Best rear light...

rowlers
rowlers Posts: 1,614
edited November 2010 in Road buying advice
Which is the best rear light ot fit to a Ribble Gran Fondo, (thinking about the tube profiles)

I have a Knog Skink, but I don't have room for it under my saddle bag (Topeak Wedge Small) on the seatpost.
Alternatively a small saddle bag that doesn;t take up too much "seatpost" room.

Ideally I'd like a rear light on the seat stay as well as the seat post.

cheers

Comments

  • Scrumple
    Scrumple Posts: 2,665
    smart lunar R1 or R2
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Dont get the new Smart R1 light - I've only had mine on the bike for 3 rides or so - none of them really wet, but I have washed the bike down. The light failed on me on my ride today - luckily it was just a murky daylight ride - but not ideal. The old smart light worked much better for me.
  • porker33
    porker33 Posts: 636
    I intend to order a Blackburn mars 3 this week, it seems to get good reviews for the price....so it will be interesting to see responses from this thread.
  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,615
    buy 2 cheap ones. one goes on the saddle bag loop and the other on the seat stay, then if one goes out without you noticing the other will still be there to make you visible. i've got 2 smart 7 led things that were about a fiver each and last ages
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • Hoopdriver
    Hoopdriver Posts: 2,023
    Blackburn Mars are excellent, and if you really really need to be seen, as on dark country lanes, the Cateye 1100 is unbeatable.
  • clx1
    clx1 Posts: 200
    I recently got a "Light and Motion" Hi Vis 180 which they claim is the brightest rear light available at 35 lumens. It's rechargeable via a USB cable.
    It's blindingly light even in broad daylight and can be seen from the sides as well as the back.
    It's very expensive at £85 but then again it's very bright. It has a rubber strap attachment which fits on both round and aero seat posts.
  • As an R2 user I can safely say this.

    It's excellent. Really really good.

    But it ain't as good as the Exposure Flare. I run that on flash and the Smart on solid.

    The Flare attaches much much easier as well.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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  • ShutUpLegs
    ShutUpLegs Posts: 3,522
    Scrumple wrote:
    smart lunar R1 or R2

    +1 You can see those from a mile away!
  • Wappygixer
    Wappygixer Posts: 1,396
    CLX1 wrote:
    I recently got a "Light and Motion" Hi Vis 180 which they claim is the brightest rear light available at 35 lumens. It's rechargeable via a USB cable.
    It's blindingly light even in broad daylight and can be seen from the sides as well as the back.
    It's very expensive at £85 but then again it's very bright. It has a rubber strap attachment which fits on both round and aero seat posts.

    I too have this light and I'm impressed at its brightness.I run it along side a Mars 4 which has a 1 watt led and its completely drowned out by the L&M.I also have a Fibreflair light on the back seat stay which offers very good all round visuals.
    Don't skimp on lights, just think how much you value your life.
  • billysan
    billysan Posts: 575
    Have tried loads of lights, including cateye, niterider, knog, blackburn, vistalight.

    All I use now are blackburn lights. Both the Mars 3 & 4 are about as good as it gets I reckon. Have one of each on the road bike. 3 has better all round visibility, but the punch of the 4 is quite something. Think fog light bright on a car.
  • smart_vs_redeye2.jpg

    Smart v Exposure
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    In the Cycling Weekly test the Smart Lunar 1 came out on top and for good reason. Had one for a few years now and it is THE brightest thing out there and just great for the price.
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    smart_vs_redeye2.jpg

    Smart v Exposure

    You need new batteries in that Smart! My half watt is loads brighter than that!
    Faster than a tent.......
  • andrew_s
    andrew_s Posts: 2,511
    Smart R1 for me.

    The exposure and L&M may be brighter, but as far as I'm concerned, they are useless: seatpost only.
  • Rolf F wrote:

    You need new batteries in that Smart! My half watt is loads brighter than that!

    It's adjusted to take the photo. You couldn't take it otherwise.

