Recommendation for USB charged Rear light

Esho

Hi!


Has anyone used a good quality, highly visible, usb charged rear bike light that they would recommend?

CormacH94

I've a Lezyne Strip 300L I bought a while ago off Chain Reaction, loads of modes and USB rechargeable, great battery life. Had a look to try and find the same model but it looks like they've discontinued my model and instead have this;

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/lezyne-strip-drive-pro-300l-rear-light/rp-prod191418

Looks pretty much the same, there's also a 150L version slightly cheaper. Seen a few comments saying the USB cover tends to fall off sometimes, my solution for that was to attach it with the USB side pointing up at the saddle.

Also Aldi have a front and rear set of USB rechargeable lights in on Sunday, can't comment on their quality but I'm sure another boardsie could.

De Bhál

Cateye Rapid X2 Rear Light

Simple and effective, usb recharge with a long battery life.

ted1

I’d recommend a cateye that takes the AAA batteries.

It’s bright and the batteries last ages (120 hours) . Far less hassle than USB ones

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/ie/en/cateye-omni-5-rear-light/rp-prod123988

Deals sell 10 batteries for 150, that’s about 2-3 years worth!!

tnegun

Been using this for the last 18 months cycle an hour each way daily for work and it's never once let me down



https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01KTSWLDG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Also bought combo under a different name and both are still on the go although no longer my main lights


https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07H28JH6J/ref=dp_cerb_1

Wishbone Ash

Another vote for the Lezyne Strip 300. I was so impressed with it that I bought a second one. Brighest setting is very bright and the lowest setting will last for 15 hours. Very easy to transfer between bikes. I also fit it upside down like Cormac has said.

brownian

I find the Bontrager Flare R (the old version, not the little cube one, more an oval shape) is the absolute dogs. Bright as can be, lasts about 12 hours between charges, really visible day and night. Light enough to use on your helmet if you are carrying a saddle bag or pannier.

JMcL

I've been happily using a Moon Shield for years. Mine's an earlier model (60 lumen I think) than the one linked, but at the brightest and on the flash it's too bright to look at directly from a close distance.

strmin

I haven't found reliable USB rear light. Went back to Cateye with AAA. 2 batteries last all winter.

Weepsie

ted1 wrote: »

I’d recommend a cateye that takes the AAA batteries.

It’s bright and the batteries last ages (120 hours) . Far less hassle than USB ones

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/ie/en/cateye-omni-5-rear-light/rp-prod123988

Deals sell 10 batteries for 150, that’s about 2-3 years worth!!

Deals sells awful batteries for 1.50 though. If you're going down the battery route, lidl do decent rechargeable ones from time to time.

The Noble Nudge

I've been using the Exposure tracer for a few years now great light..once you get used to turning it on...

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/exposure-tracer-usb-rechargeable-rear-light/rp-prod173646?gs=1&sku=sku656628&pgrid=55940684101&ptaid=pla-343474726253&utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=PLA+All+Products&utm_medium=base&utm_content=mkwid|suhMXHOL3_dc|pcrid|294740729957|pkw||pmt||prd|656628IE&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImefx4snr5AIVGPhRCh3v5AzzEAQYBCABEgKEZPD_BwE

Macy0161

The Noble Nudge wrote: »

I've been using the Exposure tracer for a few years now great light..once you get used to turning it on...

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/exposure-tracer-usb-rechargeable-rear-light/rp-prod173646?gs=1&sku=sku656628&pgrid=55940684101&ptaid=pla-343474726253&utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=PLA+All+Products&utm_medium=base&utm_content=mkwid|suhMXHOL3_dc|pcrid|294740729957|pkw||pmt||prd|656628IE&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImefx4snr5AIVGPhRCh3v5AzzEAQYBCABEgKEZPD_BwE

I've been looking at this one the last couple of years, but never been convinced by the fitting - how does it cope with rough roads, or even some off road?

McTigs

these guys from Northern Ireland....

https://seesense.cc/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIh7Gz8-br5AIVCbrtCh2pCAMDEAAYASAAEgKdWPD_BwE

Charge lasts for ages and the light is unreal... gotten loads of remarks from other cyclists I meet on the commute.

Cannot recommend highly enough

dahat

McTigs wrote: »

these guys from Northern Ireland....

https://seesense.cc/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIh7Gz8-br5AIVCbrtCh2pCAMDEAAYASAAEgKdWPD_BwE

Charge lasts for ages and the light is unreal... gotten loads of remarks from other cyclists I meet on the commute.

Cannot recommend highly enough

I've had 3 rear lights replaced under warranty from water gettijng in plus 2 lights bounced out of the mount on long spins so i'd pass on these all day long.

AxleAddict

McTigs wrote: »

these guys from Northern Ireland....

https://seesense.cc/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIh7Gz8-br5AIVCbrtCh2pCAMDEAAYASAAEgKdWPD_BwE

Charge lasts for ages and the light is unreal... gotten loads of remarks from other cyclists I meet on the commute.

