Submitted by
Akeldama
a Weekend Warrior
from Boise, ID, USA Date Reviewed: July 28, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Grand Targhee
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Incredibly bright, simple and functional design, great battery life, and who cannot afford $20 for a device that might save your life.
Weaknesses:
None.
Bike Setup:
KHS FXT Trail.
Bottom Line:
This taillight is amazing. It is easily visible even at high noon in the summer. Hit the button once and it blinks spastically. Hit it once more, and it turns solid on. Once more and it turns off. Easy. I haven't really gotten it wet yet (other than riding through a puddle or two) so I can't comment on its weather resistance. But it has never fallen off my bike (and I have given it every opportunity) despite the easy quick-release tab, so it can take a hit.
Drop the $20 and buy this thing. It is worth every penny.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
sk8dad
a Cross Country Rider
from Fremont, CA Date Reviewed: March 2, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Skeggs Point
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$5.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Granted I only paid $5 for it, but would've gladly paid full retail. This thing is BRIGHT! If you've ever had the misfortune to test it by looking directly at it, be warned. You'll be seeing a little red target for about 10 minutes. The flash pattern is very attention getting and resembles emergency vehicles.
Weaknesses:
the clip is a tad lose, but that's minor. Doesn't have as many flash modes as some others, but who needs all those anyway?
Similar Products Used:
Cateye, Niterider, Specialized
Bike Setup:
Specialized Stumpjumper FSR
Bottom Line:
The whole point of tail lights is to get noticed, and this light does that with flying colors. In fact the first time I saw this light as a driver, I thought it was from some emergency vehicle from a distance of about 1/2 mile! The flash pattern (2 bright, 2 week) is very similar to police and ambulance wigwags and is very urgent which is what you want. By contrast, my Cat eye has 5 flash modes which I find mostly useless anyway.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bullschuck
a Cross Country Rider
from NRH, TX, USA Date Reviewed: January 14, 2009
Favorite Trail:
whatever is in front of me
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Oh so bright
Batts lasts forever
Mounts on seatstay or seatpost
Weaknesses:
When batts go bad, light goes south quick
Still not as bright as a Dinotte
Similar Products Used:
Dinotte
Vetta
Bike Setup:
Roadie - Leader 717 w/ Ultegra-DA gruppo and Velocity Deep-V rims.
Bottom Line:
Really bright. I have had comments from drivers during the day about how bright it is. I've used it for over two years and changed batts once and I use it on every commute. I even left it on one day. Batts in the Vetta died in one month. I think I need three or four more of these. I really like the seatstay mount because I have a big seat bag.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ROAD WARRIOR
a Cross Country Rider
from Bastian, VA, USA Date Reviewed: December 25, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Gooseberry Mesa
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
performance
Strengths:
Bright, eye catching, small, light weight, and easy to mount
Weaknesses:
Hven't used it in the rain yet. If waters a issue, a little electrial tape should solve the problem.
Similar Products Used:
Anything that made light
Bike Setup:
Stumpjumper, Full XTR
Bottom Line:
This summer I was driving in Colorado at dawn when about a mile away I could just see a blinking light, at 3/4 mile I decided it was a car on the sholder with a turn signal on, At 1/2 mile I decided it was a car driving slowly with only a turn signal working. At 1/4 mile away I was slowing down so I could get a good look at the light on the rear of the bicycle. Ordered one the next day. They may not see you but they see the light.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eclectus
a Weekend Warrior
from Wichita, Kansas Date Reviewed: October 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Tomahawk Creek
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$18.00
Purchased At:
online somewhere
Strengths:
Brightest out there for under 20 bucks
Weaknesses:
Not bright enough to convince drivers to change lanes consistently in daytime.
The Blinky represents what EVERY manufacturer should be offering in their low-cost lineup.
But to really get cell-talking drivers' attention, the DiNotte 400L run in strobe mode is in a different universe. For example, in morning and afternoon rush hour traffic, I've seen (in my mirror) cars move left when they were 100-200 yards behind me, while drivers trying to stay in the right lane and pass me with 12 inches between us have really dropped off, relative to the frequency this occurred with the Blinky. I still keep the Blinky ready as a backup.
The Blinky run in flashing mode is excellent for night riding, which is its design purpose. But daytime lighting, if powerful enough, is a great safety device, and only DiNotte 400L and 140L, excepting perhaps the new Exposure rear LED, do this job satisfactorily. (BTW, for night group riding, you have to turn the 400L to low-constant, unless you're in the rear.)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
metalhalide
a Cross Country Rider
from Creve Coeur Date Reviewed: October 11, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$29.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
As stated previously, extremely bright.
Weaknesses:
This is an update of my prev. review. After the second of two rainy rides, the light was stuck on continuous. When I tried to switch to blink, it wouldn't turn back on. Very serious flaw when you are riding in traffic in a downpour at night.
Bottom Line:
Planet bike advertises this light as weatherproof on their website. It is not. As a band-aid, users may want to use a rear fender and/or seal the device with electricians' tape. I am now eating my previous words and have let my wife and brother know of this serious flaw. I will keep using the light b/c no other blinker is as bright.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
albertm
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA. USA Date Reviewed: September 17, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Interurban
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$18.00
Purchased At:
don't remember
Strengths:
Small size, very bright
Weaknesses:
Poor waterproofing
Similar Products Used:
Dinotte tail light
Bike Setup:
Commuter bike
Bottom Line:
I use this light on my commuter bike. I like the fact that its extremely bright - the only tail light I've found that is brighter is my Dinotte.
However the light shorted out during a rain storm, leaving me with no functional tail light. I've since talked to 3 other riders who had similar experiences.
After the light dried out it started working again - so what I do now is seal the light with electrical tape after changing out batteries. While a pain in the neck it works.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
metalhalide
a Cross Country Rider
from Creve Coeur, MO, USA Date Reviewed: September 12, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Planet Bike quality. Good quality/price ratio, but would be great regardless of price. Popular flasher with a good track record. Shockingly bright. Leaves an afterimage after you turn away. At night, looks like a police flasher from a distance. Lightweight. Battery economy. Can use Maha Powerex or Sanyo NiMH rechargeables so you know it is maximally bright every time you go out.
Weaknesses:
Looks dweeby on my Scott CR1 Pro, but that's my choice to mount it.
Similar Products Used:
1990's Trek LED taillight. Ruined by neglect and corroded batteries.
Bike Setup:
Stock Scott CR1 Pro (Ultegra, Ksyrium Elites).
1983 Guerciotti (Campagnolo Record, Suntour Superbe Pro brakes, Phil Wood hubs and bottom bracket)Expert restoration advice from Greg at Bicycle Classics
Bottom Line:
I have a 34 mile round trip commute and the light (along with my Light and Motion HID) has probably saved my skin more than once. Highly recommended. I own two and bought another for my wife. Bought another for my brother for commuting, too.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
emsmedic1
a Weekend Warrior
from Flushing, NY Date Reviewed: August 25, 2008
Favorite Trail:
none
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$21.00
Purchased At:
bikeworldusa.com
Strengths:
Low price, Very brite, Can see it from far far away.Easy to take on and off.
Weaknesses:
Very little installation options. The on and off buttom could be designed better.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Jekyll with all factory parts.
Bottom Line:
It's a Very nice lite for the price. If you have space on your seat post to install it, then you would not have any problems, but if you don't you might have to come up with a more creative approch for installations.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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