Now that the evenings are drawing in, I'm looking to keep going out on the road bike in the evenings. I need something that will help me see potholes a reasonable way off. The light will be doubling as my commuter light, so would be good if it didn't dazzle drivers.
What are people using around the £50-100 mark?
I had a good look at this back in February and bought this one, which gets the best reviews. Very pleased with it too
A euro spec road one - much better with a properly shaped beam
Anything with StVZO rating. Bike Radar had an article on this a couple of days ago:
https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/stvzo-bike-lights/
That should have all the info you need to get a good front light. From experience Busch + Müller have a decent range at reasonable prices. Take a look at this:
https://www.bikester.co.uk/busch-mueller-ixon-rock-battery-headlight-100-lux-1390980.html
You'll need another light if you want to do any nighttime off-road riding.
Not technically stvzo but the same tech:
https://ravemen.com/front-lights.html
I've the PR1600, used for mainly rural unlit roads & canal with a bit of urban too. Wireless switch is great once you get used to it.
Now that the evenings are drawing in
7.45pm ?. Hardly there yet.
I use a Exposure Six pack and a Exposure Diablo on the road and also for off road, rather than buying two sets of lights (one for mtb and one for road)
When on road i make sure the six pack is angled towards the floor so not to blind drivers but still lets me see any approaching hazzards like pot holes etc.. (part of my commute is in pitch black darkness) the Diablo is set to flash and is mounted on my helmet and angled downwards again as not to blind drivers
Been doing this for 3 years and have never had someone flash thier headlights at me becaue my lights blind them
I have one of these, can recommend for road use
https://www.candb-seen.co.uk/product-front-light.html
Anything StVZO +1
Angling a normal light down isn't anything like the same or as good.
The StVZO lamps have a gradient to the lights intensity that peaks at horizontal. So the bit of road furthest away is lit up equally well as the pothole about to go under your wheel.
The usual 90deg 'cone' shape, then in order to get the cut off horizontal you've got to point the spot down 45deg. Which then renders anything past is invisible as it's so much further away and with less light illuminating it. So it's worse for other road users (because no one actually angles them down anywhere near far enough) and worse for you as it's not giving the same distance as a StVZO beam (or if it is, see previous point, half the lumens are above that).
Another vote for Ravemen. I have a 1200 lumen light. It’s great. The hi/lo beam switching works really well.
I’ve got the Raveman 1200 for commuting, works well but be aware the cut off beam is only 600lumen max
+1 for the B&M Ixon lights.
Unlike @easily, I have this model
https://m.bikester.co.uk/bicycle-equipment/bike-lights/battery-run-front-lights/223916.html?_cid=21_1_-1_9_225_223916_524292382310_pla&ef_id=CjwKCAjwyvaJBhBpEiwA8d38vLfnUcqlEZ4UwK_X6DI_CQju47oJiB3eb6ZPdJE5R0zDkyzx44Ub1xoCH84QAvD_BwE:G:s&campaign_detail=smart_shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjwyvaJBhBpEiwA8d38vLfnUcqlEZ4UwK_X6DI_CQju47oJiB3eb6ZPdJE5R0zDkyzx44Ub1xoCH84QAvD_BwE
It's a bit cheaper, and takes AA batteries, rather than a proprietary battery pack, so has the potential for a longer lifetime.
As pointed out by @thisisnotaspoon the different beam pattern is a massive improvement over angling an 'ordinary' light downwards
Anything StVZO +2
Also the Exposure Strada, while it isn't StVZO, is designed specifically for road use and has a flattened beam pattern which works pretty well ime. I sometimes also run a Joystick or Diablo on the bar as a sort of supplementary 'high beam' for when it's pitch black and there's no oncoming traffic, switched on and off using the remote switch.
My experience of angling flood beams downwards is that there's still a lot of scatter. Try getting a mate to ride towards you with your light angled down some times and see what you think. Just because you're not being flashed, doesn't mean your light isn't annoying. I suspect a lot of drivers are so used to being dazzled by bike lights that they simply ignore it, but that doesn't make it okay.
