Best Rear light
 

  You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more

[Closed] Best Rear light

31 Posts
28 Users
0 Reactions
162 Views
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Looking at getting the Smart Lunar R1
Anyone using one or rec something better>
Cheers guys


 
Posted : 14/06/2011 7:10 pm
Posts: 1369
Free Member
 

Smart superflash is pretty good imo.


 
Posted : 14/06/2011 8:41 pm
Posts: 50252
Free Member
 

I run a Cateye Holy Hand Grenade and a lovley old Vista VL700 on my helmet. Very impressed. One major plus of the Hand Grenade is the side visibility, which I think is about as good as it gets.

The RSP rear (Astrium?) is chuffing bright as a helmet light, though. Well worth a look.


 
Posted : 14/06/2011 8:43 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Blackburn Mars are great rear lights which project some of the light to sides too for extra visibility.


 
Posted : 14/06/2011 8:44 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

+1 for Blackburn Mars or Smart Superflash


 
Posted : 14/06/2011 8:57 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Cherry Bomb has the best beam pattern


 
Posted : 14/06/2011 9:01 pm
Posts: 1099
Free Member
 

I've got the deal extreme rear light. That is in a whole other league.


 
Posted : 14/06/2011 9:34 pm
 Haze
Posts: 5392
Free Member
 

Exposure Flare worth a look?


 
Posted : 14/06/2011 9:39 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I use a couple of these... they are expensive but i don't think you can put a price on being seen!!

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories/lights/back/product/review-fibre-flare-shorty-light-35008/

The attachments are a bit gash, i just cable tied mine on instead.


 
Posted : 14/06/2011 9:41 pm
 Bez
Posts: 7371
Full Member
 

I still rate the Cateye TL-LD600. Bright enough, runs just about forever on AAAs, has useful modes (I use constant if visibility's needed and have it strobing all the time regardless of time and weather), it's cheap, it'll fit directly to certain rear racks, and unlike a hell of a lot of lights (including the newer clamp on the 610) it keeps out of the way of my thighs.


 
Posted : 14/06/2011 9:43 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

The Fibre Flares are a bit "prone to failure"


 
Posted : 14/06/2011 9:44 pm
Posts: 314
Free Member
 

Recently bought an R1 from On-One (£10 - bargain). Not really used it in anger yet, but as expected it's loads brighter than the (still very bright for a back light) old 0.5w version that I've used for the last few years.


 
Posted : 14/06/2011 10:05 pm
Posts: 2
Free Member
 

Cateye TL-LD600. The long thin one. Best rear light ever. Batteries last for ever, it can be seen from a mile off and very waterproof. Had the same one on various commuter bikes now for about 3 years and I commute in all weathers.


 
Posted : 14/06/2011 10:16 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

don't forget reflective stuff as well - its amazing how well it can be seen. anyone want some(freeish) email me - I have loads of self adhesive stuff in a variety of colours.

for lights I have two big cheap led ones on my commuter as i leave them on the bike a lot outside - but they are nice and bright led ones with one flashing and one steady - good side visibility is important as well,

area of the light is important as well as the power


 
Posted : 14/06/2011 10:22 pm
Posts: 9135
Full Member
 

Niterider universal tail light takes some beating.


 
Posted : 14/06/2011 11:14 pm
 OCB
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Another vote for the Blackburn Mars - I've got the '4' for use in back country lanes as it's very *very* bright; out there it's mounted on my helmet to add to the visibility.

It's perhaps even a [i]bit[/i] too bright in town, mounted at near eye-level on the back of the bike, but rather that than get taken from behind on a dark, wet ride home eh? Also useful for deterring vehicles when out running / walking the dog as it clips on 'things' without it's hard-mounting bracket.

I usually [try to] have one of the bigger knog lights with me too, just in case I get caught out by the failing light / trees. They are usefully bright enough, plus they fit pretty much anywhere / are waterproof / have a good battery life.

Evenings'll be drawing in soon !

😉


 
Posted : 15/06/2011 7:01 am
Posts: 0
Full Member
 

like grim above, I use the magicshine light http://www.roughrideguide.co.uk/Magic-Shine-Rear-light-without-battery.html

Suuuuper bright and runs off the front light battery pack as well.


