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  #1  
Old Today, 02:46 AM
Jdm Jdm is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2024
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 250
Bike front headlight recommendation?

Since it’s almost Black Friday, I’m thinking about getting a new front headlight. I currently use a Cygolite Epsilon 850 that’s 9 years old (battery and circuit board replaced in the last 18 months).

I need something brighter for fast road biking in the dark on poorly it streets so I can see potholes. I think my night vision is getting worse with age.

My requirements:
- really bright light for road riding. High mode needs to last at least 90 minutes. Longer is better
- good daytime flash mode. I use a headlight every time I ride.
- fits a GoPro mount upside down under my Garmin
- lightweight
- waterproof
- easily removable for charging
- <$100 unless there’s a strong reason to spend more.

The Knog Blinder 1300 has good reviews and is on sale for $75.
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  #2  
Old Today, 06:42 AM
Derosid Derosid is offline
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I’m commuting with the Lumina Micro 900 that I quite like. It mounts under my Karoo2 on a mount as you describe.
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  #3  
Old Today, 06:45 AM
ChainNoise ChainNoise is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Hunterdon/Somerset NJ
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https://www.outboundlighting.com/products/detour

Outbound lighting Detour if used for road. It is worth the extra money. End of thread. It has a cutoff exactly like a car headlight so you don't blind other road users, be it other cyclists, cars, walkers, etc. Customer service is amazing. They stand by their product 100%. 'Merican designed and made.
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  #4  
Old Today, 07:57 AM
Derosid Derosid is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChainNoise View Post
https://www.outboundlighting.com/products/detour

Outbound lighting Detour if used for road. It is worth the extra money. End of thread. It has a cutoff exactly like a car headlight so you don't blind other road users, be it other cyclists, cars, walkers, etc. Customer service is amazing. They stand by their product 100%. 'Merican designed and made.
Wow, that looks fantastic. I might have to try it. One of the most annoying aspects of most bike lights is how they blind everything/everyone in their path.
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  #5  
Old Today, 08:24 AM
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biker72 biker72 is offline
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Location: Dallas TX Suburb.
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I'm currently using Lezyne headlights. Brightness range from 500-2400 Lumens.

My night riding is usually fairly lit streets so the 600 Lumen works for me. Also works well as a daytime flash.
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  #6  
Old Today, 08:32 AM
ChainNoise ChainNoise is offline
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Location: Hunterdon/Somerset NJ
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Derosid View Post
Wow, that looks fantastic. I might have to try it. One of the most annoying aspects of most bike lights is how they blind everything/everyone in their path.
I had the first gen and it was insanely good. The updated road version no longer has an external battery pack and I believe the optics were tuned a bit for a better pattern. I do have the Detour but havent used it yet. I moved to a different area that is far busier and am a little intimidated to ride road in the dark around here.
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  #7  
Old Today, 09:43 AM
benb benb is online now
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Eastern MA
Posts: 10,680
Right now I still have an old Niterider 650 and I have the Garmin UT800 which I got more recently.

I really, really like the double sided mount where the light mounts to the bottom of the computer mount. (Basically go-pro style to 1/4 turn)

However the UT800 is bizarrely complicated... the light is fine but the computer/smart aspects are overly complicated. The "auto beam forming" and adjustments seem like they were programmed by Syd Barrett and Jerry Garcia on a bad day. Probably not an issue in rural areas with no lights or on trails but very weird in urban areas. There are a lot of options in the computer but they are not explained well. The big issue is it will just about turn the light completely off on you when it shouldn't. And even with some of the auto beam forming off if you have a head mounted light and you look at the computer it will make the bar mounted light start flashing as the computer thinks the sun came up from your head mounted lamp! I think the UT800 has a lot of promise for areas that aren't super dark but only if you get those options set just right.

I kind of like having the helmet mounted light too.. if I look at drivers who are entering traffic they notice me really fast... one of my big worries is one of them popping me coming off their stop sign when I have the right of way. The light on the handlebars isn't pointing right at them and can be washed out if there are cars following me. No need to make it harder for them to see me.

