Good quality motorcycle lighting fixtures are one of the first motorcycle accessories on your shopping list. Needless to say, they are a must when cycling at night or if visibility is poor, making lighting fixtures a must-have in winter. and a wise addition to your motorcycle even in summer.
It is a legal requirement in the UK to have protective accessories on your motorcycle if you cycle after sunset (we have a comprehensive advisor on motorcycle protection laws), however some cyclists also like to use them during the day, especially in winter, to build visibility for other road users.
However, like everything, there are many other brands that provide an infinite diversity of options, so it can be an almost impossible task to find the most productive motorcycle lighting fixtures for your needs.
Luckily, here at BikeRadar, our experienced testers have used and abused dozens of lighting sets to give you the definitive list of what we think are the top beams and top beams on the market.
If you’re looking for lighting fixtures to ride off-road on trails, you want something brighter, with more strength and battery life. Check out our separate overview of the most productive mountain motorcycle lighting fixtures.
Here is BikeRadar’s variety of the most productive tested front, rear and soft soft sets. For more options, as well as our reviews and buying guide, read on.
Best front under £150 or $200: Bontrager Ion Pro RT
Best Soft Front for £100 or $150: Knog PWR Road
Best front under £60 or $70: Blackburn Dayblazer 800
Best front under £40 or $60: Lezyne Hecto Drive 500XL
Best backlight: Topeak Redlite Aero 1W
Best taillight for driving: Bontrager Flare R City
Best set of front and rear lights: Lezyne Lite Drive 1000XL and Lezyne KTV Pro Drive 75
The Bontrager Ion Pro RT provides a balance between superior luminous flux and a coherent, pleasant-colored, well-focused smooth beam.
The clamp is super easy to use, and while its real-world usefulness is questionable, Bluetooth integration, which lets you use the Garmin or Di2 gear lever, is fun. It is also easy to use.
If you need lighting levels similar to those of a rally car on your journey, nothing beats Gemini’s radical Titan. By using six LEDs in a horizontal strip, you get a detailed three-dimensional representation of the road/trail that harsh shadows in one or two problems. for a true daytime style vision.
While it peaks at 4,000 lumens in the dark, some of it is enough for 90% of situations, so battery capacity is enough for epic trips.
Each mode is programmable in 10% steps and you get a wireless remote as standard. We’ve been using Titans for years without problems.
The Lezyne Hecto Drive XL’s 500 lumens are enough for decent speed on unlit motorcycle roads, but with an hour of operation at full power, the Hecto is ideal for use as street light.
It’s much faster, stays in the mode you last used it (surprisingly convenient), and offers a total of 8 intermittent and consistent modes, with declared runtimes ranging from one to 20 hours.
The Hecto is also a compact unit with an elastic band to attach it to your handlebars.
Blackburn’s narrow Dayblazer uses a combination of GoPro-style tabs and an elastic strap to mount it almost anywhere, so no matter what configuration the handlebars have, they should always locate the area for light.
You’ll be grateful for the 800-lumen “Blitz” mode that can also trip up the darkest alleys and ditches of any route.
The TIR lens, with diffuser-looking cutouts, provides intelligent “look at me” diffusion, with flash and pulse modes for daylight. There is fundamental battery data and the operating time of 1. 5 hours at maximum force can be recharged USB in 4 hours.
It’s also waterproof submersible, so if you live in a place where it rains heavily, you’re sure to live up to Blackburn’s lightweight reputation for being super tough.
The exhibition has been producing high-tech, high-performance lamps in the UK for over a decade.
The newest Strada top light is three hundred lumens brighter than the previous style for uncompromising highway driving and a stressed remote control is included as standard to switch between upper and low beam.
Runtimes for programmable modes communicate over an OLED band. Plug-in batteries, taillights and USB chargers are available as features and the latest edition costs 40% faster than before.
The CNC machined light, bar and stem supports are excellent and the UK factory backrest is excellent.
The R2i LED Vision takes Hope’s signature mechanized aesthetic, housing two LEDs in a warm, eye-pleasing environment in a rugged, all-alloy body.
