In this article I’m going to present my list for the best bike lights for road cycling.
In general road bikes ride in conditions where ambient lighting is far more readily available than on hardpack and MTB trails. As a road cyclist you also have to deal with oncoming traffic and other road participants in general. All this means that the requirements for a light for road cycling are different in a number of respects.
The key factor for every light is the amount of light it can theoretically emit. This is called lumens. When creating this overview of the best bike lights for road cycling I only considered lights between 600 and 1500 lumens.
If you dip below 600 lumens you move into the category of lights which are used to be seen by other traffic, not see yourself. When riding without any form of ambient lighting these lights might not be powerful enough to ensure riding safe and confident.
On the other hand, anything beyond 1500 lumens is overkill if you’re really only using the light for road cycling. It basically means you want more power than the average headlight of a car produces.
Obviously this is a guideline, not a rule. Nobody tells you what you want for your personal riding experience. But it helps to keep this list of the very best bike lights for road cycling concise and on topic.
NiteRider Lumina Micro 750 Front Bike Light
The NiteRider Lumina Micro 750 Front Bike Light is a solid front bike light with a proven high quality beam.
The distinctive IP64 waterproof nylon shell with silver heatsink houses the single powerful LED that offers enough light for both road cycling and gravel riding on unlit roads.
The three main settings are operated using the power button, which also doubles as a stoplight battery indicator. They let you cycle to low (250), medium (500), and high (750) settings.
Available with optional GoPro and Helmet mounts to extend its functionality has made it a favorite design for many years.
- Distinctive design, proven beam quality, waterproof nylon shell, relatively lightweight
- None
NiteRider Lumina OLED 1100 Boost Front Bike Light
It offers 7 settings divided across 4 constant and 3 flashing modes. Low, medium, high, and boost mode are the options you get, through which you cycle with a button located on top of the light.
The light has two LEDs behind big flood light lenses, which ensures you have a soft transition and quite a bit of spread to each side. There are two dimples in the plastic casing so you have your sidelight as well.
I think part of the premium price for this light is the fact it offers an OLED screen on top of it displaying battery life, time remaining and the mode you’re in. The benefit of the displayed information cannot be understated. And once you get used to it you’ll probably never want to go back to a light that doesn’t have it.
The light is attached to the bar with a bracket and a thumb screw for on-the-fly adjustability. Third-party options for center and front mounting are available.
The light has a pretty distinctive design with large silver heatsinks at either side of the composite black body.
This light definitely brings something extra to the market and in terms of user-friendliness this one is probably the best.
- Distinctive design, OLED screen, great flood characteristics
- None
Cateye AMPP800
The Cateye AMPP800 is an excellent and relatively affordable road- and commuting option.
The design of the aluminum light wraps the lens around the side, making it very easy for traffic approaching from the side to see you.
The light is attached to the handlebars with a proprietary mount. An optional helmet mount and GoPro is available, extending its mounting flexibility.
The build quality is high with a waterproof IPX4 rating and a micro USB port well-placed at the bottom of the light.
The beam, powered by a 2500 mAh battery, will last you longer than 2 hours on the medium setting. The soft round beam provides a large area which is sufficiently lit for road cycling and commuting.
The power button serves as a three-stage battery indicator.
Besides the flash mode you get your low (200), medium (400), and high (800 lumen) settings.
- Soft round beam
- None
Exposure Sirius Mk9 DayBright
The Exposure Sirius Mk9 DayBright is one of the best-looking sub-1000 lumen front bike lights you can find.
An excellent waterproof aluminum housing holds a large 2900 mAh battery powering this 800 lumen light. Considering the fact the light weighs only 82 grams, it gives you up to 30 hours of battery life.
A handlebar mount is provided but a GoPro adapter is available for other mounting options, as well as an optional helmet mount.
The single LED throws a very bright spotlight with a decent enough spread, making this one of the best options for road cycling and daily commuting, or for trail riding when mounted on a helmet.
