[Closed] Rear LED lights

I got a rear 4-LED light off CRC two years ago for £4 that I use for road sections of night rides and they've done two winters with no problem. Not sure on the brand but proof you don't need to fork out a fortune. They're bloody bright as well.

Not sure.

What I can tell you is that recently, my electron Backupz rear light got slightly wet, and was toast !.

Not impressed.

I've had those smart rear LED lights on my town bikes, and they appear to be reasonably weather proof. Had'em a good few year now.

🙂

I just but cheapies from the local dscount store for £1.99. They are virtually identical to these which sell for about £6
[img] [/img]

They last well, but I cable-tie the light to the bracket to stop it falling off. I've lost too many expensive rear lights like this!

Cateye hand grenade thing is ace.

Yes, I've seen that Cateye light. Its an award winner. I think it has 10 LEDs in total.

Good light, imo.

my ld1100 (hand grenade) has lasted for 4 years now, including daily commuting. I use full mudguards though, which stops a huge amount of road spray, myabe thats why??

Those cheap Smarts are pretty waterproof. I used to have the Smart Lunar 1/2 watt but everytime it rained it stopped. CRC kindly refunded me so I got one of [url= http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/25100/BLT_Fantom_XR9_Rear_Light ]these.[/url]
(But the mount is really bad, had to make my own.)

This is what you want, Light & Motion started out making divers lamps so hopefully it should be waterproof.
[url= http://www.bikelightingsystem.com/vis180.html ]http://www.bikelightingsystem.com/vis180.html[/url]

This looks interesting for commuting, not cheap though.
[url= http://www.bikelightingsystem.com/vis360.html ]http://www.bikelightingsystem.com/vis360.html[/url]

I've had one of these for about 10 years and its still working fine.
Nowhere as bright as the Smart 1W thing I use on the road, but somehow I don't see the Smart lasting that long!

[img] [/img]

Another vote for the hand grenade. Been running two on my commuter for the last 4 winters and no issues.

the [url= http://www.cateye.com/en/product_detail/550 ]haemmorrhoid[/url] rules

I've always liked the Cateye AU100 Rear LED.
Had mine for years. Cope with water well (one of mine lives outside on the commuter bike) and impossible to dislodge.

OP wanted something that mounted quickly/easily/cleverly.

Not sure why though, the Cateyes are QR.

Yeah, that Cateye [i]TL-LD1100[/i] was what I was thinking of.

Good light.

Another vote for the Cateye holy hand grenade...

OP you are using mudguards yes?

nope sorry no mudguards, just wanted something quick and easy to mount/unmount thats all, the KNOGs are extremely easy, though a drop of water and they are kapppputt 🙁

looks like that handgrenade one is looking pretty robust 🙂

LoL @ [i]Cateye holy hand grenade... [/i]

😀

As I think Al is indicating: mudguards = step change in rear light longevity if you are mounting the light anywhere in the line of fire of the spray off of your rear wheel.

Don't know about it's waterproof qualities, but I've just bought an RSP astrum. Twin half watt, damn bright. Mount seems ok. Time will tell

LoL @ Cateye holy hand grenade...

Its a pity it doesn't "blow thine enemies to tiny bits, in thy mercy" though 😆

StayHigh.

Yeah. But if your holy hand grenade should fail, what then, will you use against that rabit 😯

Excellent, I'll have to borrow a copy of that. Haven't seen it in years.

;-D

the cheap smart ones ( and their copies ) are like candles in a jam-jar next to the smart 1/2 watt.
i have the holy hand grenades too. two of them live on my pack. they're ok and good for all round vis, but not all that bright. i have the smart 1/2 watts fitted to the bikes. very bright, very attention grabbing. use aaa batteries. benefit from a smear of grease around the seal when you change the batteries, also a cable tie around the body/clamp just to make sure everything stays in one piece, and not the easiest to mount though.
maybe think about something bright on your pack, and just something to keep you legal ( and as a back up ) fixed to the bike?

How about this Cateye light?
I have a front one and it does the job OK.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Cateye_TL-SL110_Loop_LED_Rear_Light/5360045557/

Dibbs, I have my name on one of the L&M rears for my winter commuter. They are due in this week so I will report back shortly.

CatEye LD600 (or whatever the latest version is). I've had it 6 years, with and without mudguards, on and off road (mostly when I've forgotten to take it off).

Brightest one I've ever seen was a Flare-b-seen (orsimilar silly name). Trek made it I think.

Expensive, but looks more like a marine channel marker light than a bike light.

Exposure Flare. The self contained version of their Red eye light, which is v.bright.

It's not out yet, but due end of August/beginning of September i believe

I use the hand grenade. It's mounted to the seatpost and pushed up against the saddle, so it can't easily be removed (bike's outside all day at work).

This winter, my commute has changed to include 8 miles of unlit roads. I'll run my Lumi LED up front, the handgrenade at the back together with the Lumi rear running off my batter and prob a Smart as well on my back.

Two of these;
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=14821
One on the bike, one on the bag/belt/lid/where-ever-I-can-find-to-clip-it. Chances of both dying on the same ride are slim 🙂

I have my name on one of the L&M rears for my winter commuter.

