Ayup bar (regular kit) $ 380.00

Ayup helmet

Description:

The Ayup ‘regular kit’ is a light system from Australia that features two light heads. Each light head has two bulbs that can be tilted up and down independently. The kit includes two small batteries and a large battery. Aside from the 110 volt charger, a 12 volt car charger is included as well. The whole system comes with a handy neoprene case to transport everything.

While some lights are full-featured, fancy sytems, the Ayup is a no-frills light system. It sticks to the very basics to deliver the most light and battery power possible for the price. Thus for $380, you get two lights, an extra battery and a charger. What you don’t get is a light switch, fancy electronics and a flexible mounting system.

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Knog 605 $399.00

Description:

Then Knog 605 is the high-end light of the Knog line. It features a nicely styled light head with three LEDs. The aluminum and rubber casing is bonded together nicely and the rubber mounting strap is integrated into the light head. The first two LEDs serve the function of lighting up the trail. The third light is good as a map-reading light and has a Flash mode to help the rider become more visible to oncoming traffic.

The switch is external and can be placed near the grips so it can be controlled easily while riding. Each of the three LEDs comes with its own switch that operates independently. Each press toggles each LED through its light modes starting with the medium setting. To turn on full power requires five button presses on the three switches. Turning off requires four.

The battery is long and it mounts on the top tube. This light is for handlebar use only.

As the photos will show, the package is quite attractive and the materials and construction are very good.

Light Meter Readings:

On our light meter readings, it scored a 16. This equals the readings from the Ayup helmet light and the Dinotte 200L.

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NOTE: Click on any photo for a full-sized version.

Bike LED lights have come a long way. They have come from bike tail lights to affordable commuter lights to decent trail riding lights last year. Everything about them was better than halogen or HID except for light brightness. This year though, we heard that they are now brighter than HID. Brighter than HID? This we had to see for ourselves.

What’s so great about LED? Here are some advantages:

- more power efficient

- more durable and impact-resistant

- much longer lifespan

- cheaper to replace

- better light color

- runs cooler

- smaller

- beam pattern is more flexible

- instant on and off

- dimming and flash modes are available

A single LED lamp is not yet brighter than a single HID bulb. But because they are so light and efficient, it is not difficult to put more lamps in the same light head. Three LED bulbs is common. And one of our test lights even uses 7 LEDs for ground-breaking brightness.

New batteries are also helping improve bike lights dramatically. Nicad batteries gave way to NiMh batteries. And now Lithium Ion batteries are all the rage as they deliver better/longer performance in a lighter package.

With the combination of LEDs, lithium batteries, better electronics and chargers, this new crop of lights promises to deliver a much better and safer night riding experience. Do they live up to the promise? Read on and find out.

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