Blitzu Gator 390 light review
#1
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Blitzu Gator 390 light review
I received my Blitzu Gator 390 light today and it included a free tail light in the box. The tail light is neither here nor there and just provides the bare minimum light output to be seen.
I got the Blitzu Gator 390 at a very cheap price on Amazon UK - it was low enough to not worry if it was a piece of junk (12.99 GBP for the set).
I'm comparing it to my (old) Moon Meteor front light that I really like. The Moon Meteor is a low output light but works really well in most urban conditions.
I was hoping the Blitzu Gator 390 was exactly the same as the Moon Meteor, but sadly it wasn't. It felt more plasticky as I believe it has a plastic body compared to the metal body on the Moon Meteor. However, it was very nicely presented and came with two charging cables in the box:
Here's a side-by-side comparison of the Moon Meteor and Blitzu Gator 390:
The clip for the mount is also larger:
So it looks almost identical to the Moon Meteor. It also weighs a few grams less than the Moon Meteor:
I believe that this may be due to the Moon Meteor having a metal body for better heat dissipation.
Finally, the LED and lens unit is better on the Moon Meteor as it produces a nicer, sharp and focused beam:
So, at the end of the day, it's okay for the very low price and looks nice too. The wide dispersion of the light means the mean doesn't light up the road ahead very far, but it's okay for urban cycling.
I got the Blitzu Gator 390 at a very cheap price on Amazon UK - it was low enough to not worry if it was a piece of junk (12.99 GBP for the set).
I'm comparing it to my (old) Moon Meteor front light that I really like. The Moon Meteor is a low output light but works really well in most urban conditions.
I was hoping the Blitzu Gator 390 was exactly the same as the Moon Meteor, but sadly it wasn't. It felt more plasticky as I believe it has a plastic body compared to the metal body on the Moon Meteor. However, it was very nicely presented and came with two charging cables in the box:
Here's a side-by-side comparison of the Moon Meteor and Blitzu Gator 390:
The clip for the mount is also larger:
So it looks almost identical to the Moon Meteor. It also weighs a few grams less than the Moon Meteor:
I believe that this may be due to the Moon Meteor having a metal body for better heat dissipation.
Finally, the LED and lens unit is better on the Moon Meteor as it produces a nicer, sharp and focused beam:
So, at the end of the day, it's okay for the very low price and looks nice too. The wide dispersion of the light means the mean doesn't light up the road ahead very far, but it's okay for urban cycling.
#2
Senior Member
In the end you got what you basically wanted, a light that lets people see you and lets you see when needed. These are likely using a Chinese version of an XPE emitter which gives the slightly bluer/colder tint. No it doesn't have super long throw but it does let you see where you are going. The lamp does have a hot spot very similar to a torch. If it doesn't have the throw of the Moon version likely they used a different optic and/or emitter setup. Like I said in the other thread, these are not something that a seasoned cyclist would want to ride at night with but given the choice of having no light and one of these, one of these will get you home and let you see where you are going. My biggest complaint is that I don't like the cold tint of the beam.
I'm surprised that you don't seem to think much of the rear light. For something that they are basically giving you for free I feel it does a very good job. I've seen some really cheap low output rear lights on the bike of a lot of people who ride at night. I'd estimate the brightest output mode of the Blitzu rear light ( circular COB array ) is about 40 lumen and that's enough in most situations to get you seen. I've seen people riding with less.
Anyway, summing up; This is a half decent light for someone who only wants the bare minimum when it comes to a bike light, aren't willing to spend over $20 and aren't going to ride over 12mph. This is why I said in the other thread this is something I might buy for a child who only is going to ride no more than a few miles at night.
I'm surprised that you don't seem to think much of the rear light. For something that they are basically giving you for free I feel it does a very good job. I've seen some really cheap low output rear lights on the bike of a lot of people who ride at night. I'd estimate the brightest output mode of the Blitzu rear light ( circular COB array ) is about 40 lumen and that's enough in most situations to get you seen. I've seen people riding with less.
Anyway, summing up; This is a half decent light for someone who only wants the bare minimum when it comes to a bike light, aren't willing to spend over $20 and aren't going to ride over 12mph. This is why I said in the other thread this is something I might buy for a child who only is going to ride no more than a few miles at night.
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
It’s far more than I was expecting at such a giveaway price, especially as you get front and rear lights in the box. Not quite a Moon Meteor but not far off. The colour is really nice and will coordinate with my hybrid really well.
#4
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It is cheaper in GB than here in the US. The price on Amazon is $19.97 (plus shipping for us non-prime Amazonians) in the US and the lowest price on eBay is $22.27 with free shipping. The tail light in this set is a step above what came with my Blitzu Gator 320 light set. Here is a picture of the Gator 320 disassembled showing the Raypal (the real manufacturer in China) name and 1200 mAh battery inside. The tail light is operated by two CR2032 batteries. I can buy one like mine and have it shipped halfway around the world for $1.29 postpaid on eBay.
