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Brightest clip-on tail light?

Old 11-15-22, 03:12 PM
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Brightest clip-on tail light?

I am looking for the brightest clip-on light out there. On my Nishiki Linear, I don't have enough seatpost to mount the usual seatpost mounted lights. I can only clip on a tail light on my saddle bag:

Right now I have a Specialized Stix on there, but I need something bigger and brighter than that.
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Old 11-15-22, 04:20 PM
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I don't know if this is the brightest, but this is the one I just bought: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HEF6R9Q...roduct_details. It's pretty bright, very hard to look directly at the light when it's on full brightness. It should be seen for some distance.

I didn't really have room on my seat post either, but the rubber mounting clip allows mounting on the seat stay, which is where I put it.
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Old 11-15-22, 04:37 PM
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Planet Bike Superflash is pretty bright and it can be mounted on a chainstay or seatpost.
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Old 11-15-22, 05:45 PM
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You want to be seen riding that thing?

Seriously…Will a clamp not fit around the downtube? If not, there are lights that can me attached to stays, as noted above.

P.S. There is a lighting forum here.
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Old 11-15-22, 06:02 PM
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I don't know if it's the brightest, but the Cygolite 350 is very bright and clips onto a saddlebag
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Old 11-15-22, 07:05 PM
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Originally Posted by jon c.
I don't know if it's the brightest, but the Cygolite 350 is very bright and clips onto a saddlebag
A-ha! Good find!
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Old 11-15-22, 07:13 PM
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Yeah - I use the Cygolite 350 and it’s great. Very happy with how long it holds its charge and its brightness.

Last edited by thin_concrete; 11-16-22 at 03:19 PM.
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Old 11-15-22, 07:40 PM
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This one is probably as bright as they come. It was the brightest I saw when I looked last summer. It's easy to compare lumens, so find one that you like.

Cygolite Hypershot 350 Bike Taillight | REI Co-op
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Old 11-15-22, 08:45 PM
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Dinotte makes a light that is only for daytime use it is so bright they make you check a box making sure you understand it is for daytime use only, this is not that light but I have heard is quite bright and has a lot of mounting options: https://store.dinottelighting.com/ne...tery-p111.aspx

My go to would be the Big Cobber from Knog but I don't know it would work in your mounting situation though probably would easily mount to the seat tube as you have space but you would have to give it a go. It is a very bright one as well.
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Old 11-15-22, 08:54 PM
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I agree with veganbikes: get a taillight that's rated for daytime use. The Bontrager Flare comes to mind.

As for the attachment, I'd probably just strap it to the frame; I've never had a clip-on that didn't fall off the saddlebag, and you've got plenty of room and ample visibility.

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Old 11-15-22, 09:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Rolla
I agree with veganbikes: get a taillight that's rated for daytime use. The Bontrager Flare comes to mind.

As for the attachment, I'd probably just strap it to the frame; I've never had a clip-on that didn't fall off the saddlebag, and you've got plenty of room and ample visibility.

If you are riding during the day and using the light only during the day then yes. I was simply stating that they make one brighter so bright in fact it is not for night time usage. I am not saying one should use something that bright at night. If they have to give you a warning there is a good reason. No need to blind people here we want them to see us not cause damage because if they can't see well that is rather dangerous for everyone.
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Old 11-15-22, 09:57 PM
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I like to wake up the neighbors with a hyperflash red taillight. They love it!
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Old 11-15-22, 10:00 PM
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Originally Posted by jon c.
I don't know if it's the brightest, but the Cygolite 350 is very bright and clips onto a saddlebag
That one has low battery life.