Cannot recommend highly enough

Likewise - I have both the Ace and Icon2 front and rear lights. My rear Ace was a little temperamental initially and sometimes wouldn't come on, even if fully charged, but later firmware updates seem to have addressed this. I like the fact that its an array of LED's rather than just a single or small number of LED's - much easier for motorist to see in my opinion - most of the available flash patterns are random in nature - I seem to remember reading somewhere that lights with varying delays between flashes draw more attention to themselves. I also like the fact that they react to movement and can be controlled via a mobile app. The mounts do seem quite basic/flimsy and you feel like the lights will pop out when you go over the slightest bump - but the lights themselves are not very heavy and I've been over all sorts of surfaces without any issue (yet).

The only downside is that the batteries are not user replaceable - so you will eventually have to replace the unit (mine are still going strong though)

Granted, they are a little pricey, but I bought both the Ace and Icon2 during their Kickstarter campaigns when they were discounted.

Wishbone Ash

McTigs wrote: »

these guys from Northern Ireland....

https://seesense.cc/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIh7Gz8-br5AIVCbrtCh2pCAMDEAAYASAAEgKdWPD_BwE

Charge lasts for ages and the light is unreal... gotten loads of remarks from other cyclists I meet on the commute.

Cannot recommend highly enough

A few lads in the club have the See Sense lights but seem to have regular niggling problems with them which has always put me off them (and the fact that they look awful).

AxleAddict

dahat wrote: »

I've had 3 rear lights replaced under warranty from water gettijng in plus 2 lights bounced out of the mount on long spins so i'd pass on these all day long.

Hmm - I've observed some condensation from time to time on the inside of my Ace rear lights when I've ridden in wet conditions - but its never caused a problem - any idea where the water was getting in - under the USB charging port cover or somewhere else?

When your lights detached from the mount was it on very bumpy ground at the time? I've not had an issue so far (touch wood) on both good and bad surfaces - perhaps the quality of some of their mounts is better than others....

Weepsie

I recommend these bar end lights by cat eye as an extra one. I use 1 on the right sight of my bars along with a rear light

https://www.merlincycles.com/cateye-orb-bar-end-lights-106492.html or maybe the moon merak ones

https://www.merlincycles.com/moon-merak-bar-end-rear-cycle-lights-107235.html

devonp

i use this for the last 4 yrs



https://www.cateye.com/intl/products/safety_lights/TL-LD635-R/

ED E

dahat wrote: »

I've had 3 rear lights replaced under warranty from water gettijng in plus 2 lights bounced out of the mount on long spins so i'd pass on these all day long.

Not the only one to have issues. SeeSense are garbage unfortunately.



Get the Leyzene. Great light.

dahat

AxleAddict wrote: »

Hmm - I've observed some condensation from time to time on the inside of my Ace rear lights when I've ridden in wet conditions - but its never caused a problem - any idea where the water was getting in - under the USB charging port cover or somewhere else?

When your lights detached from the mount was it on very bumpy ground at the time? I've not had an issue so far (touch wood) on both good and bad surfaces - perhaps the quality of some of their mounts is better than others....

It was on roughish roads alright but the roads were okay for a road bike si i'd have expected the light to have stayed fixed.

My suspicsion was always the usb port for water but i would think the seals in general are low grade, the tech is great but finshed articile not so much unfortunately.

The Noble Nudge

Macy0161 wrote: »

I've been looking at this one the last couple of years, but never been convinced by the fitting - how does it cope with rough roads, or even some off road?

Perfect not a worry in that department.
Ive used it on the mountain bike, road bike and cx bike havent lost it after about 3 years...(notice now given its age battery needs to be charged more then when new but thats to be expected the use I have given it.)

EDit

Been using this one for last 2 years and can’t remember the last time it needed a charge: https://www.wiggle.co.uk/cateye-rapid-x2-rc-rear/

DaveyDave

I have the previous Lezyne Strip Pro which is a 150 model. I believe the 300 model has a 150 mode but with a longer battery. 150 is more than enough for day flash mode so at the very least you could benefit from extra battery life without using max brightness. The design looks a bit cleaner, I believe it has better side visibility.

I've had mine 3 years. At first sight you'd think it wouldn't last as the mount is a stretchy band that you wrap around the seatpost and latch onto the light, but it's surprisingly sturdy. The charge port is under a removable cap on the bottom. It hasn't rattled off or let any water in whatsoever.

On the expensive side but highly recommended. I suppose the current non Pro model would be worth a look, seems to be similar to my old Pro model.

Another plus is it won't die on you, to an extent. Once the battery is low it will stay on a constant on, low power mode so you'll still be seen for a while. I believe it actually lasts 30 minutes+ as I've had it 'die' on me mid ride and got home to see it was still on.