Last edited by benb; Today at 09:46 AM.
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  #8  
Old Today, 10:00 AM
Wunder Wunder is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 473
Bontrager Ion Pro RT is quite good. Looks like you can pick it up for $100 on cloesout already (I actually got mine included with a used bike I purchased).

Rated at 1300 Lumens on high. Size is comparable to my Cygolite 650 and 400 lights. Very good day flash mode. You can buy a Blendr adapter and mount it upside down on a GoPro mount (I have it this way on two bikes).

It also includes ANT+ integration so in theory it can turn on/off with your bike computer directly. This worked with my Wahoo for about a month after Wahoo addedd the feature but oddly neither this nor my Varia are computer controlled anymore.

https://bikeportland.org/2022/01/05/...adlight-343172
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  #9  
Old Today, 10:01 AM
Talrand Talrand is offline
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Depending on your definition of lightweight (155g) Magicshine EVO 1700 might fit the bill. Has a high beam mode that lasts nearly 90 min and regular, cut-off mode that won't blind others. Also a remote to easily control it without taking your hands off the bars. Should be roughly in the budget too.
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  #10  
Old Today, 10:02 AM
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SlowPokePete SlowPokePete is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Hillsdale, NY
Posts: 2,348
I've had good luck with Niterider and they currently have 20% off with free shipping on purchases over $80.

SPP
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  #11  
Old Today, 10:05 AM
jasflyfisher jasflyfisher is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: North Potomac, MD
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChainNoise View Post
https://www.outboundlighting.com/products/detour

Outbound lighting Detour if used for road. It is worth the extra money. End of thread. It has a cutoff exactly like a car headlight so you don't blind other road users, be it other cyclists, cars, walkers, etc. Customer service is amazing. They stand by their product 100%. 'Merican designed and made.
Super +1. I have the mountain headlight/helmet combo and it is fantastic. I'm buying the Detour headlight when their Black Friday sale opens - soon (you can sign up for a heads up email when the sale is live).

The only thing that might not work for you is I'm not sure that there would be a way to mount it in the correct orientation on the same bracket under a Garmin. I fine the mounting arrangement to be super slick, rock solid, and it is also quite low profile. If you don't need it to be on the same bracket, it may fit under the Garmin.
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  #12  
Old Today, 10:53 AM
ChainNoise ChainNoise is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Hunterdon/Somerset NJ
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jasflyfisher View Post
Super +1. I have the mountain headlight/helmet combo and it is fantastic. I'm buying the Detour headlight when their Black Friday sale opens - soon (you can sign up for a heads up email when the sale is live).

The only thing that might not work for you is I'm not sure that there would be a way to mount it in the correct orientation on the same bracket under a Garmin. I fine the mounting arrangement to be super slick, rock solid, and it is also quite low profile. If you don't need it to be on the same bracket, it may fit under the Garmin.
They have a GoPro mount to go under. Works perfect with the quick disconnect too.

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  #13  
Old Today, 10:59 AM
tellyho tellyho is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Boston area
Posts: 1,905
Meets few of your criteria, but I love the Lumintop B01. It's my daily commuting driver - StVZOish beam pattern, bright (900 lumens), long run time (I charge weekly but it will do 2 weeks of 1.5 hours a day no problem), and best of all, replaceable battery (27000). It's basically a flashlight; with the twofish mount it's very solid.

Oh, and $30 on Aliexpress.
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  #14  
Old Today, 11:06 AM
trener1 trener1 is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,274
I use the Cygolite 1100, plenty bright, pretty cheap and has a great daytime blinking mode, and they sell the go pro adapter which is how I use mine.
And comes in right under your price point at $89
https://www.thebikesmiths.com/produc...5-FEACJ9sBXJnw

Last edited by trener1; Today at 11:12 AM.
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  #15  
Old Today, 11:50 AM
fiamme red's Avatar
fiamme red fiamme red is online now
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 12,518
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChainNoise View Post
https://www.outboundlighting.com/products/detour

Outbound lighting Detour if used for road. It is worth the extra money. End of thread. It has a cutoff exactly like a car headlight so you don't blind other road users, be it other cyclists, cars, walkers, etc. Customer service is amazing. They stand by their product 100%. 'Merican designed and made.
That looks great. I’m happy with my Cygolite, but I’m tempted to get one of those.
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