Best Mountainbike LED?

[L_D]

I know this topic can become a heated one but which LED has been great in your experience.

Been reading a lot lately on the LED Lenser and I see them widely available in Cape Union, etc but I have seen a lot of user comments that goes against LED Lenser in particular.

 

This specific forum post below summed up four of the main technical issues- what has been your own experience with regard to your bike's light setup?

 

" For one thing, Lenser lights are not regulated, in any way. They have no driver (computer chip to control current to LED, allow multiple modes), and instead rely upon a resistor, and the natural current resistance of alkaline cells to limit current to the LED. This is why they only allow the use of alkaline cells. The difference is pretty simple: a driver calculated the available voltages and currents, and determines whether or not to dim the light, thus showing you you have a dead battery, or continue to feed high current to the LED. A driven light usually has an output graph that is pretty flat, with a sharp drop off at the end, as the cells begin to be unable to provide the necessary power.

A resistor-ed light, on the other hand, dims slowly over time, as the batteries begin to drain. They have a few minutes of initial brightness, then, as cell voltage drops, so does the available current, and the light dims over time. This is a bad thing, because it tells you your cells are dead, when they may only be partially depleted.

 

Secondly, most, if not all Lenser lights are poorly heatsinked. This means that the LED has no way to transfer the heat it produces to the body of the flashlight, which severely shortens the life expectancy of the light. This is why most Lenser lights do not get warm to the touch (which is, unbelievably, a good thing, if a light gets warm rather quickly, it means that there is an effective path for heat to transfer from the LED to the body, to allow your hand to cool the light).

 

Third, most (if not all, I'm not sure) Lenser lights are only anodized with Hard Anodizing, Level III (HA III). I believe they are only anodized to HA II. HA III is a much harder, more durable form of anodizing than HA II. In fact my dad has a Coast light he uses for work, where most of the anodizing has worn off in the last 2 years (and he barely ever has to use it, it stays in it's holster for the most part).

 

Fourth, Lenser lights use very inefficient battery arrangements. A single AA battery has the same capacity (nominally) as three AAA batteries. The reason Lenser uses a three and four AAA cell configuration is to provide adequate voltage to the LED, without a driver, under current drain (alkaline voltage sag is horrendous above a moderate-to-low current drain).

 

Take a look at some other brands, which are real quality, and much better bang for your buck, and prepare to be amazed"

[CAAD4]

So is the point to bash LED Lenser?

[MTBc]

im happy with 1200 lumen from extreme lights.

[No Hare]

Ja LED Lenser sucksch! Espescscally their atomic modelsch, lost nealy all my hair and teetchs!

 

I am rather obsessive when it come to collecting torches and can't complain about what LED Lenser offers. Yes, you get better products and worse, and between all these Lenser is somewhere in the middle.

 

So, what are you peddling?

[Skylark]

Yip this guy is selling something

[Peewee1]

Don't be stupid.

 

LedLenser are chip controlled. And they're multipurpose not just made for bicycles hence the AAA batteries.

 

I have an LedLenser torch(220lumens) and one of these China jobs(1200lumens) everyone is selling now. They both work well and are both the same brightness - same CREE Led's are used.

[L_D]

Ja LED Lenser sucksch! Espescscally their atomic modelsch, lost nealy all my hair and teetchs!

 

I am rather obsessive when it come to collecting torches and can't complain about what LED Lenser offers. Yes, you get better products and worse, and between all these Lenser is somewhere in the middle.

 

So, what are you peddling?

 

What are the better products by name? I also heard that LED patented the zoom funtion.

Mate of mine has a couple of LED Lenser's and they look well made to my novice eye.

[L_D]

Don't be stupid.

 

LedLenser are chip controlled. And they're multipurpose not just made for bicycles hence the AAA batteries.

 

I have an LedLenser torch(220lumens) and one of these China jobs(1200lumens) everyone is selling now. They both work well and are both the same brightness - same CREE Led's are used.

What model of Lenser are you using? Been looking at the P7

[Peewee1]

What model of Lenser are you using? Been looking at the P7

 

I think I have the mt7. M Series are all microchipped. Its only R70 more than your p7 on their site.

[No Hare]

Don't understand you mate, are you flaming LED Lenser or gunning for them?

 

Nice thing about LL is that their products aren't horrible expensive.

Especially if you need to withdraw from a position quickly and need to leave equipment behind.

You wont cry yourself to sleep because you left a R2000-00 torch in the veld/ gutter/ sidewalk/ taxi....

 

Request for good quality handheld torches: Surefire, Inforce and Fenix etc.

[L_D]

I read up a lot on any product before I buy. Many manufacturers will paint a perfect picture of their products.

The proof of the pudding so to speak lies for me in forums where people actually use the products. Nothing is hidden from scrutiny. Collectively the Hub forum has a lot of experience and knowledge that can be shared. I was hoping to find mature response to a question rather than saying "what are you selling" etc. If you disagree with the opening statement then do so - that is exactly what I wanted to see- are there grounds to these claims. Thank you UH for doing as such-

Got my father in law the P7 and bike mount.

[Johan Bornman]

I have several LED Lenser torches and will buy more if temptation overcomes me again. They are superb. Mine even tells you when the battery is depleted by doing two blinks every minute or so.

 

As for the nonsense about hard anodizing. It just isn't an issue. I have one that lives in the workshop clipped onto the tool board with one of those chromed spring clips. After two years the black anodizing started to rub off. There's no way that will rub off in your pocket. But still, who cares.

 

Great lights.

[Johan Bornman]

cut cut cut cut

 

Especially if you need to withdraw from a position quickly and need to leave equipment behind.

You wont cry yourself to sleep because you left a R2000-00 torch in the veld/ gutter/ sidewalk/ taxi....

 

 

Nudge,nudge. Wink wink...I won't ask what your occupation is but can you do a "job" for me on two yapping chihauhas next door? If that is successful I might have something bigger for you too.

[No Hare]

Nudge,nudge. Wink wink...I won't ask what your occupation is but can you do a "job" for me on two yapping chihauhas next door? If that is successful I might have something bigger for you too.

 

I wont say what I do for a living but... if you got one of those strong bicycle tail light... set it on blinky-mode and point it at the chibowows- 20 seconds flat and they have motion sickness. Do it 3 times and your problem is something of the past. (emoticon with a scaly look is missing here)

[RocknRolla]

if you are going to purchase a LED lenser product, make sure it has rechargable battery pack/batteries. this is if you plan to use it once a week or more.

 

if you plan to use it as often as once a week, make sure you have suficcient budget for batteries. in the long run goedkoop koop, may en dup being duur koop.

 

I did the excersise, and eventually went for a Magicshine light with rechargeable battery pack and i have not look back. The LED lensers no gets used to excersize the Jack rusel, and other odd jobs in the garage and around the house.