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View Full Version : 2400 Lumens for $73? Really?

NRRider
03-10-2012, 10:59 AM
Guess I haven't been keeping up with LED prices lately. The prices on inexpensive lights from China seems to be plummeting. This http://www.ebay.com/itm/3x-CREE-2400-Lumens-XM-L-T6-LED-2x-XPE-R2-LED-Bike-Bicycle-Light-6400mAh-/350494926462?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item519b20267e#ht_3722wt_1007 seems to be a great deal if it actually works.
Anyone try it yet?
DRZRM
03-10-2012, 11:03 AM
Awesome, until your handlebars burst into flames.

Seriously, that is a lot of light for a small investment? I'd love to hear from someone who has used them.
khatfull
03-10-2012, 11:12 AM
Awesome, until your handlebars burst into flames.

Seriously, that is a lot of light for a small investment? I'd love to hear from someone who has used them.

I use a 900 lumen Cree flashlight from DealExtreme, PLENTY of light to ride by. I use one of the cheap rubber mounts on a BDopCycling mount I custom cut so there's a mount on each side of the stem. Looks like this on my old CAAD9:

http://home.comcast.net/~khatfull/images/bdop1.jpg

Mount is solid...get about an hour a battery. I just carry a few if I'm riding at night. The light linked by the OP has a remote battery pack you'd have to find a place for.

And this doubles as a really nice flashlight.

They can be had for $25 or so at DealExtreme, rubber mount is a couple bucks, charger and a few batteries maybe $20.

I have to imagine the 2400 lumen light would be like sunlight at more than 2.5X my flashlight. Sheesh.
TMB
03-10-2012, 11:21 AM
I bought a set of lights from Gemini Lights last fall.

I think they are truly as bright as is remotely useful, and plenty bright enough for riding.

I'm also not worried about the house burning down when I charge them.
gdw
03-10-2012, 11:39 AM
Quality control is inconsistant to put it mildly. The light on Ebay is bright, overkill, but probably around half the power they claim in the auction. It's worth trying if you want to blind other riders and oncoming cars.
rice rocket
03-10-2012, 12:31 PM
It's probably around half the stated output as gdw said. Still a damn good deal. QC is actually decent from the 4 or 5 lights I've gotten from China.

It doesn't have to be blinding to other riders/drivers if (a), you aim it responsibly, and (b) you get the right lens.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/280752532003?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0105/2052/files/lens3.JPG?613 vs http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0105/2052/files/lens4.JPG?613
gdw
03-10-2012, 01:04 PM
I'm using an XLM MagicShine clone which has a really tight beam and would like a wider pattern. Have you tried any of the aftermarket lens? If so does it work well?

I've also had good luck with the lights and think they're worth the gamble. The only problems I've encountered are with the mounts and overly long cables which were easy to modify but a friend bought one which died on the test ride around the block. The factory didn't use thermal paste when they mounted the star and the LED overheated.
khatfull
03-10-2012, 05:06 PM
It's probably around half the stated output as gdw said. Still a damn good deal. QC is actually decent from the 4 or 5 lights I've gotten from China.

It doesn't have to be blinding to other riders/drivers if (a), you aim it responsibly, and (b) you get the right lens.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/280752532003?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Man, I'd love to have one of those lenses for the flashlight. I wonder if I could trim the polycarbonate to fit the flashlight's bezel?!