Mountain Bike Reviews Forum banner

Suggestion on rear light?

1500 Views 18 Replies 16 Participants Last post by  jetdog9
Looking for suggestions for a rear (red) light for gravel use. Just looking for something that works well and is durable and without fuss. Not looking for all out cheap but don't want anything excessively expensive either.
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
I have a Niterider Cherry bomb and a Bike Planet one, both very similar in design and runnoff 2 aaa batteries. Theres usb rechargeable ones, but i like that years down the line itll still work and just go to any store and get batteries. Ridden through downpours and mud fests and still work fine. Use good batteries and change them, dont let them leak, and youll be good for a long time.
I usually have one frame mounted and the other clipped to bag/pack. Frame one i run all the time, pack one i turn on in heavy traffic zones and also serves as backup.
Simple and cheap are fine for occasional road use, but if I'm doing a lot of daylight (or particularly dawn/dusk) riding on high use roads I want to be seen. For that I like an obnoxiously bright flashing tail light. The Lezyne Zecto Max I have on my road bike (250 lumen) fits that bill, as does the Magicshine SeeMe 180 (180 lm) I just put on my gravel bike. Both are bright enough that I have to turn them down if I'm riding with friends, but both give me an extra sense of security when I'm riding around all those SUVs driven by soccer Moms trying to kill me. These are $40-50 lights, and there are several others in that class from various manufacturers that have similar brightness, features and cost.

A step up from this is one of the Garmin Varia radar tail lights that give you a visual display of encroaching traffic on your bike computer. I haven't sprung for one of these yet since my Lezyne computer isn't compatible with them, but I think they're a great idea and I may just switch bike comps just to be able to use one. They're not cheap, though - $150 for a tail light hurts - but not as much as my wife hurt when she got knocked off her bike by a little old lady in an SUV a couple of months ago. She's OK now, but we've both kinda gotten the bike light religion since.
See less See more
  • Like
Reactions: 1
I got a Lenzyn Strip Drive pro for christmas. I'm guessing it was around 40 bucks. It is bright AF on the highest settings (daylight use only I'm guessing otherwise you'll be blinding and pissing off drivers behind you) and appears to provide high visibility even from a 90° angle. It also has a lot of settings, probably too many but no biggie since it turns on at the last setting that was used. I'd say it's probably two and a half inches tall and 1 in wide, unfortunately it doesn't fit on my seat post with my current saddlebag. Also it doesn't come with an adjustable mount for the seat stay or I would just use it there. On my bike (2021 Diverge) with its geometry, even upsidedown it points too far towards the sky in that location. I'll probably keep it for my kids bike and get myself a round cat-eye of similar cost.

Consider your mounting options and needs before purchasing. A lot of people have saddlebags and not a lot of exposed seat post under that.

Also consider batteries or rechargeable. At first glance rechargeable seems like a no-brainer but it can be inconvenient at times and require often charging. One or two AA batteries last a very long time in most bike lights and if you're going to be on the bike for many hours or even days then I think that's the best choice as you can just carry spares.

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Tapatalk
See less See more
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Check out the Portland Design Works Danger Zone tail light. $30, light weight, bright and durable. I've had the same one on my road bike for years and it just works!
I have had a bontrager flare r for years and it just keeps working. It can be seen from very far away. It still holds a charge longer than I ride like 6 years later. If it dies I will just get another one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  • Like
Reactions: 1
I like the Specialized Stix lights. They're bright enough, tough, and hold a charge for a long time.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
I like the Lezyne Zecto Drive lights. Bright and importantly, good off axis visability (there are many lights that are bright directly behind but fall off more than about 5-10 degrees off axis). $40 for the 80 lumen model and $50 for the 250 lumen version. I don’t road ride anymore, but always run a rear flasher to and from the trail when on the road.
Look at the Garmin Varia. Features included could be what you may want. Varia app on my phone is good if you anticipate compatibility issues. $$ but safety….
I have had a bontrager flare r for years and it just keeps working. It can be seen from very far away. It still holds a charge longer than I ride like 6 years later. If it dies I will just get another one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

x2


Tiny, bright, USB rechargeable and good for 6 hour (at least) rides. Varia is great but poor battery like and bulky. Also maybe unnecessary for gravel riding.
Wife and I both have these. Last forever on a charge. Obnoxiously bright on some settings (this is a good thing). Have held up fine on 5 hour rugged gravel rides where we share part of the ride with cars. Worked for over 5 hours in a downpour... super weather-proof. Rubber strap wraps around the seatpost and has a super to easy to use latch. $23 at REI. Planet Bike Superflash 65 Bike Taillight | REI Co-op

Wheel Plant Automotive lighting Automotive tail & brake light Audio equipment
See less See more
Lezyne Zecto Drive 250 Lumen light. A strong day-time rear light. I have 2 of these.

Camera accessory Camera Camera lens Digital camera Cameras & optics
See less See more
Thanks for the replies! Can anyone speak to the differences between the Lezyne Strip versus the Zecto?
The other rear light that I use and like that is somewhat like the Lezyne Strip is the Knog Blinder Road R70 Tail Light.

Camera accessory Gadget Composite material Font Circle
See less See more
Wife and I both have these. Last forever on a charge. Obnoxiously bright on some settings (this is a good thing). Have held up fine on 5 hour rugged gravel rides where we share part of the ride with cars. Worked for over 5 hours in a downpour... super weather-proof. Rubber strap wraps around the seatpost and has a super to easy to use latch. $23 at REI. Planet Bike Superflash 65 Bike Taillight | REI Co-op

View attachment 1963484
Those are really good for the money - we have a few in the family. Still, they have fallen off and had the rack mounts break. Our Bontragers were and are more expensive but they've got the edge for mounting and the newest us down right super bright for the size.
Garmin Varia RTL515, wont ride without it.
I have a Varia. I won't rant and rave about how great the radar feature is because I have so much traffic in my area that it is just constantly on. But I would think it would be great for less traffic area.

And it is the only light I have had recently where people have commented on how well they could see me.

Side bonus: anyone riding near you with a Garmin can also use your radar at the same time. My GF gets radar notifications on her Garmin when we ride together.
I have a Varia. I won't rant and rave about how great the radar feature is because I have so much traffic in my area that it is just constantly on. But I would think it would be great for less traffic area.

And it is the only light I have had recently where people have commented on how well they could see me.

Side bonus: anyone riding near you with a Garmin can also use your radar at the same time. My GF gets radar notifications on her Garmin when we ride together.
Yea, I live in Alaska, and mainly ride on minor roads, not HWYs, so for me its perfect.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
+1 on the Varia Radar train. It's great extra data to help keep you safe. Still make sure to use and trust your eyes and ears more.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top