Recommendations for a decent tail light
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Recommendations for a decent tail light
Does anyone have any recommendations for a quality taillight? I'm looking for something well made that is both very bright and lasts long on a single charge as well as being fairly easy to mount.
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I recently picked up the Hypershot 350, their brightest taillight, for daytime riding. With the recent spate of "hit from behind" motorist killings, I want to be sure distracted motorists see me.
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Cygolite or Garmin tail-light+radar
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I'm using the Cygolite Dice TL 50 as a backup to my dyno-powered taillight. One of many that ticks all the boxes in the OP.
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I have a Cygolite Hotrod 90 and I like it. (The latest version is Hotrod 120.) I also have a Cygolite Hotshot 100. The Hotrod is a vertical lightbar design, and despite having lower lumens than the Hotshot, is more visible.
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#7
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I know you are asking about lights but you may also want to consider a Proviz 360 jacket or vest or something similar. Improves my night time confidence along with my light.
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HS 350 & an on-board battery bank if you ride 3+ hours.
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I use a NiteRider Solas on 3 of my 4 bikes* and I have yet to find a flaw or weakness that would make me want to get a different taillight if I ever needed to buy another. Bright, excellent side visibility, multiple patterns including a "paceline mode" for nighttime group rides, recharges quickly and a charge lasts longer than most rides I would ever consider undertaking, plenty of mounting options, and they seemingly last forever. Highly recommended.
* The 4th of my 4 bikes still has a Planet Bike Superflash USB, which if I ever lose -- it kinda amazes me that hasn't happened yet, because Superflashes are notorious for falling off my bikes -- or if it ever dies, I will replace with another Niterider Solas.
* The 4th of my 4 bikes still has a Planet Bike Superflash USB, which if I ever lose -- it kinda amazes me that hasn't happened yet, because Superflashes are notorious for falling off my bikes -- or if it ever dies, I will replace with another Niterider Solas.
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Another vote for Cygolite.
I like the hotrods - they strap on to my seat stays. Bright lights and the charge lasts a long time. I use them for daylight blinkies and for night time. If riding at night in areas that might not be very well lit, I put one on either side.
I like the hotrods - they strap on to my seat stays. Bright lights and the charge lasts a long time. I use them for daylight blinkies and for night time. If riding at night in areas that might not be very well lit, I put one on either side.
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Way beyond merely decent, my favorite taillamp is the Specialized Stix Elite. I have no idea what constitutes “very bright and long lasting” for the OP, but as someone who has been using bicycle lighting since the 1980s, the Stix Elite meets my standards for both, and is additionally cleverly designed, extremely versatile, and good looking.
Ijn particular, I like the flash mode options (especially the pulse) and really appreciate the cordless USB charging. Specialized also offer a variety of mounts, so I have optional rack and fclip mounts which allow me to optimally deploy the light as my different types of riding demand.
I’ve been on Stix since they launched, so many years, and have moved through the improved model iterations from the original, to Comp, to Elite, and up to the latest Switch (which has selectable color for both front and rear use; clutch for the kids’ bikes) and have never had one fail or break, so quality is high. In comparison, although I’ve been using Knog lights of all types for even longer than Stix and continue to use them, man, I’ve had at least one of each of the probably 8 models I’ve had— from the original Frogs up to Blinder Road and Cobber— fail in some way, so Knog quality is neither great nor reliable, but their styling is pretty ace. The Knog Lil Cobber is runner-up to Stix Elite for favorite taillight.
As aside, the Stix Elite headlamp is my favorite daytime marker lamp, too, since I can mount it on my spacer stack below the stem…super sleek, uncluttered look. On one of my older bikes, I run an older Stix Comp simply Velcro’d to the head tube!
Ijn particular, I like the flash mode options (especially the pulse) and really appreciate the cordless USB charging. Specialized also offer a variety of mounts, so I have optional rack and fclip mounts which allow me to optimally deploy the light as my different types of riding demand.
I’ve been on Stix since they launched, so many years, and have moved through the improved model iterations from the original, to Comp, to Elite, and up to the latest Switch (which has selectable color for both front and rear use; clutch for the kids’ bikes) and have never had one fail or break, so quality is high. In comparison, although I’ve been using Knog lights of all types for even longer than Stix and continue to use them, man, I’ve had at least one of each of the probably 8 models I’ve had— from the original Frogs up to Blinder Road and Cobber— fail in some way, so Knog quality is neither great nor reliable, but their styling is pretty ace. The Knog Lil Cobber is runner-up to Stix Elite for favorite taillight.
As aside, the Stix Elite headlamp is my favorite daytime marker lamp, too, since I can mount it on my spacer stack below the stem…super sleek, uncluttered look. On one of my older bikes, I run an older Stix Comp simply Velcro’d to the head tube!
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Are these Cygolite Hotrods able to be seen when angled forward 45-ish degrees, maybe they have a diffuser?
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I have been trying to find good LED rear lights that strap onto the seat stays to complement my Garmin radar rear light, but LED's tend to be so directional that they are virtually useless unless they are pointing directly to the rear.
Are these Cygolite Hotrods able to be seen when angled forward 45-ish degrees, maybe they have a diffuser?
Are these Cygolite Hotrods able to be seen when angled forward 45-ish degrees, maybe they have a diffuser?