Anything StVZO +another one.
I have used a B&M IXON Space for a couple of winters now on commute and any dark road riding. Commute is 50/50 town and unlit (fast) B road and even at half to 3/4 power the road is lit to see any hazards / potholes etc. When I got it it was just within your budget but now seems have increased 🙁
Ixon is the 2nd StVZO compliant light I have had. Previous was a (now discontinued) Philips Saferide.Thought the Philips was good but Ixon much better with more power and much more pronounced beam cutoff so it makes full use of all the available Lux.
B&M Ixon user here. Definitely better than a big off road light at a useless angle
Another +1 for Ravemen lights.
I've got the PR1600 and it's very good. I'd prefer more battery capacity, but it would then start getting bulky.
Just noticed they have now released a 2400 lumen version with a 900 lumen road beam and more run time.
As above, the lumens number is for both beams and there is a road and flood beam so for road use you are effectively running at a max of 800 lumens on the pr1600.
The run time indicator is OK at night time, but useless in daylight. You cannot read it at all.
for me there are two types of road lights being seen or seeing. I ride a fair bit of gravel / forest stuff early morning so have a Exposure six pack and Blaze mk3. When I was just commuting I just had a lezyne set as doing city riding its never really that dark.
+1 StVZO (or similar)
MTB lights are basically round torch lights just dazzle and don’t tend to work well on tarmac anyway.
I use a Ravemen PR900 mounted on a bracket at the fork crown. The light came with wired remote included, which I mount positioned by my left thumb.
I chose the light because
1. It has a cutoff type-beam and also floods light across the tarmac highlighting the road surface and much less dazzle for motorists
2. Rechargeable via USB and has a large battery/long runtime
3. Dual emitter means it has a ‘gravel option’ (or even light MTB) for off-road excursions and dark bridleways etc.
4. It will also operate in low mode while recharging from a powerbank, giving massive runtimes for overnight touring or whatever.
5. It also functions itself as a USB power bank, so offering an emergency charge for my rubbish phone if caught out,
Had it over a year now and so far gas been faultless in all weather. Seems really well built and survived a hard hit when I dropped a bike on the road while it was mounted on the bar, taking all the impact as the bars turned before hitting the deck. It left a small dink in the alu lens surround.
Bonus is the red LED runtime-meter. Seems well-calibrated. I use low/med for most dark lanes (22hr runtime) and switch to high via the remote if I see/hear a car coming. Suburban modes or main routes I tend to use the ‘pulse’ mode, and sometimes hold the remote to activate high/emergency beam if I want to ‘confirm my presence’ to any coque au vandriver etc. 😎
*edit forgot to say, I meant to upgrade to a 1200 or 1600 when could afford it (buying the 900 as it was on offer £55 and I needed a light quickly)
tbh I haven’t rushed to upgrade as it gives serviceable light and I don’t feel underpowered. If I was doing more fast gravel at night then would probably get the PR1600 as have seen it online for under £100
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/reviews/lights-reflectives/ravemen-pr1600-front-light
Thanks for the replies everyone. Looks like the consensus is something like a Ravemen 1200/1600 or a B&M Ixon...
Can I just jump in and ask if any of the above fit on to aero bars?
Do any of these StVZO lights offer options for 'out-front' brackets? I can't stand having huge bulky lights on my bars, offset to one side. I much rather have a central beam hanging off the front under my GPS.
+1 On the Raveman range. It may not bother you, but the PR1600 doesn't offer the Press-and-hold for a flash of full brightness from the remote that the ones with the wired remote do (which I thought was the feature most useful without moving your hands), so I actually downgraded. The PR1200 is only marginally less bright. I see they've reintroduced that to the remote control functions on the new PR2400.
The Raveman (and I imagine other similar lights with beam cutoffs) do need to be mounted right-way-up for obvious reasons, so upside down under the handlebar or under a GPS mounts won't work. (On the PR1200 at least) the mount is only held onto the bottom of the light with two small screws, so you could probably fabricobble / 3D print a fork crown mount or even a whole cradle to hold it under a GPS. I've not seen off the shelf alternative mounts though.
