Lights

Anyone have any experience buying replacement higher capacity batteries for the microdrive? LR123a batteries. Would the light still be able to charge them via its usb with the higher mAh capacity?

So my commute this morning highlight two things. The roads I use are poorly lit and there are a lot of parked cars, forcing drivers to edge out between them to see if the coast is clear.
So I'm after a helmet light to accompany my illuminated bicycle for over the parked car visibility. Any recommendations? Are these £15 Cree led ones on eBay as shit as I imagine they are? (Based solely on the cost)

i run a silva head torch on my helmet, dead easy to zip tie and it rotates around 180 degrees too, as it has 2 very bright front lights (with flash) as well as a red (in case my bike rear light fails mid ride) , hence the rotate being a good idea - it has just 1 huge button which is easy for gloves and it runs of 3 aaa batteries - i use rechargables - although the model up uses lith ion, usb rechargeable - superb front light range on them, and very very lightweight!

Just bought a Moon LX760 front light and OH JESUS CHRIST MY FUCKING RETINAS

@Pete4Eyes We sell these ones in the shop and they are bright and so light you wouldnt notice them... i have them as my main lights infact, but they are designed as helmet lights.

I used to use the front one from here: http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/LIJOARC/jobsworth-arcturus-lightset on my specialized helmet but it doesn't fit my new giro one. Edit: I should add it's not wildly bright but seems to do the trick on flashing mode.

And I still use this back one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271888087397?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT which is actually pretty good. I've bought cheaper ebay moon knock offs and they are truly shite, but this one seems ok. So long as your commute isn't longer than about 3 hours, the flashing mode should work fine plus you can charge them up off your computer (if you use one at work).

PS that Ebay moon knock off will take forever to get to you. 6weeks-2months.

I'll stay away from those based on the link you provided. Haha.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Will check em all out.

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I had those Specialized stix lights. By far the smallest lights ever, yet plenty bright to be seen (but not see on country lanes). Only downside was that the battery is also the smallest ever: charges in 20 mins, discharges in...about the same? I lost both of them somewhere before I could return them to Evans for "repair"...

My £90 exposure blaze has died. It simply turns its self off after a while.

It's 3 years old. Is that fair use? I'd expect a £90 light to last longer.

Exposure said they'd repair it at cost, but I think that's shitty.

Not hugely impressed with my exposure lights either. Front joystick started turning itself on randomly and wouldn't turn off and my rear tracer did the same. Don't think their weather/water sealing is all that tbh.

Has anyone ever seen these lights ?

Sanguan

yes each and every one of them on aliexpress

I've got a xeccon guinea 1.
Far too much cable, though im trying to fix that, and it only came with a battery pack that gives 1 hour of light.
However, if you can solder and wrap cable, and get a heftier pack, the light is bonkers.

I would recommend for lanes, not for city.

How much are they asking for?

Assuming it's the battery on its way out, it should give you a minimum of 500 recharge cycles. About 5 years or so with heavy use?

@Tonts this Light and Motion Urban 650 might fit the bill at £50. Apparently they originally made dive lights (and still do) so the quality will be solid. I've been happy with my 300 model.

Not the battery though, as if I turn it back on (after it turned itself off) it'll stay on for a good while again.

They didn't specify a price for repair. So I replied asking if it was free.

Is this bad or good (assuming bad)? Need something half decent for winter mountain bike action but I'm a touch skint, was hoping this would fit the bill!

absolutely fine .. just buy directly from aliexpress.

Wiggle not interested as warranty expired. Told me to contact manufacturer. As not their problem.
Standard fob off the idiot consumer bullshit.

I've sent my exposures back couple of times to fix little faults, one was a dodgy switch that did random things, once for a dud led (probably a faulty connection) and I got them sent back really quickly. The one that I paid for (the switch, 4 year old light) cost £13 including postage.
I also broke the bar mounting bracket, emailed them, and a new one arrived in the post two days later.I'm impressed and would buy again.

Maybe I'm being overly harsh - but is there anyone out there who hasn't had to send an exposure back for something or other over extended use? I'd love to buy some but the number of refund and repair stories out there seem to be off the charts in comparison to other brands? Bloke in my office seems to be permanently on rotation between Evans and the Post Office with his - apparently Evans told him they were the 'most returned' items they stock. :(

Cheers for that. I'll have to look at runtimes. I've wondered about getting something a bit more powerful and running it at the 600/700lm level for a bit longer. Got a 1hr30-1hr50 commute and don't really want to be recharging every day.

Try and get any other type of light fixed. I used to use lupines. They were a complete nightmare and are sitting in my shed completely useless. Exposures are so much better, my oldest one is now 6 years old. They get a lot of off the bike use too. Two repairs in all that time is pretty reasonable.

As much of a pain as it is to have a light break, I'm a fan of companies that will fix their own products. Better than having a light break and having to ditch it. I had some cheap Izone light go all flickery on me after dropping it lightly and Tredz (who I think manufacture it) wouldn't do anything.