- Very lightweight, superb build quality, fantastic helmet option
- None
Garmin Varia UT800 Smart Headlight
You should only buy this light if you have a Garmin Edge. That’s because when used in combination with that GPS, you can use the smart options to the fullest.
It means the light automatically adjusts its brightness based on how it evaluates your GPS data in terms of speed and ride profile. This option works like a charm and can at any time be overridden manually. The Garmin also displays battery status and can turn the light on only when the Garmin itself is being used.
The light does what it sets out to do very well, given it has only one LED to do so. It has the standard low (200), medium (400), high (800) output as well as a flash and daylight mode. It has sidelights as well.
The mounting option is probably the best out-of-the-box. The dual mount with a Garmin on top and the light in a three-prong at the bottom is a thing of beauty. And considering the light itself is a great piece of engineering, this total setup looks absolutely fantastic on your bike.
And it doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg.
- Garmin compatible smart options, auto-adjusting brightness, gorgeous
- Only buy when you ride with a Garmin
Knog PWR Road 700 Front Bike Light
The Knog PWR Road 700 Front Bike Light is one of the most distinctive (and expensive) bike lights within its category.
Knog’s modular approach let’s you swap out the power bank, which means you theoretically hook the light up to their maximum 10000 mAh battery.
Besides bike lights, Knog also offers torches, speakers, and the like to power with the battery, which is also a power bank.
I don’t know of other bike lights that offer this feature, which should put it on top of the list of bikepackers and long distance touring.
The head has a twist feature to power it on or of, which is a nice touch when you use this as a helmet light with the optional mount.
The waterproof aluminum housing is extremely well designed in anodized black with red elements.
It offers 2 flood light LED’s and a single spotlight, which offers a beam suitable for anything but mountain biking.
There are 6 light modes which can be further customized using a proprietary app. You toggle each mode by turning the light, so there’s no power button. And because there isn’t you have a 4-strip LED on top of the light as a battery indicator.
Charging is done with the help of a micro usb located on the inside of the 3300 mAh battery, ensuring no water can get inside the battery.
The design of this light feels fresh and well-thought out. It certainly is one of the best looking ones, and the plethora of available mounting options ensure you can place the light anywhere you want.
- Great-looking light, unique modular design
- Expensive
Lezyne MACRO DRIVE 1300XXL
One step below the Super Drive sits the 1300 lumen Lezyne MACRO DRIVE 1300XXL.
Where the Super Drive and the Mega drive don’t really differ that much, the standard Enduro setting of the Macro Drive is 450 lumens. That’s about 60 percent of the other two and it shows.
If you consider the amount of money you save on this one, and none of the three are budget-oriented, I’d go for one of the other two.
- Dual control of front- and rear light, customizable programs
- Stronger lights are better investment
Lezyne MICRO DRIVE PRO 800XL
The Lezyne MICRO DRIVE PRO 800XL offers a combination of many settings you can scroll through with a remote. That’s pretty unique for a 800 lumen bike light and immediately distinguishes itself from the competition.
Those modes are either the 800 and 150, or everything else, meaning 250, 400, and flash modes. The highest setting will offer you 1.45 hours of burn time, and with the remote you can easily extend that period well over 2 hours or more.
A remote is a very welcome addition to a light, especially one you use in less than ideal road circumstances, where removing your hand to operate a rather small power button is a hassle at best.
There’s an optional helmet and GoPro mount, which I would almost argue, is a must for such a bike light.
I would give this light a definite plus one in the bikepacking and gravel riding category, or when your daily commute is on roads less traveled, because of its remote.
- Remote included, great option for gravel riders and commuters
- None
Lezyne CLASSIC DRIVE 700XL
Coming in your standard black and a silver version, the Lezyne CLASSIC DRIVE 700XL is a beautiful front bike light, for commuting on unlit roads.
The distinctive feature of this light is its user-friendly setting where you can quickly swap between 2 modes only: 400 lumen and the maximum 700 lumen.
It’s this ease of use that’s a nice touch in an otherwise excellent setup, with a waterproof round aluminum housing.
