I want to harness the power of a thousand suns...on a budget. Light recommendations?

I've just bought a '25 Orbea Wild and the wife has a newer YT Decoy MX. Winter is coming...and I want to extend our riding time. We ride downhill/singletrack on the West Coast of Canada - lots of narrow, tree runs so I want a light setup so bright it could give me a tan and vaporize bugs that get in my way.

I don't want to spend $820 (CAD) on the Outbound Downhill package or anywhere near that from the likes of Exposure, Lupine, Gloworm or Nightrider. I'd like to hardwire a bar-mounted light to both bikes via the Bosch Gen 5 and Shimano EP8 ports, something putting out 3000+ lumens with a ton of spread - none of that StVZO traffic-safe garbage: I want the whole trail lit up. I'm guessing the light would have to be 8ish volt compatible?

So far, I've only really found the Magicshine MJ-906S - 4000 lumens, 6-12 volt compatible for around $180 CAD (just the light, no battery). The Monteer series would be awesome, but they're battery-pack only.

Alternatively, Aliexpress has lots of the Vastfire / Acrunu type lights (light only for $60, or light with a battery pack for $100) that seem well reviewed, probably comparable to the Magicshine Monteer 5000:

Looking at the Knog compatability site, the Shimano EP8 can put out 12v at 24w, and the Bosch Gen 5 does 12v at 18w, so I'm not sure if the motors would support 3-5000 lumens.

Anyone have any experience hardwiring a high-output bar light to a full-power eMTB recently?

I found this light video from Rob pretty helpful a few years back.


I’ve got one of the ’Amazon Specials’ with the LoL claimed 6000 Lumens and whilst it’s nothing like that it still makes night riding possible for not much money, especially with a better battery Pack.

I’ve settled on the Exposure 6 Pack as my bar light, and a smaller lower lumen helmet mount. Whatever setup I use, I find a bar and helmet light combo is pretty much essential for off-road riding, and you‘ve got a built in backup should one of them stop working.

I‘ve tried all sorts of lights over the decades, one of my favourites is still an old Metal Halide light from Lumicycle, it’s easily 20 years old but is still rocking, even the original NiMH battery.

On my Shimano E8000, I’m limited to 6v and have a Supernova M99 Pure on the front wired into the light output. It has some very bright daytime DRLs, and the output for night riding is actually very good as well.

I‘m looking to put something on my Bosch powered bike as well, but it’s annoying that you have to do a dealer visit to have the light output enabled, I mean why for something so simple?

Amazon or AliExpress.
Flood on the bars and spot on the helmet.

yep, two lights minimum. Price and brand… whatever you’re comfortable. I went with lupine. Yes, mighty expensive, but IMO you get what you pay.

I bought a Monteer 12000 last year before I got an eMTB. Although it is battery pack specific it is REALLY good. I still need a helmet light for spotting on trails.
I don't worry about wiring a light to the bike battery. I managed to find a semi-rigid bottle-type zip tool case to fit the Monteer battery into so it fits snug into a bottle cage without rattling.
Don't get too hung up on connecting the light to the bike battery.

Myrdal said:

I bought a Monteer 12000 last year before I got an eMTB. Although it is battery pack specific it is REALLY good. I still need a helmet light for spotting on trails.
I don't worry about wiring a light to the bike battery. I managed to find a semi-rigid bottle-type zip tool case to fit the Monteer battery into so it fits snug into a bottle cage without rattling.
Don't get too hung up on connecting the light to the bike battery.

Click to expand...

I think you are limited to low power levels for the light and don't get 100% bike battery if you go down the main battery route.
Some stupid EU regs for us on this side of the world.

I had some big and bulky knog with lot’s of lumens and first night ride with a friend who had hardwired Lupine I ordered one for me. And will never ride with anything else. They are worth it. But like others have said, you need helmet light also.

I run exposure 6 pack and a diablo, bloody expensive but really good and mega run times. 12+ hrs on my 6 pack!