Lezyne Deca Drive 1500XXL Report

On 21/02/2017 3:24 PM, Joerg wrote:
On 2017-02-21 11:46, jbeattie wrote:
On Monday, February 20, 2017 at 1:18:37 PM UTC-8, Joerg wrote:
On 2017-02-20 12:41, sms wrote:
With all the rain, last week was the first time we were out at
night and I got to see the Lezyne Deca Drive 1500XXL
http://www.lezyne.com/product-led-perf-deca1500xxl.php in
action on my wife's commute bike.

Every time I looked in the mirror I thought that there was a car
behind me. This is because she still had her 1300 lumen 4C light
on her handlebars as well, even though I told her to leave it at
home. The two lights looked about equally bright (The Lezyne
light was measured my a reviewer at 1390 lumens, there is no
independent measurement of the Duracell light, but they probably
don't lie as much as some of the lights coming in from China).

This is really an incredible light for the price (now about $92).
There are very few lights with this level of output, that don't
have fake lumen claims, and that are all-in-one (no separate
battery pack), that are not plastic, and that are less than $100.
We were off of the unlit MUP before it got completely dark, but I
have no doubt that it would been sufficient. I think that I have
finally convinced my wife to give up her 4C 1300 lumen light. C
cells were getting to be more than our electric bill.

On the negative side, the Lezyne light doesn't come on and off as
easily as the 4C 1300 lumen light with my custom mount, and it
does not have an adjustable spot/flood beam. The mount is also
not able to be adjusted for slightly curved handlebars, like the
custom mounts I have made for C and AA diameter flashlights.

https://www.probikekit.com/cycling-a.../11170762.html




10% discount for first order.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBVnyCbVL4g

I get that kind of light from MagicShine clones for around $20
each, one on the road bike and one on the MTB. However, I spread
the beam horizontally with diffusor disks by simply swapping
lenses, something that would be difficult to do on this Lezyne
light.

The big issue with such integrated lights is battery runtime. 2h on
high mode isn't adequate for many riders such as myself. It would
mean no more light for the 2nd half of the ride. So I have larger
central batteries, one is 4x 18650 Li-Ion and the other is 8x. Nice
thing is, then rear lights can be tied in a well.

The other question is battery exhaustion. Unless it's standard
18650 cells they'll probably make you pay beaucoup bucks for new
batteries, hoping you can still get them 5-10 years later.

Oh, regarding plastic, these MagicShine clones are sturdy aluminum.
My MTB had a hard unplanned upside-down landing where the front
light smacked onto the ground with the bike on top of it. Other
than scratches, nada, it was still lit there in the dirt. I was
more banged up than the light.


I don't get the need for a 1,000 real-lumen light on MUPs and roads.
I have to deal with other cyclists who use those kinds of lights on
MUPs/cycletracks, and they're blinding -- and not in just some whiny
way. I can't see where I'm f****** going because someone has a search
light in my face. I yell at these people, although I want to stop and
beat them to the ground. I don't care what people use on single-track
-- assuming it's not a busy single-track -- but on roads, 1300 lumens
with the typical spew (can't say what the Barry Beams is like) is
rude. The only thing worse are the people with high-lumen flashers.


The mistake that most cyclists and manufacturers make is to use a pointy
beam. The beam needs to be broadened horizontally just like car
headlights do that. Unfortunately there are only two ways to accomplish
this.

1. Buy a StVZO light. Very expensive, weak in light output, much too
harsh bright-dark border vertically.

2. Buy a sturdy 1000+ lumen light and an after-market diffusor lens. The
latter costs five bucks and works great.

I chose solution #2.


Another odd problem with high lumen lights is that they are easily
confused with somewhat more distant car lights.


That's just the purpose :-)


What? To have the guy at the intersection think you're a car a block
away an pull out in front of you?

I've been blinded a few times recently with some cyclist coming at me on
a dark bike path with lights like that. Just as rude as the idiots in
cars with their high beams on quiet neighborhood streets.

snip

On 22/02/17 07:39, Duane wrote:
On 21/02/2017 3:24 PM, Joerg wrote:


The mistake that most cyclists and manufacturers make is to use a pointy
beam. The beam needs to be broadened horizontally just like car
headlights do that. Unfortunately there are only two ways to accomplish
this.

1. Buy a StVZO light. Very expensive, weak in light output, much too
harsh bright-dark border vertically.

2. Buy a sturdy 1000+ lumen light and an after-market diffusor lens. The
latter costs five bucks and works great.

I chose solution #2.


Another odd problem with high lumen lights is that they are easily
confused with somewhat more distant car lights.


That's just the purpose :-)


What? To have the guy at the intersection think you're a car a block
away an pull out in front of you?