The power button also serves as a stoplight battery indicator, something we’ve seen with many other lights as well.
And you’ve got your optional helmet and GoPro mount for an out front or Garmin setup.
A single spotlight with a maximum output of 700 lumens means it moves into the category of being seen rather than to see, though it does outshine many of its competitors.
- Solid commuter option
- None
Lezyne MICRO DRIVE 600XL
Coming in your standard black and a silver version, the Lezyne MICRO DRIVE 600XL is a beautiful front bike light, for commuting on unlit roads.
The distinctive feature of this light is its user-friendly setting where you can quickly swap between 2 modes only: 400 lumen and the maximum 600 lumen.
It’s this ease of use that’s a nice touch in an otherwise excellent setup, with a waterproof round aluminum housing.
The power button also serves as a stoplight battery indicator, something we’ve seen with many other lights as well.
The beam quality is bright and wide, and for standard urban and road cycling you’ll hardly need the brightest setting, giving you a burn time well over 2 hours.
And you’ve got your optional helmet and GoPro mount for an out front or Garmin setup.
- Very easy to use
- None
Light & Motion Seca Comp 1500
I’m not the biggest fan of their design but the beam quality of the Light & Motion Seca Comp 1500 is undeniable.
Light & Motion have been in the illumination game for years and it shows. They went for a GoPro compatible mount to enable an out front or helmet setup, besides the strap for the handlebar.
Even at 1500 lumen, the beam quality is solid enough for trail riding, with the beam offering enough flood for tight cornering.
Operating the light is easy enough with a button to toggle between medium and race mode, where you get all the power you need. It means the light, with its hooded design, is perfect for a quick trail run or your everyday commute.
If I’m correct you can let the battery get replaced should you pass about 300 cycles, which is the lifespan of the battery. So if you care about the environment that’s a big plus.
- Superb beam quality
- Expensive
Light & Motion Vis 1000 Trooper
The Light & Motion Vis 1000 Trooper is a high-quality offering from this long standing brand.
The light ticks all the right boxes. A 1000 lumen single LED spotlight with a waterproof aluminum casing.
A high-quality beam predominantly meant for road riding and commuting, with a strap mount to attach it to your handlebars.
It has standard modes, including a daytime flash mode, and side lights for added visibility.
Additional GoPro mounts are available for either an out front or helmet setup, but other lights offer that out of the box.
It means that if you’re looking for just a light and nothing more, you get a lot for your money.
- Excellent beam quality
- None
Light & Motion Vis 700 Tundra
The Light & Motion Vis 700 Tundra is a commuting and road cycling oriented front bike light.
A single strong LED and amber side lights ensure you’re seen in busy urban environments. The beam pattern is strong and tapers smoothly into the side, enabling a well-lit view on unlit roads.
Just as with the Lezyne lights this one has a toggle mode between the highest and the medium setting, which is exceptionally useful and user-friendly.
Its black-silver housing has a premium high-quality feel to it, and the light has one of the highest waterproof ratings.
Furthermore you’ve got your stoplight power button battery indicator, and a smattering of helmet and GoPro optional mounts.
- Excellent beam quality
- None
Magicshine ALLTY1500 Compact Road Front Light
The Magicshine ALLTY1500 Compact Road Front Light is a well-crafted product with a sturdy aluminum casing.
It houses a single spotlight with an LED strip on top of it for close proximity visibility. The 5000 mAh battery is powerful enough to last you dozens of hours on a low setting. At its highest setting you’ll burn through it in 2 hours.
As with many other lights the power button on top also serves as the battery indicator. A nice touch, and also a thing you see more and more, is the Garmin-style mount. So you can use this light as a standalone product, or combine it with your existing Carmin computer.
Naturally the case is waterproof. For any normal road use, the low setting is more than enough, and you’ll only need from medium to the highest setting for really fast descents. Its beam has a soft transition from spot to the side and an excellent overall quality to it.
