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I hate myself for having to ask this but it's not always easy to make sense of manufacturers specs. I've already got a number of rear lights but they all seem to die too quickly these days. What I'm looking for is:
something with good side as well as back visibility
good battery life in always on mode (at least 3 hours)
bright enough to be visible when it's dark and rainy with lots of traffic
rechargeable
don't need programable/smart but can live with it if that's what it is
no desire for blindingly bright. Just a sensible visible level
It feels like it shouldn't be too difficult a spec but you always seem to trade off something such as side visibility or battery life. I've got an old smaller Knog Cobber that was good but the battery life just didn't cut it. Anyone got any good recommendations? Price isn't too much of an issue
Exposure Trace R is pretty much what you've described. Both of mine are still going strong after five or six years of abuse.
Three hours in full constant mode, visible from the sides, well built, rechargeable via micro USB.
+1 for Exposure. They’re just really solid and have great support.
The newer Boost R has USB C charging and double the run time, but costs more obviously.
Came to recommend something from Exposure.
TraceR, Boost-R or Blaze, depending on your budget.
I have a 10 year old Blaze and a 6 year old TraceR that are both still going strong.
The Blaze developed a charging problem a couple of years ago and USE/Exposure repaired it for the cost of postage.
I just buy Moons of one sort or other. Just had 5 Moon Comet X delivered from Bike Inn.
Rather than relying on 1 I just take a few and have the visibility and battery angles covered.
And they come with shit loads of brackets, so I know I can fit lights to any/ all of the family's bikes
Another vote for Exposure.
My Blaze is in its 5th year now iirc. It can last for days (nights?) worth of riding or can be set to be very visible in daylight.
Didn't know that Exposure had a rear light option, that is looking perfect. My MaxxD solved all my night riding problems years ago and is great, they really make stuff that lasts. I'll take a look
Moon looks good as well and a great price but my experience of the Exposure stuff tends to lean me that way.
I have a Magicshine SeeMee 200 and 300. The 300 has seen a year of commuting, and has a day-flash mode that automatically changes to a 'breath' constant mode as the light fades. Also had a brake function. Most impressive is the 100 lumen down lighter, which floods the road below in red. Same with the 200, but it's much more compact - this is a recent purchase for the road bikes.
There are a number of other modes that reduce the brightness. I just leave it on the one mode for commuting as it switches function automatically. It will often change to day flash when a car's headlights are directly behind you.
I did have a Lezyne Zecto Max 250 on the rear - but it was killed by mud and water getting past the USB flap.
The Cat Eye Kinetic has served me well.
Good at night light.
Not bright enough for sunshine bright daylight, but not bad in the shade.
Fits various diameter frame tubes as well as the typical seatpost location which is very useful and can be done quickly if moving between bikes. Seat stay position is useful on a road bike with a saddle bag.
I’ve got a See Mee - it’s very good and the down light mode is reassuring. Either one of those or a trace R or - if you have a bike computer, then the Varia Radar is superb.
liking the 'Battery Auto Save' on the Kinetic, that's a great idea.
We've a variety of Moons. The Comets have great side vision and just work. My Sirius Pro is a bit more faffy to set up, but as well as good light levels and good side vision, it's got things like auto off, daylight sensor and braking function which I think is great around vehicles.
Much cheaper than many other options, they come with a variety of mounts for the better models so easy to move between bikes.
Exposure + however many.
Doesn't need to be new - older models send out plenty of light and the excellent customer service means second hand is a good option too.
Moon Cerberus.
I really like that it will fit nicely on a seat stay ,has a side flash.
Bright enough for a day riding light and has a long run time.
I swap my seat post lights around ,but it stays fixed on whatever road bike I am using.
+1 for Exposure TraceR. Mine is on all year round in the light as well as dark.
+1 for Moon. Seem to last for ages, a good spread of prices and some of the newer ones have auto off when you park the bike which is nice to have. I’m not a massive fan of the older square mounts so just use the rubber bands but the new garmin-alike turn mounts seem nice and solid.
(+1 for exposure in general as well, I’ve just only ever had their dynamo rear light and have found it hard to justify the battery options over moon so can’t comment)
Another +1 for Moon. I particularly like the clip mount as it’s solid and well designed with a good retaining hook that means it’s unlikely to be lost accidentally.
I've got a years old Exposure TraceR which is still going strong. Seems pretty much bombproof.
I ran two of them for years when commuting, one on the saddle rails on constant, one lower down the seatpost on pulse mode. Neither ever let me down.
Making a note of this thread - I’m going to finally sort out at least one, if not two of my hardtail bikes, and I’ll need new lights for them. I’d already decided to get a Lezyn German spec front light with a dipping function, but I hadn’t given much thought to a rear light, so this has been, if you’ll excuse the pun, eye-opening as to what’s available now. The Moon, with a braking function, is of particular interest; many years ago I had a taillight that had a brake light facility operated by the rear canti-brake cable. It was very effective as well, I’d look back behind me expecting to have a car right up my ass at the lights, instead they’d be a car’s length or more behind.
The Moon, with a braking function, is of particular interest; many years ago I had a taillight that had a brake light facility operated by the rear canti-brake cable
Is interesting. A few lights seem to have this now but I had sort of discounted it as not useful but it sounds as though it is really
The one time I tried moon, it wouldn't even hold battery for a day even when off, fresh from the box.
Sounds like OP is sorted at higher end of the price range, but anyone comes looking for cheaper options, I like my Cateye Viz 150. It lasts for weeks on the "group ride" mode. Can't say the same for the equivalent front light which lasts only a 2 days of commute on low constant mode (1 hour per day)
Another one for the Magicshine SeeMee range. I'm a big fan of the down lighter, especially when commuting, lights up my feet when at the back of the pedal stroke but also gives really good side visibility
For me the answer's always more lights rather than going for a single perfect light. Way more visible, you can set them to different modes for extra obnoxiousness, you've got redundancy in case one fails or you forget to charge it.
I do really like the modern downlighters though, that's good progress.
Garmin Varia RTL515 long lasting bright rear light. With a radar that changes the light to flashing to alert approaching cars. Lasts three hours plus. I would replace mine if I lost it in an instant. The radar information is a game changer. Currently on offer at the Amazon Garmin shop. I have seatpost mounts for it on all my bikes now. I also commute with a Fly 6. But that dies within two hours so needs a recharge for the ride home. I also add a cateye micro saddle mount. But the RTL515 is magnificent. And a decent rear light in itself.
Is interesting. A few lights seem to have this now but I had sort of discounted it as not useful but it sounds as though it is really
Yeah, the one I had was early 90’s, fitted to a Cannondale, and while it was certain a phaff to set up, and prone to water ingress, drivers certainly seemed to react to it, I think because it’s ingrained into drivers to react to a sudden bright red light in front, so even on a bike it’s just a reflex to brake.
Of course, with modern sensors that respond to sudden reduction in speed, like the Apple Watch does, there isn’t the need to have any sensors fitted to the hydraulic brake system. I’ve seen a new bike helmet with a rear light that acts as a brake light as well, and being at eye level probably causes drivers to react even quicker.
Let’s face it, anything that forces drivers to pay more attention to vulnerable road users can only be a good thing.