I (too) am one of you now...

[neatbik]

I must have been a good boy last year because Santa bought me a bike for Christmas, it's the first i've ridden since i was a lanky teenager 20 odd years ago...

Anyway, its a Carrera Kraken, ended up costing well below list price as Halfords damaged the first one, knocked some money off and the replaced it with the 2015 model anyway.

I've heard these are decent bikes for the money, and it will certainly do me for trips up the Malvern hills and pootling out with the kids.

Anyway, i need some lights as i'll also be using it for the 2 mile commute to and from work. I've sourced a cheap front one from Ebay (a Cree torch with a mount), but i'm after a rear one now.

What does the BCF crew reccomend?
Cheers

[Ste]

https://i.imgur.com/uw0Itx2.png

[neatbik]

That thread is just about front light's though isn't it?
(Wanders off to re-read the thread again..)
Edit - My bad, i've read through it again (properly).

The District looks mega, but i don't want to pay out £80 for one.
I've seen the Knog Blinders - They any good for about £20 or so?

[G]

Ste's linked one seems to be a similar power to a £10 torch.
May be a bit brighter, but doubt it'd justify the price personally.

Saying that, seems the lumens are pretty respectable for a rear light.

In tesco earlier looking at the 1w light they had for a tenner, it got me to wondering about adding a generic T6 light to a red reflector - either through it or directed into it. Should get much brightness for not too much money. Though, possible the reflector could be overwhelmed and show white, etc.

[defblade]

You don't need a heck of a lot of light from the rear.

What you do need is to understand how the eye works -

a flashing light draws the eye, but doesn't allow you to get good positional/vector information

a steady light allows good position and vector info, but is easy to miss, especially when it's travelling in a more-or-less straight line with reference to the viewer (looming)


So, you for decent safety, you need 2 lights - one flashing to draw the eye, and one steady to allow the driver to see where you are, and where and how fast you're heading.
Even cheapy LEDs are fine these days for this job at the back of your bike.

Worth adding a cheap flashing white light to the front as well, IMO; just remember to mount it away from your main light so it's not overwhelmed and lost.
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Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[G]

Yea; on a push bike I've been confused by a group of other riders stopped in the dark with flashing lights - initially actually thought it was red flashing lights from an emergency vehicle!

Ideally you'd go for 3 static lights in a triangle pattern - I've got fairly wide panniers on mine, but most will have more trouble doing this. I'm planning to use some RGB LED string I've got for the purpose.

[Rigga]

I got my front and rear lights off eBay for much cheapness.
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Current bike: Honda CBR 1100xx