When comparing Cycle Torch Shark 500 vs Cygolite Expilion 850, the Slant community recommends Cygolite Expilion 850 for most people. In the question“What are the best bike headlights?” Cygolite Expilion 850 is ranked 1st while Cycle Torch Shark 500 is ranked 2nd. The most important reason people chose Cygolite Expilion 850 is:
For commutes longer than 30 minutes you can get more battery life out of it by running it on a lower setting- the Expilion will run for 3 hours on the 425 lumens setting. If you like to always have a full battery, the Expilion has a swappable 3.7-volt lithium-ion battery, though you'll have to purchase the spare separately.
Specs
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Pros
Pro A great budget option
The Cycle Torch 500 is very bright for the price, and it comes with a tail light (also rechargeable for the new model). The front light reaches far (illuminates street signs up to 4 blocks away), and illuminates the path in a wide angle.
Pro Illuminates the road very well at night
The Cycle Torch is so bright that you might even be concerned about blinding passing pedestrians. It emits 500 lumens on the highest setting. The beam is well angled, so that you can both see in front and to the sides as you're riding, Letting light out on the sides also lets drivers see you better.
Pro Can be used to increase visibility during the day
The Cycle Torch has a flash/daylight mode, which is useful for increasing visibility during the day. The light emits 500 lumens on the flash setting, which makes it so bright that it almost feels like a strobe light.
Pro Excellent customer service
The customer service are Cycle Torch are very forthcoming and friendly. In case of any problems, they do usually send replacements and help in any way they can to ensure that every customer is satisfied.
Pro Fits handlebars of any thickness
This light comes with 3 rubber mounts in different sizes, to ensure it fits handlebars of any thickness, and even claims to fit the thick Aero bars.
Pro Designed for battery longevity
This headlight has a smart charge feature, which keeps the battery from overcharging by automatically cutting off the charge when the battery is full.
Pro Excellent for long rides
For commutes longer than 30 minutes you can get more battery life out of it by running it on a lower setting- the Expilion will run for 3 hours on the 425 lumens setting.
If you like to always have a full battery, the Expilion has a swappable 3.7-volt lithium-ion battery, though you'll have to purchase the spare separately.
Pro Great for darker rides
The Cygolite Expilion 850 is one of the brightest light for the price. The highest setting emits 850 lumens of light which is great for roads with no lighting at all like in rural areas or off-road trails. Even on the lower setting it's still bright enough for non-illuminated bike paths.
Pro Has a handy mount that won't require you to re-aim the light each time
The mount on the Expilion 850 clips around the handlebar, and then you slide on the light itself on the stationary mount. That means, you only have to aim the light in the direction of your choice once, and it will maintain it's direction when you come back to it.
Pro Good battery life
On the highest setting (850 lumens) the battery will last for 1.5 hours, and on the flash setting for 22 hours. This is more than enough to get you through the week on one charge.
Cons
Con Mounting can be tricky
The rubber mounts are basically straps that hook around the handlebar and hold the headlight in place like a band would. This allows the light to slide forward or backward, especially on bumpy roads. Sometimes, the rubber mount can break, but you can get replacements from their website.
Con The mount may be too small for your handlebar
It's supposed to fit all handlebars, but there have been cases where the screw holds it together by just a few links. Be careful if you have an extra thick handlebar.