Front bike light suggestions - small in size but not lumens!

[Time Waster]

I am wondering if there is a small in size but high enough in lumens front light, say about 500 lumens. It is for commuting on a brompton but when not used I want to fit it inside a tiny frame bag that goes into the triangle. This is about 9.5cm x about 13cm and 5 cm deep triangular bag.

I will probably leave the rear laserlight on the bike but if possible might try to fit both lights in there. Or might look for a 100 ish lumens rear light that is smaller to fit in as well.

Basically I want to carry them as an emergency light but might just end up using them all the time and store the lights in there when folded and locked up at work. So am looking for ideas. I am not up on lights. Assume cateye are alright still??

PS don't go to the "carry it with you" place as that is not possible for all cases and it is not in mine. I have to lock it in a secure place outside for some very obvious reasons if you worked where I do.

 

[fossyant]

For commuting, I can recommend a few from the likes of Ali Express that use a dipped beam - the LED is housed in the upper part of the light, and you get an excellent cut off. Brightness upto 1,000 lumens so OK to see by off road, and you won't blind other path users.

I've had mine maybe 2 years now and it's been really good. USB C rechargeable.

Here is a Rock Bros type from Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ROCKBROS-R...&sprefix=rock+bros+bike+light,aps,100&sr=8-15

 

[Alex321]

I am wondering if there is a small in size but high enough in lumens front light, say about 500 lumens. It is for commuting on a brompton but when not used I want to fit it inside a tiny frame bag that goes into the triangle. This is about 9.5cm x about 13cm and 5 cm deep triangular bag.

There are a lot of modern lights which will fit in that size bag.

I have this one https://www.ravemen.com/product/PR1600.html

Much more powerful than you need (and probably more expensive than you want), but it would still fit your bag, at 10 x 4.8 x 2.7 cm.

Most of the cateye or Lezyne ones would fit, and are pretty decent lights.

 

[DCLane]

I use a Cateye Ampp - 500 / 800 / 900. The 900 is USB-C powered, the others micro-USB. I've also got an 1100 but it's larger.

They have decent battery life and a side section which helps with side visibility.

 

[vickster]

Not sure if powerful enough but I use a Moon light (Meteor pro?) which is small and slips off the bracket which stays on the bike. Plenty of drivers have complained it's too bright (yeah whatevs)

600 lumens apparently (you can probably buy without the rear too)
https://www.jejamescycles.com/product/49009/moon-moon-meteor-x-pro-comet-x-light-set/option/?gQT=2

 

[PaulSB]

I don't know why you specify 500 lumens, that's a lack of knowledge on my part. For a light that will give you good illumination on unlit roads and, in flash mode, make you very visible in an urban environment I would recommend Exposure Trace. Only 125 lumens though.

https://www.exposurelights.com/products/trace-mk3-daybright-gun-metal-black

 

[multitool]

OLight 1500s. Shop around for it. It's rebranded Magicshine Allty 1500. Internal battery, USBC, seems robust and switch is decent.

Never sure about expensive brands like Exposure, because unless you can replace the lithium cell after....ooh...say 500 cycles, it's essentially disposable. If it's daily use, that isn't long. If money is no object, however, then they are beautifully made and functionally excellent

 

[multitool]

Here you go:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/OLIGHT-Rec...pcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A2OFA1XF02N0K1

EDIT:


Just realised the Olight is the same as the standard Allty 1500.

The 1500s comes with a remote AND a swappable battery, which makes it usable for long night rides

 

[PaulSB]

OLight 1500s. Shop around for it. It's rebranded Magicshine Allty 1500. Internal battery, USBC, seems robust and switch is decent.

Never sure about expensive brands like Exposure, because unless you can replace the lithium cell after....ooh...say 500 cycles, it's essentially disposable. If it's daily use, that isn't long. If money is no object, however, then they are beautifully made and functionally excellent

I understand what you say but I'm not sure its accurate. The OP is looking for a backup light. My Trace has a run time of +/- 8 hours. So:

£55 cost with 500 cycles = 11p per cycle
8 hours per cycle = 1.4p per hour

Hardly expensive for a backup. For daily use, say 2 hours, that could last around 2000 days.

