the sci guy 

I'm looking for a light I can strap to my seatpost that is not bulky, has an easy mounting system, is bright enough for daytime rides, and can last for several hours (think centuries, etc).

I've currently been using a Serfas seat-stay light off my wife's bike, but I don't want to keep buying batteries for it, and I know it dims as they wear out. (I have one strapped to the back of my helmet as well).

I was looking at the Serfas thunderbolt, but read the battery life per ride is not even close to long enough.

Suggestions?

Elvo

DAYTIME RED Taillight - 400+ Lumens seat post, seat stay, chain stay or rack mount (Li-ion Endurance Series)

jimincalif

My Cygolite Hotshot is good for about 1600-1800 miles of riding in flashing mode. I charge it once every two to three months.

Spoonrobot 

I use the planet bike Superflash Stealth with 750 or 1000 mah NiMH AAA batteries. So far I've gotten it up to about 9 hours or straight runtime in flashing mode - no noticeable decrease in brightness. I usually charge after every long ride or once every couple of weeks.

Claimed runtime is 100 hours but I would be suspicious of that claim, like most bike lights.

the sci guy 

Oh I should add I'm looking for USB charging as well - so sick of going through expensive batteries.

the sci guy 

No thanks, I'm looking for something self-contained.

Yeah I have a hotshot I use on my commuters - I guess I could just order another mounting clip for it - the aesthetic perfectionist in me didn't want to have that permanently on my seatpost though.

cthenn

I use a Cateye Rapid X2. Very clean mounting, USB rechargeable, reasonably bright, and it is supposed to last 16 hours on flashing modes (I just charge it once a week). If you are looking for a light that can last a LONG time on a solid light mode, that might be harder to find.

People swear by the Bontrager Flare R, but I don't have any experience with that light.

Nachoman

Jim, I'm assuming you're not running your light on maximum.
I have the Cygolite hotshot 80 usb and always run it on max (50 lumens).
Max strobe will last me about 4 hours, per charge.

indyfabz

They make rechargeable batteries these days.

floridamtb

It used to be a great light... note I said "used to be". I had the 1st gen and it was awesome, bright, long lasting etc. My first ride I had the light on 65 lumens daylight flash mode for just over 7 hours and it wasn't even down to the "blinking red" which is 25% of power and is supposed to provide 2 hours of lower lumens flash. The lower piece of the slot that attach to the strap broke so it was replaced under warranty with the 2nd gen. I'm on my 3rd light in 2 months. They keep crapping out, the last one stopped working on Friday, it was showing green when I left the house and rode 14 miles to the beach. I got off bike there and noticed it was off. I had to smack it against the saddle a few times and it came back on. Few more miles had a flat and I noticed it was off again. I plugged in at home and it wouldn't even come on. I went to the shop but one last time I tried turning it on, this time I blew into the connector and voila it came on, a few times then was dead again. I've been in touch with an engineer at Trek and the light is on it's way to them. I suspect a design flaw, you can't easily close the rubber cover over the charging port and water and dirt is getting in and causing a short. Almost every morning ride of mine involves water here in south Florida where the water has to cover a 20 foot diameter arc to water a 3 foot median or swale. If they fix the problems with the light it will once again be an awesome long lasting light

howheels

I have have a few rear lights, but my favorite is the Cateye Rapid X3

It's very bright, has left/right separate patterns that allow you to dial in the level of "blinkiness" that works for you, and the battery lasts a very long time. I commute with mine every day, plus longer rides on the weekends, 10+ hours, and I still have juice at the end of the week.

Also it has by far the best mounting solution I've tried of any tail light. Comes on and off easily and you can mount it anywhere. I usually put mine on one of the seat stays.

rfmarotti

Get the hotshot micro, it has a silicone strap, USB charging, would definitely last a century.

TimothyH

Axiom Pulse 60. 7 hours run time.

Axiom is the Perfomance Bike house brand.

scplus5

I have a hot shot 50 that I use for night rides, commuting etc...I have had it for 6 months and I think I just charged it for the 2nd time. I quickly clip it on the loop on my saddle bag of whichever bike I plan to ride that day. I got it because I wanted a light that didn't attach to my frame at all, I didn't think my thunderbolt was all that bright, and I got tired of charging it once a week at least.