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I have been trying to find good LED rear lights that strap onto the seat stays to complement my Garmin radar rear light, but LED's tend to be so directional that they are virtually useless unless they are pointing directly to the rear.
Are these Cygolite Hotrods able to be seen when angled forward 45-ish degrees, maybe they have a diffuser?
Are these Cygolite Hotrods able to be seen when angled forward 45-ish degrees, maybe they have a diffuser?
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I have been trying to find good LED rear lights that strap onto the seat stays to complement my Garmin radar rear light, but LED's tend to be so directional that they are virtually useless unless they are pointing directly to the rear.
Are these Cygolite Hotrods able to be seen when angled forward 45-ish degrees, maybe they have a diffuser?
Are these Cygolite Hotrods able to be seen when angled forward 45-ish degrees, maybe they have a diffuser?
My coach runs one on his seatpost, and here again, it looks fine and bright to me.
They also seem reliable; over the years, I can’t recall any failures over MI’s notoriously bad roads. I suppose, though, that strap mounts in general are quite effective, as I can’t recall any brand light failures of the mount in many, many years. I did have, myself, some Knog strap failures about 10 years ago, Nothing catastrophic like popping off during use, bit they did start to tear. I stuck with the brand though, and they resolved the issue some time ago, as I have some Knogs which are fairly old.
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I have been trying to find good LED rear lights that strap onto the seat stays to complement my Garmin radar rear light, but LED's tend to be so directional that they are virtually useless unless they are pointing directly to the rear.
Are these Cygolite Hotrods able to be seen when angled forward 45-ish degrees, maybe they have a diffuser?
Are these Cygolite Hotrods able to be seen when angled forward 45-ish degrees, maybe they have a diffuser?
I don't follow what you mean about 45°. Unless your bike has an unusual design, seat stays are not oriented any where near 45 ° from vertical. Maybe 20 °
#20
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I like my Knog Blinder Road R70. Expensive, but super bright and good selection of flashing and stationary modes. It also looks kind of stealth on a black seatpost.
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I don't have any problem with visibility with these lights on my seat stays - they are quite visible from a distance and at an angle.
I don't follow what you mean about 45°. Unless your bike has an unusual design, seat stays are not oriented any where near 45 ° from vertical. Maybe 20 °
I don't follow what you mean about 45°. Unless your bike has an unusual design, seat stays are not oriented any where near 45 ° from vertical. Maybe 20 °
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I don't have any problem with visibility with these lights on my seat stays - they are quite visible from a distance and at an angle.
I don't follow what you mean about 45°. Unless your bike has an unusual design, seat stays are not oriented any where near 45 ° from vertical. Maybe 20 °
I don't follow what you mean about 45°. Unless your bike has an unusual design, seat stays are not oriented any where near 45 ° from vertical. Maybe 20 °
2. But if a bike has both a slanted top tube and dropped seat stays, then the seat stay angle is much shallower, maybe around 50° (from horizontal). A HotRod mounted at this angle is noticeably less visible.
An example of #1 is my vintage CAAD, and an example of #2 is the Roubaix posted by scutchin above.
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Hotrods are quite popular with riders in my club, particularly as seatstay lights, and yeah, they look to perform fine to my eye.
My coach runs one on his seatpost, and here again, it looks fine and bright to me.
They also seem reliable; over the years, I can’t recall any failures over MI’s notoriously bad roads. I suppose, though, that strap mounts in general are quite effective, as I can’t recall any brand light failures of the mount in many, many years. I did have, myself, some Knog strap failures about 10 years ago, Nothing catastrophic like popping off during use, bit they did start to tear. I stuck with the brand though, and they resolved the issue some time ago, as I have some Knogs which are fairly old.
My coach runs one on his seatpost, and here again, it looks fine and bright to me.
They also seem reliable; over the years, I can’t recall any failures over MI’s notoriously bad roads. I suppose, though, that strap mounts in general are quite effective, as I can’t recall any brand light failures of the mount in many, many years. I did have, myself, some Knog strap failures about 10 years ago, Nothing catastrophic like popping off during use, bit they did start to tear. I stuck with the brand though, and they resolved the issue some time ago, as I have some Knogs which are fairly old.
I do wish someone would make something in this form factor that would sent the light out at whatever the average seat stay angle is. It would be a lot more efficient.
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Many thanks to those who suggested the Cygolite Hotrod. I bought the 50 and it is perfect for seat stay mounting!
Here are some pictures to compare against a Planet Bike Superflash. Not to trash the Superflash, it's great when mounted pointing directly to the rear, but it is so directional that it is pretty much worthless on a seat stay. Since I have a Varia 510 on the seatpost, that's not an option.
Superflash pointing to the rear.
Hotrod 50 to the rear.
Both at a 45 degree angle, the Superflash is the bright spot pointing to the sky.
Awesome light from all angles, cars will have no trouble seeing this!
Here are some pictures to compare against a Planet Bike Superflash. Not to trash the Superflash, it's great when mounted pointing directly to the rear, but it is so directional that it is pretty much worthless on a seat stay. Since I have a Varia 510 on the seatpost, that's not an option.
Superflash pointing to the rear.
Hotrod 50 to the rear.
Both at a 45 degree angle, the Superflash is the bright spot pointing to the sky.
Awesome light from all angles, cars will have no trouble seeing this!
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