Lights

http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/390833240/7X35pixel-led-car-rear-window-digital-display-with-remote-control-show-English-Russian-Spanish-free-shipping.jpg

Got a Moon rear recently. Had it on for 2 days and been stopped twice already by people asking what it is, and commenting that it's 'blinding'. Apparently that's a good thing, so pretty happy with it!

Have been running a set of these Moon Comets for about 2 months now. Run them mostly on mid constant or high flashing and get a week of commuting and weekend fun times out of them between charges. Yes they are fairly bright, but its the intensity over a larger area (the band of red/white plastic lens) that makes them visible. You get loads of super bright but super flarey LED lights which are totally blinding when your in the direct path of them, but next to bugger all at any other angle, so you get cars pissed off at you + not much side visibility. Whereas these have a very broad viewing angle, probably ~130 degrees.

Unlike every other commuter type light I've had there is no sign of water ingress or corrosion despite the shitty weather.
retail is £60 which I think is about £15 too high IMO, but I paid trade so for that I'm very happy with them.

I've been using the Hope District+ for 2 days now on my commute from Enfield to Oxford Circus and back.
Initial impressions are good. Gripes to be resolved:

1. The mount is a collar around the seatpost. That's your only option. That means you can't use it with a bag on top of a rack. Also my thighs rub the seatpost as it is so having a metal collar around it means it catches my thighs as I pedal. The collar isn't particularly smooth so it can snag the seams on your shorts. Hopefully I can move it down the post a bit and that'll be fixed.
   
2. It's very bright. Running it on full brightness on the road is probably going to dazzle other road users which won't help your cause much.
   
3. I'm still figuring out where to put the battery pack to give nice cable routing.
   
4. At £140 for light, battery and charger it's very expensive.
   
5. It comes with a Y-cable so I can share the battery with my Vision 2 front light but that seems more hassle than simply strapping two battery packs to the bike. The battery pack just has a velcro strap that's really quick and easy to put on and take off. The only reason to use the cable is if you don't fancy splashing out on a second battery.
   
6. Hope only offer a 1 year warranty on lights. Considering the price, 3 years would be better.
   
7. One of the settings on the button cycle is 'off' which seems unnecessary - you can always turn it off with a long press.
   
   

Apart from that I love it. Side visibility is excellent - something often missing with lights using bright LEDs. The mounting system is great - stiff bayonet with a 90 degree twist. Button can be operated whilst riding and a quick glance back will let you know what setting it's on (low, med, high, low-high alternating, blink, low with bright flashes)

Bought a pair of Lezyne Macro / Micro combos - Dr Cake doesn't like having the Hope Vision strapped to her lid so the Macro front with a helmet mount seemed like a less weighty alternative that still packs a punch. It does.

Unfortunately the rear has been killed by water getting in and pooling in the body. Let's see how the CRC warranty returns process works out..

Replacement arrived today - top quality service from CRC there. Impressed.

I used my moon mask for the first time on the ride to work tonight. IT'S SO BRIGHT. I can see reflective signs flashing half a mile away.

I found the moon mask loses it brightness after a year, but that probably my fault in dropping it, so move onto moon 300xp for my brightness! =)

For my rear (no puns please) i also use moon shield, which is probably one of the best city lights i've used and pisses alot of drivers (and cyclist) off! but because of my stupid shape of seatpost i had to mount it on my helmet which mounts and works perfectly! =)

These moon lights look aamazing.
Definitely going to try get some of these. Perfect for this time of year

These moon lights look aamazing.
Definitely going to try get some of these. Perfect for this time of year

+1

I've had my moon shield for a couple of weeks now, no complaints.

and pisses alot of drivers (and cyclist) off!

Why do people always say this as if it's a good thing?

one of the best city lights i've used and pisses alot of drivers (and cyclist) off

Why do people always say this as if it's a good thing?

If everyone behind you has to stop and wait until you've gone because they can't see, you have the road to yourself. What could be safer ?

^^ Trust me, it wasn't my initial intention at all, but somehow the little moon shield seems to produces a lot of light to get the intention of motorist and cyclist, (especially on flashing mode)

If everyone behind you has to stop and wait until you've gone because they can't see, you have the road to yourself. What could be safer ?

These very bright lights do need to be carefully positioned so that they don't blind the road users behind you, you can't just use them as you did an older style light. Why is it stupid to blind drivers behind you? For the same reason that fog lights are not to be used except in fog - if all the driver can see is the light, especially in rain when the water droplets on screen, glasses or visor cause more reflections, then they aren't going to be able to see what you are doing - like braking for example. Yes, they can see you - but so can they if you angle them down a bit.

Yeah, imagine if all motorists went around on full beam and fog-lights all the time, and pedestrians fired lazers into the eyes of oncoming cyclists whenever they wanted to cross.

There was a time when bike lights were so weak that brighter was always better. That time has passed.

Useful blog, with tests and comparisons that make for interesting reading.

Had great service from him too: posted lights for the Dunwich Dynamo 1st class at no extra cost.

I just got this magicshine bundle through this weekend

http://www.magicshine.co.uk/discounted-bundles/budget-mountain-bike-bundle-808.html

Purchased. It definitely seems darker this year, like the street lights have been dimmed conserve energy

I'm glad I had my moonmask last night, most of the street lights on my way home at 11pm were off for some reason, would have been a nightmare with only the Lezyne Femto I used to rely on.

Wiggle replaced my Moon Mark, no questions asked. button had broken.

good traders<<<<<<<<<

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxFognzEw40

~£14 on ebay/dealextreme (not including 18650 batteries and charger)

I wouldn't take too much notice of the 1300 lumens claim, but clearly very bright for the money.

I've read with similar models that the heat dissipation can be poor, killing the LED if on too long. It seems the build quality varies a bit, so you take your chances. I dunno, worth a pop.

^iv got one but the batteries are totally duff after 2 caharges

else its excellent..

Which batteries and charger you got?

Purchased. It definitely seems darker this year, like the street lights have been dimmed conserve energy

the one outside my flat window certainly hasn't been dimmed.