[Closed] what are the recommended commuter lights these days?

I’m really happy with my See.Sense Ace. Very bright and flashes according to conditions/speed etc. Battery lasts ages between charges too (with level indicator when you turn it on)
Also have a Beam+ for the front, which is great.
Seatpost mount for the rear works for me.

Most others rate Exposure lights, so ypu’ll also see lots of recommends for those. Pays ya money, takes ya choice…

Bontrager Flare RT

Have been given a Bontrager Flare for nothing and was sceptical.

It's now my go to rear light. Gets chosen above my paid for Exposure Tracer and my Moon Nubula.

So, +1 Bontrager Flare for the rear.

I run a lights on the bike and on the helmet. The bike ones are flashing during the day and a mixture at night. Helmet lights are are always on flash. The rear lights are mainly Planet X jobs.
Front is a Ravemen 1200 and joystik on the helmet on flash

Exposure link on lid
Exposure Tracr rear
B&M ixon front

Had a moon shield which was good and did many years of commuting. Until I got home one day to find it wasn't there. Fortunately I also ran a light on my helmet, just a cheap Aldi one.

Replaced the moon with an exposure Trace-R. Really rate it, especially the pulse mode it has. Means it's always on but flashes brighter rather than on-off.

3 miles? Is there a longer way round that's less unpleasant?
If the road is the 9nly option, and it's really that unpleasant then I'd consider riding on the footway, as that may be rarely used?

Most lights are pretty decent these days, but mudguards definitely make them last better. I'm still.us8ng 10year old smart lunar lights...

Most rear lights are adequately bright these days. I would suggest you don't fall into the trap of something that's small and utterly blinding.

The worst kind of lit bike to come up behind in the dark is one with a weaponised/arms race rear light that dazzles drivers as they go to (safely) pass.

I'm not talking here about an average day to day LED but the kind of things that make a car fog light look like a gentle red glow or are like getting a face full of head beam coming the other way. There's a reason fogs shouldn't be used when it's not foggy and you should dip headlights...it's counter productive if the driver approaching from the rear can't look at you directly to precisely judge speed and road position.

Imo size is your friend along with checking that it's actually visible from a wide range of angles and not obscured by luggage and always one steady state light to the rear (ideally with a flashy one too to mark you as a bike).

Add to that those super uncool wheel reflectors that you binned the minute your bike arrived or some reflective banded tyres and pedal reflectors and you're properly into dark commuter ready. This gives much better side visibility. Cars have got big lights (when working 🙄) so get some reflectives on all profiles and work that to your advantage.

Get a Proviz jacket as well, high quality, good waterproofing and very visable.

If you really have to use a shitty/bastard of a road I would suggest you also stick a wee light on your right ankle. Colleagues have often said it's what they noticed first when passing me on the road.

I’d go with multiple rear lights personally. I’ve got a Nebula as the main light- I run it so it’s always on but with a brighter pulse through the base light. Nice and visible day or night. Also can be mounted lots of ways - it used to be seat post mounted but now I run a saddle bag it’s on a belt clip on the back of the bag. Also came with a saddle rail clamp so loads of options.

I then run a Lifeline one that was about £10-£15 that goes on my right seatstay and is on a Pulse kind of setting too that looks different to the Nebula output.

I’ve then got a bright yellow backpack with reflective strips on it and wear one of those reflective silver jackets that goes really bright when car headlights hit it. It’s not just cars from behind you need to worry about, but also cars pulling out on you - that happens quite often commuting I find.

In the winter I run 2 front lights - bit Moon ones. One on a pure flash and the other solid or on a pulse setting where again it’s always on but with a brighter flash through it.

I did also buy a helmet light that has front and rear facing lights but to be honest I can’t normally be bothered with it. I think it has a mount to go on the end of a road bike drop bar - I might try it out in that position when the dark commutes start again.

I’ve been using some Olight units I got from Amazon (they have a website, but it seems to have been designed by the people who did Ling’s cars). They seem well built, have been dependable through the last winter, and fairly bright, and light, for the runtime. I particularly like that they fit onto GoPro mounts, so I can thread them onto existing fittings on my helmet and bike.

So, +1 Bontrager Flare for the rear.

Another fan here. We've two versions, get the more powerful one.

Is there a longer route to avoid that main road?

+1 garage-dweller.

Appearing as a blinding Unidentifiable Flashing Object risks being just a confusing and hazardous mess. Also risks being a danger to oneself and other road-users. There’s nothing more disorientating on a dirty rainy evening than having to squint into epilepsy-inducing retinal punishment and then try to judge the distance and speed of the UFO up ahead or in mirrors.

