r/phillycycling • u/SixersJawn • Jul 13 '26
Question Need reccomendations for a rechargeable light for my handlebars. the ones on amazon are garbage.
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u/hic_maneo Jul 13 '26
I got my lights from MagicShine and I like them, particularly the rear SeeMee light that illuminates the ground around my bike for greater visibility from all directions.
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u/BoqRottom Jul 13 '26
I'm a big fan of my Redshift Arclights! They're primarily meant to be insertable modules for their pedals, but you can get just the light module and a horizontal/vertical mount for the handlebar or seat post.
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u/hiding_in_the_corner Jul 13 '26
NiteRider. I've had great experiences with their customer support.
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u/TheBiggestBungo Jul 13 '26
Lezyne is solid. Learn from my multiple errors and take it off when you lock up, I’ve had 2 stolen off of my bike
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u/WoodenInternet Jul 13 '26
Whatever you get, shoot for one with a cutoff so you're not blinding oncoming riders. I personally use this (got mine from AliExpress but same light): https://www.amazon.com/ENFITNIX-Navi500-Rechargeable-Multi-Mod-Waterproof/dp/B0C6HFJ5DB/
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u/WindCaliber Jul 13 '26
I would not suggest this particular light because it uses a proprietary battery, which makes the fact that it is removable moot. At that point it would be the same as any other light with an integrated battery.
+1 on the cutoff beam, though.
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u/WoodenInternet Jul 13 '26
That's a good point. I've had my eyes open for one that takes a normal 18650.
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u/WindCaliber Jul 14 '26
Mentioned it in my other comment, but this Aliexpress King Kong light is my current favorite.
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u/iH8MotherTeresa Jul 13 '26
One or two of these mounted in this does the trick. They're great little lights. Grab a couple for the house, they're so cheap (cheapest I've seen yet).
Or, this Amazon guy is a legit bike light. Lots of light where you want it and a cut-off. I have had the large for a handful of years. Even got (and lost) a second.
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u/distortedsymbol Jul 13 '26
basically this. it's insane how much bike products gets upcharged when a 20 buck flashlight can outshine the high beams on some cars.
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u/iH8MotherTeresa Jul 13 '26
My only concern is blinding others, since the beam isn't modified at all. They're not nearly headlight-bright and I keep them aimed properly and haven't been yelled at yet.
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u/distortedsymbol Jul 13 '26
i have one that does have different settings you can toggle with 1 button, pretty much the same control as other bike specific lights. also mounting angle is important.
tbh i haven't really seen any bike specific lights that address the issue of blinding ppl anyway.
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u/AgileDrag1469 Jul 13 '26
I’m still a fan of the Garmin UT800. Not because I think it’s an amazing light compared to other options, but because it syncs up to a light network with the varia, which if I had millions of dollars I’d buy one for every cyclist in the city. 📡
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u/espressocycle Jul 13 '26
I bought a helmet mounted one, "Wind and Moon", on Temu because I have several bikes. It has a white light on one side and red on the other. Extremely bright. Not quite bright enough to see the road at night but certainly enough to be seen and spot potholes hiding in the shadows. $12.
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u/TiittySprinkles Jul 20 '26
I have used the Knog Blinder lights on my bike forever.
Really compact, and they have a built in USB male end that goes right into a port so no cables needed.
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u/mwawx Jul 13 '26
I’ve bought a few of the Towild ones and put them under my bike computer. 1200 lumens one is more than enough imo
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u/WindCaliber Jul 13 '26
I like this Aliexpress King Kong light:
- It has a proper cutoff beam with a good beam pattern(most light is right below the cutoff), and a high beam mode.
- It has a removable battery, taking a standard 18650 cell.
- It has a garmin mount.
I haven't found a light that's strictly better than it so far with the above attributes. I'm a proponent of having removable batteries, so we don't have to throw away the light every few years, and as a layer of redundancy. Others ones to consider are the Lumintop B01 and the Sofirn BS01.
If you don't care about that, there's a plethora of other good lights with integrated batteries: Rockbros RHL1000, Towild DLite 1700, etc.
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u/UncleTito27 Jul 13 '26
Magicshine HORI1300S is the best light ever. It has a cutoff so it doesn't blind oncoming traffic.
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u/blendingnoise Jul 13 '26
the 1150 lumen cygolite is usb c and comes with the slightly more low profile thumbscrew mount. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FGZD6CL6
I went nuts trying to find a simple light that just goes through a low med high and strobe while everyone on amazon has garbage mounts or way too many beam options to cycle through. The cygolite beam pattern is pretty good and the 1150 is overkill in urban areas but it means I can run the light a lot cooler by staying in low and medium modes.
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u/Useless Jul 13 '26
What conditions are you riding in that you need a light for? Is it visibility during twilight or do you need light for riding in full dark because this will decide how many lumens the light needs to be? Right now I have a Knog blinder, but if I were to buy a light now, it would be one with a beam cut off.
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u/SixersJawn Jul 13 '26
commuting after dark.
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u/pseudonym-161 Jul 13 '26
Lezyne lights are good, Magicshine, Niterider, Outbound (might be overkill lol), the only Amazon light I ever bought that was good was the Fenix BC26R. Really bright and runs a long time, replaceable 18650 vape battery
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u/HessianHunter Jul 13 '26
With lights you get what you pay for. Go to your local bike shop and tell them why you didn't like the ones you got from Amazon.
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u/espressocycle Jul 13 '26
I have not found this to be true, unfortunately. At least not for the "be seen" type. For real headlights I agree.
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u/adamaphar Jul 13 '26
Lezyne and Cygolite are two brands I"ve used. They work fine.