    Trust me, the exposure is brighter than the Smart.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    It baffles me why peeps want rechargeable lights on the back, it's just another inconvenience and expense, forget to charge it and you're screwed. Cheap ones are plenty bright enough and the batteries last for ages. One on your bag loop and one elsewhere.
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    Trust me, the exposure is brighter than the Smart.

    It possibly is but it still isn't reasonable to imply that the Smart produces a dull light. It doesn't - they are great lights aside from the dodgy waterproofing which is easily improved. I'm sure the Exposures are better but then they are well over 3 times the price you can get the new 1 watts from places like Ribble.

    Ultimately, whilst ultra powerful lights are great at the front, I'm not sure really what benefit there is in going much brighter than a couple of 1 or 1/2 watts at the back. I'd rather have more, cheap lights than one expensive one at the back.
    Faster than a tent.......
  • Rolf F wrote:
    Trust me, the exposure is brighter than the Smart.

    It possibly is but it still isn't reasonable to imply that the Smart produces a dull light. It doesn't - they are great lights aside from the dodgy waterproofing which is easily improved. I'm sure the Exposures are better but then they are well over 3 times the price you can get the new 1 watts from places like Ribble.

    Ultimately, whilst ultra powerful lights are great at the front, I'm not sure really what benefit there is in going much brighter than a couple of 1 or 1/2 watts at the back. I'd rather have more, cheap lights than one expensive one at the back.

    It's much much better as a daytime/gloom running light. It's also very waterproof indeed. Try the glass of lager trick.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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  • billysan
    billysan Posts: 575
    Try the glass of lager trick.

    Whats that?
  • Immerse it in lager (water will do just fine).

    It's totally sealed so just keeps going and going and going.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    How do you improve the waterproofing on the Smart R1 ?

    I noticed it had let water in on my last ride so I dried it off on the radiator for a day or so, and then greased the seals - thinking that should do it. Nope, it went off on yesterdays ride when it wasnt really wet - just a bit muddy. And then only came back when it felt like it later that day. Its a liability sadly.

    Strangely my Smart 1/2 Watt lights have survived much worse conditions and not skipped a beat. I'd not ride with less tha 2 rears though - just in case.
  • cougie wrote:
    How do you improve the waterproofing on the Smart R1 ?

    I noticed it had let water in on my last ride so I dried it off on the radiator for a day or so, and then greased the seals - thinking that should do it. Nope, it went off on yesterdays ride when it wasnt really wet - just a bit muddy. And then only came back when it felt like it later that day. Its a liability sadly.

    Strangely my Smart 1/2 Watt lights have survived much worse conditions and not skipped a beat. I'd not ride with less tha 2 rears though - just in case.

    My R2 had gone a bit screwy this morning. Seems ok now.

    The Exposure is rock solid though.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    I put vaseline on the front and rear closing surfaces of the Smart - and then put the rubber gasket on. Seems pretty reliable now but I do use full mudguards as well.
    Faster than a tent.......
  • spasypaddy
    spasypaddy Posts: 5,180
    the correct answer is either the blackburn mars 4.0 or the exposure flare.

    i run both.
  • So, took a few more pics to demonstrate the difference.

    SMART LUNAR R2 with both lights on.

    P1000840.jpg


    EXPOSURE FLARE

    P1000841.jpg
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • And if you fancy a flare, evans have 15% off all exposure

    EXPS15
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  • clx1
    clx1 Posts: 200
    andrew_s wrote:
    Smart R1 for me.

    The exposure and L&M may be brighter, but as far as I'm concerned, they are useless: seatpost only.


    What rubbish, you actually think that the brighter lights are useless, what kind of logic does your head work on?
    By the way you are also wrong, the L&M will fit on a seat stay, seat post, bag strap, jacket pocket and helmet.
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    So, took a few more pics to demonstrate the difference.

    SMART LUNAR R2 with both lights on.

    EXPOSURE FLARE

    That's more like it! I'm warming to the idea....... If battery life and genuine UK manufacture, I could be tempted.
    Faster than a tent.......