Do any of these StVZO lights offer options for ‘out-front’ brackets? I can’t stand having huge bulky lights on my bars, offset to one side. I much rather have a central beam hanging off the front under my GPS.
Not that I’m aware of, although I have seen many third party non-specific extension-clamps* with small tube section to which can be affixed any light’s regular bar-clamp or o-ring. *For example the Minoura CS 500. Also some fit to the stem faceplate.
Whether or any particular light will fit depends on mount-position and length of light unit, etc
I put my PR900 on the fork crown using a BBB branded bracket yet would possibly prefer a metal one, as the weight of the light makes it flex a little over rough ground, although is fine on the road. The bracket is bolted against some rubber/felt washers at the minute so may try without those first. Rixen Kaul do a metal/wire fork-crown mount, but again, the PR range are heavy solid units so would have to try for suitability.
Ravemen do have an adapter Garmin mount for the CS road-specific range, it would be good if they did something for the PR to mount under-bar
If you get a B&M IXON make sure only to charge it with a 1A charger, if you plug it in with a high power phone charger it can fry the battery. Otherwise great lights.
Having done a more digging into the Ravemen range, it looks like the CR1000 might better suit my needs. Smaller, same price as PR900, and all 1000 lumens are directed into the road-shaped beam.
Does anyone have one of these? Is there a reason everyone has / is recommending the PR range (perhaps because this is a MTB forum?!)?
there a reason everyone has / is recommending the PR range (perhaps because this is a MTB forum?!)?
Yes I bought the PR because am floozy for farmtracks and fireroads and cheeky trails home. The CR1000 looks a nice bit of kit. I’d have one for my tourer if wasn’t saving for a dyno setup.
I went for the PR1600 because I wasn't familiar with the rest of their range and while looking, found the PR1600 for £50 from Techfast.com. God know why and I've never seen it that low since, but it's a genuine item and was too much of a bargain to pass up.
The CR1000 looks like a good equivalent, to be fair.
After trying a simple but bright light, I realised I needed to get a StVZO type light.
I have B&M Ixon IQ Premium which is a bit more powerful (80 lux vs the 40 lux of the non-Premium) than a standard Ixon IQ. I have a fork crown mount to attach it. I got both from CRC. The light was in the sale and around £50 and the mount was in the current sale.
I use it for commuting on an unlit tarmac surface disused railway that can get very leafy. It is perfect.
The former simple LED unit used to flush out all the closet Nazis who would lurk in the dark, then walk towards me with their hand raised in a salute as I approached. Since using the B&M I haven't seen a single one...
My advice would be the best you can afford, and I have been impressed with the B&M. Mine takes 4 AA rechargeables, but I wish it was USB enabled as that would make charging more convenient in more places.
I got the fanciest rechargeable B&M, and it’s perfect for my 20 mile unlit A road commute.
Even cars waiting to overtake don’t throw a massive shadow. It’s got run time counter as well so your not crapping yourself if you didn’t charge it.
Got a Tracr out back and a double ender on the lid.
I have the Ixon premium and it's pretty good, certainly for commuting. The rechargeable AAs are a bonus in my book as you can carry a spare set. It doesn't have enough throw for faster night riding so I've splashed out on an Exposure Strada. I haven't used it yet but it appears to have plenty of welly in a medium setting, which would give me enough run time for an overnight ride.
Exposure make great lights
I can’t work Exposure out re road lights. I’ve owned used their MTB lights and been really impressed (but obviously not for road use) with build, punch and brightness etc.
But I look at their £100 road light (Sirius) on the road.cc beam comparison tool, and it seems to be just another glaring, narrow/round torch light? Am I/they missing a mode on the test?
I’ve worked through loads of lights and come to the conclusion practically every offering in the UK is plain and simple useless for road riding if you want to see with them. Even so called “road specific beams”. Too much light spill blinds anyone and everything. To bee seen then anything less than 100 lumens does the job.