I've been blinded a few times recently with some cyclist coming at me on
a dark bike path with lights like that. Just as rude as the idiots in
cars with their high beams on quiet neighborhood streets.

snip

With my very expensive, weak and much to harsh bright-dark border
vertically StVZO light, I've been mistaken for someone riding a
motorcycle, more than once.

I can also ride in the middle of a 2 lane road and see past the edge of
the road on both sides.

--
JS

On 2017-02-21 12:39, Duane wrote:
On 21/02/2017 3:24 PM, Joerg wrote:
On 2017-02-21 11:46, jbeattie wrote:

[...]

Another odd problem with high lumen lights is that they are easily
confused with somewhat more distant car lights.


That's just the purpose :-)


What? To have the guy at the intersection think you're a car a block
away an pull out in front of you?


No, the opposite happens. They stop when I am still far away, thinking I
would be there in just a few seconds.


I've been blinded a few times recently with some cyclist coming at me on
a dark bike path with lights like that. Just as rude as the idiots in
cars with their high beams on quiet neighborhood streets.


As I said, I made sure my lights do not blind. It is rather simple.

You set the bicycle into a lane of a long wide driveway or a quiet
residential street. Then a car 50ft or so behind that. Both with the
lights turned on. Now you pedal or drive in the oncoming direction. Then
again from the other direction to watch the rear lights. I want the
"light vision experience" to be about the same. No less and no more.

Ok, my rear lights are a little brighter than on motor vehicles but not
by much. Not as much as a brake light.

I found that I am noticed much earlier this way, the "Sorry, I didn't
see you" situations are greatly diminished and motorists give me more
clearance when passing. Objectives accomplished, I'd say.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

On 2/21/2017 11:46 AM, jbeattie wrote:
On Monday, February 20, 2017 at 1:18:37 PM UTC-8, Joerg wrote:
On 2017-02-20 12:41, sms wrote:
With all the rain, last week was the first time we were out at night and
I got to see the Lezyne Deca Drive 1500XXL
http://www.lezyne.com/product-led-perf-deca1500xxl.php in action on my
wife's commute bike.

Every time I looked in the mirror I thought that there was a car behind
me. This is because she still had her 1300 lumen 4C light on her
handlebars as well, even though I told her to leave it at home. The two
lights looked about equally bright (The Lezyne light was measured my a
reviewer at 1390 lumens, there is no independent measurement of the
Duracell light, but they probably don't lie as much as some of the
lights coming in from China).

This is really an incredible light for the price (now about $92). There
are very few lights with this level of output, that don't have fake
lumen claims, and that are all-in-one (no separate battery pack), that
are not plastic, and that are less than $100. We were off of the unlit
MUP before it got completely dark, but I have no doubt that it would
been sufficient. I think that I have finally convinced my wife to give
up her 4C 1300 lumen light. C cells were getting to be more than our
electric bill.

On the negative side, the Lezyne light doesn't come on and off as easily
as the 4C 1300 lumen light with my custom mount, and it does not have an
adjustable spot/flood beam. The mount is also not able to be adjusted
for slightly curved handlebars, like the custom mounts I have made for C
and AA diameter flashlights.

https://www.probikekit.com/cycling-a.../11170762.html

10% discount for first order.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBVnyCbVL4g

I get that kind of light from MagicShine clones for around $20 each, one
on the road bike and one on the MTB. However, I spread the beam
horizontally with diffusor disks by simply swapping lenses, something
that would be difficult to do on this Lezyne light.

The big issue with such integrated lights is battery runtime. 2h on high
mode isn't adequate for many riders such as myself. It would mean no
more light for the 2nd half of the ride. So I have larger central
batteries, one is 4x 18650 Li-Ion and the other is 8x. Nice thing is,
then rear lights can be tied in a well.

The other question is battery exhaustion. Unless it's standard 18650
cells they'll probably make you pay beaucoup bucks for new batteries,
hoping you can still get them 5-10 years later.

Oh, regarding plastic, these MagicShine clones are sturdy aluminum. My
MTB had a hard unplanned upside-down landing where the front light
smacked onto the ground with the bike on top of it. Other than
scratches, nada, it was still lit there in the dirt. I was more banged
up than the light.


I don't get the need for a 1,000 real-lumen light on MUPs and roads. I have to deal with other cyclists who use those kinds of lights on MUPs/cycletracks, and they're blinding -- and not in just some whiny way. I can't see where I'm f****** going because someone has a search light in my face. I yell at these people, although I want to stop and beat them to the ground. I don't care what people use on single-track -- assuming it's not a busy single-track -- but on roads, 1300 lumens with the typical spew (can't say what the Barry Beams is like) is rude. The only thing worse are the people with high-lumen flashers.

