Husky 2D 4 watt Cree / Oracle 24W HID Bike Headlight

[Richie086]

Hi folks,

Thought I'd post a great use I've found for two of my flashlights I've been using on my Ezip Mountain Trailz electric bicycle. What prompted this modification was due to how expensive high quality headlights are for a bike. Below is my solution to adding more uses for a quality LED flashlight and a 4200k 24 watt HID flashlight.

My Husky 2D 4 watt Cree, 200 lumen LED flashlight mounted and
ready for action. The flashlight easily snaps off the mount should
the need arise to use the crenellated strike bezel for self defense.
Hopefully that will never happen. The hot spot and spill produced
by this flashlight is excellent for a bicycle.

This is a photo of my 24 watt Oracle HID flashlight mounted.
The shear amount of 4200k light is amazing and basically
makes you as bright as any car on the road. You have to
make sure the light is tilted down sufficiently as to not
blind oncoming cars.

What made this possible was my Wald #40 Black steel
Flashlight Holder for a cost of $2.77 plus shipping. I
purchased it at Niagara Cycle Works, where I purchased
most of my bike accessories from. The direct link to the bracket is,

http://www.niagaracycle.com/product_info.php?products_id=35751

I mounted the bracket to a block of wood in order to raise the mount
high enough off the handlebars so as not to crowd my gauges. I also
used a spade bit underneath the wood and honed out a rounded section
for it to recess into the handlebars for a better fit.

Should anyone decide this is a great lighting solution for themselves and
adds this to their bike, please make sure you cover the contact areas of
your flashlight with electrical tape. If not, the steel fingers will scratch
into the body of the flashlight.

 

[Patriot]

Very nice Richie. I'm glad to see that mount uses metal spring clips to hold the light in place. I first glance I though they were plastic.

Now I just have to figure out how you've mounted that wood to the handle bars. Do I even need a wood block if I don't have a reason to raise the light up?

 

[BVH]

Great mounting idea Ritchie!

How about adhering some very thin, dense foam or thin rubber strips to the holding fingers and cradle to prevent scratching?

By the way, this would have been "on-topic" in my thread.

Just ordered two.

 

[Richie086]

Now I just have to figure out how you've mounted that wood to the handle bars. Do I even need a wood block if I don't have a reason to raise the light up?

Great question. The steel mount comes with a "U" clamp for the handlebar attachment. So you won't need the wood block at all or need to actually raise it up. Although not seen in the photo, I have a "Watts-Up" meter and a labratory grade calibrated temperature meter mounted on the handlebar attachment area to monitor motor temperature. I didn't want either flashlight I've been using to block my view of them. So raising the flashlight mount up higher was simply my solution to this problem.

 

[Richie086]

Great mounting idea Ritchie!

How about adhering some very thin, dense foam or thin rubber strips to the holding fingers and cradle to prevent scratching?

By the way, this would have been "on-topic" in my thread.

Just ordered two.

Thanks Bob :thumbsup: That's a great idea to use thin foam on the fingers. Since I often change out which flashlight I use, depending on my mood, I just assumed the foam would pull off after a while. I'd give it a try, it sounds like a great idea. If you do it, let me know what you use. I like your idea better since you don't have to protect the flashlights themselves from scratches.

 

[BVH]

My wife shops at "Michaels". They have approx. 12" x 12" colored sheets of ultra thin - maybe 1/8" or 3/32" foam'ish rubber. There should not be much give at all but it's plenty to prevent scratches. Hard to tell from their site link but I think these are the one's I remember.

http://www.michaels.com/art/online/displayProductPage?productNum=gc1328&channelid=

 

[Richie086]

My wife shops at "Michaels". They have approx. 12" x 12" colored sheets of ultra thin - maybe 1/8" or 3/32" foam'ish rubber. There should not be much give at all but it's plenty to prevent scratches. Hard to tell from their site link but I think these are the one's I remember.

http://www.michaels.com/art/online/displayProductPage?productNum=gc1328&channelid=

I think I know just the foam you're talking about. I don't think it has a self adhesive backing. I'll go to my local Michael's in the morning and get my hands on some. I'm sure I can come up with a good adhesive to use, perhaps 5 minute epoxy. Thanks.

 

[BVH]

yes, it's not self adheasive. I think I will use a thin layer of silicone. That way, the foam will be removable and replaceable, if needed but held firmly. I always like something that is "un-doable" so in case something better comes along, the device can be modified easily. Silicone holds very well in a thin layer. I usually put a thin layer on both pieces and then mate them instead a layer on only one piece. I have found that it holds better. Buy the black G.E. Silicone so it will match the bracket.

 

[BVH]

Got my brackets. Now that I see them, I also thought about using that liquid plastic dip that hardens such as used to dip handles of pliers and other tools.

 

[33696933]

Hey Richie , where can I get one of those bars thats coming off of your frame with those two shield looking things?