Lights for Transbaviaans

[manbearpig]

Any suggestions for lights? Best value for money optimum battery life etc?

[scuzzy]

I just got the Exposure Joystick Maxx2 through CRC.  I'm riding wih it on my helmet at the moment. Good light, good battery life.  I'm planning on either getting another one for the handelsbars or getting the Enduro Maxx of the handelbars.  Great lights.

[manbearpig]

Are they rechargable? How much?

[scuzzy]

Jip, has it's own battery and on the middel setting it will last up to 10 hours, it is really bright, I rarely ride on max setting

 

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=31359

http://www.exposurelights.com/products/joystick_maxx_2_-_2009/index.php

 

[manbearpig]

Thanks scuzzy, had a look, how long did it take to deliver to you?

[scuzzy]

Well, you'll have to look on this site what the other guys say, I was lucky enough to know someone who went to the UK, sy the brouht it back for me.  I think the say 4 days, but I think that is a bit optemistic, saver bet would be between week and 2 weeks, to allow for customs all of that.

[Tumbleweed]

manbearpig, pm brighter lights for a local option. 

[Thug]

I'm considering these (the MTB kit) .......

 

http://www.ayup.com.au/nz-shop-kits.html

 

and there is a local agent.....

 

http://www.easygis.co.za/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=75

 

reviews can be found here....

 

http://www.mtbr.com/cat/accessories/lights/ay-up/mtbkit/PRD_429174_130crx.aspx

and

http://www.mtnbikeriders.com/2008/07/25/review-ay-up-lights-mtb-kit/

and

http://andy-bell.blogspot.com/2007/12/product-review-ay-up-lights.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Chappies]

I have a set of Ay-Up lights.

 

I have the V4 adventure kit which comes with 2 lights & 3 battrys. I've been cycling for 20+ years and these are by far the best lights I've ever had. In 2008 I did the Transbaviaans with a set of "Brighter-lights". And Last year with the Ay-Ups.

 

I can honestly say the Ay-Ups are the best lights on the market.

At 70g you can't even feel it on your helmet and in the night training rides they are always the brightest lights in the group.

 

Of all the lights I've ever had they also have the most sturdy mount. Do not move at all even in the worst conditions.

 

The charge time is also relatively quick (about 3hrs)

 

I comfortable get 9hrs on full beam (they only have one setting - no dim)

 

I ordered mine directly from Australia and got them in 8 days.

 

I am in the process of getting a second set for my daughter.

[AndreZA]

Oh sh!t, here comes trouble. I guess 20-25 pages if it is kept clean.

[Velouria]

I just got the Exposure Joystick Maxx2 through CRC.  I'm riding wih it on my helmet at the moment. Good light, good battery life.  I'm planning on either getting another one for the handelsbars or getting the Enduro Maxx of the handelbars.  Great lights.

 

I have exactly that combo. I have an Exposure Enduro (the original model, not the new fancy one), and an Exposure Joystick Maxx2. Great combo. I love the new quick release mount, and the lack of cables.

 

The after sales service is great too - I had an issue with my aging Enduro last year and sent it back to the UK, and while they won't admit it, they pretty much replaced all the internals for me and had it back to me in record time.

 

I would almost say that they are overkill for Baviaans. The roads are wide and smooth, you're riding with 2 or 3 other guys and can share each other's light. Your only issue is run time - it is usually quite dark by 6pm (8 hours in - aim to be at the top of MAC by then, this way you can avoid having to carry too much up the climb). This means you probably have around another 6 hours of riding in the dark, maybe more. Make sure your light can make it, or at least get you from checkpoint to checkpoint.

[Chappies]

website link Brighter-Lights

 

Brighter-Lights is on the Hub and often gets into an argument with some of the know-it-alls B) . Lights are locally made and for me, local is lekker.

