My Nightsun's are dead - after 5 years use and two years being ignored in the cupboard I've discovered that the battery is dead.

Should I buy a new battery (and probably bulb's) for approx £120 or buy lumicycles etc.

What of Cateye stadiums etc?

I've read the reviews, and on mtbr, but the truth is far from clear.

My Nightsuns were excellent - I need 2 hours min with about half of that being on main beam.

Suggestions please.

Give me an 'L', give me a 'U', give me a 'M', give me a 'I', give me .....oh sod it you get the drift.

Lumicycles are outstanding for the dosh, I run 2 x 20w ( one flood , one spot) and that gives me about 2 hours burn. I use the flood all the time and the spot for tricky bits and descents ( 30 mins on /off on the ride).

Top lights.

hehe im not even bothering to answer this thread as its going to become all too obvious why....... www.lumicycle.co.uk

Lumicycles.
No better VFM anywhere.

Sounds like you need a new battery. Or retail therapy. I wouldn't spend 150 on something to leave in a cupboard for 2 years, but then I'm a sarcastic git ;-)

I have just got hold of a cateye white LED light and I think it is fab yeah cool.
Gives off a nice beam and blue light only £22 each get about 4 and you will have loads of light.

er www.strikalite.co.uk will build you a battery for about 20 quid, you dont have to pay silly money for original manufacturers stuff. Bulbs too are cheap, Niterider/cygolite etc use MR11 which are about 3-4 quid each from RS,Maplin etc.

Lumicycles great VFM for high end lites and british made. Niterider excellent but overpriced. Stadium fantastic technology but overpriced and overkill IMHO.

How much you wanna spend, if youre even considering stadiums then I assume ,oney isnt a big problem. The newer SMARTS are good, Supercycles have an adjustable power (12/16/20W) Nicad number for 40 quid, looks as good as a 190 quid Niterider.

Hope you're right about the SMARTs Dave. I've just bought the ones you mentioned from Supercycles as I reckon they are the best deal under £100.

neal, i just bought some as well for my g/f and they look every bit as good as my niteriders, some nice features like the LEDs to light computers, and a quick release bar mount. They use the same bulb, and the actual light unit looks very similar in construction to the NR too.

OK - next question. My nightsuns are a 12 volt system, as are lumicycle (over volted to 13.4). In theory could use a Lumi battery and charger and keep my nightsun lights.

Or maybe I'll try strikalite first.

Many thanks.

Those strikalite people seem pretty helpful. I'm talking to them now about a longer-lasting battery for my BLTs.
[info@strikalite.co.uk]

Lumicycle no contest, mail order only, they're on the web

a shiny new set of fireballs (fireballlights.co.uk) have just arrived on my desk - very similar to lumi's but much much better quality - although they do cost a bit more - the battery case is cnc'd aluminium and the lamps and particularly the connections are far superior to the lumis (which i'm not knocking as there great)not been out yet obviously but i'll post a review as soon as i have - they won a test in whatmtb this month too !

Actually there is a contest.
For £190 you're getting two halogen bulbs which cast a yellowy light.
IMO not very good value for money.
The Cateye Stadium provides entry into the HID market with a very advanced system and it provides a lot of light, more than any Lumicycle.
Cycle express has them for £262.50 incl Vat and delivery. Thats really good value.

And HID's are not overpriced. The cost price on those Lights are quite high because the battery's, bulbs and electronic control circuits are expensive.
With a stadium you swithc it on and leave it for the next 3 hours. Want to see around corners, get teh Cateye EL400 LED light. It's small, light and provides just the spot you need.

If you want a halogen system, get a Lupine. For about £40 more than a Lumi they are far brighter and have a higher build quality

PS: But I would spend the extra on a Stadium.
In performance vs cost ratio it is far better than almost anything out there.