Pulsing (not dramatic blinking) taillights ?
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
From: western Washington
Bikes: Stella
Pulsing (not dramatic blinking) taillights ?
I've seen a few bikes recently with a pulsing tail light display, as contrasted with the more normal bright flash-pause-bright flash look. That is, the light never goes all of the way off.
Unfortunately, the riders with these lights were faster than me and I never caught up with them to ask which light they were using! I liked the residual "marker" effect of having a bit of light left on, plus the "I'm a bike in front of you" signature (at least here in the USA) that the flashing gives.
Any ideas which lights have this feature, or setting? I imagine that these are multi-LED taillights and one of the LEDs just stays on all the time, while the others flash.
Unfortunately, the riders with these lights were faster than me and I never caught up with them to ask which light they were using! I liked the residual "marker" effect of having a bit of light left on, plus the "I'm a bike in front of you" signature (at least here in the USA) that the flashing gives.
Any ideas which lights have this feature, or setting? I imagine that these are multi-LED taillights and one of the LEDs just stays on all the time, while the others flash.
#2
The only light I'm familiar with (I have two of them personally) that works like this is the Radbot. There's probably others, of course.
The Radbot 1000 is a great light, I think even better than it's closest competitor, the ubiquitous Planet Bike Super Flash, and I really do like the pulsing light feature. As for how effective it is, I don't know, but it does get my attention.
It's also more sturdy -- doesn't need a zip tie or tape to keep from opening up. The downside is that you need a screwdriver to change the batteries, but since you don't have to do that often I don't see it as a big deal.
Thought I did think it sort of went all the way off, at least for a bit, each cycle. Maybe I'm wrong though.
The Radbot 1000 is a great light, I think even better than it's closest competitor, the ubiquitous Planet Bike Super Flash, and I really do like the pulsing light feature. As for how effective it is, I don't know, but it does get my attention.
It's also more sturdy -- doesn't need a zip tie or tape to keep from opening up. The downside is that you need a screwdriver to change the batteries, but since you don't have to do that often I don't see it as a big deal.
Thought I did think it sort of went all the way off, at least for a bit, each cycle. Maybe I'm wrong though.
#3
At a flashing rate of 4x per-second, these might qualify as "pulsing" -- https://www.reelight.com/
#4
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,681
Likes: 253
From: Minnesota
Bikes: N+1=5
The Light and Motion vis180 is a smooth pulse style of flasher which I think is what you are asking for. That said, I want a bright and aggressive flash - I think that is seriously beneficial in terms of visibility.
Dinotte (expensive) also has a mode that is a bright flash with some light in between (not full off). But it's flasher is good and bright and obnoxious - in other words, a perfect taillight that is highly visible.
J.
Dinotte (expensive) also has a mode that is a bright flash with some light in between (not full off). But it's flasher is good and bright and obnoxious - in other words, a perfect taillight that is highly visible.
J.
#5
You can adjust the intensity and rate of the flash on the Hotshot, but unsure that it can be set to have a low power steady combined with higher power burst. There is a Cateye model that has two rows of emitters that can be programmed independently of each other- one row on steady and the other on any number of flash patterns.
Of course, any of the more powerful lights will give the impression of glowing after looking directly into it at full power...
Of course, any of the more powerful lights will give the impression of glowing after looking directly into it at full power...

__________________
Community guidelines
Community guidelines
#7
Senior Member


Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,423
Likes: 204
From: London
Bikes: Baum Romano, Brompton S2, Homemade Bamboo!
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
Bikes: Roubaix SL4 Expert , Cervelo S2
The 2 watt Cygolite Hotshot has a throb mode plus two different strobe modes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk4FCssXBEA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk4FCssXBEA
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Though relatively low powered(but inexpensive) the Lezyne femto drive has a pulse mode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGS-XdEWxJo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGS-XdEWxJo
#11
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
Bikes: Trek SU100, Surly Cross Check
The Portland Design Works Danger Zone has two 0.5 watt LEDs and can operate in an alternating pulsing mode. It's what I use and prefer. Seizure-inducing mode is also included if you still want that as well.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Metaluna
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
22
10-22-17 09:26 AM
TromboneAl
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
36
09-29-13 11:53 AM
Spld cyclist
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
183
05-15-13 05:45 PM
Richard Cranium
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
6
08-13-10 08:02 AM





