New EOS Bike

[ttoshi]

Finally PrincetonTec has upgraded the EOS. Does anyone have the new one yet, and how does it compare with the old one? The claimed output is twice the old one...

--Also, I am wondering if I bought the non-bike model, if I could use the new lamp with the old bike mounts and use my old bike one for hiking. Anyone have experience here?

Thanks,
Toshi

 

[ttoshi]

As a followup, apparently the new EOS bike comes with a headlamp strap for hiking too! Cool. Also, I'm not sure about the EOS bike, but apparently the EOS for hiking has a frosted front, which I guess diffuses the light some, but I don't know if the Bike version is still clear like before. I'd prefer to have it be clear so that it can throw the light for longer distances.

Now that the bike one comes with the hiking strap, I'm definitely purchasing the bike version.

Toshi

 

[luc]

Thanks for the info!!

Looks like they have merely exchanged the LED. ???
Exterior and mounting options seem the same as a before.
http://princetontec.com/?q=node/110

 

[ttoshi]

I've gotten a hold of the EOS Bike light and it is a tremendous improvement over the previous version.

Anyone with the old version knows that the light beam for the EOS is powerful, but the light does not have much spill. With the new version, the front of the light is frosted, so the beam gets diffused and creates a wider spill. The beam in the hotspot is nearly as bright as the v1 EOS, however, about 4 times the area is illuminated.

One other improvement over the previous version is that when in flashing mode, the rate of flashing has increased. Many people didn't like the slower flash rate of the first generation light.

After some testing on the bike, I think the new EOS is suitable as a primary light as long as you don't go too fast, whereas the first generation was not suitable as a primary, but only as a backup or in well lit city areas (I used it on my helmet.)

Later,
Toshi

 

[sfCyclotourist]

Thanks for the info!!

Looks like they have merely exchanged the LED. ???
Exterior and mounting options seem the same as a before.
http://princetontec.com/?q=node/110

That's not the new version.

PT has come out with a couple of new versions of the EOS:

• The "EOS II Industrial" which is a 2-mode light in a black chemical-resistant housing and intended for hard-hat mounting:http://princetontec.com/?q=node/118
• The "EOS Tactical" which has colored lenses for various uses (e.g. red for night vision) and comes in black, sand, and camo colors
  http://princetontec.com/?q=node/61

The "EOS Bike" that's on the PT website still looks like the original version. Note that the casing says "4 Mode" -- the new version has (from what I've heard) only 2 modes (like the Industrial/Tactical models).

 

[ttoshi]

Actually, the black one pictured is the new version. The greyish one appears to be the old version. The text with the 50 lumens shows that it is the new version (the old one had a 25 lumen output).

The new version has four modes as before, with the flashing mode at a higher repeat rate. The Bike model comes with two handlebar mounts (one regular, one oversized) and one helmet mount with velcro strap and one elastic band for camping etc.

Toshi

That's not the new version.

PT has come out with a couple of new versions of the EOS:

• The "EOS II Industrial" which is a 2-mode light in a black chemical-resistant housing and intended for hard-hat mounting:http://princetontec.com/?q=node/118
• The "EOS Tactical" which has colored lenses for various uses (e.g. red for night vision) and comes in black, sand, and camo colors
  http://princetontec.com/?q=node/61

The "EOS Bike" that's on the PT website still looks like the original version. Note that the casing says "4 Mode" -- the new version has (from what I've heard) only 2 modes (like the Industrial/Tactical models).

 

[Offroad'Bent]

Probably make a hell of a good tail-light if you could sub a red LED in there. A red filter's just not the same.
It wouldn't be ideal stand-alone, but would be visible a good long distance from behind.

 

[greenLED]

One other improvement over the previous version is that when in flashing mode, the rate of flashing has increased. Many people didn't like the slower flash rate of the first generation light.

Cool to know we (collective users) got their attention on changing that.

 

[EdFromOhio]

Other than runtime, what is the advantage of this over a regular Cree LED flashlight? It's only 50 lumens, so some of the Q5 lights on medium would probably be about the same.

Not trying to stir the pot or anything, just curious.

 

[sfCyclotourist]

Actually, the black one pictured is the new version. The greyish one appears to be the old version. The text with the 50 lumens shows that it is the new version (the old one had a 25 lumen output).

The new version has four modes as before, with the flashing mode at a higher repeat rate. The Bike model comes with two handlebar mounts (one regular, one oversized) and one helmet mount with velcro strap and one elastic band for camping etc.

Toshi

OK, I stand corrected. I hadn't noticed that the lumens rating went from 25 to 50. Interestingly, the new EOS Tactical is still rated at 25 lumens, according to the PT website.

What I'd like to know is this -- aside from the different/faster blinking rate, how is the EOS II different from an original EOS modded with an SSC P4? I'm thinking they'd both be about the same brightness...?

 

[ttoshi]

In comparison to the SSC modified EOS, I think the throw of the modded EOS would be greater, but the new EOS has the frosted front which diffuses the beam very wide so that the throw has not increased from the old EOS but the illumination is much wider.

--With respect to the advantages over CREE flashlights, I have an L2D-CE (old bin) and the EOS lights up the road similarly to the L2D-CE on high. However, the hotspot for the L2D-CE lights up the road farther than the EOS.

I still prefer the EOS over flashlights because I have not been happy with any mount. The twofish lockblock works ok, but it can't be oriented left or right only, straight ahead. Also, with the L2D, I have problems when I hit a big bump, the light changes modes from med to high etc.

The EOS in contrast, comes with 2 handlebar mounts, helmet mount, and hiking strap. There's something to be said for bike specific mounts that work really well, as opposed to flashlights, which are still a bit klugy.

I think the EOS is definitely the best bike light under $50 now.

Toshi

 

[greenLED]

In comparison to the SSC modified EOS, I think the throw of the modded EOS would be greater...

That totally depends on the opticalware you plop in there when you mod it. I have an Eos with a stippled Khatod reflector that has one of the smoothest beams I've used - great reading light.