I have a Lezyne purchased in 2011. One replacement battery in 13 years.

 

[multitool]

Fair points, and also it is true that I never really run a light into the ground because lighting technology moved so quickly year on year from the late 00s to about 2020, that I invariably wanted something new and shiny before the old one had fully karked it.

Not sure about now though. I think the progress is in smaller increments.

But...a light like the Exposure Strada is £300. Batteries degrade rather than fail. Run times get shorter. I'd prefer it if it was repairable

 

[cyberknight]

Not sure if powerful enough but I use a Moon light (Meteor pro?) which is small and slips off the bracket which stays on the bike. Plenty of drivers have complained it's too bright (yeah whatevs)

600 lumens apparently (you can probably buy without the rear too)
https://www.jejamescycles.com/product/49009/moon-moon-meteor-x-pro-comet-x-light-set/option/?gQT=2

I use 2 of them and can just about commute on my unlit country lane sections at road bike speeds and see enough .

 

[HLaB]

This is a great site for comparing lights https://road.cc/content/feature/roadcc-front-bike-lights-beam-test-310999

When I was looking for something small and bright I settled on the Niterider Swift 500

https://road.cc/content/review/252199-niterider-swift-500-front-light

I used to use two of them (actually the older Swift 450 & the 500) for commuting on the Cambridge Busway cycle path. I needed more beef for a rural commute to allow me to commute at a reasonable speed and I've just bought a

Lezyne Micro Drive 800+​

https://www.220triathlon.com/gear/b...hts/lezyne-micro-drive-800-front-light-review

 

[Time Waster]

I have the PR1600 from Raveman and my request is because this won't fit in the bag I need it to fit. The longest side of the bssg is 13cm so I think some of the options are too big.

I have seen a 400 and a 500 lumens lezyne front lights and the 400 lumens one I can be certain would fit and allow a lezyne laserlite in there too I think just. Not had a front lighjt that low lumens for a long time now though. 400 mini drive light with a femto rear or a 400xl with femto rear for £45 or £50.

My commute is actually well lit. I use my Raveman PR1600 on the lowest light setting in flash mode and TBH most light comes from street lighting on my route. That was the opposite of the commute I had when I bought it. That one had one bad section with potholes so deeep you actually drive down into them and up out of them again. So do thee bulk carrier trucks from the building works on the estate!! That was on a stretch of road without any lighting at all. With rain the pothole surface of gravel moved like silt in a tidal estuary so you needed a good light to see where the path through was. not joking at all!! I reckon. So I use my Raveman on 400 lumens so perhaps the lezyne might suit my use

I do like the dipped lens on the raveman though.half the size and it would be good!!

 

[hobo]

Moon Vortex 1000 lm

 

[Alex321]

I have the PR1600 from Raveman and my request is because this won't fit in the bag I need it to fit. The longest side of the bssg is 13cm so I think some of the options are too big.

In that case, the dimensions you gave for the bag must be wrong are wrong.

I just measured my PR1600, rather than taking the dimensions from their official spec as I did yesterday, and it is 100x47x265 (10cm x 4.7 x 2.6), which should easily fit in a 13x9.5cm bag, even if it is triangular.

I have seen a 400 and a 500 lumens lezyne front lights and the 400 lumens one I can be certain would fit and allow a lezyne laserlite in there too I think just. Not had a front lighjt that low lumens for a long time now though. 400 mini drive light with a femto rear or a 400xl with femto rear for £45 or £50.

My commute is actually well lit. I use my Raveman PR1600 on the lowest light setting in flash mode and TBH most light comes from street lighting on my route. That was the opposite of the commute I had when I bought it. That one had one bad section with potholes so deeep you actually drive down into them and up out of them again. So do thee bulk carrier trucks from the building works on the estate!! That was on a stretch of road without any lighting at all. With rain the pothole surface of gravel moved like silt in a tidal estuary so you needed a good light to see where the path through was. not joking at all!! I reckon. So I use my Raveman on 400 lumens so perhaps the lezyne might suit my use

I do like the dipped lens on the raveman though.half the size and it would be good!!

I usually use mine on the dipped setting except on the roads which I know have potholes, or minor roads which I don't know well.