The USE front light
Axis (→that I have)
is officially designed as a light for mounting on top of a helmet
(the "chonmage beam" style), so
it comes with a helmet-mount bracket,
but the handlebar bracket that comes separately
is held on with rubber bands.
With the handlebar bracket, the light tends to
move forward relative to the mount due to riding vibrations
or the tip of the light droops downward,
but as mentioned in the linked article,
if you position the light all the way back relative to the mount,
the drooping stops.
As for the loosening of the clamping force between the light and bracket clip
that occurs with extended use,
I handle that by applying plastic tape to the inside of the bracket.
This bracket is extremely lightweight,
and for a front light rated at 1200 lumens or higher,
I believe the combined weight including the bracket is the lightest available,
which is what I really like about it.
But anyway,
I bought a separate bracket called a "QR Bracket"
that offers superior clamping force.
With the USE front light model called "Joystick"
designed for mounting on top of the handlebar,
this appears to be the standard included item,
and since both the Joystick and Axis
have the same diameter barrel on the body, it works with either.
There are three types available
with compatible handlebar diameters of
25.4–31.8mm, 31.8–35mm, and 35mm only.
According to the image from a Japanese distributor
(though they're just using the manufacturer's image),
only the 31.8–35mm version
comes with the clip portion included,
so that's the one I purchased.
The clip portion can loosen with extended use from friction,
but since it's sold separately, it's replaceable.
35mm diameter is a dimension that exists
as a proprietary standard of Deda for the clamp portion
of their stems and handlebars.
According to the distributor image,
the 25.4–31.8mm version and the 35mm dedicated version
only come with a C-shaped plastic spacer
with a portion of the circle cut out inside the band,
but the 31.8–35mm version only
comes with two semicircular plastic spacers
and additionally a rubber band.
This rubber band is alsounnecessarily detailed in its design,
with the manufacturer logo and size markings embossed in,
and for 31.8mm diameter, there are instructions
to cut here to adjust the length.
For it to be called a "QR Bracket,"
it has a quick-release function.
When you pull this red knob downward,
(there's quite a strong spring inside, so it's stiff)
the clip portion can be removed without tools.
↑Like this
In other words, the quick-release refers to
"being able to remove the clipped light from the mount,"
while the clamping between the band and handlebar
is done with an Allen key bolt.
There's significant tolerance between the clip and mount,
so the clip alone rattles against the mount,
and with the light attached, it moves too much from vibration.
So I decided to add a bolt to hold the clip in place.
↑I checked the diameter of this hole and found it was 6mm,
but while the rear side is reasonably thick,
the front side is thin, and even with M6 1.0mm pitch threads,
I couldn't get enough thread engagement,
so I made a separate M4 bolt hole.
↑State where the clip isn't being pressed
↑State where it's being pressed
It's fine even a bit shallower than this.
Just a gentle push eliminates all play in the clip portion.
Actually, over-tightening is bad.
I applied threadlocker to the threads
and determined the clip clamping force.
I attached the light to the clip.
The one in the image above is an Axis MK8,
and from extended use, not just the clip side but
the body side also shows wear,
so compared to the fresh clip that came with the Axis MK10,
the clamping force was incredibly loose—I was surprised—
(the fresh Axis MK10 is held firmly by that new clip,
so it's definite that the Axis MK8 body side is also worn),
but this clip gripped the worn Axis MK8
quite solidly.
Still, I should probably avoid using it upside down.
The separate bracket attached to the light
is made by REC-MOUNTS
a part that mounts something cylindrical—via cable ties on 3 holes—
to a CatEye light bracket adapter mounted to the back of a cycle computer mount
(in the image above, only the front and rear 2 holes are being used).
The thing being mounted via cable tie can be a cylindrical light
or even a cylindrical mobile battery, etc.
The REC-MOUNTS adapter has the light positioned all the way forward
because if you pull it back, various things interfere.
The tightening torque on the back of the band is listed as
up to 3Nm,
↑without the rubber band (←so we don't need it?).
with this much give, it's sufficiently secured.
So I wanted to achieve a state of "the plastic spacer inside the band is stationary
and doesn't move with riding vibrations,
but you can still move just the band portion by hand
and adjust the light beam angle,"
and this was easily achieved.
If it had been difficult, I was planning to lightly spray silicone spray
between the band and spacer, but that wasn't necessary.
↑It can be raised this much,
↑and lowered this much, though
I wouldn't necessarily do either,
but if I wanted to, I could.
And with this movement, the positional relationship between the handlebar
and the spacer inside the band doesn't change at all.
This band plus spacer set has a list price of ¥4,400 including tax,
and a clip alone is ¥1,320 including tax,
but wouldn't it be better to just use the CatEye-compatible
CatEye genuine H-34 bracket (list price ¥726 including tax)?
Tool-free attachment and detachment: OK.
Light beam adjustment: possible with appropriate clamping.
No drooping from riding vibrations.
Upside-down use: also possible.
And you can use it straight out of the box without any complicated modifications—
this would seem to be the superior option, right?