To actually see with then Another +1 for stvzo but also anything with a shaped beam.
i use Outbound Lighting downhill package. Got em on kickstarter before they launched officially. Absolutely stunning lights. Not STVZO compliant but their shaped beam has the same effect. I run both the road and trail on the road. Both lights on full on unlit country roads and theres more light than a car headlight. To the point i can see cars noticeably slow AFTER they’ve passed me. And with them set properly I’ve never been flashed once from oncoming vehicles.
Its like riding in daylight with them on and from the front i look like a motorbike. after 3 years of 40ml daily commute with them I’ve never had a car pull out from a side ride in front of me at night. Plenty slam the brakes on and i can watch the front end dip as the “ crap….kill a motorcyclist and i go to prison” overrides the “kill a roadie cyclist and I get a medal” thoughts.
Not missing anything. I’ve had their sirius and the strada road specific. Nothing road specific about them. The sirius has a small lip to try and stop the light spill upwards and the strada a lens to bend light sideways. But the lenses are nothing but tinkered with MTB blind everyone on full.
IMHO overpriced and you can get better for less. Even the offroad exposure ones i’ve now ditched. Magicshine offer better value and better beam on the trail.
Personal unscientific tests i’ve found do everything you can to NOT look like a road cyclist at night. Ditch flashing lights and hi vis and try to look like a motorbike.
Tis all down to speed perception. At night its really hard and most motorists think cyclist = slow = i can pull out. But i can be crusing at 20-30mph. Just like a car in town.
And moon aerite on the bars. Again - perception. Most motorists judge space from the red light. On a bike your bars can be another 30cm out. A car door mirror 10cm so thats 20cm of space they dont need to give you. Stick an aerolite on the drops and distance is judged relative to the light.
Just my unscientific experiments but i’ve got to the point night riding on road for me is now safer than daylight road riding!
The latest Exposure road lights have AKTIV which auto-dips the beam mode when an approaching light is detected. Kinda like high-beam assist on cars.
But still a blind everyone style lens even if they do call it road specific! They’d be far better off designing a decent lens and reflector.
I recently got the Ravemen PR2400 - I don’t think it’s been out long but it’s a HUGE upgrade from my older PR1600.
Proper smart bit of kit. Highly recommended
https://www.ravemen.com/product/PR900.html
I can see perfectly well with this on road, set ‘medium’ @ 200 lumens (7.5 hrs)
If I need more I can switch to ‘high’ @ 400 Lumens (4.5hrs)
More than happy to be told am doing something wrong! I thought about pursuing more lumens but I can’t deny that this works (for me). The PR2400 looks great for serious gravel or particularly fast road/gravel-riding though. Am guessing the PR1200 would suit most road-commuters with lumens to spare for gnarly routes.
They’d (Exposure) be far better off designing a decent lens and reflector.
+1. Get the basics right first. Dynamo-powered units in mainland EU have been doing it for decades, I really don’t understand why UK/US etc can’t seem to spec/pursue road-specific beams. It’s a critical safety feature let alone more pleasant and useful.
I’ve been using a Strada SB in its various guises for about 4 years and from September to March am commuting about 150-200km a week on a mix of A road, B road, gravel and cycle paths. I’ve never been flashed unless I forget to dip the beam.
Most of the time I have it in the medium setting and only use high for fast descents or twisty stuff. I also have a Joystick or Acis on the helmet, again usually on medium, but set to shoot further out than the bar light. I can dip my head a little to bring the beam spot closer (more acute angle - less throw) when cars are approaching.
Mk2 Strava and a joystick pointing down at potholes works fine for me. The spread of joysticks has changed over the years. About 400 lumens total is fine and I don’t use full power for longer duration. Never been flashed.
Exposure seemed to have developed a range of STVZO Lights but never brought them to market for some reason. The page below used to show lights, but with no prices. Now just says "We can't find products matching the selection."
https://exposurelights.com/products/bike/stvzo-lights
Here's the old thread from 2018 about it.