In the PRP (People's Republic of Portland) you may have thousands of
those cyclists. In Silicon Valley only a couple of the MUPs have that issue.

Another odd problem with high lumen lights is that they are easily confused with somewhat more distant car lights. It's hard to explain, but in places, it actually makes the bike less visible to on-coming cyclists and cars. I am convinced that the best light for urban riding is a shaped-beam (not necessarily StVZO) 700-800 lumen for seeing the road and a low-watt flasher -- maybe one watt LED that pulses or has a reasonable, non-seizure inducing flash.

You may be convinced of that, but where is your double-blind study to
prove it?

-- Jay Beattie.

On 2/21/2017 1:14 PM, Joerg wrote:

snip

I found that I am noticed much earlier this way, the "Sorry, I didn't
see you" situations are greatly diminished and motorists give me more
clearance when passing. Objectives accomplished, I'd say.

Agreed. Can we move on to chain lubrication or helmets now?

On Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 3:39:30 PM UTC-5, Duane wrote:
Snipped
I've been blinded a few times recently with some cyclist coming at me on
a dark bike path with lights like that. Just as rude as the idiots in
cars with their high beams on quiet neighborhood streets.

snip

I'd like to shoot the SOBs who have super bright likes at night whether on a rail-trail, MUP, dark country road or whatever; when that light completely blinds you and you have to slam on your brakes lest you ride off the path, road or trail and down a few hundred feet embankment or to avoid whatever other hazard(s) might be there. Again, you have to do that becausethe light has completely blinded you. I've had that happen a number of times when I've come around a corner or something and the approaching bicyclist has a light that's probably visible from Pluto. The only thing worse are the idiots with super bright strobing lights at night where it's really dark and there's very little light pollution from other sources.

Those sort of bicyclists should be charged with being a hazard to all other road users.

Cheers

On 2017-02-21 13:31, sms wrote:
On 2/21/2017 1:14 PM, Joerg wrote:

snip

I found that I am noticed much earlier this way, the "Sorry, I didn't
see you" situations are greatly diminished and motorists give me more
clearance when passing. Objectives accomplished, I'd say.

Agreed. Can we move on to chain lubrication or helmets now?


Or to politics :-)

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

On Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 2:45:44 PM UTC-8, Joerg wrote:
On 2017-02-21 13:31, sms wrote:
On 2/21/2017 1:14 PM, Joerg wrote:

snip

I found that I am noticed much earlier this way, the "Sorry, I didn't
see you" situations are greatly diminished and motorists give me more
clearance when passing. Objectives accomplished, I'd say.

Agreed. Can we move on to chain lubrication or helmets now?


Or to politics :-)

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

DEATH awaits you all

On Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 3:56:02 PM UTC-8, Doug Landau wrote:
On Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 2:45:44 PM UTC-8, Joerg wrote:
On 2017-02-21 13:31, sms wrote:
On 2/21/2017 1:14 PM, Joerg wrote:

snip

I found that I am noticed much earlier this way, the "Sorry, I didn't
see you" situations are greatly diminished and motorists give me more
clearance when passing. Objectives accomplished, I'd say.

Agreed. Can we move on to chain lubrication or helmets now?


Or to politics :-)

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

DEATH awaits you all

We are the Knights Who Say Gangnam Style
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQjGRv5Zy5A

On 2/20/2017 3:41 PM, sms wrote:
With all the rain, last week was the first time we were out at night and
I got to see the Lezyne Deca Drive 1500XXL
http://www.lezyne.com/product-led-perf-deca1500xxl.php in action on my
wife's commute bike.

Every time I looked in the mirror I thought that there was a car behind
me. This is because she still had her 1300 lumen 4C light on her
handlebars as well, even though I told her to leave it at home. The two
lights looked about equally bright (The Lezyne light was measured my a
reviewer at 1390 lumens, there is no independent measurement of the
Duracell light, but they probably don't lie as much as some of the
lights coming in from China).

This is really an incredible light for the price (now about $92). There
are very few lights with this level of output, that don't have fake
lumen claims, and that are all-in-one (no separate battery pack), that
are not plastic, and that are less than $100. We were off of the unlit
MUP before it got completely dark, but I have no doubt that it would
been sufficient. I think that I have finally convinced my wife to give
up her 4C 1300 lumen light. C cells were getting to be more than our
electric bill.

On the negative side, the Lezyne light doesn't come on and off as easily
as the 4C 1300 lumen light with my custom mount, and it does not have an
adjustable spot/flood beam. The mount is also not able to be adjusted
for slightly curved handlebars, like the custom mounts I have made for C
and AA diameter flashlights.

https://www.probikekit.com/cycling-a.../11170762.html

10% discount for first order.

And your commission is how much, again?

--
- Frank Krygowski