I use a Lezyne Strip Drive on the rear (usually seat-post or rear rack mounted) set to steady, a red rear reflector mounted to the mudguard, a small red flasher on the rackpack or backpack and a Ravemen PR900 headlight on the fork crown or bars. The latter has a remote and is generally set to ‘pulse’ or med/high. Holding the remote button will switch to ‘emergency’/high beam..

Also, helmet lights used on the road are not just arguably silly and dangerous - but illegal

To be totally clear, it is not a requirement to ride with a white front reflector fitted to your bike but it must have a red rear reflector fitted. Complete bikes must be sold with them fitted. In any case, it’s a good idea to leave both of them on.

Note that, to stay on the right side of the law, the lights must also be fitted to your bike and not your helmet. The law explicitly states they should be mounted to your bike and they cannot be higher than 1,500mm from the ground in any case.

If you lack any of these things and are involved in a nighttime crash, then it could be regarded as ‘contributory negligence’, which is a fancy way of saying the law could potentially deem the incident partially your fault. https://www.bikeradar.com/features/bike-light-laws-in-the-uk-what-you-need-to-know/

Add to that those super uncool wheel reflectors that you binned the minute your bike arrived or some reflective banded tyres and pedal reflectors and you’re properly into dark commuter ready. This gives much better side visibility. Cars have got big lights (when working 🙄) so get some reflectives on all profiles and work that to your advantage.

We use the 'spoke straws' and they are brilliant for this - I have three on each wheel of the road bikes. The movement they create is excellent.

I also bought some 3m reflective tape, and again have strip on each mudguard and a few flashes here and there on seatpost, rack and handlebars.

After many iterations, I think I've finally found my perfect combo.

Front light - Sigma Aura 60. Non-dazzling as it German StVZO compliant.

Rear light - Cliq smart light. Controlled by a phone app. Gone expensive, but would buy again.

Side/safety light - Orb bottle light. Super big, noticeable anti-sideswipe lamp.

But I would echo a few of the comments above. Find a safer route away from that A road even if it's longer. Don't use an off-road million lumen front lamp, there's a bloody dazzling menace and even if it's not exactly legal, use a rear helmet flasher, larger area rather than piercing bright as it's high up. Good luck!

Long time commuter here.

After many false starts I have in winter Exposure Strada 600 on the bars as its a car friendly front light that doesn't dazzle and can be remotely dipped. Battery lasts a fair while between charges and its very waterproof.

In summer I use an Exposure Trace on the front on daybright flash, especially misty days and when the sun is low.

Exposure TraceR on the rear which is set to day flash in the day only and solid red at night as very bright flashing lights tend to piss off drivers. Also have a See Sense Ace on the rucksack if I'm using one set to solid and medium or high depending on the conditions, rain etc as its just too bright otherwise (I ride country roads mainly).

High vis top and socks with black tights/shorts to break up the background and provide as much contrast as possible.

Reflective 'cycle clip' bands which velcro around the ankle if riding at night.

I never wear headphones on the road - only for the off road parts

If I wear a helmet it will be white. In winter I tend to wear a helmet more and I have a reflective cover for it which keeps my head warm and shows up.

I keep a spare rear light in the saddlepack as they weigh nothing and when you need one you need one!

3 miles? Is there a longer way round that’s less unpleasant?
If the road is the only option, and it’s really that unpleasant then I’d consider riding on the footway, as that may be rarely used?

+1.

Do consider taking the leisurely route or pathway if at all possible?

Most others rate Exposure lights, so ypu’ll also see lots of recommends for those. Pays ya money, takes ya choice…

I’ve (happily) used Exposure for MTB but I haven’t been tempted to buy their ‘road specific’ lights*.

(The PR900 is actually around £49 as of now)

*Though I’ve considered modifying a Ravemen to take an Exposure mount 😉

1) Dont blind drivers coming the other way - they might not hit you but you might dazzle them at just the moment they're coming up behind a cyclist going the other way.

- Get a 'German standard' front light with a shaped beam
- DO NOT run a helmet light on the road.
- Dont' use a flashing light on the front as it makes it very difficult to judge your closing speed and potentially puts you more at risk from turning traffic.
https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/best-stvzo-bike-lights/
The cat-eye looks like a good buy

2) don't blind other cyclists with stupidly bright/badly angled/helment mounted rear lights.

