USB rear light that mounts on rear rack
 

Hello, normally I have no trouble finding stuff online, but I'm having trouble with this!

The bike shop showed me some Blackburn lights that screw into my rack, but they run on replaceable batteries, and I was hoping to find something USB rechargeable. Unless...

Do I not want something that screws into my rack? Or... do I not want USB rechargeable? Should I just get something with replaceable batteries?

It's not the easiest to find a rear light that's usb rechargeable - I'm not sure why.

Finding one that has a rack mount, even harder.

Having the light screw onto your rack is a good idea, that's what I do. I've also had a bit of similar frustration - I'd like to leave my rear light plugged into a charger, so I can always be 100% sure it's always charged when I head out riding. The Cygolot looked to bright and annoying (my ideal would be the Planet Bike rack blinky), this one looked interesting -

MetroFlash Nocturna USB Rechargeable Taillight with USB Cable
Amazon.com: MetroFlash Nocturna USB Rechargeable Taillight with USB Cable: Sports & Outdoors

But it looks like it's attached with a wraparound thing, so might not work with a rack or rear bag. Grr.

My best solution so far is to buy enough rechargeable batteries that I just swap the batteries in the light with a freshly charged pair, so it's not to inconvenient, but it would be nicer to just be able to plug a cord into the light every night.

Ah, looks like the Serfas USL-TL60 tail light is usb rechargeable, and attaches directly to a rear rack -
https://www.serfas.com/products/view/143

https://www.serfas.com/uploads/Produ...1ed48cb055.jpg

Ugh, this review -
The Best Bicycle Taillights of 2013 « Stack Exchange Bicycles Blog

Says -
"Lowest brightness setting is still too bright for riding in groups at night"

Wow, this is great. Thanks for the info.

I think maybe replaceable batteries are the way to go, look at the difference in battery life between the rechargeable and replaceable

Planet bike has a rack clip that accepts their lights, Rack Blinky 5

and they make a USB plug charged taillight Superflash USB

the not included rack bracket is sold separately if not in a bin already at the LBS..

the light would have to be removable to take it in to the place where you plug in the USB cord anyhow.

Hotshot 2W USB
I use this clipped to my seat bag. It is quite bright.

https://www.ridepdw.com/goods/lights/radbot-1000
I also use these, but they use replaceable batteries.

I just modified the seatpost clamp mount that came with the Cygolite to fit on my rack.

The Cygolite Hotshot is USB chargeable and has a quick release rack mount available from their website.

http://www.shop.cygolite.com/product...&categoryId=74

I was looking at the hotshot after many others and the rack-mount option, thought I'd cruise the forums first for an idea I had. Didn't find it, so maybe it's new? Due to the Hotshot having some poor reviews for it's mount (seen here: Cygolite Hotshot Review - The Bike Light Database and elsewhere) I was thinking about zip-tieing an old seat post or similar tube (PVC, broom handle, whatever) to my rear rack and then being able to mount whatever I want to it. Granted, seat post-mounted lights would then be sideways, so possibly not ideal. I have a topeak MTX fold-up pannier bag that's 9"-10" wide and I was thinking a cross bar back there shouldn't be wider than say 12" to reduce the risk of catching it on anything. I think my rear rack is aluminum, so not sure I'd want to try welding anything on there. If it was steel, maybe. I was even thinking I could rig something with springs so that if anything does catch the end it would just swing out then spring back. I'd like to hear your thoughts and whether or not anyone's tried this? Or perhaps this should be moved to another thread?

Did you read the update at the bottom of your link regarding the Hotshot and it's mount?

I like the Light & Motion Vis 180 a lot. It is bright, has a very visible pulse mode which I prefer to the blinding flash mode of most other high-power tail lights, has a very secure mounting system, yet is also very easy to remove / re-attach the light, plus the convenience of USB charging. Depending upon the bike, I either mount it to the seatpost, or to the back of my helmet. However, there is an optional fender mount available as well.

Vis 180 - Choose Your Light

@ Ziemas: Yeah, I probably should've mentioned that, but I saw some reviews at CygoLite Hotshot 2W SL USB Rear Bike Light at REI.com that were within the past few months citing the same issue (maybe they got the old model?) and I thought I saw somewhere on the BLD where they were still disappointed in the mount, but can't find it now. It was late, might have confused something else. Still curious if anyone else has tried adding a horizontal (or vertical?) bar the their rack for attachments and how it worked out.

@ Westrid: I was impressed by the Vis 180, and was looking at their combo package with the 550, but L&M is still a little outside my budget ATT.

Tail lights don't consume much power, so it seems that any kind of battery is OK. I don't have to recharge my NiMH AAA's often in my Planet Bike tail light.

Looks good Dew! I think I have the same Topeak rack as you and just ordered the Cygolite Hotshot, so if you have any more info about how you made it work, please share! Mine hasn't arrived yet, maybe the "how to" will be apparent once I see it.

FWIW, My wife has been using the HotShot with the rack mount for a few weeks now and has no complaints. Seems solid enough to me. There really isn't anything to break on it.

I went through a similar search for a USB rechargeable light that mounts on a rear rack. The best option I found was the Cygolite hotshot plus the optional rack mount purchased from the Cygolite website. It is a pretty typical little plastic mount for a couple different rack mount patterns, including the common 50mm.

I think the reviews about the mount mentioned here are the standard seat post mount. The Rack mount is different and not included with the light, you need to buy it separate.

Hotshot is a good light, but not the best in my mind due to lack of side visibility. It is very bright but a very focused beam. It does have some really nice feature to adjust blinking speed or brightness, I just wish it had a wider viewing angle, even if it meant sacrificing some brightness from straight behind. I will use it with a second light that has better side visability and will be mounted to my seat post.