Kranx Solis 100 Rear Light

26g (light) 38g (including strap and bracket) £15.99

The Kranx Solis 100 Rear Light is small in size but admirably plucky when it comes to being seen amongst the competitors of night tome cycling in city and country. Taking up little space and having a variety of mounting options, I have come to like it, paired-up with another light or going solo. It is worth remembering that Kranx gear is typically entry level stuff, but that does not mean that it should be ignored even by more experienced cyclist.

Pros: small, bright, variety of mounting options, price, light angle adjustable.

Cons: no automatic kick down or charge level indicator, only IPX4.

Spec

Stating the obvious, there’s a max output of 100 lumens. As we know that is not the be-all and end-all, but even if it were, 100 lumens max is perfectly suitable for most general riding situations.

The box contains the light, a bracket and, you’ve guessed it, a USB-C charging cable. There are no detailed instructions for start-up, but this is a pretty intuitive light, operation is easy, and, at this price point, you won’t be expecting masses of hi-tech to delight or confuse you.

The lens hides COB LEDs that offer a block of light. Six modes and simple operation, but none of the frills of lock-outs and tunability or sync to other lights. The lens is a little proud of the body. Both are plastic, but feel robust enough with some care. A 330mAh battery powers it all. This is charged via the ubiquitous USB-C cable and a port covered by a typical rubber flap.

The spec reflects the price point, but offers a bit more than I expected. With no auto kickdown and no charge level indicator, you do need to keep an eye on things and have a rough idea of usage. If this is your auxiliary light or is sitting on the subs bench in you bar bag, or wherever, that may not be such a big issue.

Mount 4/5

That little bit extra starts here. The small bracket fits best on a seat-post, but has also occupied a seat-stay: sans bracket, the clip on the light is ideal for a light loop on a seat pack or rack bag. Real rough-riders may prefer a longer clip, but I have rattled over forest trails and the violent bumps over tree roots on supposed cycle routes and failed to eject it.

Adjusting the angle of the light is helpful, especially given the diminutive stature of the Solis 100; you don’t want to project too much light skyward, something you can get away with more with larger lights with bigger lens surfaces.

The watch-strap that secures the light to the desired spot is pretty much a go to these days, and with justification. This one stretches around most seat posts – again, aero might pose some problems – and stays there. Just what one wants. It also seems to stay in place when stuck in a pocket away from the bike. Of course, these things are generally replaceable (although far from universal fits) and can be substituted with a decent O-ring from the carefully curated spares bin common to many of us.

In fact, when mounting on a seat-stay, things felt a bit loose. Whilst the it held firm over a mixed surface ride, I felt the need to keep glimpsing down to see that the light was still there. To assuage my anxiety, I found a sturdy O-ring that fitted more tightly, and kept my eyes on the track ahead. Hardly a draw-back, although some might like to have a n alternative in the pack.

In my experience, manufacturers often save money on brackets, but this is definitely not the case here. I have fitted it to a Surly Ted Trailer, but it does not really sit flush. There are better choices for that job.

Care and durability 3/5

IPX4 means that the light is water resistant and will deal with spray but not heavy rain. Now that could be a no-no for anyone but the pure-bred fair-weather cyclist. However, it is work remembering that when mounted on the seat-post it gets a good deal of protection from the rain, although mudguards help, too, by keeping spray away. I have sprayed it with a garden hose with no ill effects; nor from riding through snow and slush.

I haven’t tried dropping the Solis from any height whatsoever. I recommend you avoid dropping it, too.

Switch 3/5

The switch is a simple rubber button requiring a firm push to power on and off and toggle between setting. Flash and steady modes are separated with the move between the two short pushes. Power off is a push and hold, power on a short push.

I haven’t found it the easiest to operate in full finger winter gloves. That’s a bit of a moot point as, in common with many rear lights, you aren’t that likely to be changing mode on the fly – not if you are anything like me. The diminutive switch does not help – but a small body can’t manage a bigger switch! Having said that, switching on the fly can be done can be done with the light mounted high on the seat post.

Whilst unwanted discharge is not impossible, it has not happened. I’ve carted this around in my jacket pocket alongside other lights – more expensive ones, and none have lit up accidentally. Several lights I have tested recently have lock-out functions: lack of one is very far from a deal-breaker.

