Knog Frog
 

I had been thinking about trying a Knog Frog. Colorado Cyclist had them discounted on the same page as the headlight that I was purchasing so I ordered one. They only had blue so I got that by default. I probably would have chosed red.

I used it last night mounted to the back of my helmet. We had a large group and several riders remarked how bright it was and how distinctive the blue light was to get me noticed.

I am thinking about getting a couple of more to give me some side visibility.

i saw someone riding these on a critical mass ride a few months ago. she had one red and one white. wrapped around her hubs, they were. white in front, red in back, obviously. very visible, as they rotated with the wheels. providing you don't have some kind of crazy spoke pattern that's all full near the hub, it shouldn't be that hard to install one without removing your wheel/hub/etc.

Wow, that is a heck of an application that I don't think that I would have thought of. I had planned to get 2 more to put on my top tube and face left and right for side visibility or put them on my forks. Do you think the hubs are a better location? Is 2 plenty for visibility? Would 4 be overkill?

Now that I have thought about it, the more intriqued I am. I don't have any way of observing this evening but may try to get somebody to ride my bike tomorrow evening so that I can observe.

I would think the rim would block the forward view. Although the Frog moving with the wheel and flashing may make it more likely to attract attention than stationery on the bike and pointing directly sideways. Then again because of the 270 degree visibility it would be visible from the front and back also if pointed sideways.

An interesting phenomena that I observed this evening is that if it is mounted on the fork and facing forward, two forward images are visible even though I only had one Knog Frog. Light was reflecting forward off the rim and the reflected image was almost as strong as the direct image.

I intend to do more testing but these little guys can really enhance overall visibility.

Knog has released a new light called the "Gecko" similiar in design to the Frog but with 3 led's instead of 1.
This might be better for the hub mounting.
http://www.knog.com.au/pdf/knogalogue.pdf

The frog would be better for the helmet mount

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...7/IMG_6481.jpg

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but can anyone describe how these things mount? I ride some bumpy roads to work and my current light (Cateye Opticube) slips down because its strap just can't hold it in place. It's light by the time I get there, but I don't like having to reset it every ride. If this frog can mount tight enough, I'll go with that. Otherwise, I'm just getting a light with a screw somewhere.

You need to shim your Cateye. I use a piece of old innertube.

The Frog will stay where you put it. The elastic stretches a lot and it is so tight that I have difficulty mounting it on forks, stems, handlebars, etc and it has never slipped. I don't know how small a diameter it will fit. I have not tried mounting on chain or seat stays.

I tried tons of stuff on the Cateye, and nothing kept that thing from pointing towards the ground after the bumpy section. It's got one of those straps that you pull tight and then flip a lever. The more shims you add, the less strap you can pull through. It's like a freakin' rubber band. At least a screw can be torqued down. Sounds like the Frog is a rubber band as well. Ah well. Thanks for the reply.

I see your point on the Cateye. I thought of that after I posted.

But the Knog Frog is not top heavy like a headlight. I cannot guarantee it but I cannot imagine any type of vibration or pothole moving a Knog Frog. However I am not a know-it-all so it is up to you if you do or don't want to try them.

I have one on each seat stay for a little active side lighting. Since they now come in colors, I got them in red so they blend right in.

bring up an old tread again...

I love these lights, they are so easy and interesting looking, not mention fairly cheap.

We have the Gekko for rear lights, as in the front i need something brighter

has anyone used the bigger version of the lights? i forgot what they are called....

here is their wesite

www.knog.com.au

I have used the Frogs for a while now and have come to the conclusion that they are not very practical or effective and they are expensive. These things are just too directional. I don't know why you would put them on a helmet because you cannot hold your head at a constant angle so how would you aim them. The same goes for putting them on seat stays, forks, or top tubes. Unless you are looking right at them they are not visible at all.

I was about to give mine away but decided to wrap two of them around my Cateye 600 vertically mounted tail light. I positioned them so that they did not block any of the Cateye's LED's. I put the other two on the forks pointing at an angle to hopefully catch driver's approaching at a right angle from a driveway or at an intersection.

I would not purchase them again. There are better ways to spend your lighting dollars. Don't let the blinding light fool you since it is only going to help if it is visible, which it seldom is.

wel lthey are lights to be seen, so putting them on a seat post or handle bar would keep it in a constant place and let others see you....

I agree that they are very bright. IMHO the limited field of visibility is too much of a liability. It is not like an LED television where the picture quality is less when viewed from the side. The Knog Frog is invisible when you get more than a few degrees to the side from the direct line of sight. I even tried two per side on the fork and they were still not effective. You need to get back away from them at a distance where others will be viewing to understand. That is one small dot of light that is highly directional. If you can shed some light (pun intended) on how to make them more effective I would appreciate it. Until then IMHO, at the current price there are more cost effective ways to increase visibility.

maybe u need to move from the frog to the bigger gekko with 3 leds?

The secret to securely attaching the Opticube is to mount it upside down. Use inside-out duct tape for the shim. It's ridiculous that you should have to do this, of course, but it works.

The knog frogs are nearly worthless for to be seen lights. There are much better and cheaper options out there. The reason why the frogs blow is because they have no lens element, just a LED that radiates every which way.

it really is only bright when it's viewed head-on. it's not a replacement for a real taillight, but for extra lights they work well enough to keep around.

i have a red and white on my track bike. i don't consider them serious lights- and they're nothing close to a bargain- 10-15 for the output is a little steep.


their design and aesthetic appeal, however, is phenomenal. i love how they look. just wish they were brighter.