Halogen or HID?

[Tom]

Do I spend $300 minimum for a HID system when I'm really only looking to ride out of the first hour to hour and a half of darkness into the morning or have a security blanket for the afternoon into evening rides?

I know I want to go that route, but are the halogen lights really that much dimmer?

Convince me to drop the coin on the firebreather...

[RichMc]

Go with the HID.

If I end up riding in the early nighttime hours I want the brightest lights going. Not only do I want to be seen I wouldn't mind intimidating my oncoming traffic a bit. Plus I'll need to see every possible bit of road hazard that I can. It's either HID lights or, gasp, the floor trainer. God knows I hate that trainer but it's that time of year and after work riding is getting limited. As the rains set in that trainer is inevitible I suppose. :crap:

[FlaRider]

I have a Nite Rider halogen system (called Digital Evolution I think) which is more than adequate to light up the road in the early morning (before sunrise) hours. Please PM me if you need additional info.

[IXXI]

20w halogen is more than enough to blind anybody or anything on the road. This from rainy foggy Portland (sunny, with a high of 75* today...)

www.jetlites.com

[Argos]

I have the HID Flamethrower. I've been seen on weather satelites as "Isolated Lightning Strikes".

With light, more is better, you can't turn less into more, but you can turn more down.

[pjm]

I just ordered the Light & Motion Arc HID light from Performance for $280 using an on-line coupon from our friend Biketime. Has a very high rating on mtb review.

[Ozz]

I just ordered the Light & Motion Arc HID light from Performance for $280 using an on-line coupon from our friend Biketime. Has a very high rating on mtb review.
Great light...you will be pleased.

Tom - you will not regret getting an HID...but you may wonder if it could be better if you only get a halogen.
Those two hours prior to sunrise when the sky is cloudy are really dark....

[chrisroph]

The HID's are much brighter and more expensive than the halogens. I've got one and don't use it much but appreciate it every time I do. Cars actually flash me with their brights. In addition, they actually illuminate the road. Many lights only make you visible to cars.

[sevencyclist]

I vote for the HID. It allows me to see much better. If you compare the difference in price, it turns out to be very little over the lifespan of the unit.

[ols]

Here are photos that give an idea of the difference:

Non HID
http://www.mtbr.com/spotlight/lightshootout/beampattern_nonhid.shtml

HID
http://www.mtbr.com/spotlight/lightshootout/beampattern.shtml

Two sets of lights at once
http://www.mtbr.com/spotlight/lightshootout/beampattern_combos.shtml

[erty65]

Light test (http://www.lupine.de/en/lighttest/lighttest.html)

[froze]

Go with the Halogen, their bulbs last longer and are cheaper to replace. Cygolite makes a 25 watt light for around $100...more light then you'll need.

Most lights 4watts and above illuminate the road...and I mean actually illuminate the road; even those LED lights that run off of 4AA's will illuminate the road though not very well. I run 6.5 watts most of the time when I commute and only switch on the other beam to give 13 watts on pitch dark winding bike paths, and I wear glasses that are slightly tinted and I still have plenty of light to run at 20mph, plus I'm over 50 so my eyes are suppose to be dimmer then younger people.