Rear Lights Testing Continues
 

Left to right: Knog Blinder 4, Blitzu Cyborg 168T, Cygolite Hotshot Micro, Nitrider Lumina Flare, Cateye Rapid X2, Light & Motion Vis 180 Micro, Cygolite Hotshot Pro 80. Half of these lights are mine. Other half is borrowed. Big thanks to BFold of New York City for lending me their lights for testing!

https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8167/2...2cfbeac480.jpgRed Light District by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8728/2...5dda24c66a.jpgWe're Turned On by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

Well the Cygolites look to be the better for daytime, no doubt about that and that's pretty much what I would have expected ( given the lamps you have ). The Vis 180 doesn't even look like it's on. I've never seen the Hotshot 80 in action before so I'm impressed with that. I have a feeling the when the Hotshot 150 comes out in a couple weeks a lot of people will be springing for those.

Cameras are odd in how they represent stuff but don't represent the way the human eye actually sees it. I have the VIS 180 (not the micro as tested) and that light is extremely noticeable in bright full sun daylight.

I've seen the Cygolite Hotshot Pro 80 in action locally during a group ride. By far the brightest rear red LED I've seen yet, brighter than the popular PDW Radbot 1000, Lumina Flare and PB Superflash -- all of which I've seen locally. I haven't seen everything available but the Hotshot Pro 80 appears to be the best bang for the buck.

It's almost too bright for nighttime use on the daylight setting. It's on my to-buy list for my next light purchase because it's really bright enough to be visible in daylight.

One quirk of the Hotshot Pro 80 -- not uncommon, either -- is that it's almost collimated, intensely bright when viewed directly from behind, less so from side angles. My Planet Bike Rear Rack Blinky 5 has the same characteristic, but less bright. It's useful for nudging drivers or tailgaters away.

BTW, in my own video and still photo tests, some lights that appear red to the eye are washed out with some digital camera sensors. And none of the cameras I've tried -- Nikon, Fuji, Ricoh -- can accurately convey the intensity of bright red LEDs. But comparing them side by side as the OP has done helps give some idea of the comparative brightness.

Anyone shopping for a new rear light really needs to consider the Cateye Rapid X3 https://www.amazon.com/CatEye-Rapid-.../dp/B018IAS9QU which is not pictured above. 100 lumen USB rechargeable, and while it is more than the HotShot 80, it is quite a bit brighter. I like the dual rows of LED's that allow you to choose what each side does, one can flash, the other can be solid, or they can flash on different patterns.

I only use the X3 and a Lezyne Strip Drive Pro that I have, which is also 100 lumens. My HotShots, Thunderbolts and all other taillights have been retired. They truly pale in comparison to these two lights.

I purchased the Hotshot Pro 80 2 months ago to replace a previous hotshot 30lm that was attached to a bicycle that was stolen. I have done a moderate 'walk behind bicycle about 150 feet' test during daytime and was satisfied. However, during nighttime, it is entirely too bright to the point where I worry about target fixation from drivers.

The only mode currently that can be dimmed is steady on, which I don't think is effective enough by itself at night. Great for nighttime MUP use though.

For nighttime use I use it on either Steadyflash 'steady mid level on, coupled with programmable timed triple flash bursts' or the steady pulse mode. Both of which light up both sides of all reflective surfaces on a 4 lane road to a ridiculous degree for must be 1/8 - 1/4 mile behind. It reflects so much so that I really do worry about target fixation. Hopefully they will implement dimmable functions to all modes in future models.

It appears that Cateye have updated the Rapid X3 to 150 lumen.


https://www.evanscycles.com/en-au/ca...light-EV276557

Misleading stuff there, as the description still says 100 lumens.

I think because the product is new, Evans Cycles hasn't got around to updating the description and the previous description is still in place.


Here another UK store has done the same thing. --> Accessories : Cateye Rapid X3 150 Lumen Rear Light - Climb On Bikes Hereford

This time I found another UK based store that has a description to match the headline.


