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SEVEN DAY CYCLIST
CYCLING, BUT NOT USUALLY RACING
LATEST UPDATE: OCTOBER 19th
HOW DO WE DECIDE OUR OVERALL RATINGS FOR PRODUCTS WE REVIEW?
Ravemen LR 1000 USB Rechargeable Curved Lens Front Light
144g £59.99
The Ravemen LR1000 USB Rechargeable Curved Lens Front Light is a very compact unit that consumes minimal handlebar space, so an obvious choice for clutter-phobic best bikes, or as a dynamo companion. Thanks to the clever optics, it’s more powerful than the numbers alone would suggest, charge times are refreshingly rapid, the ability to plug in a power bank (or other external battery) or charge phones/similar devices add to its competitively priced charms.
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Pros: Compact, intuitive to use, sensible modes, excellent output, USB charge port can refuel from other sources or charge phones etc.
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Cons: Minor points but wired switch and underbar mount don’t come as standard.
Specification
Measuring 85x36x30mm, the main body is made from Mil type III hard coat anodising, while the rear is made from “durable plastic”, which gives the diode and switch gear a sporting chance of leading a long and productive life, whatever the elements chuck at us. In common with others in the LR family, it meets IPX6 for weather resistance, will resist drops of one metre onto a hard surface, which is very reassuring. The integrated li-on battery (3300mAh/3.6V in this instance) can receive a power bank, should you need to refuel mid ride, or indeed, be used to charge phones and other tech, courtesy of the rear USB ports. This also allows the use of a wired switch, which I am slightly disappointed doesn’t come as standard, even if it meant hiking the price by a couple of quid.
Again, that’s a very minor niggle. Since we’re on the subject and in case any of you were curious, the wireless trigger belonging to its bigger 1600 lumen sibling will not work-I tried. The curved polycarbonate lens, characteristic of the LR family is a very road biased design, throwing a powerful spot and tempered flood from the single diode. One that is engineered so as not to dazzle other road users (although that’s not a licence for belting through town with the full 1000).
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The 3300mAh/3.6V cell can be boosted when flagging, by plugging in a power bank. This is set to a maximum of 500 lumens to protect the unit. A thermal cut out will protect the diodes and switchgear should the light get too hot. In the above contexts, it is both charging and discharging. This is also the case if you’ve forgotten to turn the light off and the bike’s been stationary for some time.
Mount 3.5/5
I’m pleased to report its interchangeable with others in the LR family. I’m not overly fond of the “watch strap” types with more powerful lights per se, since they can slip, especially over rougher surfaces and aboard narrower bar diameters. However, the LR1000’s compact size and very modest weight has meant I’ve had no such issues with the OEM mount. Aside from proving a reliable fit with 25.4 through to 31.8mm, it will also entertain some helmets, which could be a bonus if you’re pairing it with a dynamo, or its playing backing singer to a higher power bar mounted unit. The sturdier PR screw type mount is compatible and can be bought separately for £7.99, should you want a second for another bike.
Switch/Modes 4/5
Taking the wired bar mounted switch out of the equation, the switch cum power indicator is mounted on the left-side and despite being quite bijous is easily located, thanks in part to the battery life indicator. A sustained half-second press powers up/down. As we’re here, green denotes 100-50% charge, steady red is 50-15% and flashing is 15% downward.
There’s no auto kickdown, so aside from maximising battery health, frequent charging is good practice. I got curious and tried the LR500 wireless remote, but our version was a few years old and uses a micro-USB end, the LR1000 runs the contemporary USB C.
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There are four modes in total. Output wise, we have 1000, 500, 250 and a 500-lumen fast flash, which I’d describe as a hybrid of steady and pulsing. A memory function wasn’t a surprise, so though the wired remote is handy, you can just hop on and scoot off.
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There’s an auto stop start function-essentially a motion sensor that will power up or down and theoretically forgetful folks won’t flatten the battery. Simply depress the switch for 1.5 seconds. The light will then flash three times to communicate this function has been switched on/off.
Output 4/5
Quality of light is excellent- at least for tarmac duties (its intended purpose) and in common with the wider LR family, quality of light is excellent. The 1000lumens feels closer to 1300 and clicking down to the medium (500 lumens) could’ve passed for 700.
Predictably, there’s less punch and throw than the LR1600 but unleashing the full 1000 lumens, oncoming traffic seemed to take note at 140 metres on a clear night and along the backroads.
It’s offered excellent view of conditions and upcoming hazards at a steady 20 mph, maybe 25 on a fast, winding descent. It was also less prone to sending rabbits and squirrels into a stupor, which was welcome at the end of a long ride when mind and body were weary.
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Peripheral throw is also better than might be expected, particularly welcome at concealed, unlit junctions. As I suggested earlier, the 500-lumen steady is also deceptively bright.