Charge and run times 3.25/5

Stated run times are as follows: steady low (25 lumens) and strobe (50 lumens) are both ten hours; low flash (25 lumens) is 20 hours; high flash (100 lumens)3.5 hours); medium steady (50 lumens) 4 hours; and high steady (100 lumens) 2 hours. These are a bit of an underestimate, as far as I am concerned – and, yes, I’ve run the light on some chilly mornings with the temperature just above zero centigrade. OK, Mike from Green Bay, I know that is not really cold at all. The point is, I have had two hours and a quarter on the high steady and nearly four hours on high flash.

Whilst these do not match some of the colossal run times of eco-modes on more expensive models, they are by no means “budget.” Ten and twenty-hour modes may not offer the most powerful illumination, but they are functional. More on that, and the circumstances in which I used them below. Some of those times will easily cover a week of commutes (mine is roughly and hour each way, each day).

Charge time has varied for an hour and a half to nearly two, depending on the source. Pretty decent, in my opinion.

Modes and performance 3.5/5

As ever, I prefer a flashing mode during the day. Clearly the 100 lumens high flash is the boy for this. The block of light is strong enough to give presence, very clear presence, at fifty to seventy-five metres on a cloudy, overcast day. Although, intended as a day flash, it has also served well in the bright lights of the city centre during the evening commute. It is strong enough, as well, as is the 50 lumens strobe, to work well alongside another light with a steady mode, running at 50 or 100 lumens. It’s not easy to give specific distances for presence in heavy traffic and city lights, however, one driver commented that it was helpful to find a cyclist so easy to see.

I found the strobe option something of a mixed bag with its rapid flash and orange tinge. Whilst it grabbed attention in the dark, it did not seem as obvious as the pure red of the other flashing modes as a daylight runner.

The low flash I reserved, at night, for quiet suburban and unlit country lanes. A couple of other – faster cyclists, told me that they’d easily picked out the 25 lumens flash from about seventy metres. That was on its own. Paired with the steady low (6 lumens) mode of the Magicshine SeeMee 50 rear light, it seemed to add that little bit extra without being subsumed in a light that punches well above raw numbers. The hundred lumens flash gives clear presence at around 100 metres on unlit roads and towpaths. I paced it out. However, flashing lights can make distance harder to gauge in real life.

The steady modes all work well at night, and very much as one would expect. The hundred lumens high is clearly visible at 80 metres, although a passer-by said that they thought it was nearer a hundred when they saw a clear presence (as opposed to an uncertain one). The low mode offered much less; best up to around 50 metres – which is by no means bad. Both of those were on unlit roads and canal towpaths.

Overall, these are by no means uncompetitive. Combined with short run times in the higher modes, however, it suggests to me that the Solis works best where the middle and lower modes can be used effectively most of the time (two hours in high is just a day of commuting for me); say, suburban, shorter stretches of unlit cycle path or quiet roads and lanes. For busy roads and longer night rides, I’d pair it up to make use of the flashing modes.

Value 4/5

For a penny shy of sixteen quid, there is a lot to like about the Kranx Solis 100. The Kranx Shard 100 is a stripped-down model, and comes in around a tenner. However, the Solis outdoes it, in my opinion, in terms of output, mounting options, and mode and run time choices. Likewise, the Kranx Strix.

100 lumens lights are not uncommon, and you’ll find some with longer run times – such as the Ravemen TR100. It has a range of mounting options, longer run times, and packs a bit more punch. However, it comes in nearly twenty pounds more. Likewise, the Topeak Redlite 80 also costs around twenty pounds more, but outperforms it in terms of run times – especially, in mid and lower modes. It also has a range of mounting options. Both have more amenable switches. These are better options for the frequent night-rider or longer distance commuter.

Comparative in price sre two models from Gaciron which offer some additional features: the W16 may only offer 30 lumens (although claims visibility to 1000 metres), but has a smart braking function and IPX7 (more than enough for day-to-day riding); then there’s their Loop-100 offering IPX6, smart brake function, and 100 lumens.

Summary

At the lower end of the price range, this little light has a lot to offer. Paired up or on its own, provided you do not need very long run times in the most powerful modes, this will serve you perfectly well. It may lack the sophistication or raw power of some more expensive lights, but it does serve its purpose very well. It also makes an excellent emergency substitute as it is small enough to fit easily into a pocket of small seat-pack.

Verdict 3.5/5 A handy light at entry level or as an auxiliary/back-up for enthusiasts like me.

Steve Dyster

https://www.bob-elliot.co.uk/viewdetailV2.php?target=35811

PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 2024

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