Best REAR bike light

vikingaero

OK. We all have different requirements for lighting on bikes. There are those who need lights that throw out thousands of lumens for night riding to those who need lights purely for marking or a combination of the two.

I like to have one static light and one flashing light minimum - the flashing to get a drivers attention, and the static to help a driver gauge their distance from me.

But can anyone recommend, in their opinion, the best or brightest rear LED light for a bike? It could be good for pure brightness, it could be good because of quality and ease of use. Over to you chaps and chapesses.

Johnmcl7

I use Cateye TL-LD610's on my bike, they're fairly cheap, it's easy to get additional brackets, it uses standard AAA batteries, batterylife seems very good and the LEDs are bright. I've had a couple of them and used one of them daily for over a couple of years including mountain biking and both are still working fine.

John

Marco_Panettone

Any light is only as good as the batteries. Keep them fresh.

ceredigion

Smart Lunar R2
2 x 1/2 Watt LEDs

brat

Buy a Knog Blinder.

Rechargeable, 70 lumens, settings up to 20 hours battery life. Fantastic!

Your rear light is your life saver. It's a no brainer!

Nebulous2

I had problems with the Smart letting in water. I have one of these on my bike. http://www.amazon.co.uk/MetroFlash-Danger-Zone-Tail-Light/dp/B00AOZHW3O/ref=cm_cr-mr-title

and one like this on my pannier bag

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-vision-180-rear-light?bct=browse%2faccessories%2flights-batteries

liz545

I'm short, and I've always struggled with seatpost-mounted lights, because I don't have enough seatpost clearance for them to be visible and not obscured by my pannier rack. This PDW light can be fitted to your pannier rack, it's really bright, I've not had any problems with using it in the rain, and it's inexpensive.

Strider590

ceredigion wrote: »

Smart Lunar R2
2 x 1/2 Watt LEDs

This ^^

Excellent value for money, got mine on Ebay for £12 (brand new, from a bike shop).

Downside, i've heard of people getting complaints from drivers about these being too bright.

zaax

The main problem I find is the brackets that hold the light on to the bike. Putting it on to the seat clamp can be dangerous as it can be hidden by a long coat and anyway the toolkit is attached there, so I put mine on the end of the carrier.
Wearing a hi-viz (class 3) jerkin or coat also helps when the light goes out half way though a trip, and you don't know it.

rdr

zaax wrote: »

...when the light goes out half way though a trip, and you don't know it.

I always have 2 rear lights and check them at the beginning and end of a ride. This is to ensure that you catch the nearly dead batteries that work for two minutes when you first turn them on.

liz545

zaax wrote: »

The main problem I find is the brackets that hold the light on to the bike. Putting it on to the seat clamp can be dangerous as it can be hidden by a long coat and anyway the toolkit is attached there, so I put mine on the end of the carrier.
Wearing a hi-viz (class 3) jerkin or coat also helps when the light goes out half way though a trip, and you don't know it.

I've also got a set of these Lezyne backup lights (£12 for two is pretty cheap), the rear light fits through a loop on the saddle bag (Decathlon cheapy) and the front fits to the bars. Having two lights on means if one of them runs out mid-ride, you'll still be lit.