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/exposure-stvzo-compliant-german-spec-road-lights/
I have a Raveman. It is a great light - solid, good battery life, easy to use, useable remote, reliable attachment, nice range of light modes, very accurate remaining battery info. It really is one of the best bike lights I've ever seen.
However, the beam is nothing like an StVZO beam. I also have a Busch + Müller Ixon and the beams are nothing like each other. The B + M has a VERY flat top cut off while the Raveman beam spreads up much more. I might take photos tonight and put them up to demonstrate.
I would rate the Raveman as superior in every way except for this one thing, it really is a very well made light, but it is nothing like an StVZO light.
exposure do make good lights. But there are defintely better options. Especially for the road.
Hopefully I got this imgur thing right but top 2 piccys - 3k lumen with a cut-off. pitch black country lanes...become daylight. ANd not blinding from the front. Outbound Lighting.
Bottom 2 - 1150 lumen expsosure blinding.
I usually run the Outbounds's on adaptive which starts high then gradually dims as your eyes adjust to prolong battery but put em on, let em rip and never have to think about dip / bright / faff for buttons. Fit and forget....well I still have to turn them on! Cant recommend them highly enough.
Not doing night riding or winter commuting anymore, so there's a Ravemen 900 going for a song in the Classifieds if anyone wants it.
Great light for the road, and (in my opinion) much less dazzling than the Exposure light it replaced.
The Olight RN lights claim to be anti-glare with cut-off as well, and seemingly good spec for the money. But I've no real world experience of them though.
I got the most expensive B&M rechargeable one, it has a run time indicator and has a car headlight pattern. It’s basically perfect for my commute, ten miles each way of which are on unlit A roads.
Certainly enough throw for a 30mph descent.
I might get a 1300lm moon light to use as a full beam on a remote switch, but no real need to, it would just give me something to do.
Just got a Ravemen PR1600 (reduced at CRC and Tredz atm).
Lots of very dark narrow lanes around here where a commuter light wasn't bright enough. I was attempting to use a Toro but I think even low and pointed down the glare for other people would've been pretty bad, plus then needing to get the multi tool out to adjust for off road.
The cutoff on this looks like it's done by ridged and shaped glass in front of the LED which doesn't produce the hard cutoff of STVZO lights but still seems to do a decent job of reducing glare, and having the easy high/low beam button is nice. Will report back once I've tried it properly.
I've got a PR1600 & took similar pictures of it to those silasgreenback posted above; with just the dipped beam & with dipped & main beam.
I don't think the dipped beam is as good as a proper STVZO light, but it's massively better than something that just throws light out all over the place.
@jkomo - i’m tempted by the B&M light. Any chance you could post some night time pics.
Bar retail space is a premium with lights, computer, 2x batteries. I’m tempted to go integrated battery but would only ever go something with proper optics instead of a beam bender lens.
SGB, I can email you pics but so far I’ve not managed to sort out posting pics. Lame I know…
Right, I have no idea if these images will post, and I'm not sure how much they tell anyone anyway, but here goes. It's very well lit round here, so I've taken them in my garage*
Image one (if all goes to plan) is the Busch + Müller Ixon STVZO on low power. You can see a little light escaping upwards, but also a very distinct 'cut-off' line. Image two is the same light on high power.
Image 3 is the Raveman PR1200, the one that comes with the wired control. This is on the 'dipped' mode on low power, and you can see the difference - a lot of light is going upwards. Image 4 is the dipped beam on the highest power setting. For comparison the last image is the Raveman on high beam using full power, where you can see that as much light is going up as down.
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As I said, the Raveman is a great and versatile light. Unless you're doing the gnariest rides it will have enough light, and on dipped beam it's not as bad as some for the ride home.
If you're after a regular commuter light that won't annoy oncoming drivers, walkers, and other cyclists it doesn't really do the job.
* All comments about the state of my garage welcome
Take a look at this BUMM!
