Rear light reccomendation

[slowmotion]

I use a Blackburn Mars 4.0 and it's pretty good. I followed a bike two weeks ago with an insanely powerful back light and asked the rider what it was at the next junction. A Lezyne Micro Drive. It is tiny and charges on any USB port. I like it but I have no idea about long-term reliability. Like most Lezyne products, it's beautifully engineered.

 

[AndyPeace]

I've had similar compliments on my knog road rear light too, but it's worthless if it doesn't stay on reliably
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/lezyne/micro-drive-rear-light-ec052674

looking at the picture, I don't see how that bracket is going to reliably hold the light... especially on the rural roads I prefer to be on. For the same reason I'm put off exposure's offerings too.

 

[slowmotion]

I've had similar compliments on my knog road rear light too, but it's worthless if it doesn't stay on reliably
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/lezyne/micro-drive-rear-light-ec052674

looking at the picture, I don't see how that bracket is going to reliably hold the light... especially on the rural roads I prefer to be on. For the same reason I'm put off exposure's offerings too.

Fair point. It's just a big rubber band but if you do it up really tight, it's rock solid. I put a piece of nylon cord through a spare loop of the band and tied it to a saddle rail, just in case something went wrong. There is absolutely no way that the light itself will jump out of the plastic holder attached to the band. BTW, if you shop around, it can be found for about £26.

 

[uclown2002]

A smear of grease on the seal, or a bit of electrical tape, or even a squirt of bath silicone. Seems a shame to condemn a bloody good, bright, multimode light for the sake of a simple preventative measure!

And I did grease the last 2. Guess what? They still failed. Absolute pants!

I also have an electron pico but it has dropped off at least 3 times so I'm not confident about the bracket. Occasionally it switches itself off for no reason.

I'm currently using Blackburn Mars 3.0 on saddle bag and has performed very well without issue so far.

 

[Rustybucket]

Ive got this:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/exposure-blaze-mk1-rear-light/

Amazing light - had many a cyclist ask me what light it is as its SOOOOO bright!

Also have this as a secondary light its abit bulky but also good:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cateye-tl-ld1100-led-rear-light-2013/

 

[Cubist]

And I did grease the last 2. Guess what? They still failed. Absolute pants!

I also have an electron pico but it has dropped off at least 3 times so I'm not confident about the bracket. Occasionally it switches itself off for no reason.

I'm currently using Blackburn Mars 3.0 on saddle bag and has performed very well without issue so far.

Mudguards? If you mount it exposed to a constant stream of spray from the rear tyre it's going to need waterproofing.

 

[mattobrien]

Ive got this:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/exposure-blaze-mk1-rear-light/

Amazing light - had many a cyclist ask me what light it is as its SOOOOO bright!

Also have this as a secondary light its abit bulky but also good:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cateye-tl-ld1100-led-rear-light-2013/

Very nearly snap. Just changed to an exposure Flare rear light. Had the cateye previously, but it started turning itself off, so I somewhat lost faith in it. Not sure if it was water or old age as it would turn back on if you gave it a tap, but I didn't want it off in the first place.

The Flare is obscenely bright. All good for a rear light, riding on unlit roads or even on a dull day...

 

[uclown2002]

Mudguards? If you mount it exposed to a constant stream of spray from the rear tyre it's going to need waterproofing.

Yes mudguards.

 

[AndyPeace]

The Exposure lights look good but at £70-80 too much for my budget this time round. So I was searching around and saw these magicshine rear lights...They are of the design that plugs into a seperate battery. anyone know if they will work with other brands (the battery and connection look the same as my tumble and fall light)

 

[moo]

I run 2 of those Magicshines in flashing mode connected to an aftermarket battery pack (4 x 3400mah Panasonics giving a runtime so long I charge once or twice a month). Any 7.4v/8.4v battery pack with a standard connection will work fine - I've got an assortment of backup Chinese batteries that work with it if needed.

Mine have survived English weather (for sometime without a rear mudguard) for 14 months and still going strong. The rotating switch however can get a little stiff after time.

 

[mark william]

bought one of the moon crescents. very bright and very compact little light. it is amazing how bright such a small light could be. it is also usb rechargeable and after previously having battery powered lights i wont ever go back to using them usb lights are so much more convent and cheaper in the long run.

bought mine for £16.50

 

[dimples]

Hi had a knog road rear light, flippin' bright but the bugger has fallen off whilst riding (on the road) Any one recomend a strong recharagable, secure rear light. It's the second Knog light I've lost with no apparent reasoning as to why. I ride unlit country lanes, A roads and in all weathers, often late at night due to work. Really want something reliable, bright and weather proof.

Out of curiosity which knog light was it? I'm considering getting the Knog Blinder 1 for my rear.

 

[AndyPeace]

Mine was a Knog Blinder Road and the previous one a Blinder 4v. Both have the same quick release clamp.The clamp lever seemed solid and they look great and where very visible. Not sure how either came off, as to wether the lever got opened somehow or the strap broke, as I've never found either light despite searching as soon as I realised it was off. Scarred me I won't buy Knog again. Both lights were only a few months old

 

[Deleted member 23692]

The strap on my 2 day old knog blinder 4GT snapped too. Luckily it happened in the house rather than out on the road, which could have been dangerous.

A very poor design considering the price

 

[dimples]

Crikey, that's not very comforting. I'm not sure whether to get one now, although I can't think of any other alternative to the blinder 1 that's small like that.