Nearly all rear lights are bright enough to be seen for big distances now.
Run two rear lights (one fixed, one flashing). The second one gives you a back up if a battery fails (when you run it fixed)

you don't need to spend much for rear lights - the £11 Moon Pulsar recommended in this thread are great (even if it's as your secondary light, but I'd be tempted to just go for a pair of them) https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/rear-light-recommendations-not-too-bright-long-lasting/

3) reflective stuff can help - the most effective, easiest to wear in all temperatures are a pair of ankle bands as the movement shows up more than a larger area of static reflectivity

@p7eaven

I think I agree with you - the Raveman looks like a much better beam pattern.

However, I did buy my Strada 600 about 5 years ago for around £100 and its still going strong - I'm not sure the Raveman existed then and also whether it would have lasted.....

I've been using a Ravemen 1200 for the last few years. The beam pattern is really good, decent battery life and it's a solid-feeling unit. The only issue I have is that I would like to be able to mount it under my Garmin to tidy up the bars, but due to the beam pattern it can't be turned upside down.

Dynamo lights FTW if you can. backed up with something blinky on your helmet/backpack.

Don't need to cost the earth, biggest cost will be a dynamo hub front wheel. and you never need to worry about charging/battery life. Just a bit more faff to install.

@winston

Happy to say I've had a Ravemen PR for three years and it’s going strong with some heavy use (primarily road, gravel and some MTB) They are sturdy all-metal metal units. Mine once (while bar-mounted) took the full weight of a bike falling to the tarmac* and survived with barely a mark, so I’m unconcerned. It also gets used nightly by Mrs P as a bathroom light (she ‘hates’ the actual bathroom light) and after 3 years of constant recharging the battery still shows 21-22hrs on low mode (as designated when new).

*The road-impact put just a tiny stone-chip/dent in the (thick aluminium) lens-surround. The light continues to function just fine 👍🏼😅

Front: something StVZO as your main light (I have B&M ixon core/flash, both equally good). I also put a small strip* on the fork as a backup, although I don't usually switch it on.

Rear: whatever really, but run two lights, one on seatpost, one on seatstay*.

*Alpkit Tau are good for this, got them front and rear on all my bikes. Lots of similar lights to this to be had for ~£10-15. Leave them on the bike all the time, don't seem to get pinched around town.

Exposure TaceR front and rear set for me. Their both small and discreet give out enough light have a flashing sequence charge lasts a week, and they're quick to recharge.

thanks for the replies, just about to start reading up on them today. just to answer an earlier question tho.....

3 miles? Is there a longer way round that’s less unpleasant?
If the road is the only option, and it’s really that unpleasant then I’d consider riding on the footway, as that may be rarely used?

sadly not. grass verges so no footpath, and i tried a longer route, cutting across farmers fields to the back of the site last week as a trial. starts off hopeful but then there are 2 ploughed fields to go through so came to a stop. this really is the only access to it.

thanks

Been on a set of Lezyne lights since December:
Front - Micro Drive Pro 800XL
Rear - KTV Pro

Been super impressed by them, absolutely flawless. Using them everyday, rain, snow, salty roads, you name it.
Have the rear one on the seat post, but in the shorter days of winter also attached a small cheap one to the back of the helmet

Buy half a dozen of these:
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/LIPX3WROF/planet-x-3w-ignis-20-lumen-rear-helmet-and-bike-light
from Planet X. They're 2.99 at the moment - they're nice and noticeable, light, really tough, and the battery lasts ages. Clip one to your helmet, one to your bag, one to your bike, one to your ankle, and keep the others as spares.

For the front buy anything that is StVZO compatible. The Raveman recommended above is a great light, and has a better beam pattern than most, but still throws a lot of light upwards. Busch + Müller seem to be the go-to brand for this, something like this: https://www.bike24.com/p2193743.html
is bright, reliable, and won't dazzle oncoming traffic or walkers.

I keep one of these: https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/LIPXSMH2W/planet-x-super-mini-2-way-200-lumen-bike-helmet-light in my bag as it's small, bright-ish, and works as both a front and rear light.

^ Not to be a killjoy but I wouldn’t recommend relying whollyvon those little 20 lumen lights for rural unlit A road. You’ll be much safer (and legal) with a large, static and powerful (but not dazzlingly so) rear light and a red rear reflector. Combine that with maybe an auxiliary flashing red light and reflective ankle bands.

The front light for that trip is maybe not so critical if it really is only that road and you’re not likely to be taking primary. Just make sure you’re not dazzling/blinding anyone. As easily recommends - an StVZO compatible light is the accepted German standard and a sensible choice. But to be fair a Ravemen PR is IME probably the ‘least worst’ next best choice when angled correctly (be sure not to use both emitters on the road as the second emitter is a mountain bike light and has a round unfocused beam like most ‘UK’ lights. Only one emitter has a wide/cutoff beam for the road)

There does seem to be a lot of confusion and disagreement around cycle-lighting in the UK - which is not surprising as cycling for transport and utility it’s still pretty much a fringe activity here, and laws/standards still have a lot of catching up to do with other N European countries IMO.

