2011 AYUP Lights

AYUPs upgraded:I just got my 2007/2008 Ayup's upgraded and opted for
an optic swap out from Medium to Allrounder 200% increase(arguable increase although the old optic was inefficient)

Bar LightLED upgrade 200%, Power upgrade 40% increase.

This has produced a very noticeable increase in light output and beams pattern.

The old medium light was held back by the medium(2007 flood) lens, a honeycombed lens spread the light out inefficiently robbing precious lumes. The new allrounder (flood) spread the light without robbing lumen output. As stated above this alone upped efficiency by 200%. In comparison to my Cygolight gives far more light (25-30%). In short the beam throws longer and spreads wider.

General thoughtsI like riding with a flood on my bars.This satisfies my peripheral vision whilst looking 30m up the track. The Allrounder beam is EVEN and fades out evenly on the sides. The upgraded Narrow on my helmet takes care of obtacles up the trail. Whilst this sounds ideal it does have a shortfall. Whilst traversing tight trails, hairpins or techy and turny singletrack your bar light can become redundant as it isn't facing the trail your riding. Then if you look down your narrow helmet light becomes too tight effectively creating a 1m diameter hot spot on the ground in front of you. What needs to be remembered is this often happens for split secound only. Offsetting your beams one in front of the other will spread the beam out slightly more (and is my preference) as it helps in this scenario and gives a better foward spread when riding straighter trails.
I honestly think an Intermediate beam combined with the narrow (in the one unit would solve this) but may hinder foward light progression, which is currently awesome.

Headlight
I upgraded my Intermediete lens to a narrow beam. (More of a spot beam)
I had 2007/2008 Ayup's and opted for:LED upgrade 200% increase, Power upgrade 40%

This is a great spot beam, with a very long throw.It is narrow and IMHO will require a flood lens in the foreground. This is where 2 lights excel, thanks AYUP!

Comparison
Compare this to a Topeak HID (600 lumen claimed)where the Ayup throws longer and brighter around 50% brighter!. The HID although a noticeably less bright does give less of a spot and fades out gradually great for just one light and better as the light doesn't dapple as stated above, when riding tight twisty trails. Of course the major let downs are weight a hefty light that you feel on your helmet with an anchor as a battery. This thing is easily 6 times the weight of the complete AYUP kit.

Compared to a Magicshine P7 the Ayup equalls or just betters the light throw by about 15%. The P7 has more of a flood though which is great as your sole light source. These lights have their merits and are great if stack height on your helmet isn't an issue as the light does protrude, being 3 times the height of an AYUP. This of course shouldn't be an issue if you are under 6 foot tall.
The AYUP narrow is truelly narrow but offsetting the lights with the bar light gives great depth and works very well with the wide beam. "Hoarses for courses"

Benefits
The biggest AYUP benefits are low weight (less then a third of lights compared too), much smaller batteries, low stack height, off helmet. Easy helmet mounting (gecko mounts simply un attach from strong velcro feet) . Now with the benefit of very good optics and lumens! These benefits far out way the dappled light when riding twisty trails. Due to the benefits these lights would be a racers choice!

Did I mention a 2 day upgrade,turn around! Wow!
PS There is no way a Magicshine is 900 lumens as claimed, maybe closer to 500-600 lumens.Its hard to tell as the beam has slightly less throw then the narrow AYUP but spreads more.

Hope this helps others thinking of upgrading their optics.