After running the piece on the Lupine Piko 3 helmet light the other day, we received a message from a certain very-knowledgeable North Carolinian saying “I was wondering when someone was going to put out something comparable to the amoeba.” Our reaction was “What the Hell is an Amoeba?” Apparently the Amoeba is a super light-weight, super high-output (given the weight…and price), helmet or bar mount light with simple one-switch-operation. The Amoeba lights are built to order by a guy named J. Buthman out in Colorado. The price to weight and lumen ratio is very solid — $220 for a light that weighs 159 grams and puts out 600 lumens. Not bad. It also has a 3.5 hour run-time, uses a non-proprietary battery, and extra 3-hour batteries are just $40 each. The only obvious drawback is that the lead time for a new light is 2-3 weeks.
One Amoeba owner had this to say about its illumination-related prowess:
“It’s super bright…scares cars, causes everyone on the street to suddenly and compulsively make stupid comments.”
For full, very detailed specs, links to MTBR forum threads on the Amoeba, ordering info, video, and a bunch of photos, click more…
Bar mounts are an additional $10
Actual proportions…it’s not large.
It may look like something out of Alien but it also looks light.
Battery mounting option.
And if you really, REALLY require a lot of light.
Three 600 lumen lights mounted side-by-side. This dude must ride around in abandoned mine shafts.
The single lamp, probably adequate for most riders.
Colorado Springs night ride from Jay Buthman on Vimeo.
Amoeba Classified Ad on MTBR
Neck getting tired while night riding?
Does it look like you got a soda can tied to your bars?
Battery pack feel like a brick?
No need to run a huge light head and battery!
Are any of these factors important to you when choosing a light?
1. – Size
2. – Weight
3. – Non proprietary batteries
4. – Customer service
5. – A light that is made by someone who uses their lights on an almost daily basis and knows the importance of reliability and has the same passion for biking.
Amoeba is the smallest, lightest, lowest profile light out there!
You will never know you have a light on (of course, until you switch it on!) Just ask someone who has one, they are out there everywhere.
2x Cree XP-G R5 LED’s – ~600 lumens total output
regulated at 800ma. Single mode – on/off
anodized aluminum housing (matte silver, bright silver, or dark bronze)
Optical grade Lexan front cover, rubber switch cover, Trail Tech connectors, waterproof cable gland
7.4V 2400mAh rechargeable Li-Ion Battery w/ 1.2 amp smart fast charger
Trail Tech jumper cable
~3 1/2 hours runtime – ~3 hour charge time with a total weight of 159 grams
$220 dollars (plus $10 Priority shipping in the USA) for 1 light head, battery, smart charger, charger adaptor cable.
Handle bar mounts for $10.
$40 for extra 3hr batteries.
I can also do 6, 9, 12 hr Li- Ion batteries, and AA battery holders too.
Car charger for $20.
I will stand behind the quality of my lights and will be available for any service that is required. I have been building lights since December ’07. Got Amoeba’s all around the world including Hawaii, Canada, England, Taiwan, Switzerland, a large following in Eugene, Oregon, Germany, Spain, Australia, and too many others to list. Have had multiple customers run Amoeba’s in 24 hour events, including multiple solo races. Let me know if you need any more pictures or information. I am set-up do PayPal transactions.
Here is a link to another thread that some customers have given their feedback on their Amoeba’s – http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=403337
Here is a link to my blog – www.amoebalight.blogspot.com
*******NOTICE****
Due to the overwhelming interest for my Amoeba light as of late, my lead times are currently 2-3 weeks! YIKES, I know, that is crazy! I have a full time job and a family and only build lights on the weekends so my capacity has it limits. I would like to say sorry to all of those MagicShine owners contacting me trying to get a light right away, I feel for you. If you can wait, I can guarantee that the wait will be worth it.
E-mail – JButhman@gmail.com