The lower part is the front of the Blitzu Gator 320 headlight
BTW, the Moon Meteor 300 lumen steady/400 lumen flash is still available in GB but the price is 40 GBP with shipping. https://www.ebay.com/itm/300-400-Lum...LH_TitleDesc=0 The description for the Moon light is a lot more complete than what Blitzu offers. The only way to find out the battery size on a Blitzu light is to disassemble it, which I did.
The same light shows up multiple times on Aliexpress - take a look at the pictures for these. They are identical in appearanceSame light as the Moon 300 but with a helmet mount as well as handlebar mount $14.42 postpaid from China on Aliexpress https://www.aliexpress.com/item/WEST...ceBeautifyAB=0same selection as Blitzu but different brand name $17.86 postpaid https://www.aliexpress.com/item/USB-...ceBeautifyAB=0
The lower part is the front of the Blitzu Gator 320 headlight
BTW, the Moon Meteor 300 lumen steady/400 lumen flash is still available in GB but the price is 40 GBP with shipping. https://www.ebay.com/itm/300-400-Lum...LH_TitleDesc=0 The description for the Moon light is a lot more complete than what Blitzu offers. The only way to find out the battery size on a Blitzu light is to disassemble it, which I did.
The same light shows up multiple times on Aliexpress - take a look at the pictures for these. They are identical in appearanceSame light as the Moon 300 but with a helmet mount as well as handlebar mount $14.42 postpaid from China on Aliexpress https://www.aliexpress.com/item/WEST...ceBeautifyAB=0same selection as Blitzu but different brand name $17.86 postpaid https://www.aliexpress.com/item/USB-...ceBeautifyAB=0
Last edited by VegasTriker; 07-27-18 at 09:03 AM. Reason: Aliexpress source
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
@VegasTriker: It's interesting to see a disassembled Blitzu. TBH, the one I have looks great on my blue hybrid so it's going on that and the black Moon Meteor will be transferred to the new bike.
It's somewhat frowned upon here in the UK to have very bright lights on bikes as there's enough street lighting in urban areas.
I used to have a Lezyne Deca Drive 1500XXL which was brutal! However, it annoyed and dazzled anyone who saw the light, even though it was pointed slightly downwards. Cycle paths are often shared with pedestrians/runners/dog walkers so cyclists need to be aware of this in terms of the brightness of their lights. Thus, I prefer lower-powered lights just to be seen.
It's somewhat frowned upon here in the UK to have very bright lights on bikes as there's enough street lighting in urban areas.
I used to have a Lezyne Deca Drive 1500XXL which was brutal! However, it annoyed and dazzled anyone who saw the light, even though it was pointed slightly downwards. Cycle paths are often shared with pedestrians/runners/dog walkers so cyclists need to be aware of this in terms of the brightness of their lights. Thus, I prefer lower-powered lights just to be seen.
#6
Senior Member
@VegasTriker: It's interesting to see a disassembled Blitzu. TBH, the one I have looks great on my blue hybrid so it's going on that and the black Moon Meteor will be transferred to the new bike.
It's somewhat frowned upon here in the UK to have very bright lights on bikes as there's enough street lighting in urban areas.
I used to have a Lezyne Deca Drive 1500XXL which was brutal! However, it annoyed and dazzled anyone who saw the light, even though it was pointed slightly downwards. Cycle paths are often shared with pedestrians/runners/dog walkers so cyclists need to be aware of this in terms of the brightness of their lights. Thus, I prefer lower-powered lights just to be seen.
It's somewhat frowned upon here in the UK to have very bright lights on bikes as there's enough street lighting in urban areas.
I used to have a Lezyne Deca Drive 1500XXL which was brutal! However, it annoyed and dazzled anyone who saw the light, even though it was pointed slightly downwards. Cycle paths are often shared with pedestrians/runners/dog walkers so cyclists need to be aware of this in terms of the brightness of their lights. Thus, I prefer lower-powered lights just to be seen.
Sounds like you need a lamp with a cut-off beam pattern. I bet you'd be real happy with one of the Raveman CR series. Always going to be people who think your lamps are too bright. Having a lamp with a cutoff beam pattern should help with this and still allow you to see where you are going.
Last edited by 01 CAt Man Do; 07-27-18 at 01:09 PM.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
* I actually have a Ravemen CR900 on one of my bikes. It does work well but is quite large and heavy and I wanted a smaller and lighter light.