I persevered with the holy hand grenade for several years, I had the LD1000 and the LD1100. I ride every day, in all weathers, through heavy traffic, I gave up with them:

a) Mounts are weak. In cold subzero temperatures, they're prone to snapping, either the band or the mount itself. I've had several go skittering down dual carriageways. Its the same mounting system as their other, lighter, lamp units, design error IMO.

b) The LED units themselves are not very bright. They look bright when you look at it close up, becuase the unit plastic illuminates, but they're blown into the weeds by more modern LEDs like the one used inthe smart 1/2 watt. Even the newer 'brighter' LD1100 isn't that good in comparison.

c) The two rows of LEDs, when both are set into flash mode, go in and out of phase with each other, so if you're further back than about 50 yards from the lamp unit (like a driver) they don't appear to flash at all. One row solid one row flash isn't as noticeable as a more modern unit on just flash.

d) Battery life. I use decent rechargers, becuase the unit is driving so many leds, rather than one effeicent LED, brightness dropoff is horrific. This means a couple of recharge cycles a week, rather than one for smaller, brighter, more effecient units. It is easy to get the batteries out, tool-less, but *once* (not if) its gone under a car it'll be more fiddly.

They are robust; however, they still sustain moderate to severe damage when they go skittering under a transit van, or Vauxhall Cavalier. They are weather proof, and they do have dedicated side illumination.

I use a smart 1/2 watt, it has much reduced side visability, but it is MUCH MUCH brighter, no phase issues, excellent battery life from 2AA's. Weather resistance is not so good, its OK if you have mudguards, but water can creep in if you don't have them, easily solved with some sellotape around the base to deflect the water. The mount is much more robust, as less strain is placed on it. It is also VERY cheap. They're so good I'll buy another this winter.
[url] http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=42472 [/url]

I also have a Blackburn Mars 3. I got it initially as it has some side visability. Its not that bright outright, I'm not convinced the weak side LEDs add that much, and you need a jeweller's screwdriver to get the batteries out (WHY?). It is v weather resistant and again, the mount is much more robust.

I run the smart on the back of the bike, and the Mars on my courier bag.

Exposure Flare

any prices being guestimated yet ?

having a maxx D and a joystick already and knowing how quality they are thats what i want ! - without even seeing it !

This one works great with a camelbak:
[img] [/img]

[url= http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cateye/sl110-rear-loop-light-ec019840?query=rear%20light ]see here[/url]

But the cheapest one you can find and stick some vascelene in it!

I have my Light & Motion Vis 180 and it is very very bright indeed. 35 lumens doesn't sound a lot but it is a serious amount of red light.

There is an advert in the LCC Magazine for the Exposure Flare. SRP of £40
But does not give Lumen rating. Looks pretty good and there is going to be a matching front called the Flash.
Rutland cycles have them both on their site but not avail yet.[url= http://www.rutlandcycling.com/25310/USE-Exposure-Flash-LED-Front-Light-2011.html ]Exposure Flash front light[/url]
[url= http://www.rutlandcycling.com/25308/USE-Exposure-Flare-Rear-Light-2011.html ]Exposure Flare Rear light[/url]

Met a mate in the boozer last night. He rode into town on his winter hack.

Then strolled into the pub clutching his Model 601 and two of those smart 1/2 watt rear LEDs.

I have to say, on first impressions, those rear lights seem to be very good, especially when you consider they cost around a tenner.

I've an older version, but those Smart lunar 1/2 watt rear lights are very bright.
He reckoned the batteries last ages too.

So I will 2nd ADH's comments for that smart lunar 1/2 watt rear light.
pretty good vfm, imo.

EDIT: Oh, and as far as weather proofing goes. Some have recommended taping up the joint between the lens and the body, or applying some waterproof grease.
I'd add, that perhaps a cut-off section of inner tube wrapped around the joint could also do the trick.
🙂

I go for shear numbers,

2x cateye (270?)
1x blackburn mars (great in fog/mist/rain as its focused so leaves a nice beam behind you so you look like TRON)

2x cateye white lights (270 again?) on my rucksack straps which provide quite a lot of side visibility and iluminate the rider/bike rather than just being a bobbing rear light in the distance which is hard to judge.

And something on the bars to actualy see by.

I've got a smart Lunar 1/2 Watt light, silly bright, go for the full fat 1W rear if You want to be seen 🙂 Than another light on my backpack in the winter, some cheap flashing Smart light, plus a electron backupz on the helmet.

Front is my DX bastid during winter and a flashing NiteRider Ultrafazer 5, plus a helmet light with similar output as a Joystick. When it's still light I'll just use the NiteRider on the front and 1/2 Watt Smart on the back.

Never had any problems with any Smart lights and they seem to be well sealed from water.

Agreed with that, TINAS.

My old commute was through lit urban streets, so a handgrenade and a cheapo twinkly LED on my lid was all that was needed.

Now I'll be commuting on unlit roads for 50% of the ride, the plan is to have a certain "volume" of rear light. There aren't may side roads where cars pulling out area problem, but my fear is being hit from behind.

Time to light up!

same here omitn flare interests me greatly

"Then strolled into the pub clutching his Model 601 and two of those smart 1/2 watt rear LEDs."

because its completely relivant to this thread that he was carrying his front light - i want to know what helmet and gloves he was wearing