So, another vote for the hotshot. Definitely lots and lots of battery life.

FlashBazbo

That's what I use . . . with the 4 cell battery. It's sufficiently bright that it takes away all excuses for a motorist not seeing you. I've had people pull up beside me (in their cars) asking what it is -- so they can buy one for themselves or for family members. Great light. And very bright.

fietsbob

I use a wired to the Dyno hub head/taillight now, it will have a 10,000+ hour Diode life span.


Clever item is the light skin seatpost, 5 LED array within the seatpost itself.





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fietsbob

'Science Guy' should know the brighter the light (w) load, the shorter the battery life amp/hours..

One thing that can be said for the blinking mode, is it stretches the amp-hour life span of batteries.



because I have a saddle bag behind my seat, when my 30 year old vista light quit

[one of the battery terminal spring contacts broke]

I had it screwed thru the lid to a stiffener strip I made .


So the replacement had to be screw mountable.

I ordered a Planet bike 'Grateful Red', which came with their rack mount clip plus a seat post mount

The light itself slides into either mount, on its back there is a clip to slide over a strap or pocket edge .

I dont have a need for a long run time on that bike.. as its my snow bike,

lights come off to go in my warm pockets.




...

the sci guy 

anyone have any experience with this one: https://www.amazon.com/Blitzu-Rechar...f_rd_i=desktop
??
Its got a lot of reviews and a good rating, but, i'm dubious because of how cheap it is..

fietsbob

^^USB light like that .. just put an extra one, or 2, charged , in your pocket ..

too cheap? New Trump import Tariffs will make it more expensive.



NB; Paris Brest Paris , now (AFAIK) requires a Dynamo light, and a battery backup..





....

the sci guy 

this one looks like the best - especially with the simple strap, but, dang, $60.

RushFan2112

The Knog Kid Grid is outstanding. Easy to mount, light, rechargeable and super bright: https://www.amazon.com/Knog-Blinder-...=knog+kid+grid

DrIsotope

Cygolite Hotshot 2 good for ~15 hours on triple-flash.
Cygolite Hotshot Pro 150 good for ~10 hours on triple-flash.

So either will do a century with no problem, but the Pro 150 is probably about 3x as bright. I would reckon the Hotshot 100 would fall somewhere in between the two, but I'd just spend the extra couple of bucks on the Pro 150. It is ridiculously bright.

TimothyH

I own this light.

The cover to the USB port fell off and I can't get back on.

It also grows dim as it runs out of charge. I think it lacks the circuitry of other lights which keep brightness steady until the battery is completely discharged. The charge doesn't last very long on full brightness, less than two hours.

I don't regret buying it given the price. It goes on the non-drive side seat stay in steady mode and augments rear facing seatpost and helmet lamps for night riding only. The light it gives off is extremely visible in the way those car tail lights with millions of little LED's are.

If it lasts a couple of years then I'll be happy. Just another tool for being visible and the price is right. Someone said there is an unbranded version shipped from China for $12 or $13.

Bottom line - it should not be your first light but as a second or third light it is a decent enough. Would make a great second light for a commuter bike.




-Tim-

ReneV

Came to recommend this. On top of excellent light+battery+attachment, it's IP67 rated, and it's earned it;-)

(The Bontrager Flare R is very nice, too, and it's IP46 rated, which should be enough for most purposes ... I've had it take on water in a 12hr downpour, though, so don't expect it to be your backup on brevets.)

jimincalif

I don't know that mine has a brightness adjustment. I can change the flash pattern/frequency. I have it on a pretty short flash pattern that no doubt stretches out the battery life. I had a car driver come up next to me and tell me he could see it way back even when driving into the sun. Also I find it uncomfortable to look directly at it, so it's pretty darn bright.

It does have a pretty narrow beam of maximum brightness, but since it spreads out with distance it seems to do what I need. I think I read somewhere that newer models might have a wider beam, but haven't really looked into them.