The combination of solid design, ease of use, Garmin compatibility, and beam quality makes this a standout light within this category.
- Premium build, rock-solid beam
- None
Magicshine RN 1500 Exclusive Colored Bike Light
If you want to add a bit of flair to your rides you might want to go for the Magicshine RN 1500 Exclusive Colored Bike Light.
In terms of output it’s similar to the ALLTY1500, except it has a single large spotlight. The top half of the glass is shaped in such a way to serve as a floodlight, negating the use of an added LED strip.
Besides the standard gray, there’s a red and blue anodized version, which is nice.
As with the other 1500 lumen light, you get your Garmin mount, battery life indicator in the form of the power button, and 3 easy to use modes.
The LED seems to burn a bit faster through the battery, but this 1500 version is definitely the better looking one.
- One of the best-looking lights on the market, Magicshine's high quality build, great beam
- None
Magicshine ALLTY800 Rechargeable USB-C Road Bike Light
The Magicshine ALLTY800 Rechargeable USB-C Road Bike Light offers a Garmin compatible mount out-of-the-box.
That’s a big plus besides the perfect beam quality it offers as well. So if you already own a Garmin you can go for an out front mount with an inverted light mount. There’s an optional helmet mount available as well.
The light is fast-charged using the latest USB-C standard instead of the more traditional micro-USB.
Just as with the Lezyne it has a setting which switches between the highest and an economy setting, if you like riding at full output, but still want to be able to easily extend battery life.
The single LED offers a bright spotlight and the top half of the lens offers floodlight characteristics for improved visibility side to side.
It’s one of the most affordable high-quality options within its category.
- Fantastic light, USB-C port, easy-to-use, affordable, one of the best in the sub-1000 lumens category
- None
Magicshine ALLTY600 Rechargeable USB-C Road Bike Light
The Magicshine ALLTY600 Rechargeable USB-C Road Bike Light offers a Garmin compatible mount out-of-the-box.
That’s a big plus besides the perfect beam quality it offers as well. So if you already own a Garmin you can go for an out front mount with an inverted light mount. There’s an optional helmet mount available as well.
The light is fast-charged using the latest USB-C standard instead of the more traditional micro-USB.
Just as with the Lezyne it has a setting which switches between the highest and an economy setting, if you like riding at full output, but still want to be able to easily extend battery life.
The single LED offers a bright spotlight and the top half of the lens offers floodlight characteristics for improved visibility side to side.
It’s one of the most affordable high-quality options within its category.
- Fantastic light, USB-C port, easy-to-use, affordable, one of the best in the sub-1000 lumens category
- None
Towild Cl 600 Bike Light
The Towild Cl 600 Bike Light is one of the few true budget lights that deserves a place on this list.
It does everything its bigger brand competitors do for half the price. That means it packs a 2000 mAh battery in an aluminum waterproof case, with a stoplight battery indicator doubling as a power button.
It has a Garmin-style twist mount and out front bracket, with your standard low, medium, and high modes, operable by a wireless remote.
There’s an optional helmet mount as well, and you can charge the thing with a USB C cable.
Apart from the remote, that may sound very familiar, except for the fact the light is markedly cheaper than the rest.
- Extremely cheap
- None
Towild Cl 1200Pro Smart Bike Light
The Towild Cl 1200Pro Smart Bike Light has everything going for it, and is the most budget-friendly light on this list with 1200 lumens.
That’s impressive, especially considering the fact that it also offers a remote to go with it, as well as a Garmin mount. That means you can either put it on your handlebars or use it out front with your existing mount.
A 4000 mAh battery is housed in a waterproof aluminum shell, also something not every other competitor does. And 3 modes makes this light incredibly simple to use.
The power button on top of the light also serves as a battery indicator.
Say what you want but this brand has learned what it takes to make an effective and user-friendly bicycle light. And with that price, you can’t go wrong.