OP, just use a seatpost mount and attach a light to the seat tube, right above the seat stays and below the top tube. It’ll work fine.
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Old 11-16-22, 01:24 AM
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Light and Motion also do some bright ones ( at least the ones I bought ten years ago (still) are. )

I think mine's the Viz 180 Pro or similar. Looks the same.

https://lightandmotion.com/collections/bike

Last edited by redshift1; 11-16-22 at 01:26 AM. Reason: Added link.
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Old 11-16-22, 08:00 AM
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IMHO you will be more visible in traffic with any light if it is mounted up high on the back of your helmet. Then it can be sen better above car hoods.
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Old 11-16-22, 09:53 AM
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
Seriously…Will a clamp not fit around the downtube? If not, there are lights that can me attached to stays, as noted above.
Originally Posted by Rolla
As for the attachment, I'd probably just strap it to the frame; I've never had a clip-on that didn't fall off the saddlebag, and you've got plenty of room and ample visibility.

I think Indyfabz means the seat tube (as indicated by Rolla), and I can at least verify that a number of brands have clamped just fine to the seat tube on my bikes, and other brands even have optional mounts for the stays.
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Old 11-16-22, 10:55 AM
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Is "brightest" actually the best choice ?
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Old 11-16-22, 11:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Rolla
I agree with veganbikes: get a taillight that's rated for daytime use. The Bontrager Flare comes to mind.

As for the attachment, I'd probably just strap it to the frame; I've never had a clip-on that didn't fall off the saddlebag, and you've got plenty of room and ample visibility.

Yes that is what a logical person would do. But this frame is in really great shape and this bike in general has been the bike I fiddle with more than any of my other bikes, so it feels wrong for me to strap anything to the frame. Yes. Illogical I know.

Originally Posted by BobbyG
IMHO you will be more visible in traffic with any light if it is mounted up high on the back of your helmet. Then it can be sen better above car hoods.
I used to wear a helmet like that. Until one time my wife followed me and told me that the light did nothing most of the time because when I am leaning forward the light is pointing up in the sky.

Originally Posted by Homebrew01
Is "brightest" actually the best choice ?
I would go as far as to say that no bike light is bright enough in broad daylight. Actually there are two problems- too dim and too small. The latter is probably the bigger issue.
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Old 11-16-22, 11:53 AM
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Originally Posted by urbanknight
I think Indyfabz means the seat tube (as indicated by Rolla), and I can at least verify that a number of brands have clamped just fine to the seat tube on my bikes, and other brands even have optional mounts for the stays.
Yes. Brain fart. Thank you.
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Old 11-16-22, 12:22 PM
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A tail light on a saddlebag needs a wide-angle lens mostly in the vertical direction. It's hard to maintain position on a saddlebag.
A helmet light presents a much larger positioning challenge.
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Old 11-16-22, 12:42 PM
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Originally Posted by BobbyG
IMHO you will be more visible in traffic with any light if it is mounted up high on the back of your helmet. Then it can be sen better above car hoods.
Or best yet, do what I do... have a taillight on the back of the bike and a light on the back of your helmet.
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Old 11-16-22, 12:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Milton Keynes
Or best yet, do what I do... have a taillight on the back of the bike and a light on the back of your helmet.
That's what I do.
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Old 11-16-22, 02:05 PM
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Originally Posted by icemilkcoffee
Yes that is what a logical person would do. But this frame is in really great shape and this bike in general has been the bike I fiddle with more than any of my other bikes, so it feels wrong for me to strap anything to the frame. Yes. Illogical I know.
Actually that's fair. I definitely got minor scuffs on my seat tube, and I can understand a collector not wanting that on their vintage baby.
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Old 11-16-22, 02:37 PM
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Originally Posted by BobbyG
IMHO you will be more visible in traffic with any light if it is mounted up high on the back of your helmet. Then it can be sen better above car hoods.
Except not so much and your head is moving the bike is going in the direction it is going. I want drivers behind me to see where my bike is going not where my head is going. Having a secondary light on the helmet is fine but a light that can be super high and sometimes not be facing traffic is not as ideal.
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Old 11-16-22, 02:54 PM
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Originally Posted by veganbikes
Except not so much and your head is moving the bike is going in the direction it is going. I want drivers behind me to see where my bike is going not where my head is going. Having a secondary light on the helmet is fine but a light that can be super high and sometimes not be facing traffic is not as ideal.
Exactly how far does your head stray from your bike while riding?
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