You can see the beam patterns on the IXON lights. I have mine on a fork crown mounted bracket, set up so I illuminate from the waist down. I never dazzle anyone and the light output is fine for a 25-30kmph speed through unlit woods on a cycle path. I see the full dog, but never the dog walker's face, and since using this light I no longer encounter the Nazis who walk towards me doing a salute to shield their eyes.
Thanks chaps.
Dont think i could live with the Raveman. I’m a fit & forget lazy sort if chap and cant get on with remotes on drop bars.
I’m always a bit skeptical of white backgrounds for beam patterns making them look brighter than real world black roads!
My outbounds are stunning on the cart track minor roads. I’m just scared of going battery pack free and being disappointed like i was when i went exposure for off road lights 🤔🤔🤔
I should probably just put up with the lack of retail space till the packs die.
Up until recently I had an Exposure Strada RS and I agree with the earlier poster that the beam was not efficient. My problem was that it was okay on max (1200 lumens) but didn't last long enough for my night ride (about 2 hours ride/1.5 hours battery) so I had to keep putting it on medium or low which defeated the purpose and was a pita.
Just bought a ravemen PR2400 and pleased with it athough it isn't revolutionary. The max power dipped road beam is 900 lumens which seems about the same light as the exposure on 1200 lumens. However, the ravemen will do over 3 hours on that setting which makes my night rides much more relaxing.
The wireless remote is neat and works well, allowing you to switch to off-road mode in an instant and give out 2400 lumens all of a sudden. Having said that I did try it and although it is obviously more light it wasn't all that impressive.
As I said, the Raveman is a great and versatile light. Unless you’re doing the gnariest rides it will have enough light, and on dipped beam it’s not as bad as some for the ride home.
If you’re after a regular commuter light that won’t annoy oncoming drivers, walkers, and other cyclists it doesn’t really do the job.
Yea, a few friends have them and ive bit my tongue because they're not cheap and certainly better than exposure's offerings. But they're nothing like STVZO style lights.
I’m always a bit skeptical of white backgrounds for beam patterns making them look brighter than real world black roads!
You need to imagine them projected onto a perpendicular surface too. Imagine this one from the post above. That super bright letterbox then becomes a perfectly even beam right along the road. Whereas an even looking beam on a wall, becomes a bright spot up way too close, not enough further away, and half the power wasted into the air.
For comparison the last image is the Raveman on high beam using full power, where you can see that as much light is going up as down.
That’s the MTB mode using both emitters?
Dont think i could live with the Raveman. I’m a fit & forget lazy sort if chap and cant get on with remotes on drop bars.
You don’t have to use the remote, there’s a big button on the top of the light and a smaller one for cycling the modes. It remembers the last mode also. So really it’s about as fit and forget as you like.
I take the remote with me from time to time depending on route, as it’s often useful to get a blast of high mode if heading into hazardous/extra-dark terrain. But you definitely don't require it and all functions are operable from the light unit alone.
It’s been interesting reading about the Ravemen ‘automotive’ beam vs stvzo as I have a PR900 and yet to do a proper test re dazzling. I’ve had a few goes at resting the bike against a lamp post and walking 50m up the road but it’s difficult to tell. It’s much, much better compared to all of the MTB lights (non stvzo) lights I’ve had to date.
I took some pics of my old Cree T6 light which has a conventional round (MTB style) beam with plenty of throw. Typical of (sic) torch-style ‘road’ lights in the UK It really was impossible to be both useful to the cyclist and to not dazzle drivers. I found that it needs to be angled approx a maximum 6ft in front of the bar/front hub to a avoid blinding dazzle. Even then there is IMO hazardous glare and distraction for another road user:
I’ll do the same test with the Ravemen PR900 at some point. For now I took a pic hand-held in a garden at IIRC medium beam and the cutoff is noticeable.
There are conifers and fencing directly behind the boundary fence and the too of the beam hardly illuminated them. Directed the beam up as near as possible with the top of the fence. In hindsight I should’ve dipped it down lower to get a better idea.