Cateye Rapid X3 Rear Light £53.99

The PB Superflash Turbo is now extremely dated, many lights are brighter.

I would buy the 150 lumen version once one of these current lights dies which probably won't be any time soon.

are you sure about the dimming on the Cygolite? mine dims or brightens both in constant and flashing mode. You set the brightness in constant mode though

Lightskin seat posts

LightSKIN Seatpost for Brompton – NYCeWheels.com


SEATPOST ? LightSKIN

Yes, quite sure. My regular nighttime route involves a mix of MUP and busy streets, so on MUP I use the steady on at a very very low level and then once I get onto streets I can just reach down and with 2 clicks switch to the steadyflash, which no matter what brightness the steady on is set to, is always just blaringly bright. Then once back on the MUP it is 4 clicks to get back to the dimmed steady on, which it remembers previous brightness level.

This is my 3rd cygolite hotshot. They've all shared this same functionality.

The VIS 180 Micro was on. I triple checked that all lights were on the highest setting. But in fairness to the VIS 180; this was one of the lights(along w/ the Knogg & Cateye) that was loaned to me. The other lights were mine and had pretty good charges. Charged capacity on the borrowed lights were unknown. I was in the park for a volunteer training class by BikeNY. I was early and bored. So I decided to line up all the lights and take some photos. When I got home later and charged the borrowed lights; they all needed a while to charge completely.

One other point VIS 180 Micro's claimed lumens is 25, standard VIS 180 is 70 and the Hotshot Pro 80 is 80.

In a few weeks Cygolite Hotshot Pro 100 and Pro 150 are coming out:
https://www.rei.com/c/rear-bike-ligh...-lights&page=1

The camera I used was my cellphone; a Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom. When taking photos; try not to zoom
in on the beam itself. You may have to focus either a bit above or below; or to the side of the light(s).

https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8688/2...cea8d71f41.jpgHotshot Micro vs Blitzu 168T by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

It'd be cool to include some serious lights, like the DS500 or the Dinotte Quad Red.

I made a request here and on Facebook last week; I guess nobody trusts me with their US$200 light? :)
http://www.bikeforums.net/electronic...your-lite.html

Well the offer still stands; if anybody wants to lend me their light(s). I'll add it to the mix. Just ordered a NiteRider Solas 150; should be here next week:

https://www.rei.com/product/109771/n...ear-bike-light

Hmm...What you said about the Rapid X3 has me scratching my head. A couple months ago I came up on a guy using a very interesting rear lamp. I was sitting at a stop light when I noticed the cyclist over at the light to my right. I noticed at the time that his rear light was very visible from the front as he was at a good 45° angle to my right. His light changed first and I watch him go through the light. ( night time, urban setting with street lamps ) When my light changed I had a chance to view his light directly from behind. Not bad, visible but not overwhelmingly bright. I'm sure in a darker setting there would of been more contrast. When I caught him at the next light I looked at his light but didn't know at the time what brand it was. I just knew it had two separate panels of leds, angled slightly on each side. This light was VERY bright from the sides with almost a 360° visible output. Later I saw pictures of the Cateye X3 and figured that was the light I saw. Okay it's bright but it's a micro-led paneled light. As such the light is VERY dispersed, even more so because the panels are angled. Anyway, just my take on the X3.

Agree. Both cameras and video can't really represent all of what the human eye can actually see.

I didn't realize the Micro was only 25, that may be why it looked so bad, I thought they were around 50.

I have the standard solas. It is apparently a 30 lumens light. The badging is simply for niterider solas like the following:

https://www.niterider.com/product/solas-30/

Now niterider has 100 and 150 lumens versions of the solas. Will it be worth it to upgrade? Obviously my current solas is working perfectly.

Also wondering if the cygolite 150 would be a significant upgrade. I don't doubt the 150 versions are a bit better, but perhaps not 5X better.

I'd send you my DS500, but, you know, I use it every day. I don't have multiple $200 lights.