Oncoming rural traffic seemed to take note at around the 70 metre mark (denoted by dipping headlights and slowing down). I was able to navigate the same sections of lanes and B roads at 17mph with good awareness of holes and similar potential hazards.
Up to 20 odd through semi-rural stretches. Continuing the narrative, it has provided pleasing presence when negotiating bigger roundabouts (say coming into suburban stretches) and arguably overkill for town duties (where arguably, the 250 lumen low strikes the best balance of power and economy) but still sits the right side of assertive, so no issues if you’ve forgotten to nudge down.
Allowing for street, shop and other competing illuminations, with the 250 lumens, other traffic seemed to clock me at 30-40 metres. Finally, we have the 500-lumen fast flash, which is certainly a credible day flash. The tempo is also just slow enough to navigate by, should you need to. Aside from sipping reserves, it has more bite than the 250- lumen steady, which gives it an obvious edge in built up areas.
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Calling my own bluff, I’ve managed to navigate those lonely lanes at 12-14mph, which is hardly warp speed but still covers reasonable ground and other vehicles seemed to pick me out at 80 metres, slightly less when things turned misty but still very respectable. These characteristics, coupled with the frugality meant it rapidly became my default for general daylight to dusk duties and dynamo companion. Some of you might find a second, high power light a bit odd. However, a compact model is great in the depths of winter, say when fixing a flat, tackling a similar roadside mechanical, or just rummaging through a pannier.
Run/Charge Times 3.25/5
Predictably, these are relatively short in the highest, 1000lumen setting but within a few minutes of the 1 hour 30 cited. You can whip in a power bank (or even a big external battery pack, such as the Sigma Buster HL2000, as I did) and extend run times, albeit to a maximum of 500. Oh, and you’ll not be able to use the wired switch when doing so. Nonetheless, a definite plus over competitor designs.
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Otherwise, these are very faithful to those cited by Ravemen. The 500lumen steady has again, gone a few minutes shy of the 2hrs 30 quoted, ditto the 250 (4hrs 26 against 4hrs 30) and 500lumen rapid flash (29 hours 54). Charging is rapid, particularly by genre standards-pancake flat to fully juiced in 90 minutes, 10 minutes or so quicker from the mains. Tourists and bike-packers could always charge it from the dynamo, during the day; really convenient for commuting.
Care/Durability 4/5
IPX6 indicates a good standard of weatherproofing. Heavy showers aside, ours hasn’t missed a beat, left in situ while giving the bike a deep, sudsy bucket clean. It's also passed my garden hose test with flying colours and no sign of ingress. The battery is reckoned capable of nearly 800 charge cycles before dipping to 70% capacity, which is impressive. Otherwise, keep the battery charged and to 50% should you be putting it into seasonal hyper sleep and there’s no reason it shouldn’t lead a long and very reliable life.
Value 4/5
£59.99 is quite enticing, given the specification. Magicshine Alty 1000 V2 Daytime Running Light comes in at £69.99. It also boasts 1000lumens. They claim 2.2 hours at the full 1000 lumens. It also features a 55lumen built in safety light and two flashing modes. However, 5 hour charge times might be a deal breaker and there’s no remote, or the option of plugging in an external power source to extend run times
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Gaciron Kiwi 1200 Anti-Glare Bike front light comes in at £47.71 produces a maximum of 1200 lumens, tapering down to 600 and 300 and a 600lumen daytime flash. Quoted run times are between 1.5 and 24hours. ​It also features a power bank port, meets IPX6 for weatherproofing and can be mounted below, or underneath the bars. A wireless remote can be bought separately. However, this and a CNC machined mount bought as a bundle brings the cost to £70.
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Blackburn DayBlazer 1000 is another 1000lumen model, which also gores from 1000, to 500 but then 350 and 210 lumens, with a 100-lumen strobe. Then again, 5-hour charge times and a watch type strap may temper the appeal.
The Cat Eye AMPP1100 is £79.99 (rrp) and has been around a few years. It produces a maximum of 1100 lumens for a claimed 1.5 hours, fully charged. 800, and 400 complete the steady modes. Then there’s a Daytime hyper constant mode and a 200-lumen flash. Long charge times, no plug in power source option, and IPX4 for weatherproofing feel a little dated for the money.
Summary
Ultimately, allowing for some shortcomings typical of the genre, the compact dimensions and solid output mean the Ravemen LR1000 is a particularly good choice for extended playtimes on pared to the essentials’ best bikes, TT builds, or as a dynamo companion. The generous run times in the lower and flashing modes, coupled with price mean the LR1000 is also a good bet for suburban riders looking to commute and occasionally explore beyond city limits. Personally, I’d sooner pay a few quid more and get the wired remote as standard-it can be bought, aftermarket for £4.99.
Verdict: 4/5 User-friendly compact light with sensible modes and output but would like to see wired remote as standard.
Michael Stenning
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2024
