When riding at night, make you sure you have a bike light. Not only will it allow you to see the road when the streetlights fade, but it’ll help other cyclists and drivers see you.

Note that there are some important factors you need to consider before you can make the best purchase. These factors will determine the product to buy or the one you will choose from our top picks. In this section, we are going to explain the most important factors that you should put into consideration when it is time to make your purchase.

Brightness

Buying a bike light with a dim light is a waste of money because it will not achieve its purpose. Dim light won’t give you the adequate protection you need, thus defeating your aim of getting a bike light. Therefore, you must make sure you look for a bike light that offers excellent visibility. Like most urban bulbs, bike light are measured in lumens. You should consider getting a bike light with at least 300 lumens if you want a light that will illuminate your pathway or sidewalk.

Features and Modes

These are important factors you need to consider when buying a bike light. LED light for bikes come with different brightness level and beam pattern. You can select full brightness, half brightness, fast, or slow flashing. When looking for the right bike light to buy, the ability to change its brightness level is an important quality that you should look out for. In addition to that, you should also consider the ability to change the beam wideness. Some of the products that we reviewed have these functionalities.

Beam Angle

The quality of bike light is of great significance. Your beam spread is important, and it hinges on how you ride. For instance, you will need a wide-angle beam spread when riding on the street. This gives you proper visibility, enabling you to see everything around you. On the other hand, a narrower beam will be needed if you are riding off road. This enables you to see obstacles that are ahead of you long enough before you reach them.

Battery Type

The most convenient battery type is the USB rechargeable ones. Apart from being convenient, they are also cheaper to operate. Other types of batteries that can be used to power your bike light are disposable AAA batteries, internal battery, as well as external ones. In terms of energy density, the lithium battery is better than the AAA batteries. When going for a long trip, AAA batteries will be of great advantage, especially in areas where there is no access to electricity.

Water Resistance

There are situations where you need to ride in the rain. If you are a commuter, you might not be able to avoid the rain. In most cases, mountain bikers usually experience the rain and have water and mud splashed on them. Most bike lights on a list are resistant to water, impact, and other adverse condition. Therefore, if you are a mountain biker or commuter, you need to consider a bike light that is resistant to water. This will give you peace of mind when cycling in the rain.

Battery Life

The battery life is important to consider as many lights are single-use only, while others are rechargeable, either by cable or by the bike’s wheel motion. If single-use, it will often be good for several years, but may not be that bright and may get dim at the wrong moment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I Use a Bike Light During the Day?

As mentioned earlier, the use of bike light during the day gives you extra protection. You might also not use it because there are lots of ambient lights in the day time. For those that like to use their bike light during the day, ensure that you choose the full brightness mode. This will easily get you noticed by other road users.

How Can I Protect My Bike Light From Thieves?

One of the most efficient ways to safeguard your bike light is by making use of strap made with stainless steel. Stainless steel is hard to break because they are tough and sturdy. You need to make sure that you install them properly.

Once this is done, it will be practically impossible to steal your bike light. Another way to prevent your bike light from being stolen is to detach it ad take it along with you anywhere you go. Most of the products we reviewed are easy to fix and disengage, so getting it fixed and unfixed won’t take your time.

How Can I Set My Bike Light up for Night Use?

Note that you should never flash a light that is facing forward. Your visibility will be affected if you put your high-intensity, forward-facing bike light in a flash mode. Furthermore, you should not use strobe at night, especially if the intensity is more than two hundred lumens.

When you use a strobe mode in the night, it is going to obstruct the visibility of oncoming road users. This will not only upset other drivers, cyclists, or bikers; it will also make it difficult for them to estimate your position and your driving speed. We advise that you have one steady light and another flashing light.

Final Thoughts

Apart from illuminating your ways, bike light reduces the chances of accident. It is, therefore, essential to find the right bike light that will offer you maximum protection. A cheap bike light need not be a bad bike light, so keep the above in mind and find the right one for you.