Just a few years ago, HID lights were the rage and every manufacturer was out of contention if they didn’t have at least one in their line.  After four days at Interbike I haven’t seen a single HID system on display.  Just a year or two ago I was all the rage with my LED lights putting out 500 lumen on the bar and 180 on my helmet.  Wow have times changed, as a matter of fact I don’t see any segment in the bicycling industry that has changed so much and my measly 680 lumen total light can be beaten by one mid-range system.

LED systems have really jumped to the front of the class with several manufacturers producing systems with 3000+ lumen.   Niterider has joined Lupine in producing super high powered systems that can accommodate everything from mountain biking to motorsports in one powerful unit.  Many other manufactures are producing 1500-1600 lumen units and many of the commuter segment systems have suddenly eclipsed many top end systems from just a couple of years ago.  Everywhere you go a Interbike there are blindingly powerful systems that can burn for several hours and aren’t terribly heavy.

Some of the top end systems at the show:

• Lupine Betty 12 puts out 2600 lumen
• Niterider Pro 3000 LED puts out 3000 lumen
• Cateye Sumo 3 comes in at 1600 lumen
• Serfas True 1500
• Sigma Power LED EVO at 900 Lumen

Even the new mid range systems are putting out 500-750 lumen.  It’s time to go for a night ride and try these systems out.  The prices, power and burn time have never been better.  Stay tuned for our mtbr.com real world test and light shoot-out!

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