Which rear light do you use?

[XmisterIS]

I had (note the use of the past tense here) a particularly good and bright rear light from Halfords, from their "bikehut" range of lights that I bought as a set with a front light too. And it wasn't cheap either!

The lights are both really beefy and bright, I love the front light and I did love the rear light too (again, note the use of the past tense here).

It was an excellent rear light until I was rattling down a hill when, in order, I felt bump, then I heard clatter, then crunch, then vroom and whoosh, then "buggery!"

The reason?
bump = pothole,
clatter = rear light bouncing out of the mount,
crunch = car running over the light
vroom and whoosh = car going past
buggery = me swearing when I realised what had happened!

I have looked at a few lights on the net, I was initially drawn to the Blackburn Mars, but it seems that it too can suffer from the bump/clatter/crunch/vroom/whoosh/buggery effect.

It is ironic that I have a spare rear light which was cheaper than chips and dimmer than a chav in a 1 litre Saxo with lowered suspension, blacked out windows, full body kit, a Yoshimura exhaust and a 16" Black Cat base bin in the boot, but it sticks to the seatpost mount like glue!

What light do you use? And have you ever had a light that has suffered from the BCCVWB effect? If so, what was it so I can avoid it?

 

[fossyant]

I have quite a few. Got the Smart Super Flash on a number of our bikes as they are good. Have the odd one that doesn't like water.

I also have an old rear LD600 - it's OK, and a Mars 3.0 and a 4.0 - both very good and waterproof. The Mars 4.0 rattles a bit, but neither come out.

The most powerful standard light is a RSP Astrum - that's currently out of use as the bracket broke (I'd bodged a fit to my pannier and the bracket broke) - can't get a replacement bracket though. Prior to my 'bodge' the light had been great, good secure fit and waterproof.


I replaced the Astrum with a Raleigh dual 1/2 watt - it's basically the same but bigger and has a specific rack mount - it's also a good secure fit but I'm not so sure it's that waterproof as I'm on my second.

My main rear lights are Magicshines - nuf said - waterproof, very very bright.

 

[Number14]

If you've got a rear rack then I'd suggest a B&M toplight 4D. Two very bright LEDs in the centre and one on each side. Nice big built in reflector as well that seems to glow from the LEDs.

 

[Chrismawa]

I have a light set from the Bikehut range as well and my rear one has come off a couple of times. Luckily it hasn't been squashed yet!

I also managed to send my VDO bike computer flying as well!

 

[PpPete]

Smart 1/2 watt Superflash (same shape as the R1) - never had any problem with the bracket - or indeed with switch failure or water ingress that others have reported.

Also now added a Smart Polaris 1/2 watt (the kidney shape one) just in case. Both are AAA powered.

I've put an LD-1100 on the rack of my wife's commuter (had to buy a special bracket). More expensive and not as bright as the 1/2 watts but much bigger lit area and better side visibility.

Also bought a Raleigh 2 x 1/2 watt - another AA powered light. Lots of bracket options included and can be mounted horizontally or vertically. Certainly big & bright, yet to see how reliable the bracket is.

 

[ACS]

Smart R2, recent upgrade from R1. Used in flashing mode, option 4 or 5.

2 low cost, naff 5 LED from Tesco I think paired together on the back of my rack . Used in steady mode.

 

[BSRU]

A Dinotte 400R, gets most peoples attention even on the sunniest day, set to always on with three quick very bright pulses every second or so. Only downside to the 400R is the cost, it's very expensive.
Also a 12v car emergency red strobe, two banks of 22 led's which flash 3 times alternatively.
As back up, two Smart's, a half watt and a one watt, plus an Astrum.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

I have the Raleigh 2 x 1/2 watt and it's great, the brightest light and the weather has not bothered it. I also have an Oxford 7 LED rear light that is pretty good and the weather has not bothered it. Both are very secure, unlike a Topeak UFO that I lost first time I hit a pothole.

 

[Davidc]

Used in various combinations I have:

Several Smart 1/2w LED superflash lights.

These stay quite well in their brackets, but do have a blob of araldite on each to make them even tighter. Known for water issues, I smear a bit of silicone grease over the joints on all lights, so have never had any problem.

One Smart 1w LED Lunar R1

Replaced one of the 1/2w LED units which I crunched on a Sheffield stand. It's brighter with greater beam angle and beefier rubber seal. Same shape and fitting clip. Has a lower brightness mode suitable for if you're riding with someone else behind you which is a sensible addition.

All those are run on AAA batteries (normally rechargeables)

I've looked at a number of other rear lights but haven't seen any yet that would persuade me to change from the Smarts.

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I also have dynamos with rear lights on them. One uses a Smart light designed for mudguard fitting. Perfectly adequate light but not as bright as the Smart battery ones. The other bike uses a B&M D Toplight. That's almost as bright as the Smarts. Both of those have integral reflectors, are good lights but meet German regulations so don't flash.

 

[mcshroom]

I have an LD-600 on the rack (with a mount bought extra) and a £3 1/2W copy from Dealextreme on the seat post.

Whatever light you get, use a small rubber band to hold it onto the clip if you can. It prevents the light flying off at speed.

 

[delport]

I use the smart lunar [1/2 watt],and cat eye ld 600 [i think it is]

 

[2Loose]

Two Smart's, seem to fit seat stay and seatpost very securely.

 

[HLaB]

The afore mentioned Smart superflash 1/2 watt and the Mars 4.0 are my main lights; these are super bright lights (Id say the Mars is more robust). When I'm in Christmas tree mode I attach the smart bspoke 1/2 watt (same led as the superflash but different case, 'kidney shaped'), Cateye TL 600 (maybe not the brightest but it fit on the rear of my rack nicely) and/or a Smart 7led (again not the brightest but it fits nicely on to my seatstay.

PS when I've used my Mars with its clamp I've never suffered the 'bump/clatter/crunch/vroom/whoosh/buggery effect' despite the massive potholes round here lately :-(. I did have one clipped to my saddle bag (knowingly minus a tooth) shot down a hill (I usually top 30 there) and at the bottom their are lights for the first time ever they were green and I held most of my speed a sharp left turn at speed wasn't very agreeable with it

 

[BikeCurious]

Currently I have a Cateye LD1100 and a cheap Tescos light as backup.  The LD1100 is pretty good, 6 LEDs facing backwards and 2 either side for a total of 10 with various flashing modes so should catch people's attention.  Never had any problems with the mount either.

I did have a Smart 1/2 watt rear light but that got lost when a woman decided to drive into me.  The back half of the light and the bracket stayed attached to the bike, but the other half containing the actual light and batteries came separated and ended up on the road and got crushed.

 

[numbnuts]

saw this the other day, but it's white bit oddCateye TL-LD610 LED White Lens Rear Light