The LEDs’ “double barrel” setting creates a binocular-like effect that helps decipher what’s in front, with an elegant transition at the edge of the beam avoiding reflections and sharp edges.
The light is relatively heavy, but our experience shows that the weight penalty is worth it, with mythical reliability and factory direct start.
Knog’s modular PWR formula was presented with wonderful fanfare. The whole formula is based on a central force source that can be had in other capacities.
Knog also offers compatible camping lights, Bluetooth speakers and more starting with the PWR family.
During testing, we found that the PWR formula is absolutely simple. The battery life is also smart enough for a medium-strength light.
Lezyne’s Macro Drive 1300XXL offers a monstrous output of 1300 lumens in its “Overdrive” mode, which is more than enough for navigating unlit roads or gravel roads.
The intermediate settings are well thought out and while we’d prefer a slightly smoother transition between them, it’s possible to program the light to your needs.
The one is super safe, but installing it the first time turned out to be a challenge.
Don’t be put off by the six-hundred-lumen force output: Lezyne Micro Drive sixhunderXL’s two LEDs provide rugged front lighting that’s suitable for use on unlit country roads.
The rubber handlebar mount is stronger than you and can be transferred seamlessly between bikes.
While it’s simple to press the on/off button to demonstrate the battery life indicator, you need to go through all nine modes to go from low to top light.
Since the soft is smooth and compact, its operating time with full force is limited.
The Red Dot Design Award-winning Magicshine Allty 1000 DRL offers price in a well-designed, easy-to-use package.
With a 1000 lumens output and careful integration of Garmin support, the light can be seamlessly incorporated into your existing cabin setup.
The diversity of features, combined with a generous output force of 1000 lumens, makes the Oxford UltraTorch CL 1000 an impressive choice, especially as it sells for £55.
The point of the battery is indicated through the number of hours remaining, and the light doubles like a power bank with a USB output, convenient for emergency charging of parts such as a bicycle computer or a phone.
The waterproof IPX 4 score will withstand rain splashes, this is the minimum we propose for driving in rainy weather.
The soft fits securely to the bar with a plastic holder secured via a rotating hinge and Allen bolt.
With a maximum output of 1000 lumens, the Ravemen CR1000 provides abundant light for rural driving, combined with a T-shaped anti-glare beam.
Bright orange-looking lighting fixtures provide visibility at intersections, without distracting you while driving.
For budget lighting, you have the feel of a more premium option, with a durable rubber strap, quick-release mount, and a smart IP6 rating.
To gently dim smoothness while driving, a convenient stressed remote button allows you to transfer modes without having to move from your riding position on the handlebars.
The Ravemen PR1200 features an intelligent car-like high/low beam adjustment that can be used to dazzle oncoming road users.
A stressed remote button can be useful for those traveling with flat bars and a fair IP8 score means the light deserves even the most powerful showers.
With a dual beam for you to see and see, the Specialized Flux 850 headlight gives you 180-degree visibility thanks to illuminated side lights.
By combining a projector and wider optics, the light provides a wide beam and a more specific range.
The maximum IPX 7 water resistance score means it can cope with the worst winter conditions.
With 850 lumens, the soft is bright enough for urban driving and unlit country roads.
The Flux installs smoothly and disposes of a forged steel bracket with a quick release mechanism.
Manufactured with an aluminum housing, a single lens and an LED, the TraceR DayBright Exposition is undeniable and very effective. The sturdy plastic bracket it fits into helps keep the light safe.
The TraceR’s bulb harnesses its full 75-lumens strength by projecting the beam 180 degrees for road users to see.
It will last 3 hours in high power mode and all day in lower settings, which is more than after dark. Switching between modes is intuitive.
On paper, the Topeak Redlite Aero 1W is nothing extraordinary, but it is the one that is able to pass and never fail us on the trip.
Up to 4 modes at 55 lumens (two-hour operating time) with a low battery indicator. The different parts and back strips have compatibility with other tube/pole shapes, the individual LED strip tilts and recharges in two hours.
