Time for a new rear light

[annirak]

My rear light went missing a while ago, and I don't like riding with just a fibre flare for rear illumination. It's time for a new rear light.

I've been looking at a wide range of lights, looking for something to differentiate one out of a field of largely similar lights. I've decided that there is one feature I'm looking for above all else: a pulse mode. I want a flash, but where the light doesn't turn all the way off between flashes.

I've looked at a lot of lights. Some of the frontrunners are:

• Exposure Blaze
• Exposure TraceR
• Cateye TL-LD650
• Cateye Rapid X2/3
• Light & Motion Vis 180
• Lupine Rotlicht
• See.Sense Icon

One of the frustrating things about this is that I can't seem to find videos of most of these in action

Is there anything to really differentiate these lights (other than price)? Are there any others I should look at?

 

[Joffey]

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-usb-led-double-beam-30-lumen-rear-light/

I have this. You can have one bulb flashing and one constantly on if you wish, they don't flash at the exact same rate too so if you have both flashing one is normally on when the other is off. Battery lasts ages and is 30 lumens so pretty bright. Even better at £16.

 

[summerdays]

I've bought the Volt 50 this year, but I've not used it enough to say what it's like long term. But I when I commute I usually look at other peoples lights and see how far away I can see them, if they only have one plane that they are bright, etc and then stoke up conversations at junctions when I ask them what it is and if they like it. I was convinced to try the volt after seeing a lady on multiple occasions for quite a distance away and not directly behind her.

 

[tincaman]

Knog Blinder 4 rear does pulse, as does the Lezyne Microdrive rear.
Completely different light, but both USB rechargeable.
Knog is 40lumens but more visible over a wider angle, Lezyne is 70lumens, but no so good an angle.

 

[annirak]

Thanks for the suggestions!

Cateye doesn't seem to be selling the volt 50 anymore, so that's probably not going to work for me.

I like the look of the Lezyne unit. I'm not sure how I missed it on that list, since I had been looking at it earlier. I have heard that it has a few quirks, like a charge indicator that isn't visible when plugged into a laptop. Does it come out of the mounting bracket easily? I have seen some concerns about that.

I don't really like the Knog lineup. I find that so frequently, the quality of a light comes down to lenses and reflectors, rather than lumens, and Knog doesn't use lenses or reflectors. My SO has a Knog blinder front light, and I find the charge port really finicky.

 

[Spike on a bike]

I have lezyne front and rear and have no troubles removing or charging

Mounting on the seat post tho does limit the angle

So far tho so good and lasts me on one charge a weeks commutes of 20 or so mins each way

 

[flake99please]

I use (and love) my Exposure Tracer. Hardly any difference between that and the Blaze (in terms of brightness), and almost half the price. If its any help I can do a short video with it alongside a couple of Cateye X's for you when its dark.

 

[annirak]

I use (and love) my Exposure Tracer. Hardly any difference between that and the Blaze (in terms of brightness), and almost half the price. If its any help I can do a short video with it alongside a couple of Cateye X's for you when its dark.

Would you mind? That'd be really helpful!

 

[flake99please]

http://s16.photobucket.com/user/fla...B-4725-9D97-C4E0C9E597FD_zps2dd1obvp.mp4.html

Lowest brightness setting on the TraceR. The Cateye X are on both seat stays (flashing). Video was taken from approx 10 yards behind bike.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

I've bought the Volt 50 this year, but I've not used it enough to say what it's like long term. But I when I commute I usually look at other peoples lights and see how far away I can see them, if they only have one plane that they are bright, etc and then stoke up conversations at junctions when I ask them what it is and if they like it. I was convinced to try the volt after seeing a lady on multiple occasions for quite a distance away and not directly behind her.

I can vouch for the volt 50 longer term, it is a superb light very robust, long lasting battery, survives downpours and really cold mornings and nights and has the advantage of a combined steady & flash together mode so if you only want one light (??) This can do both functions for you.

I'm not a lover of the saddle rail mount it comes with, a couple of quid at Evans etc gets a seatpost mounting bracket that is a far better and more solid alternative & allows for a saddle pack too.

OP. If you don't fancy that and have a rack or bracket that a rack fitting light would go on I would suggest the RSP Tourlite, bit of a big unit with a good size integrated reflector, also has both steady and flashing LED's that can run simultaneously. It is fearsomely bright for well under £20, works on AA batteries too.

 

[tincaman]

Comes up as video "renamed or deleted", are your albums private?

 

[tincaman]

http://s16.photobucket.com/user/flake99please/media/Mobile Uploads/D318351C-5FAB-4725-9D97-C4E0C9E597FD_zps2dd1obvp.mp4.html?sort=3&o=0

Lowest brightness setting on the TraceR. The Cateye X are on both seat stays (flashing). Video was taken from approx 10 yards behind bike.

I have a Cateye X, was never impressed with the light level output, but now have two Raypal RPL2263, less than £12 the pair direct from China, look to be about twice as bright as the Cateye

 

[annirak]

@flake99please That's impressive! I think I will go for the Trace R.

 

[flake99please]

Comes up as video "renamed or deleted", are your albums private?

Please let me know if this is working now?

 

[flake99please]

I will try to remember to take another video from the handlebars looking back before I head off to work tomorrow morning.