Blackburn Quadrant Bicycle Light Review

I'm generous, at times, in reviewing books or CDs and saying 5 stars; and maybe this item is easier to judge; but I have no problems giving it a top rating.

In the past 5 or 6 years; I have used a number of headlights; mostly those with rechargeable batteries and they have served my purpose; but in a sense they have been bulky, or expensive, a bit of a hassle.

I will continue to keep a rechargeable battery headlight that I have since it lights up the road, just in case; but this one is easy to carry with one off the bike for security reasons, has a price that can't be beat, in fact, I find it astonishing that one can get such a good lighting system for under $50 dollars, let alone less than $25 as in this case. It is really a fine product; and very good for local riding (meaning 20-30 miles). For touring, maybe more lighting is needed; but it certainly let's you be seen and I don't have any problems with how well it does illuminate.

I especially went out of my way to purchase this; I often wondered what some cyclists I would see were using with a strobe light type of light on their bicycles; it may have been one of these and I have been pleasantly surprised with it's quality.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Blackburn Quadrant Bicycle Light

Product Description:
An essential measure for any safety-conscious biker, the Blackburn Quadrant Bicycle Light will help make sure you see the road and drivers see you. The Quadrant is constructed in a tough, water-resistant case and utilizes four super-bright white LEDs. This bicycle light features optically-boosted center LEDs that light up what is ahead, and wide angle side LEDs with side-light pipes that provide 180-degrees of visibility. Blackburn's Quadrant light runs on four AA batteries (included) for 110 hours in steady mode, or 300 hours in flash mode.
About Blackburn
In 1975, Jim Blackburn set out to design stronger, lighter, more innovative and more reliable cycling products. The first were bags and racks designed for touring. From there, Blackburn grew. Over the next 30 years, Blackburn's spark of innovation would lead to many revolutionary products, like the first high quality aircraft aluminum rack, the first dual stroke minipump, the first oversized mountain minipump and the first dual stage/dual stroke floorpump just to name a few. For 2005, Blackburn's creative spark is burning brighter than ever. And as we head into our 30th year, Blackburn is re-dedicated to designing smart, reliable, no nonsense accessories that are essential to your riding experience.

Want to buy Blackburn Quadrant Bicycle Light at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below:

Cateye EL-220 and TL-LD270R Bicycle Headlight and Tail Light Combination Review

This set of lights is very easy to install. The front light is very bright... I think I can see upto 6-8 feet ahead when I ride in almost complete dark environment. Build-quality is quite good... not so filmsy as well as the plastic finishing is not so cheap-feeling (unlike some that I saw at Walmart). I like this very much!... so that I want to ride my bike every night!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Cateye EL-220 and TL-LD270R Bicycle Headlight and Tail Light Combination

Product Description:
Perfect for bicyclists commuting in low-light situations, this battery-powered package combines a five-LED white headlight and a three-LED red tail light. The extra-bright headlight features a wide beam that illuminates plenty of road and can be set for flashing mode (useful for cycling under city lights) or constant mode. Cateye's OptiCube technology optimizes lens and reflector brightness. The tail light can be mounted on handlebar or seat post. Powered by four AA batteries, the headlight runs for up to 120 hours. Powered by two N batteries, the tail light runs up to 90 hours in constant for flashing mode. Each light comes with a mounting bracket.
About Cateye
Founded in 1946 in Osaka, Japan, CatEye is the leading manufacturer of cycle computers, lights, and reflectors to cyclists in the world. In 1964, CatEye was the first in the industry to create a flashing lamp for bicycles, followed by their first battery headlamp in 1982, and the very first bicycle head lamp using white LEDs in 2001. The company's Opticube lens and reflectors make the brightest and most efficient LED headlights. while their LD500 remains the only rear safety light that can meet the rigorous CPSC standards for reflectivity.

Want to buy Cateye EL-220 and TL-LD270R Bicycle Headlight and Tail Light Combination at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below:

Cateye HL-EL830RC Triple Shot Pro Rechargeable LED Bicycle Headlight Review

I mounted this side by side with a Topeak Moonshine HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamp for comparison purposes, and made my normal pre-dawn commute for a week.