Known for its moderate price and optimal performance, Alpkit’s Tau 20g featherweight lamp features a 20-lumens LED light strip with five modes, adding a top, low flash, and constant pulsed function.
The light will operate for 3 hours and 30 minutes at full throttle and its transfer will involve the speed level.
The light-exclusive LED emits 35 lumens as a wide-angle reflector and, at its maximum setting, which is sunlight flash mode, it will continue to paint for just over five hours.
With a charging time of two hours and a weight of 26g, it is an ideal companion for both day and night travel.
Cateye, the LED taillight revolution, remains ideal in terms of reliability. The dual LED strips scroll through six modes with a maximum of 50 lumens and 180-degree visibility.
It is compatible with the aerodynamic seatpost, but the lack of angle correction is irritating. Its light weight of 30g limits maximum diversity to one hour, but the two-hour recharge is for busy riders.
Cateye has released a Rapid X2 Kinetic update, which detects when you brake and then turns on.
As its appearance suggests, the main point of promotion of the Knog Cobber Mid taillight is side visibility, and it does not disappoint in that regard.
The execution time at full force was less than Knog’s stated, but at 1 hour and 40 minutes, it was smart for a 75-lumen taillight.
There are a total of 8 modes, but you can also use Knog’s Modemaker app to program your own settings if you need something specific.
With a flexible clip holder for belts or tubes, as well as a solid construction, the ZDM is a bikepacking winner. Up to 8 modes with a 250 lumens sunlight flash (9 hours of battery life). It is heavy (69 g) and appearance visibility is limited.
There is no waterproofing rating, however, we shower you for any problems.
Easy to install, with plenty of mounting features (including a seat rail bracket, which comes at a very low price), the Comet X-Pro also impresses with its intense full-power functionality.
The execution time with full force is also higher than the 1 hour and 30 minutes claimed by Moon, which is very smart considering the amount of force available.
Unfortunately, there’s no pulsed mode and it’s a bit tedious to use on the go, however, the X-Pro is otherwise a very useful taillight.
If you know exactly what you need, you may need to buy a front and rear light separately. For many people, however, it’s hard to ignore the appeal of quality smart gaming that solves all their smoothness issues in one go.
However, the threat with buying a set of lighting fixtures is that it’s easy to end up with one of the two (usually the back) not cutting mustard compared to the other, as brands look to cut prices to succeed at a safe point of value.
With this in mind, our experienced testers have tested lamps sold in separate sets and lamps from the same brands that can be purchased in combination at a total price, on a budget of around £100.
Some of the games on this list are no longer available, however, we have indexed lighting fixtures because we still believe they would make smart combinations.
Cateye has a well-deserved reputation for doing high-performance lighting in this class, and the AMPP 800 and Rapid X3 only verify that.
The AMPP 800 has a wide, bright beam and the taillight has a smart formula that uses two separate LEDs that allow you to use the flashing and constant light at the same time.
Full force execution time can be longer in both, however, having larger batteries would naturally increase the size of the unit, so it’s a bit of a trade-off.
The only small drawback is the superior value of the set, but they are physically powerful enough to offer a smart cost in the long run.
At 1,000 lumens at full force, Lezyne’s Lite Drive 1000XL delivers more than enough brightness and beam diffusion for driving on unlit roads. You’ll only get about 80 minutes with that force, but reducing it to the highest force of the moment (which sits at 500 lumens) provides just under 3 hours of battery life, which is enough for even the longest trips.
Its CNC machined aluminum build quality is also perfect and its IXP7 water resistance score is welcome. options
The tailgentle emits a soft 75 lumens at full power, but offers 270-degree visibility.
The PR900 front light is the real star of this package, providing a new dual-lens design and enough power for you to drive on unlit or even off-road roads.
The 900-lumens setting is more of a turbocharged emergency mode, but battery life on the 800-lumens setup is excellent and offers just over two hours of battery life. It even has a USB port so you can use it as a battery to evaluate other devices (like your phone, for example).