 

MBP, if you have money to burn and want the best of the best (this is MY opinion), go for brighter lights:

 

Revelation 3R: 1050 Lumens (actual)

5hr30 high beam to 100 hours on lowest setting

540g complete weight. (battery in water bottle or shrink wrapped)

 

Revelation 7: 1900 Lumens

3hr high beam to 100 hour on lowest setting

600g complete weight

 

Wish i had these lights for the desert dash last year, i wouldn't have suffered so much going down the mountain passes with my lucky packet lights!!

[Chappies]

website link Brighter-Lights

 

Brighter-Lights is on the Hub and often gets into an argument with some of the know-it-alls B) . Lights are locally made and for me, local is lekker.

 

MBP, if you have money to burn and want the best of the best (this is MY opinion), go for brighter lights:

 

Revelation 3R: 1050 Lumens (actual)

5hr30 high beam to 100 hours on lowest setting

540g complete weight. (battery in water bottle or shrink wrapped)

 

Revelation 7: 1900 Lumens

3hr high beam to 100 hour on lowest setting

600g complete weight

 

Wish i had these lights for the desert dash last year, i wouldn't have suffered so much going down the mountain passes with my lucky packet lights!!

 

I had a Brighterlights (3R) on my first Tranbaviaans and the Ay-Ups on my second Transbaviaans and the Ay-Ups were the better lights, without doubt.

 

The combination of a spot light on your helmet and a wide angle on your bars is the best combination you can have. The spot on the helmet is by far the brightest light i have seen. With the brighterlights I ended up having a Petzyl on my head for stops etc. which is an added weight.

 

The weight differance is 460G (without the petzyl), thats a considerable weight

Total weight Brighterlights - 600G + petzyl

Total weight Ay-Up 140G (4 lights & 2 batteries)

 

With the Brighterlights I was adjusting the angle of the light every 15mins or so. I never adjusted the Ay-Ups once - again I attribute that to weight.

 

The Brighterlights is spec at 1050 lumens and the Ay-Ups at 600 Lumens, Yet the Ay-Ups are still brighter. I put that down to a superior lens.

(If you put 300watts into a Nishiki and you put 200watts into a Orbea the Orbea would go faster)

 

Both lights are very good but the Ay-Ups are the better package

[bradjackson]

Any suggestions for lights? Best value for money optimum battery life etc?

 

Check out the new Niuge light from Magiclight.

Although not as powerful as its predecessors, the MJ808 & MJ816, it makes up for it in its small size, light weight & versatility - while still putting out an impressive 220 lumens.

 

A limited number of these will be available at the Trans Baviaans registration on Friday.

Price will be in the region of R1200.

www.magiclight.co.za

[NinjaManiak]

As mentioned by Thug and Chappies,

 

AyUP lights are now availalbe from www.easyGIS.co.za

 

They have a deal with AyUp, so the local pricing is actually inline with what you'd pay from the AyUp Austrailan store ( with shipping $45, and VAT, and that other SARS 10% ).

 

 

A few notes on the new 2010 lightkits:

 

AyUP lightset + bike/helmet mount + battery + case = 168grams.

 

AyUp lightset = +/- 400lumens per lightset (fairly accurate measurement. Hard to compare to some other "calculated" light outputs. But that's another topic)

 

2010 batteries have HIGH, LOW, AND FLASH modes. Low battery life is 2x high. So you get upto 12 hours (maybe more, but that's the guarantee)

 

2010 kits come with RED light covers for use as rear lights ( with the flashing mode )

 

 

 

 

If anyone wants, 2 sets are available for delivery/collection at the start of the Transbaviaans.

[NinjaManiak]

Forgot to add:

 

There are lights with higer output, and lights which are cheaper. But you if want the easiest setup and go lights ( The kit includes everything and anything you will need ) that are tough as nails ( if you break it, there is a replacement policy, and they want it back to see how you did it!!) and waterproof too...

 

I've had mine since 2008...

 

http://www.ayup-lights.com/media/content_pages//galleries/general/general09.jpg