The housing seems quite sturdy, and the battery connector is easy to open and close.The lamp mounting bracket has a nice dial-screw on it so it's easy-on and easy-off.The HL-EL830RC casts enough light for riding along the road, but it's far, far dimmer than the HID.There is no bright cone of light cast on the road and off to either side, as there is with the HID.The narrow light beam is comparable to a conventional halogen light.

The unit creates a startling amount of radio frequency interference(RFI); no possibility of listening to radio while pedalling! When riding in heavy fog, there's a strange rippling effect in the light beam, apparently it's flashing at a very high frequency. This thing apparently has a pretty elaborate electronic power supply, one more thing that can go wrong with it...but it has a 2 year warranty.

The on/off switch has a large tab on the handlebar fastener, and it knocks off easily when you try to switch the light while wearing winter gloves.The switch is marked "CAUTION HOT" but I detected no heating.

The battery lasts a long time, as advertised, but the charger is apparently not too "smart" -- the instructions tell you not to leave it plugged in at completion of the charge.So I use a timer.

Given the relatively high price of this light (comparable to an HID), the long run time and possibly long LED lifetime as compared to a bulb, are its main saving graces.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Cateye HL-EL830RC Triple Shot Pro Rechargeable LED Bicycle Headlight

Product Description:
Rechargeable in five hours with its accompanying charger, this bicycle headlight uses three hyper-powerful LEDs to generate a clear beam and Cateye's OptiCube technology to optimize lens and reflector brightness and focus. The light can be switched between high and low beams and offers up to six hours of run time. Designed for off-road riding and 24-hour racing, the light is light in weight (17.5 ounces/497 grams, including light, li-ion battery, and bracket) and can be mounted on a handlebar measuring 22.2 to 31.8 mm in diameter. The handlebar-mount switch includes a battery-level indicator. Other features include a rugged cast-aluminum body and locking cable connectors to prevent blackouts.
About Cateye
Founded in 1946 in Osaka, Japan, CatEye is the leading manufacturer of cycle computers, lights, and reflectors to cyclists in the world. In 1964, CatEye was the first in the industry to create a flashing lamp for bicycles, followed by their first battery headlamp in 1982, and the very first bicycle head lamp using white LEDs in 2001. The company's Opticube lens and reflectors make the brightest and most efficient LED headlights. while their LD500 remains the only rear safety light that can meet the rigorous CPSC standards for reflectivity.

Want to buy Cateye HL-EL830RC Triple Shot Pro Rechargeable LED Bicycle Headlight at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below:

Blackburn Voyager 4.0 Luxeon Bicycle Headlight Review

Safety is everything when you're in the dark, and require any light to get out of danger.

Headlights in comparison:
- Blackburn X3.
- Generic 5 LEDs torches
- Luxeon 2 LEDs custom mount flashlights

Adaptive Design:
The light can be mounted on virtually all bike handle bars. I have a custom hybrid road bike, my wife is a Sidewinder FX mountain, my 8 year old son's is BMX, and my little 1 year old is a Schwinn Mark III trailer. The quick release handle bar mount accommodate a handle bar tube as small as 1/4 inch, up to 1.75 inches. This is practically the sizes for 99% of the bikes' handle bar tubes and trailers' frames. The cool thing is, the mount also has an adjustable side-to-side angle for your light. It's perfect when you need a quick adjustment on your light beam from left, to right, and back to center, based on your travel path. If you need a quick use of the light as a flash light, the mount allows you to quickly remove the light by squeezing in the V-clip, and slide forward for a fast dismount.

Visibility:
- Morning hours: At dawn, with just a crack of sunlight in the horizon, your light only gives you enough lumen to see about 5 feet away. But, to motorists, your light is bright enough to be seen at 1/2 mile away.

- Night hours: When the sun starts to sink into the horizon, your visibility increases significantly. If there's still some light before dusk, you still able to see about 7 feet in front of you, and you can be spotted at 1/2 miles away. When there's no light left, and all you have are street lights, you can see about 10 feet in front of you, quite clearly, within a 3 feet spot light circle. The halo around your spot light (4 feet in each direction) gives you enough light to see obstructions, but not enough to clearly identify the obstruction, such as a log, or a shredded tire piece. You can bet you can be seen by motorists up to 1mile away. In total darkness, you can see 15 feet in front of you within the 3 feet spot light circle, and the halo around the spot light area can be seen quite clearly to identify everything, down to a 1 inch bolt. You're now can be seen as far as 1.5 miles away at level ground, and as bright as a motorcylists headlight. When the vehicle is close by, the LEDs can be quite blinding. If you mount the light onto your head with a helmet mount, you bet you can temporarily blind the drivers, like I have. There are passengers screaming out indicating that the LEDs are way too bright, and drivers honking horns to tell us to crank the brightness down. Sorry, can't do that. Our safety goes above the irritation the drivers may have.

