thechemist

So my second serfas thunderbolt is now nonfunctional due to a little bit of rain on my ride today I had this issue with my first serfas and the lbs just swapped it out and said it happens sometimes. Well this one is literally about 1-2 months old and I am talking MILD rain.

Suggestions on a new taillight?

must last 2+hrs. Must be rechargeable,preferably USB. Must last in crappy weather 15F-100F and rain.

ItsJustMe

My Serfas Shield was full of water after a light rain last summer. Serfas swapped it out and the new one worked OK until I lost it due to the strap clip being utterly useless (the light would just fall off at the slightest bump).

Apparently Serfas doesn't actually know how to waterproof a light.

I dunno, I'm back to using a Cygolite Hotshot as a small self contained light. However for my main rear light I'm using a MagicShine - since I already have a compatible battery pack for my front light, I can power the MS tail with a Y connector. For $30, it's probably the only 3 watt tail light you can get.

I'm thinking about trying the Niterider Solas - a few people here have recommended it. It has the same power as the Cygolite Hotshot (2 watt LED) but the beam is more spread out. The Cygolite has a super compact beam which drops off badly to the sides.

chaadster

The Knog Road R light should be of great interest to ex-Thunderbolt users. Simple, sleek, setpost strap mounting, very to extremely bright, long run time, great flash modes, side illumination, etc.

I ran mine on pulse flash for five hours of riding in pouring, cold, MI fall rain this past September, and it performed flawlessly and cleaned up great afterwards. I've used it alot in the past year or so-- can't recall exactly when I got it-- and it's a real gem, if a bit hard to actuate the switch due to it's awkward location on the backside of the unit, but it's my favorite tail lamp ever.

catonec 

I dont understand why people spend $40 on a "be seen" taillight. see where you're going headlights are a different story.

ebay has plenty options like this one, they come in all colors, white or red lights, with batteries, for around a buck each. buy 10 of them and you're set for years.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/White-LED-Ko...item3a8965a1c7

chaadster

Catonec,

I have many of those, scattered across trailers and kids' bikes. They're really quite dim and have short run times from twin coin cell batteries. They're more of a pain in the butt than useful or convenient, which is why I spent $40 on a taillight.

I agree with the principle that there are diminishing returns at some point, but the Frog is certainly not that point. For me, anyway.

jyl

I've had good luck with the Knog Blinder mounted on the seatpost and, for awhile, on my helmet. No water proofing problems in Portland rain. Lasts many hours.

Then again my Serfas Thunderbolt has been fine too, on the seatstay of my daily commuter bike, guess I got a good one.

Athens80

I used to take along a brand name equivalent of these "Kong" lights as a last-ditch back-up for useful lights. Since I now have good lights with good LEDs and rechargeable batteries I haven't had an occasion to break out these toy lights in years. I never thought to use such tiny lights as my primary lighting, because they are dim, because they use throwaway batteries, and because those batteries are liable to die during the ride without warning.

spdntrxi

my thunderbolt has been fine.. no heavy rain, but it has been wet before.

chaadster

OMG, I didn't even notice those were Kong brand! That's funny...and sad. But yeah, my experience was with the real McCoys, too.

cehowardGS

I try to always run double in the back and double up front. Something goes, I still have one.. I am running the Cyglolite Hotshot rear of my helmet, and the Serfas on my seatpost. BTW, the Serfas is the brighter of the two, and the Hotshot is bright!! Today, the Serfas went out, so the Hotshot took over. Right now I am charging the Serfas. I hope nothing is wrong with it. Will find out tomorrow after it has finished charging. The Serfas was a gift from my buddy Burton, and it one brightazz rear light I tell you that!!