 
Posted : 15/06/2011 9:43 am
Posts: 60
Free Member
 

Fibre Flare attached to backpack all year round with no problems


 
Posted : 15/06/2011 9:48 am
 nbt
Posts: 12381
Full Member
 

+1 for the Holy Hand Grenade (Cateye TL-LD1100)


 
Posted : 15/06/2011 9:55 am
Posts: 6243
Free Member
 

exposure flare - best light ive had by far - expensive but well worth it


 
Posted : 15/06/2011 9:57 am
Posts: 0
Full Member
 

actually a mate has the USE Flash & Flare and they are very tidy (& bright). Perfect for commuting.


 
Posted : 15/06/2011 10:02 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

yea defo fibre flare they have em on crc


 
Posted : 15/06/2011 10:03 am
Posts: 3396
Free Member
 

Another vote for the holy hand grenade. Can't remember how long I've had it for but it's a long time and it's never let me down, and I ride year round.

I daresay you can get brighter nowadays but I've never felt it's not bright enough.


 
Posted : 15/06/2011 10:10 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Another +1 for the Holy Hand Grenade (Cateye TL-LD1100), by 'eck it's bright


 
Posted : 15/06/2011 10:11 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Cheers guys
Looks like the hand grenade then
😀


 
Posted : 15/06/2011 11:35 am
 beej
Posts: 4120
Full Member
 

I've got a hand grenade, and an Exposure flare. The flare is waaaaay brighter but a smaller area for the light source. It's also visible from most angles.

In daylight the flare is still very visible, the hand grenade less so.

Both are good, but I'm using my flare more.


 
Posted : 15/06/2011 11:39 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Looking at getting the Smart Lunar R1
Anyone using one or rec something better>
Cheers guys

This is a great light, and run it in winter in combination with the Cateye Hand Grenade thing. Actually have 2 of them, and the cateye, so is really bright, and with a combination of static and flashing makes sure you are seen.


 
Posted : 15/06/2011 11:47 am
Posts: 1930
Free Member
 

+1 for the Holy Hand Grenade (Cateye TL-LD1100)

Side visibility is a boon.

Flash patterns are groovy.


 
Posted : 15/06/2011 11:55 am
Posts: 50252
Free Member
 

TandemJeremy - Member
don't forget reflective stuff as well - its amazing how well it can be seen.

Oh my......It appears I have to agree with TJ!

Ankle bands are awesome at this, as the movement created is instantly recognisable as a cyclist. These are, IMO, the bestest;
[img] [/img]

Nice Bridgedale socks and Scott Taco shoes as well! 🙂


 
Posted : 15/06/2011 12:02 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

2 x HHG for me, one on the rack (static), one on the seatpost (flashing). There are brighter lights, but not as bright as HHG viewed from the side. Very weather-proof and good run times with easy to find AA batteries.


 
Posted : 15/06/2011 12:16 pm
Posts: 12
Free Member
 

Holy Hand Grenad AND Smart R1 for me.

HHG on seatpost. R1 on pack.


 
Posted : 15/06/2011 12:25 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I've had:

Cateye LD600. Pretty bright, filled with water pronto.

2x holy handgrenade. The LD1000 and 'brighter' LD1100. Not actually that bright. So heavy it seems to break the mount band or the mount itself in cold winter weather. The two rows go in and out of phase, so it dosn't appear to flash if you're further than 50 yards from it. I don't use them anymore. Side visability is good though. Expensive.

Smart 1/2 watt superflash. Supurb: very bright, ace run times, light, small, getting the batts out is a doddle, best mount/clip ever. A bit prone to weather if you don't use mudguards, as it is a springy plastic snap fit, they can get tired and spring apart if given a big jolt. No side visability. So cheap its silly not to own a dozen.

Mars 3.0. Poor. Not that bright, run times average, side visability provision is pointless, getting the batts out requires a small screwdriver. Decent mount/clip though.

DX uber rear light. Amazingly bright. I actually worry about dazzling drivers. Impervious to weather. Ace run time. Decent side visability. The mount is basic snap ring, no provision for angle of dangle. Seperate battery is a faff. The flash modes are over complicated: I tend to use it in solid, in conjunction with a smart superflash on flash, as there is no constant flash, just a sequence of short flashes, followed by long flashes with BIG 'off' pauses between 'on' flashes. Well priced compared to similar uber LED jobs.


 
Posted : 15/06/2011 12:31 pm

6 DAYS LEFT
We are currently at 95% of our target!