In comparison with the Blackburn X3 (2.3 watts and uses tons of power), this 1watt (powered by 4 AA-batteries) gives enough light to get you through the dark nights, or a fraction of the price. Combine with the X3, or another Voyager 4, you can light up the roads regardless of how much street lights are on, and how bright they are. Rather than spending hundreds on the expensive lights, the Voyager 4 can act as your first 10 feet supporting light on your handle bar, and your X3 helmet mounted light can act as your mid and long range spot light. In combination, these two lights illuminate my paths on my long commutes.

If you're going into dark trails or riding downhill faster than 15 mph, using only this light, you will outrun the light. This only gives you a good visibility of 15 feet ahead of you if you travel at 10 to 15 mph. You need to use this in combination with a good spot light for a far forward visibility. X3 is a good combo, since it only cost $60, rather than the $150+ for the X6 system, or the more expensive LEDs and Halogen/HID systems. This will give you the effective 20+ feet of illuminated path for less than $100, and you can max your speed out at 40 mph like I do with my road bike down the hills.

Side marker LEDs:
There are two yellow blinking LEDs that acts as side markers. These proves to be useless on all levels. They're not bright enough as effective visible markers, and they're draining the batteries for nothing.

Power usages:
There are three settings and three level of power usages:
- Solid highest brightness: The LEDs are on continually. The power usage at this state will eat up your Duracel batteries within 4 hours, and rechargeable NiMH within 3.5 hours.

- Solid medium: The LEDs are on continually, but the brightness is reduced by half. The power usage at this state will eat up your Duracel batteries within 6 hours, and rechargeable NiMH within 5 hours.

- Steady fast blinking: The power usage at this state will eat up your Duracel batteries within 8 hours, and rechargeable NiMH within 7.5 hours.

If you use your light on and off, an hour or two each day, you can go as long as 9 hours for the solid light, or as long as 13 hours on blinking mode. Just be warned, when the batteries reaches the 1/2 way point of power spent, the LEDs will automatically dim to solid medium brightness strength to conserve power until the batteries are drained completely. The trick is to use the lights in blinking mode, which utilizes the highest power level or maximum brightness. The only annoyance is the blinking.The shell is nothing to laugh about. Although the batteries is housed in a twistable housing shell, the shell will not snap or fall apart on accidental drops. The shell survives so many of our three to 5 feet falls, onto hard concrete while we prepare for our trips, and launches from our mounts on quick stops because we did not ensure proper mounting attachment onto the mount. There are minor nicks and scratches because of the harsh surfaces, but the brightness remain the same regardless.

Overview:
If I have to invest in an effective headlight that doesn't break the bank to shine my path, this is it. Not only it's inexpensive, but it's a versatile to have on any equipment for good visibility in the dark. A couple of these strapped to your handle bar and helmet, and you're set to venture the highways and byways of the modern day. My suggestion is to use a combination of strong spot light (such as the Blackburn X3), in combination with this light acting as a flood light. With this combination, you can't outrun your light combos.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Blackburn Voyager 4.0 Luxeon Bicycle Headlight

Product Description:
The new Voyager 4.0 will boldly go where no commuter light has gone before. With a potent Luxeon 1 watt LED emitter churning out 45 darkness-scalding lumens through a sophisticated beam-shaping optical lens, there is plenty of light to see the road or bike path. And unique to Blackburn, two independently controlled amber side LED's provide 180 degrees of feel-good, be-seen visibilty. The emitter uses the same anti-dimming Constant Current Technology as our powerful System X lights, and four AA batteries will provide 4 hours of runtime at full brightness or 10 hours on low. There is also separate flash modes for the side LED's and the main beam.