I’ve looked at a lot of Moon Meteor lights lately. The black light in the pictures above is a genuine Moon Meteor and is rated at 200 lumens. I’m not wholly convinced that anything higher than a 200 lumens rating is a genuine Moon product unless there was a newer version of the light. That light is a few years old and newer Meteors have a different design now and a higher rating. However, for that specific design I believe the rating was 200 lumens. By the way, my Moon Meteor has a strobe mode, which i term an ‘epilepsy’ mode. Of course I would never actually use that mode whilst out riding, and Moon may have ditched that mode in a newer version of that light.
In terms of riding, there have been a few occasions when oncoming cyclists and dog walkers have had to shield their eyes from some of my lights. I take a lot of time and trouble to set up my lights so that the beam is angled correctly. I live in a congested part of London where there are no big, open spaces to ride a bike so you have to share the paths with other people generally speaking. And those people can be fellow cyclists, joggers, walkers, runners, dog walkers etc.
I’ve looked at a lot of Moon Meteor lights lately. The black light in the pictures above is a genuine Moon Meteor and is rated at 200 lumens. I’m not wholly convinced that anything higher than a 200 lumens rating is a genuine Moon product unless there was a newer version of the light. That light is a few years old and newer Meteors have a different design now and a higher rating. However, for that specific design I believe the rating was 200 lumens. By the way, my Moon Meteor has a strobe mode, which i term an ‘epilepsy’ mode. Of course I would never actually use that mode whilst out riding, and Moon may have ditched that mode in a newer version of that light.
In terms of riding, there have been a few occasions when oncoming cyclists and dog walkers have had to shield their eyes from some of my lights. I take a lot of time and trouble to set up my lights so that the beam is angled correctly. I live in a congested part of London where there are no big, open spaces to ride a bike so you have to share the paths with other people generally speaking. And those people can be fellow cyclists, joggers, walkers, runners, dog walkers etc.
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Update: it looks like there’s a new Moon Meteor which is 300 lumens and is called the Moon Meteor C3. From Moon’s own page:
Moon Sport Ltd., bike light, www.moon-sport.com | Product Page
And it does use a Cree LED.
Moon Sport Ltd., bike light, www.moon-sport.com | Product Page
And it does use a Cree LED.
#9
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Good review, very helpful. Interesting to see how much difference there can be between two apparently similar lights.
I've had my eye on a second to-be-seen helmet light, something small and light. The original I got in 2015 isn't carried anymore by that particular vendor, but an apparently identical *looking* light is still available under other names. Might be interesting to see whether they really are identical.
I usually prefer brighter lights that I can run at low power for longer operation -- around 150-200 lumens. Good enough for rides like Friday night, puttering around at 8-10 mph with friends around the park. I've rigged up a homemade light hood and diffuser for my Light & Motion Urban 500, which shields the glare from oncoming cyclists/pedestrians, while retaining plenty of light for me. And the diffuser enhances my side visibility. It's cut from a white soft plastic vitamin bottle so the glow resembles an appliance size incandescent bulb.
I've had my eye on a second to-be-seen helmet light, something small and light. The original I got in 2015 isn't carried anymore by that particular vendor, but an apparently identical *looking* light is still available under other names. Might be interesting to see whether they really are identical.
I usually prefer brighter lights that I can run at low power for longer operation -- around 150-200 lumens. Good enough for rides like Friday night, puttering around at 8-10 mph with friends around the park. I've rigged up a homemade light hood and diffuser for my Light & Motion Urban 500, which shields the glare from oncoming cyclists/pedestrians, while retaining plenty of light for me. And the diffuser enhances my side visibility. It's cut from a white soft plastic vitamin bottle so the glow resembles an appliance size incandescent bulb.
#10
Senior Member
* I actually have a Ravemen CR900 on one of my bikes. It does work well but is quite large and heavy and I wanted a smaller and lighter light.
I’ve looked at a lot of Moon Meteor lights lately. The black light in the pictures above is a genuine Moon Meteor and is rated at 200 lumens. I’m not wholly convinced that anything higher than a 200 lumens rating is a genuine Moon product unless there was a newer version of the light. That light is a few years old and newer Meteors have a different design now and a higher rating. However, for that specific design I believe the rating was 200 lumens. By the way, my Moon Meteor has a strobe mode, which i term an ‘epilepsy’ mode. Of course I would never actually use that mode whilst out riding, and Moon may have ditched that mode in a newer version of that light.
In terms of riding, there have been a few occasions when oncoming cyclists and dog walkers have had to shield their eyes from some of my lights. I take a lot of time and trouble to set up my lights so that the beam is angled correctly. I live in a congested part of London where there are no big, open spaces to ride a bike so you have to share the paths with other people generally speaking. And those people can be fellow cyclists, joggers, walkers, runners, dog walkers etc.
