Battery bicycle lighting test 2021: Stiftung Warentest winner and recommendations

Lights are required! In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, bicycles must be equipped with lights at the front and rear. GIGA editor Stefan presents recommended battery-operated LED front and rear lights with USB connection and explains what to look out for when buying.

Bicycle lighting is not a voluntary accessory, but a part of the Compulsory equipment. All bicycles in Germany must be equipped with a “forward-looking headlight for white low beam” (front light) and a “rear light for red light” (rear light) – this is what the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations ( StVZO § 67 lighting equipment on bicycles). Also in Austria and in the Switzerland Comparable requirements of the respective legislators apply.

The best battery bike lights 2021: All test winners and recommendations at a glance

Amazon customer: Fischer LED lighting set

Fischer LED bicycle lighting set (USB), with 360 ° floor light

The price may be higher now. Price from 05/22/2021 03:47 am

Advantages:

• Double pack of front and rear lights at an attractive price
• 360-degree “circle of light” on the floor (rear light)

Disadvantage:

• Rear light without battery indicator (indicator)

Front and rear lights approved by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), in a set for around 24 euros – at the low price, it’s no wonder that Fischer LED lighting set can be found at the top of the Amazon bestseller list for bicycle lamp sets. The full name is, by the way, “Fischer 50363 rechargeable battery light set 30 Lux front light & 360 ° twin rear light light set” – that’s how it is listed at MediaMarkt.

Amazon customers rate the Fischer bicycle light set with an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars. The red circle of light on the floor, which is generated by the rear light, is praised – but this has no battery indicator for low charge level. The rubber fastening, which according to individual reports has only a limited shelf life, has to be criticized. Annoying, but you have to cope with that at the low price. At least you can find universal replacement rubber rings for bike lights on Amazon.

Price-performance tip front light: Cateye GVolt 50

Cateye GVolt 50 HL-EL550G RC front light (USB)

The price may be higher now. Price from May 21, 2021 4:11 pm

Advantages:

• Good value for money
• Light and compact

Disadvantage:

• Burn time and strength are good, but not outstanding

The Cateye GVolt 50 was able to take third place among 13 tested headlights at Stiftung Warentest (09/2020 edition) with a grade of 2.0 (“good”). A considerable success, because it is placed directly behind models from Trelock and Busch + Müller, which are more than twice as expensive – the Cateye is equal to them in terms of “light and visibility”.

According to Stiftung Warentest, the light duration of the Cateye GVolt 50 is between 3:30 h (highest level) and 18:20 h (lowest level) – these are good, but by no means outstanding values. Particularly long-lasting front lights come on for over 5 hours at the maximum setting. There are a few complaints on Amazon about the sharp release button that releases the bike light from its attachment. With 36 × 106 × 44 mm (dimensions) and 92 grams (weight), the Cateye GVolt 50 is relatively compact and lightweight – you can also think about a second use as a handy flashlight for evening walks.

Test winner front light: Trelock 760 I-Go Vision

Advantages:

• Bright + good illumination of the street
• Display with battery status

Disadvantage:

• Too expensive and feature-rich for occasional cyclists

Anyone who frequently rides their bike shouldn’t make compromises when it comes to lighting. The Trelock 760 I-Go Vision is a front light “Made in Germany” that shows as a real high-tech gadget what is technically possible today. It has as much in common with the flickering, dynamo-powered lightbulbs of old bikes as a Trabi with a Porsche Taycan. Nothing against the good old Trabi – but the technology is developing rapidly. The progress in bicycle lighting over the past 30 years has really been that huge.

The Stiftung Warentest awards an excellent final score of 1.3 (“very good”) and names the Trelock 760 I-Go Vision the clear test winner. Regardless of whether it is “light and visibility”, “durability” or “handling” – the Trelock 760 I-Go Vision shines in all sub-disciplines with the rating “very good” – none of the competitors managed that. The technical features are extensive and well implemented. Above all, there is the display on the top, which shows the charge level (accurate to the percent) and helps with the correct attachment of the lighting.

Here is the official manufacturer video showing all the benefits of the Trelock 760 I-Go Vision:

Serious disadvantages of the Trelock 760 I-Go Vision you have to look with a magnifying glass. The lack of an automatic on and off switch could be one such point. At the end of the day, however, it is the high price that could put off casual riders. We are dealing with a professional model that can only fully exploit its many advantages with regular use (commuters).

