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Old 04-25-2013, 11:54 PM
jgas jgas is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 147
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Those Cree lights are getting better all the time. I have a 1500 lumen rechargeable hunting tactical flashlight that is easily good enough to tape on the bars and do medium-fast singletrack on, even do 55 on the highway. Only lasts 1.5 hrs per charge though. www.cheaperthandirt.com has some seemingly good deals on rechargeable flashlights, up to 1700 lumens for under 100.00, some with 1 yr warranties. I really think that one flood and one spot flashlight, 1700 lumens each, would be pretty good, maybe even good enough for the highway at 45mph or so. Not cheap, but real easy. Flashlights and duct tape like we did when I was 13. Back then I rode 70 down the highway like that! But I also had night vision back then, and carried my balls around in a wheelbarrow, my brains in a thimble.

For a cheap easy more permenant setup on a dirt bike, here's a couple easy solutions for 1.5-3 hrs of light: Buy a deep cycle, rechargeable battery for kids toys such as those kids 3 wheelers and battery powered tricycles. 50-75.00 depending on size at WalMart or such, or online for less. It acts as a rectifier/ballast and power scource. They are about half the size and weight of a small bike battery and the important part is rechargeable. You can easily tie strap it inside the air filter box, or around the frame and to the left side panel (if you don't mind drilling a couple holes for HD zip ties). It will power one 35 watt HID for about 1.5 hrs give or take. When it starts to dim, shut it off or you'll burn out the HID bulb. Your 2k2 will power one 35 watt HID pretty well at full brightness, but you will need a rectifier/ballast unless the HID has it already. For fast single or two track riding I seem to need 2 lights. One spot shining far out, and one flood up close. My 2k2 would not really power 70 watts of HID. I burned out a couple bulbs finding that out. It looked bright at higher rpms, but dimmed at low rpms. For a race it may have worked, but not with the regular stop and go of trail riding, then hauling, etc.

I've heard that LEDs are not so easy to burn out with no ballast so might be better for direct wiring to a dirt bike without a battery? They are slightly less efficient than HID though.

I am going to next try a 50 watt HID with ballast, off of the 2k2 which it should handle, a 35 watt LED or HID off of the rechargeable battery, and carry the big flashlight for backup. I also usually carry one 250 lumen plastic cheaper (30.00), flashlight if all else fails. But I'm a little paranoid since having to walk out of Brock Creek and leave my bike overnight when 2 light scources failed. That 250 lumen flashlight will get me home at slow speeds, it sucks but it works. That night at BC the flashlight bulb had gotten busted in my fanny pack, it was light scource # 3, so actually 3 failed.

I should have my GG set up as listed above for a DS ride later next month, I'll let ya'll know if my redneck engineering works. This time.

For a decent taillight, attach a bicycle LED light to the rear fender. About 10 bucks, and far brighter than the stock EC taillight.
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