Unfortunately, the tailgentle is less impressive, containing only 20 lumens of light and modest autonomy. It’s undeniable and versatile, thanks to its decent mounting system, but there are brighter lighting fixtures at this price.
Although the key figures in terms of strength and battery life win any competition, in practice the Dayblazer 800 and 65 are a very practical set of traffic lights.
Runtime at maximum force is rarely best-in-class, however, there is more than enough strength in any of the lighting fixtures to take care of the road trip.
Both have a solid structure and come with a limited lifetime warranty, so they also make up very good value for money.
Still doing things more smoothly than other brands, two of the main marketing issues of Knog’s PWR Rider 450 are that it can use the headlight as a power bank for other electronic devices and can customize the output modes through its ModeMaker app.
That’s fine if, for example, you’re desperate for that ideal balance between output and runtime, but in the end, it’s unlikely to be a true game-changer for most people.
The design of any of the lighting fixtures is also very clean, but coming in a smaller, more aerodynamic housing means sacrificing battery life a bit. .
The taillight is brighter than its 44 lumens recommend when flashing, making it an option for urban driving.
It’s the brightest light on the market, and yet the Alley F-650 provides enough strength and battery life for driving both on the highway and in the city.
Our control lamp lasted longer than the declared two hours at maximum force and still emitted a decent amount of light a clever part of the hour later, even if it faded a little. The quality is excellent
The ratchet mounting formula is also very effective, offering solid compatibility with all handlebars we tested it on.
Our tester liked the taillight less, basically due to the short battery life (just over two hours at full power), but it’s also a perfectly capable taillight, if not a deal breaker for you.
Although a bit pricey, the Urban 900 Commuter Combo by Light
Our tester was given just over an hour and a portion of the full-force front light, which is decent at its 900 lumens of force, and the drop in force noticeably extends battery life. There is no flashing mode, so longer running time is limited. at 12 hours in “SafePulse” mode, however, this is not likely to cause any primary disorder to anyone.
The taillight emits 60 lumens, but is slightly more plasticized than the front light (although it is also rated by American FL-1 standards).
The mounting formula for any of the lighting fixtures is also a bit whimsical, but overall, it’s a smart overall package, even if the price turns out a bit high.
Bicycle lighting fixtures fall into two categories: those that provide enough lighting to allow you to clearly see what’s in front of you, and those that are designed for other road users to notice: lighting fixtures for seeing and illuminating. accessories to be noticed, as it was.
Our motorcycle light reviews are primarily based on headlight fixtures that will allow you to see where you’re going on motorcycle lanes or unlit country roads.
The strength of the bicycle light is expressed in lumens. Lumens are the unit through which the total amount of light emitted by a source is measured.
Therefore, the number of lumens a light provides tends to be the main specification, as it more necessarily promises that the light will be brighter.
The strength of some bicycle smoothing devices (dynamo head smoothing devices and StVZO-compliant battery-powered smoothing devices) is expressed in lux. It is the measure of the amount of light that falls on a surface.
Cyclists riding in urban areas that remove darkness, who don’t want lighting devices to remove darkness from the road, would possibly only want a unit of a few hundred lumens; However, if you venture into unlit roads or paths, it would probably not be enough, then I want something more powerful.
For urban travel, two hundred lumens is enough. We recommend a front light with a minimum of 400 lumens for driving on unlit roads.
However, don’t be fooled into thinking that the number of lumens in a motorcycle light is all that matters. useful, especially if you have to use the harshest settings for long periods of time.
Be sure to check the claimed battery life at all other degrees of force to find the light that suits your driving style.
It is worth mentioning at this point that in the UK, bicycle smoothing accessories are not subject to any upper force limits. Smoothing accessories must be able to emit at least 4 candelas (another unit of soft intensity), which is far exceeded. through fashionable lighting accessories. Flashing lighting fixtures for bicycles are also permitted by UK law.
Fortunately, the incandescent bulb is a thing of the past. Virtually all of today’s high-end front lighting fixtures are supplied with Cree LEDs, which offer higher brightness, more versatility, less heat, longer lifespan and are smaller.