I’ve looked at a lot of Moon Meteor lights lately. The black light in the pictures above is a genuine Moon Meteor and is rated at 200 lumens. I’m not wholly convinced that anything higher than a 200 lumens rating is a genuine Moon product unless there was a newer version of the light. That light is a few years old and newer Meteors have a different design now and a higher rating. However, for that specific design I believe the rating was 200 lumens. By the way, my Moon Meteor has a strobe mode, which i term an ‘epilepsy’ mode. Of course I would never actually use that mode whilst out riding, and Moon may have ditched that mode in a newer version of that light.
In terms of riding, there have been a few occasions when oncoming cyclists and dog walkers have had to shield their eyes from some of my lights. I take a lot of time and trouble to set up my lights so that the beam is angled correctly. I live in a congested part of London where there are no big, open spaces to ride a bike so you have to share the paths with other people generally speaking. And those people can be fellow cyclists, joggers, walkers, runners, dog walkers etc.
Last edited by 01 CAt Man Do; 07-28-18 at 07:26 PM.
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I emailed Ravemen over the weekend and the wired remote can be purchased separately. It's called the ARB 01 wired remote and it's very cheap. I've ordered a replacement through a UK retailer.
Hopefully that will make my CR900 easier to operate as it was a bit fiddly using the touch surface on the top of the body.
#12
Senior Member
Oh dear. You've just reminded me about the remote that came with the CR900. I never used it, but have also binned the box so I've lost the remote now!
I emailed Ravemen over the weekend and the wired remote can be purchased separately. It's called the ARB 01 wired remote and it's very cheap. I've ordered a replacement through a UK retailer.
Hopefully that will make my CR900 easier to operate as it was a bit fiddly using the touch surface on the top of the body.
I emailed Ravemen over the weekend and the wired remote can be purchased separately. It's called the ARB 01 wired remote and it's very cheap. I've ordered a replacement through a UK retailer.
Hopefully that will make my CR900 easier to operate as it was a bit fiddly using the touch surface on the top of the body.
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Just as an FYI - I'm really impressed with Ravemen's customer service which operates out of China. They've responded very quickly to my emails about a replacement remote for the CR900 and one is already on the way and I should have it by the end of the week. Total cost was about 7.94 GBP ( = 10.40 USD ) but a fair chunk of that was postage and delivery.
I'll have a proper play with the light as soon as the remote gets delivered. Thanks for the advice on the program mode!
I'll have a proper play with the light as soon as the remote gets delivered. Thanks for the advice on the program mode!
#14
Senior Member
Summing up; mounting the remote to the bars is somewhat of a PITA ( depending of course on what type of bars you have and how much stuff you already have on the bars ) . If you are the type of person who likes or wants to remove all accessories having to do with lights when they ride in the day then you probably aren't going to like messing with the Raveman remotes. As for me I just leave mine mounted to the bars and wrap the excess cord around the lamp mount when not in use. I'm not going to put anymore unnecessary stress on the O-ring than I have to.
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Whilst I'm waiting for the remote to arrive for my Ravemen CR900, I managed to get the latest, genuine Moon Meteor C3 front light and Moon Ring rear light.
The Moon Meteor C3 has a Cree XP-G3 LED. Compared to my original Moon Meteor, the 'epilepsy' strobe mode has, thankfully, been ditched. The light has 4 constant on modes, 3 flashing modes and 1 day-flash mode.
The Moon Ring is a lovely rear light which provides a decent amount of rearward and side illumination.
The Moon Meteor C3 has a Cree XP-G3 LED. Compared to my original Moon Meteor, the 'epilepsy' strobe mode has, thankfully, been ditched. The light has 4 constant on modes, 3 flashing modes and 1 day-flash mode.
The Moon Ring is a lovely rear light which provides a decent amount of rearward and side illumination.
#16
Senior Member
Whilst I'm waiting for the remote to arrive for my Ravemen CR900, I managed to get the latest, genuine Moon Meteor C3 front light and Moon Ring rear light.
The Moon Meteor C3 has a Cree XP-G3 LED. Compared to my original Moon Meteor, the 'epilepsy' strobe mode has, thankfully, been ditched. The light has 4 constant on modes, 3 flashing modes and 1 day-flash mode.
The Moon Ring is a lovely rear light which provides a decent amount of rearward and side illumination.
The Moon Meteor C3 has a Cree XP-G3 LED. Compared to my original Moon Meteor, the 'epilepsy' strobe mode has, thankfully, been ditched. The light has 4 constant on modes, 3 flashing modes and 1 day-flash mode.
The Moon Ring is a lovely rear light which provides a decent amount of rearward and side illumination.
Do me a favor, plug the Moon lamp in to charge and then see if the lamp will operate at the same time. Since the Blitzu lamp did it I can't help but wonder if the Moon does it as well.
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