Currently the Trelock 760 I-Go is only Vision hard to get – Apparently it sells so well that the stocks are empty every now and then. Those who trust the brand will find an interesting alternative in a price range below that. The smaller one Sister model is called Trelock 660 I-Go vision Lite. This is a little cheaper and doesn’t shine as brightly – at least it is immediately available from several online retailers. The “Lite” model also has the most important advantages of the Stiftung Warentest winner, such as the display and the minute-by-minute display of the remaining burn time.

Test winner rear light: Sigma Blaze

Sigma Sport Blaze, rear light with brake light function

The price may be higher now. Price from May 21, 2021 4:11 pm

Advantages:

• Bright + good illumination
• With brake light function

Disadvantage:

• Silicone tape as attachment

We forego a “price-performance winner” for the taillights in this overview, because the Stiftung Warentest winner 2020 is extremely cheap. The Sigma Blaze costs less than 25 euros and can convince with a test grade of 1.7 (“good”). The mechanical strength (durability) is very good.

The robust Sigma Blaze is also used almost every day in the GIGA editorial team, and one of our editors can fully confirm the findings of Stiftung Warentest. Above all, the integrated brake light function is a useful additional feature. The burn time is almost 11 hours. The charging time of the Sigma Blaze is a bit long at 3 hours, and you have to attach the rear light with a silicone strap. An acceptable fastening method in this price range – it can, however, be broken or lost.

Bicycle lighting test 2021: This is how I selected the recommendations

In this summary, I have my own experience and extensive research in specialist magazines (including Stiftung Warentest Edition 09/2020, Velomotion, ADAC, Ebikeers) pour in. Current bicycle light models will be presented, which have received special praise from the press and customers and are therefore recommended for purchase. The test procedure for bicycle lights used by Stiftung Warentest is also on the corresponding website explained.

Rechargeable bicycle lights: what should you look out for when buying?

In general it can be said: If you are still on the road with a dynamo and lightbulb or have no bike lights at all, you will get one with today’s selection tremendous step forward do. We would advise against products from no-name manufacturers that are too cheap, as the above recommendations are attractively priced enough. After all, it’s about them Road safety – you really shouldn’t save money and use inferior technology.

Bicycle lights: the main characteristics

You should definitely take a look at the following properties before buying bicycle lights:

• Luminosity and illumination
• Duration of the light
• Battery charging time
• Bracket firmly on the bike (fixed or rubber band?)
• Watertightness
• Energy supply: batteries or integrated rechargeable battery?
• Approval from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA): “K number” available?

We’ll show you the best e-bikes in our detailed Purchase advice:

See and be seen – but don’t dazzle

The German StVZO prescribes: “The headlight must be set so that it does not dazzle other road users.” The best way to find out is to check the light cone and the illumination on the street or on a house wall before driving. Which setting is optimal depends on the lighting, because each model illuminates slightly differently. The above-mentioned test winner Trelock 760 I-Go Vision has a sensor that helps with the adjustment, as here in the Operating Instructions (PDF) to see:

Wear part: integrated battery

We know it from smartphones and Bluetooth headphones: The battery is permanently installed in more and more TECH gadgets – this is also the case with some bicycle lights. The disadvantage is obvious: over time, the battery ages and loses performance. That doesn’t happen overnight, but after around two years, many cyclists should already notice that the battery runs out faster. An example: The manufacturer named Cateye in the Operating instructions (PDF) for the GVolt 50 model around 300 charging / discharging processes – then the nominal capacity drops to 70 percent.

Don’t forget reflectors!

Not only bicycle lights, but also reflectors are mandatory equipment on every bike in Germany. That means according to ADFC Munich:

• 1 white reflector in front
• 1 red large area reflector
• yellow reflectors on the pedals
• yellow spoke reflectors or white sticks on the spokes

Spoke reflectors for bicycle spokes, StVZO approved (72 pieces)

The price may be higher now. Price from 05/22/2021 1:50 AM

Are headlamps, flashlights and flashing lights allowed?

Flashing bicycle lights are not allowed in Germany. A briefly brighter “brake light” (like the Sigma Blaze), on the other hand, does. Headlamps, flashlights or cell phones are out of the question as lighting, as bike lights have to be firmly attached to the bike.