I know it’s not strictly on topic regarding the original thread request but it is related.

mudguards are a commuters best friend

Moped? I've seen plenty that keep up with cars. If you end up dreading the commute it'll make the whole day rubbish.

Long time commuter from 2006 - Exposure lights - they last and when they break the guys at USE fix them - my toro and x2 Blaze have just been fixed - had them all for plus 5 years- nothing plastic lasts - mon weren't bad but not fixable

@p7eaven

Yeah, you’re right about those rear lights. My commute is all off-road, and they stand out well in the darkness, but I’d forgotten the OP was commuting on the road. They’re still great value as spares and extras.
The go-to rear light always recced by everyone on here is the exposure tracer:
https://alpkit.com/products/exposure-tracer
I’m never sure why as it seems like just an ordinary light to me, but I’ve seen dozens of cyclists recommend it, and nobody seems to have a bad word. My main problem with it is it’s only available in red.

The Raveman lights seem to me like a great missed opportunity. I’ve never had a better made light - it’s so solid, the battery lasts well, the clip is good, the remote is useable, the bright beam is excellent, it doesn’t wobble, the remaining time readout is clear and accurate … I just wish they’d properly sort out the low beam. I’ve tested it against StVZO lights and it’s nothing like.
This means I end up using my B+M light all winter, when the Raveman is superior in literally every other way.
Oh well, moon on a stick and all that.

@easily

I’d go with that assessment of the PR as a whole Although haven’t had the opportunity to compare the low/automotive beam against an StVZO-compatible beam. I suppose for the kind of riding I do ie rough-stuff touring/gravel/ATB/back lanes, bike-packing/local shops etc cetera it’s already 90% ‘moon on a stick’ ie toughest, longest-runtime and most versatile/feature-packed light I’ve yet used. Really like the slightly warm/rose-tinted LED also.

#ravemen please sort out a StVZO version of the PR series? You’ll have just invented the moon on a stick ie a self-contained light that properly does road + gravel/ATB + USB power-bank

@easily I wonder if the CR1000 is worth a try for a commuter?

‘T-shaped beam?’ (Ravemen describe as their ‘second-generation anti-glare beam’)

https://road.cc/content/review/ravemen-cr1000-usb-front-light-remote-278279?amp
https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/accessories/lights/front-light/ravemen-cr1000-front-light-review/

I’ve not yet been tempted to try an Exposure rear light as it seems very small? I’ve been really happy with a Lezyne Strip Drive rear though and it’s been going for some 6-7 years now without a hitch. It may outlast me!

I have the CR1000 and PR1200, the CR seems to have a better pattern, I think the lens might have been updated. I also have a B&M StVZO compliant light which is fine for pottering but is not bright enough for riding at pace in the pitch black. I've had complaints with the PR if not angled right down, but not the CR. Exposure TracR on the seatpost and Alpkit Tau on the seatstay and I'm good to go. I avoid roads such as the A15 like the plague though and I'm fortunate not to have to commute on them.

That CR1000 seems like it could be what I'm looking for. Good reviews as well.

I'll check it out - it it's as well made as the Raveman I'm in.

Edit - It's available at Merlin Cycles for 60 quid at the moment:

https://www.merlincycles.com/ravemen-cr1000-rechargeable-front-bike-light-200703.html?utm_source=PHG&utm_medium=AffiliateMarketing&utm_campaign=phg-GB&ucpo=120882&source=PHG

@easily If you do pop for one of those then get some feedback on here please! I’ve had one in mind for the tourer for a while now.

@ joat Have you used the runtime-extension function of the CR1000? I wonder what mode/power level can be used whilst charging from a battery bank?

@p7eaven
I haven't as yet, I bought it for summer evening club runs as it will sit in a jersey pocket until I need it - aero gains and all that. The only thing I could boost it with would be my PR1200, which would defeat the object of the exercise somewhat.

@joat Thanks, I do sometimes take a long night ride (four hours or so) on unlit byways and lanes and it could open up options for overnight touring/endurance.

*edit

Found this info at this review

Ravemen states extending the runtime as above will drop lumen count to about 800 max. Handy enough to brightly light the road ahead (beamshots below).

@easily - seems sturdy according to that review ie:

light survived several vehicles driving over it… and it still works, perfectly. No damage whatsoever