Want to buy Blackburn Voyager 4.0 Luxeon Bicycle Headlight at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below:

Planet Bike Alias HID Bicycle Light Set with Integrated Battery Review

This headlight fit my requirements perfectly. Since everything is contained in one relatively small sleek package, removing and installing is quick and easy. I at first worried that the mount would not be robust enough to keep the light from moving when going over bumps. No more worries - it has held its position going 30+ MPH over fairly rough asphalt. I ride a road bike so cannot comment on how well it would do off road.
Light output is excellent. It is probably about 30% brighter than my 15W halogen and has a wide coverage. I have to ride down an unlit road in pitch darkness on my morninig commute dodging potholes and the edge of the road. I reach speeds of just over 30 MPH and this light provides the luminence necessary to avoid those obstacles.
The 2.5 to 3 hours of burn time for this light is somewhat limited compared to others, but for me is perfect. I would rather have this capacity and the resulting compact size than to have a large capacity with the probable external battery. The unit uses a Li-Ion battery which is much better than either NiCad or NiMh in terms of capacity per unit size and weight, charge time, and any memory effects.
Workmanship is impeccable. This thing could be put in a museum. It looks and feels like a high quality instrument. The soft case that it comes in is very handy too.
My only complaint about this light would probably be with the mount. Although it is pretty easy to use and holds the light very well, once you get it adjusted to your handlebar it is easy to lose the adjustment once you take it off. Also, the adjustment resolution is a little coarse with one turn of the adjustment screw the minimum you can adjust. Not a big problem but I had to find something to complain about. You could avoid this by leaving the mount on the bike and just unclipping the light from the mount.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Planet Bike Alias HID Bicycle Light Set with Integrated Battery

Product Description:
See clearly at night and alert drivers and other cyclists to your presence with this Alias HID light set from Planet Bike. Designed to fit 25.5 mm to 31.8 mm handlebars, the light includes a 10-watt, high-intensity discharge (HID) bulb that employs Solarc technology to light an efficient path. Solarc bulbs offer several characteristics that distinguish them from other metal halide lamps, including small size, low wattage, a short arc gap, and a high color temperature. From a user perspective, the bulbs produce sunlight-caliber illumination that maintains outstanding brightness through its lifetime while requiring just one third the amount of energy required to power comparable halogen lamps. Cyclists will also dig the light's integrated battery and light head, which eliminate wires for a cleaner look and a quick attachment. Other details include a 14.4-volt lithium-ion battery that charges in just under three hours, a custom soft case for convenient transport and storage, and a 2.5-hour runtime on the high setting and a 3.25-hour runtime on the low settings. The Alias HID light, which weighs only 0.84 pounds, carries a limited lifetime warranty.
About Planet Bike
In November of 1996, Planet Bike was founded in Madison, Wisconsin. In many ways, Planet Bike began as a social experiment that dedicated itself to doing business in a different way. Instead of being just another company that develops and sells products with profit as its end goal, Planet Bike wanted to help bring about positive change for people, their communities, and the environment.
Despite being a simple machine, the people at Planet Bike have always believed that the bicycle has great potential to help improve the world and the lives of the people in it. From the start, they have embraced an alternative corporate purpose which seeks to help get more people on bicycles by making communities friendlier places for the self-propelled. By donating 25% of company profits to causes that promote and facilitate bicycle usage, Planet Bike hopes to make an impact.
Social experiments aside, Planet Bike was born from the heart of a cyclist with a goal of making innovative, high quality, and practical bicycle accessories. Simply put, they strive to design and develop the best bicycle products in the world. In the company's short ten year history, they have made important product innovations within the bicycle industry. Advancements include the 4-line computer which is now a standard in the industry and the world's first self-contained HID light. Not bad for a company that ten years ago started as a one man operation. Today, while still a small company, Planet Bike continues to evolve and improve their product line with the goal of always striving to build accessories that make it easier for people to ride their bikes. Since 1996, Planet Bike's financial support of the grassroots bicycle movement has totaled $500,000. By 2010, they have made a goal to donate $1 million to organizations that are dedicated to making America a friendlier place for cyclists.

