helmet light for shore night riding?

[Neo]

hey shore oldschoolers, i'm looking for suggestions on a good helmet mounted light for shore night riding now that the days are getting shorter. i've got a dual handlebar setup with a 20/30 watt halogen (soon to be dual led) and i need to get a new helmet mounted light. what do you guys use for light setups?

[mr_fungle]

Nite Rider HIDs. I have the Blowtorches, and they are bright as hell. You can usually find them online for around U$300 - not cheap but well worth the investment.

[freakonaleash]

The dude made a killer tutorial

http://www.bikelight.blogspot.com/

[Knight-Rider]

I'm going to have to second the nite-rider HID's

Once you go with the HID, you won't want to use anything else. I've had my oldest one now for almost 5 years now, and it has only been in for service once, and had only 2 bulbs replaced.

[Rat]

Nightrider HID

[Neo]

sweet thanks. i currently have the blt dual system on my bike. those niterider lights look sick.

[Neo]

this looks like what i want: http://www.niterider.com/prod_rage.shtml

[Lady Gravity]

i think i have to buck up and buy an hid this year, my little lights just aren't cutting it anymore, and i want to continue riding during the winter as much as i am now

[schoenrock]

i'm using a light n motion hid this season.

[schoenrock]

i snagged mine in the early summer for a steal of a deal, i didnt even get snagged for duty.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=22689&item=7246562776

[connor]

build your own.. I made a 3W Luxeon Handlebar mount lamp for Heather for commuting. It's about as bright as my oldschool 10W Paul's Moonunit. and burns for like 6hrs on 6 rechargabe 2100mAh NIMH AAs. It uses as Swtichmode PS in stepdown or "buck" mode and can run on anything from 4-35V. even has adjustable brightness. You can run more than 1 bulb off each PS (up to like 5 or 7)so you would only need 1 PS for 2 headlamps. I can make them for about 40-50$ with batteries, for a single. I'm going to build a double headlamp and it will cost me about $70 with batteries. Although I might wait for the 5W luxeons..

[zahgurim]

I like the Cateye LED lights. I run a Tripple on the bike, and a Double on my noggin.
I'm going to experiment a bit, and build some for the girlfriend. Prolly a tripple Lux3 setup.

[Lurch]

http://www.trailtech.net/helmet_mounted_light_kits_1.htm
Dont have them, but the price is good. Once you see HID in action, you wont even want to waste your time with anything else. It almost defeats the purpose of night riding, makes everything look like it does during the day.

[Rat]

this looks like what i want: http://www.niterider.com/prod_rage.shtml


Just get the firestorm the LED lights arnt worth the extra dough. + its better to have a 20 dollar MEC LED head lamp in the backpack. If your battery or cord goes those LED's aint going to get you off the mountain. + any ride up that you can get away using just the LED's you wont want your helmet on anyway.

[Rat]

http://www.trailtech.net/helmet_mounted_light_kits_1.htm
Dont have them, but the price is good. Once you see HID in action, you wont even want to waste your time with anything else. It almost defeats the purpose of night riding, makes everything look like it does during the day.


Id say the folks I know who have the trail techs wish they ponied up for the nightriders.


Im no expert by I ride 3 days a week at night in the winter so my HID's see alot of use. Pretty much everyone I ride with is running duel helmet mount nightrider HID's now.

anouther piece of advise if you ride with the same guys at night alot if everyone buys the same stuff it makes life easier when someone forgets a cord or has a light mechanical

[apeshape]

NiteRider HID Blowtorch. I was skeptical for the longest time but now believe the hype. I love the ninja runs.

[Neo]

thanks for the info Rat.

[switch]

Last couple winters I've been riding with a NR HID on the helment, and 25W of BLT on the handlebars.

The HID is great. It's not just bright, but the whiter light makes visibility a lot better. 4 hours of runtime is also a plus.

I'm looking to get or build a wide beam HID for the handlebars. I find having your general field of view lit up, along with being able to see where you look, works the best.

If you get another light, consider keeping your existing lights. The more light the better, and having a second light as backup is comforting.

[Neo]

yea i have the blt's on the handlbar too. looks like i'll be getting an HID helmet light.

[switch]

Blaine, keep checking some of the online sites that sell mtb gear. Once in a while they'll have a sale on an HID. With the exchange rate, 6% GST, and no duty, the price is worth it.

Example:
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail.htm?stylepkey=14898&offer=IN050BBD

$278.21 USD includes shipping. At 1.13 on the dollar, with exchange, GST, and the $8 Canada Post charges for handling, the cost will be about $340 CDN. Smoking deal. :)

[dudski]

i borrowed my bosses headlamp for a couple night rides a while ago...like a eight hundred dollar blt or nightrider whatever that made 1am seem like midday.. but i think it was really a headlight from a grey hound bus that was the size of a bike tube box. inncredible little contraption.