- Very cheap, large battery
- None
Specifications bike lights for road cycling
Name | Price | Max lumen | Battery type | Battery capacity (mAh) | Battery life (Hrs) | Mount type | Rating | Light control | Weight | Body | Helmet mount | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NiteRider Lumina Micro 750 Front Bike Light | 70 USD | 750 | internal | 2 – 12 | bracket | IP64 | light | 130 | nylon / aluminium | optional | ||
NiteRider Lumina OLED 1100 Boost Front Bike Light | 130 USD | 1100 | internal | 1 – 18 | bracket | light | 172 | aluminium / plastic | optional | |||
Cateye AMPP800 | 70 USD | 800 | internal | 2500 | 1.5 – 30 | bracket | IPX4 | light | 136 | aluminium | optional | |
Exposure Sirius Mk9 DayBright | 85 pounds | 850 | internal | 2900 | 1.5 – 36 | bracket | IPX6 | light | 84 | aluminium | optional | |
Garmin Varia UT800 Smart Headlight | 100 USD | 800 | internal | 1.5 – 25 | Garmin mount | IPX7 | light / garmin | 130 | aluminium | optional | ||
Knog PWR Road 700 Front Bike Light | 90 USD | 700 | internal | 3340 | 1.7 – 165 | bracket | IP66 | light | 125 | aluminium | optional | |
Lezyne MACRO DRIVE 1300XXL | 100 USD | 1300 | internal | 2.5 – 148 | strap | IP7 | light | 208 | aluminium | optional | ||
Lezyne MICRO DRIVE PRO 800XL | 75 USD | 800 | internal | 1.5 – 19 | strap | IPX7 | remote | 114 | aluminium | optional | ||
Lezyne CLASSIC DRIVE 700XL | 65 USD | 700 | internal | 2 -19 | strap | IPX7 | light | 124 | aluminium | optional | ||
Lezyne MICRO DRIVE 600XL | 55 USD | 600 | internal | 1 – 17 | strap | IPX7 | light | 97 | aluminium | optional | ||
Light & Motion Seca Comp 1500 | 108 USD | 1500 | internal | 1.5 – 6 | strap | IP67 | light | 216 | aluminium | optional | ||
Light & Motion Vis 1000 Trooper | 60 USD | 1000 | internal | 1.5 – 9 | strap | IP67 | light | 121 | aluminium | optional | ||
Light & Motion Vis 700 Tundra | 48 USD | 700 | internal | 1.5 – 9 | strap | IP67 | light | 121 | aluminium | optional | ||
Magicshine ALLTY1500 Compact Road Front Light | 90 USD | 1500 | internal | 5000 | 2 – 30 | Garmin | IPX7 | light | 133 | aluminium | optional | |
Magicshine RN 1500 Exclusive Colored Bike Light | 90 USD | 1500 | internal | 5000 | 1.5 – 12.5 | Garmin / GoPro | IPX7 | light | 172 | aluminium | optional | |
Magicshine ALLTY800 Rechargeable USB-C Road Bike Light | 60 USD | 800 | internal | 4000 | 1.5 – 11 | strap | IPX7 | light | 172 | aluminium | optional | |
Magicshine ALLTY600 Rechargeable USB-C Road Bike Light | 40 USD | 600 | internal | 1.5 – 7 | strap | IPX7 | light | 107 | aluminium | optional | ||
Towild Cl 600 Bike Light | 30 USD | 600 | internal | 2000 | 1.5 – 10 | Garmin | remote | aluminium | optional | |||
Towild Cl 1200Pro Smart Bike Light | 50 USD | 1200 | internal | 4000 | 1.5 – 10 | Garmin | remote | 176 | aluminium | optional |
Johan van Seijen
FoundeR Restoration.bike
Johan van Seijen is the founder of restoration.bike. His passion for cycling in general, and restoring older bikes turned into a website to share his knowledge with a broader audience. Starting out on his father’s road bike and riding classics as the Amstel Gold Race and Liege Bastogne Liege he has shifted his attention to trail, XC, and gravel riding since. No matter how much he loves writing about everything related to cycling, nothing beats actually using his ever-expanding bicycle collection.
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