Get 15% OFF

Want to buy Planet Bike Alias HID Bicycle Light Set with Integrated Battery at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below:

Planet Bike Blaze 1/2-Watt LED Bicycle Light with Helmet and QuickCam Mounts Review

Over the last couple years I've accumulated several bike lights. Unfortunately, most lights under $100 are usually pretty dim and are usually more useful for being seen by car drivers than actually lighting up the road. Fortunately, with newer LED technology, inexpensive bike lights are becoming more capable. The Blaze is a big improvement over the Cateye EL-500 (LED) and the Planet Bike 5000x (halogen) that I have been using. The LED in the Blaze is brighter than both of those lights, its only drawback being that it is more of a spot beam than a flood. Depending on your needs, this can be a good or bad thing. I've found the Blaze very useful as a helmet mounted light to be used in addition to a handlebar mounted light with a brighter, wider beam. The Blaze is enough light to manage with on its own, provided you keep your speed below about 15 mph. It comes with both handlebar and helmet mounts and runs on 2 AA batteries. It appears just as bright with rechargeables as with alkalines.

All in all, the Blaze is an impressive little light, given its low price. For light that rivals a car's headlights, you'll still need to spend well over $100, but the Blaze proves that advanced LED technology is starting to trickle down into the really cheap lights, and that's a good thing. Even a year ago, it would have been impossible to find an LED light this bright for less than $50. Highly recommended for those on a budget or as an addition to a brighter light with a wider flood beam.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Planet Bike Blaze 1/2-Watt LED Bicycle Light with Helmet and QuickCam Mounts

Product Description:
The Blaze 1/2 Watt LED Bike Light from Planet Bike lights up the night at an affordable price with a Nichia 1/2-watt LED bulb that's several times brighter than a standard white LED bulb. Ideal for commuters and regular night riders, the Blaze helps you see clearly at night while alerting drivers and other cyclists to your presence. This lightweight and efficient light uses just two AA batteries, reducing bulk and expense, and has up to 100 hours of battery life.
Noted for its sturdy construction, compact design, strong light beam, and long life battery operation, the Blaze is a favorite of commuters and frequent riders. Equipped with a Quick Cam bracket mount as well as a helmet mount, the light installs, adjusts, or comes off in seconds without tools, making it a breeze to hop on your bike at a moment's notice.
While the Blaze LED Light offers plenty of light to illuminate the road and alert cars and other riders of your presence as a stand alone, its compact design and helmet mount make it an ideal companion to other lighting devices. Designed to fit 25.4 to 31.8 millimeter handlebars, the Blaze offers both flashing and steady modes with a strong beam that is just as bright with rechargeable batteries as with alkalines. The Blaze is a well-constructed, practical light offered at a great price and backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
Specifications:

Nichia half-watt Blaze LED
QuickCam bracket mount
Helmet mount
Mounts adjust or remove without tools
Fits: 25.4 to 31.8 millimeter handlebars
Modes: Flashing and steady
Runtime: Up to 100 hours
Batteries: Two AA

What's in the Box?
Planet Bike Blaze 1/2-Watt Blaze LED Bicycle Light, helmet mount, QuickCam mount, two AA batteries
Manufacturer Warranty
Limited lifetime
About Planet Bike
In November 1996, Planet Bike was founded in Madison, WI. In many ways, Planet Bike began as a social experiment that dedicated itself to doing business in a different way. Instead of being just another company that develops and sells products with profit as its end goal, Planet Bike wanted to help bring about positive change for people, their communities, and the environment.
Despite being a simple machine, the people at Planet Bike have always believed that the bicycle has great potential to help improve the world and the lives of the people in it. From the start, they have embraced an alternative corporate purpose which seeks to help get more people on bicycles by making communities friendlier places for the self-propelled. By donating 25% of company profits to causes that promote and facilitate bicycle usage, Planet Bike hopes to make an impact.
Social experiments aside, Planet Bike was born from the heart of a cyclist with a goal of making innovative, high-quality, and practical bicycle accessories. Simply put, the company strives to design and develop the best bicycle products in the world. In the company's short 10-year history, it has made important product innovations within the bicycle industry. Advancements include the four-line computer which is now a standard in the industry and the world's first self-contained HID light. Not bad for a company that 10 years ago started as a one-man operation. Today, while still a small company, Planet Bike continues to evolve and improve its product line with the goal of always striving to build accessories that make it easier for people to ride their bikes. Since 1996, Planet Bike's financial support of the grassroots bicycle movement has totaled $500,000. By 2010, they have made a goal to donate $1 million to organizations that are dedicated to making America a friendlier place for cyclists.

Get 14% OFF

Want to buy Planet Bike Blaze 1/2-Watt LED Bicycle Light with Helmet and QuickCam Mounts at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below: