service road in Golden Gate Park where there are no lights or cars around. At night it is awfully damn DARK. I have no trouble dodging all the bumps and potholes and mud puddles.

[PatrickGSR94]

I run bright Cygolite front and rear lights, using them in daytime flashing modes for good visibility in daylight conditions. However I rely more on road/lane positioning for visibility than I do for lights. I'm not sure which interchange in Albuquerque the OP is referring to, but this video shows my method for going through an interstate interchange. The key is to use the lane that best serves your destination. Don't find yourself stuck at the road edge with nowhere to go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlKxxnPloXU

[BlueSKY]

I got a rechargeable light from Amazon http://amzn.to/2p8eikd , it's quite worth the price. I happened to see a review video on Youtube and decided to buy it , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJeFuGD6H-o, you can also watch the video first before buying, to see if it can meet your requirement. I especially like the red rear light... Makes riding very safe.

[marcva]

http://www.barrybeams.com

Someone I know on a car discussion group designed these. He is a cyclist in the bay area looking for more light.

[Retrorockit]

I use Nightrider off road headlights. I have a few of them,350 lumen, 650 lumen, and 750 lumen. A charge usually lasts as long as my battery. I use them on low, or strobe for daytime. They need to be aimed down to avoid blinding drivers. The older ones had a very agressive strobe that trail riders complained about. The new ones have slowed it down. For commuting I prefer the older more agressive ones. Harder to ignore.
I also run an Air Zounds air horn. Even harder to ignore. They're intended for trail riding at night. They're an actual headlight you can see things with. Metal construction, and water proof.
I wear a 2nd one on my helmet and use it where ther's no traffic, and no street lights. It lets you see around corners. But it's just for backup most of the time.