Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Planet Bike Superflash Optimized for Drive Side

I recently got a Planet Bike Superflash taillight (works great). The mounting hardware is set up so that if you put it on a chainstay, the light will be on the right side of the stay. That's how you'd want it if you were mounting it on the right side (drive side) of your bike. In fact, an illustration on the package shows it mounted on the right side.

Seems obvious to me that, at least in this country, one would want to have it mounted on the left (the traffic side).

No big deal, but why do you think they set it up that way.

I recently got a Planet Bike Superflash taillight (works great). The mounting hardware is set up so that if you put it on a chainstay, the light will be on the right side of the stay. That's how you'd want it if you were mounting it on the right side (drive side) of your bike. In fact, an illustration on the package shows it mounted on the right side.

Seems obvious to me that, at least in this country, one would want to have it mounted on the left (the traffic side).

No big deal, but why do you think they set it up that way.

I don't get you, I mount them on either side with no problem. On the left side is a bit less intuitive, but perfectly doable.

I don't get you, I mount them on either side with no problem. On the left side is a bit less intuitive, but perfectly doable.

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When I had one, I never bothered caring about their picture. I just put it on the left side. Since I got the Dinotte 140L, I mounted that also on the left side with a terra cycle accessory clamp.

I'm not sure why Planet Bike shows their light on the right side, but I just ignored it.

I put mine on the left side without even looking at the picture :)

Chainstay mounting of taillights is all good in principle, but in practice it leaves a lot to be desired. Unless you have one light for each side. That wheel can *really* get in the way of the light if you're not careful. If you do use the chainstay mount, please put it high enough where at least some spill will clear the tire from the other side.

Chainstay mounting of taillights is all good in principle, but in practice it leaves a lot to be desired. Unless you have one light for each side. That wheel can *really* get in the way of the light if you're not careful. If you do use the chainstay mount, please put it high enough where at least some spill will clear the tire from the other side.

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Which is why I eventually installed the Dinotte 140L. If a driver can't see that, they are blind. Expensive, yes, but being seen under all conditions is worth it.

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Which is why I eventually installed the Dinotte 140L. If a driver can't see that, they are blind. Expensive, yes, but being seen under all conditions is worth it.

Exactly. If you're going to this, a better idea would be to attach another light to the rear of your hemet so you driver can still locate your position once he's within several feet.

I ended up putting it on the left seat stay, but above the level of the top of the tire.

One would think that all tailights would have provisions for mounting on the back of racks. Most visible, from all sides. Neither my SF, nor Mars has this feature....

One would think that all tailights would have provisions for mounting on the back of racks. Most visible, from all sides. Neither my SF, nor Mars has this feature....

If you don't have fenders, the lights get sandblasted by the grit coming off of the tire. You would think that this was minimal damage, but it is not.

If you don't have fenders, the lights get sandblasted by the grit coming off of the tire. You would think that this was minimal damage, but it is not.

Dusty (http://www.flickr.com/photos/9320902@N04/624448582/in/photostream/), yes. Sandblasted, no. Though the bike was brand new when I took the photo, I never had a problem down the line where the lights were mounted.

Did you ever consider mounting the light off of one of the rails on your seat? thats what i did and there is even a clear line of sight when i have panniers on.

I never thought about that. I have a Planet Bike tail light bracket on a Jandd rear rack. I just have to get another Superflash. The ones in the photo were sold along with the bike.

Dusty (http://www.flickr.com/photos/9320902@N04/624448582/in/photostream/), yes. Sandblasted, no. Though the bike was brand new when I took the photo, I never had a problem down the line where the lights were mounted.

Of course you didn't. You don't have a rack on the bike.

My reply about sandblast was to the comment "for mounting on the back of racks".

Okay. In my experience, I did have a rear rack with a tail light and no fenders. Again, it was dusty, but not filthy. Maybe because the rack I have is longer than average ones?

One would think that all tailights would have provisions for mounting on the back of racks. Most visible, from all sides. Neither my SF, nor Mars has this feature....

1) Stop writing in annoying green colours. You're not special
2) Racks come with a L bracket that allows you to mount reflectors to the center rear of it. This can easily be addapted to secure the plastic mount lights come with.

One would think that all tailights would have provisions for mounting on the back of racks. Most visible, from all sides. Neither my SF, nor Mars has this feature....


Planet Bike makes a rack mount for the SuperFlash (http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3108.html). This is intended to bolt to your rear rack's reflector-mounting bracket. If it's not strong enough to support a SuperFlash long-term, you may need to fabricate your own from stronger metal.

Alternately, you can bolt a piece of dowel to the underside of racks that have a center plate (Blackburn MTN racks and clones), then use your blinkie's seatpost mount to attach it to the dowel.


As for the original topic, I suspect the box art shows the SuperFlash on the driveside because the stylized gear cluster in the illustration helps you figure out that oh, I get it, those are the gears and that's the seatstay. Make sense? :)

I have three Superflashes. Two are mounted on the left and right chainstays. The third one I clip to my panier or the back of my helmet. Setting them up this way has been very visible and effective so far.

Seems obvious to me that, at least in this country, one would want to have it mounted on the left (the traffic side).

No big deal, but why do you think they set it up that way.

I wondered this also when I got my first SuperFlash. One of the great mysteries of the universe I guess. I simply took the hardware, flipped it upside down and put it on the left side instead of the right.

I wondered this also when I got my first SuperFlash. One of the great mysteries of the universe I guess. I simply took the hardware, flipped it upside down and put it on the left side instead of the right.

I'm not sure why you flipped it upside down, but that's a good way to lose your SuperFlash, judging by the number of empty upside-down PB mounts I've seen as a LBS mechanic. You can mount it on the non-driveside in the correct orientation (light dropping downward into the mount).

I'm not sure why you flipped it upside down, but that's a good way to lose your SuperFlash, judging by the number of empty upside-down PB mounts I've seen as a LBS mechanic. You can mount it on the non-driveside in the correct orientation (light dropping downward into the mount).

Yeah, it could fall out, that was pretty obvious when I flipped it.

It can be mounted in the correct orientation on the non drive side, but the mount that came with mine is offset to the right and comes a little closer to the rear wheel then I am comfortable with. I always figured the instructions show it mounted on the drive side because of this very reason.