Most taillights now use COB LEDs. COB stands for “chip on board”, necessarily multiple LED chips that form a single module. They produce less heat, are brighter, and can be obtained in a variety of colors, but don’t forget that. that the law in most countries states that a taillight is red.
Unlike mountain motorcycle lamps, which occasionally use compromised external batteries, road motorcycle and commute lamps usually have internal batteries, so there will be a trade-off between power, battery life, and light size.
For example, a stronger light, with a longer battery life, will require a physically larger battery and increase the overall length of the unit.
This is rarely necessarily a challenge in itself, however, many road riders may not need anything too big to ruin the modern look of their road motorcycle or clutter the handlebars. a bag of pictures.
For others, especially those driving on unlit roads or enjoying long commutes and commuting, a bigger light with more lumens and battery capacity will be essential.
Expert readers will notice that we’ve covered battery-powered lamps in this guide.
Dynamo lighting fixtures, which are powered at most via a generator integrated into a wheel, are a very popular choice on city and travel bikes, and for a smart reason. They offer infinite uptime and the optics of the lighting fixtures are the best. quality.
However, they require significant investment in terms of cash and research, and covering either system would be beyond the scope of this guide. We have covered motorcycle dynamos in a separate explanation, adding our variety of dynamo lamps.
When buying a set of lights, the balance between the front and back is also important.
The front light will have much more strength because its function includes smoothing dark roads and motorcycle lanes. However, while the total lumen count of the maximum taillights doesn’t come close to the front, the specs are just as important.
The main function of a taillight is to make you visual to other road users. Therefore, it is imperative to have decent brightness and battery life, as it will have to last the entire duration of your adventure and be sturdy enough for other roads. users to view from a smart distance.
Some lighting fixtures are now also advertised for the use of hours of sunlight, with the right brightness and flash models so that you remain visible in intense sunlight and low light.
The front and rear smoothing lights will also have to balance diversity and peripheral smoothing. A very specific beam can be ideal for illuminating the road in front of you for fast driving, but in order to be able to detect hazards and allow road users coming from other angles to see you better, it is vital that some of the soft beam also propagates to the periphery.
StVZO luminaires comply with German traffic licence regulations, with beams designed to dazzle other road users.
You don’t want to use StVZO-approved smoothing accessories anywhere other than on German roads; however, if you only drive on the road, investing in a StVZO softener might be a good idea.
The narrow beam may not be suitable for mountain bikers or bikepackers cycling at night, but there are more and more StVZO lighting features that allow you to switch between the top beam and the low beam to avoid this problem.
We have a separate StVZO motorcycle lighting fixture that goes over all the pros and cons.
In an ideal world, you would be able to have a perfectly undeniable mounting system, quick to install and remove, completely safe and infinitely durable. . . But in reality, there’s regularly a bit of compromise between those other features.
The simplest brackets use strong elastics and compromised grooves on the lightweight stand. These systems have the merit of being incredibly fast and simple to install and remove, and can be seamlessly adjusted to other types and sizes of handlebars, seatposts, etc.
On the other hand, it’s easy to lose those elastic bands when lighting fixtures are fixed on the motorcycle and they’re more likely to move on uneven ground. Given long-term use, they are also more likely to degrade and eventually break. than falsified support.
Steel or solid plastic mounting systems, which attach to the handlebars and are secured with bolts, tend to offer much greater protection on bumpy roads, as well as much greater long-term durability.
Installing or cutting those types of media can be a much more confusing process and infrequently even requires a quick tool (such as a small hex wrench).
Usually, brands will try to mitigate this disadvantage by making the gentile detachable from the stand itself (so, for example, you can temporarily take the courtesy unit after locking your bike), but not all gentleness accessories offer this feature, so it’s worth checking before buying.
Sealing is important, especially if you drive regularly in bad weather. The IP code is a protective measure against the ingress of water and dust. IP4 protects against splashing water, while an IP7 product will be immersed in water for 30 minutes.
Some headlight fixtures only light their own LEDs, but they have USB ports that allow you to rate cell phones or computers with GPS, which is especially useful for long-distance cyclists.