But you know, statements like that hurt people's feelings.
Axis (→that I have)
is officially designed as a light for mounting on top of a helmet
(the "chonmage beam" style), so
it comes with a helmet-mount bracket,
but the handlebar bracket that comes separately
is held on with rubber bands.
With the handlebar bracket, the light tends to
move forward relative to the mount due to riding vibrations
or the tip of the light droops downward,
but as mentioned in the linked article,
if you position the light all the way back relative to the mount,
the drooping stops.
As for the loosening of the clamping force between the light and bracket clip
that occurs with extended use,
I handle that by applying plastic tape to the inside of the bracket.
This bracket is extremely lightweight,
and for a front light rated at 1200 lumens or higher,
I believe the combined weight including the bracket is the lightest available,
which is what I really like about it.
But anyway,
I bought a separate bracket called a "QR Bracket"
that offers superior clamping force.
With the USE front light model called "Joystick"
designed for mounting on top of the handlebar,
this appears to be the standard included item,
and since both the Joystick and Axis
have the same diameter barrel on the body, it works with either.
There are three types available
with compatible handlebar diameters of
25.4–31.8mm, 31.8–35mm, and 35mm only.
According to the image from a Japanese distributor
(though they're just using the manufacturer's image),
only the 31.8–35mm version
comes with the clip portion included,
so that's the one I purchased.
The clip portion can loosen with extended use from friction,
but since it's sold separately, it's replaceable.
35mm diameter is a dimension that exists
as a proprietary standard of Deda for the clamp portion
of their stems and handlebars.
According to the distributor image,
the 25.4–31.8mm version and the 35mm dedicated version
only come with a C-shaped plastic spacer
with a portion of the circle cut out inside the band,
but the 31.8–35mm version only
comes with two semicircular plastic spacers
and additionally a rubber band.
This rubber band is also
with the manufacturer logo and size markings embossed in,
and for 31.8mm diameter, there are instructions
to cut here to adjust the length.
For it to be called a "QR Bracket,"
it has a quick-release function.
When you pull this red knob downward,
(there's quite a strong spring inside, so it's stiff)
the clip portion can be removed without tools.
↑Like this
In other words, the quick-release refers to
"being able to remove the clipped light from the mount,"
while the clamping between the band and handlebar
is done with an Allen key bolt.
There's significant tolerance between the clip and mount,
so the clip alone rattles against the mount,
and with the light attached, it moves too much from vibration.
So I decided to add a bolt to hold the clip in place.
↑I checked the diameter of this hole and found it was 6mm,
but while the rear side is reasonably thick,
the front side is thin, and even with M6 1.0mm pitch threads,
I couldn't get enough thread engagement,
so I made a separate M4 bolt hole.
↑State where the clip isn't being pressed
↑State where it's being pressed
It's fine even a bit shallower than this.
Just a gentle push eliminates all play in the clip portion.
Actually, over-tightening is bad.
I applied threadlocker to the threads
and determined the clip clamping force.
I attached the light to the clip.
The one in the image above is an Axis MK8,
and from extended use, not just the clip side but
the body side also shows wear,
so compared to the fresh clip that came with the Axis MK10,
the clamping force was incredibly loose—I was surprised—
(the fresh Axis MK10 is held firmly by that new clip,
so it's definite that the Axis MK8 body side is also worn),
but this clip gripped the worn Axis MK8
quite solidly.
Still, I should probably avoid using it upside down.
The separate bracket attached to the light
is made by REC-MOUNTS
a part that mounts something cylindrical—via cable ties on 3 holes—
to a CatEye light bracket adapter mounted to the back of a cycle computer mount
(in the image above, only the front and rear 2 holes are being used).
The thing being mounted via cable tie can be a cylindrical light
or even a cylindrical mobile battery, etc.
The REC-MOUNTS adapter has the light positioned all the way forward
because if you pull it back, various things interfere.
The tightening torque on the back of the band is listed as
up to 3Nm,
↑without the rubber band (←so we don't need it?).
with this much give, it's sufficiently secured.
So I wanted to achieve a state of "the plastic spacer inside the band is stationary
and doesn't move with riding vibrations,
but you can still move just the band portion by hand
and adjust the light beam angle,"
and this was easily achieved.
If it had been difficult, I was planning to lightly spray silicone spray
between the band and spacer, but that wasn't necessary.
↑It can be raised this much,
↑and lowered this much, though
I wouldn't necessarily do either,
but if I wanted to, I could.
And with this movement, the positional relationship between the handlebar
and the spacer inside the band doesn't change at all.
This band plus spacer set has a list price of ¥4,400 including tax,
and a clip alone is ¥1,320 including tax,
but wouldn't it be better to just use the CatEye-compatible
CatEye genuine H-34 bracket (list price ¥726 including tax)?
Tool-free attachment and detachment: OK.
Light beam adjustment: possible with appropriate clamping.
No drooping from riding vibrations.
Upside-down use: also possible.
And you can use it straight out of the box without any complicated modifications—
this would seem to be the superior option, right?
But you know, statements like that hurt people's feelings.