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SEVEN DAY CYCLIST
CYCLING, BUT NOT USUALLY RACING
LATEST UPDATE: APRIL 26th
HOW DO WE DECIDE OUR OVERALL RATINGS FOR PRODUCTS WE REVIEW?
Exposure Boost-R ReAkt & Peloton Rear Light
61g (including bracket) £100
The Exposure Boost-R ReAkt & Peloton Rear Light is a well-built small torch-type rear light. Full of neat features, its box of tricks will impress the solo ad group rider wherever they are and whatever they are doing. It’ll get you seen and be kind to your mates. I’ve quickly got to like this bit of gear, not least because, sophisticated as it is, it really requires me to do little more than turn it on and off. Simples.
Pros: does most things for you, well-built, great all-round visibility.
Cons: well, none, really, except price.
Spec and materials 4.5/5
In the soft presentation case you will find the light, a charging able, the rubber mounting strap, and instructions
Many will be familiar with Exposure’s Trace rear lights. All very good, but the Boost ReAkt takes things to a different level of sophistication. Made from anodised 6063 aluminium, it contains a single red LED and a 1400 mAh Li-Ion battery. Add the lens, the charging port, its rubber cover, that also hides the on/off button and you have the basics. The lens turns green shortly before power runs out.
However, there’s bag of magic that turns all this into something rather special. The ReAkt technology means that the light adapts automatically to changing conditions; flaring from 80 to 150 lumens when braking or when entering bright environments. The Peloton mode causes the light to dip when it detects light from behind – great for those night group rides. The programmes are handily recorded on the barrel of the light.
Switch and charging port are protected by a tight rubber cover. IP65 means full protection against dust and defence against moderate jets of water from any angle. That may worry some, but for what is fundamentally a road light that will sit beneath your saddle is far from a major concern. After all, it is less likely to be showered in water or be subjected to a forgetful jet spray.
Spare accessories are readily available.
Mount 4/5
A red watch strap holds a stubby tube-like mount onto the seat-post. There’s a shim to keep the plastic away from special finishes. All simple enough. The light is removed with a twist and a pull – ours was a pretty tight fit, but required firm handling rather than brute force and bloody ignorance. Insert and secure the light by reversing the process. This has held things tight when bumping over setts and poor road surfaces, as well as on short stretches of farm track.
Initially, I’d removed mount and light together at stops. Following an incident in which I managed to ping the stretchy red watch-strap into a pile of barrels outside the pub where I’d enjoyed a post ride pint, I decided to just remove the light!
Switch and modes 4.5/5
The only evidence of a switch is a little nipple under the rubber seal that encircles the light. Two presses for on, hold steady until the light flashes for off. It is very hard to pocket-activate.
The three programs available are, very handily, etched onto the light barrel. You select your chosen program with the power button – instructions are included. Fundamentally, program 1 gives high power, 2 medium, and 3 low. Within each there are pulse and constant modes. In addition, ReAkt and Peloton modes are available in any programme. There’s a memory, too, so set your preferred setting and it’ll be there next time. It is worth noting that Exposure recommend using ‘DayBright’ for your daytime runner – this offers the full 100lumens for 12 hours.
Frankly, all this took a bit of time to sink in, but its straight-forward enough. For those used to lights with charge indicators on the switch, the patterns of flashes might be a bit confusing first-up – it took me a while to get used to it all – but it keeps the light small and everything together.
The modes seem to be pretty sensible, without being overcomplicated.
Charge and run times 5/5
Three hours from zero to fully charged was spot on when using the mains, with ten minutes longer via a laptop. 95% charge causes the light to go from green flash to solid green. Leave it a little longer as the remaining 5% is trickle charged.
Charge level is indicated via the lens when turning off the light.50-100% is indicated by green, 25-50% amber, with red going down to 5% and a red flash indicating power below this. It is worth remembering that that the light gives two red flashes to indicate that it is powering off. More than two red flashes and it is definitely time for a recharge.
Care and durability 4/5
Riding sans mudguards is the most likely way to get things dirty. I’ve not noticed any ingress, but belt and braces riders might fabricate some kind of additional protection – a boot or a wipe of some protective substance. Mounted on the fork is likely to expose the light more, but on the seatpost things are pretty well protected. Wipe over with a cloth to clean – do not use high pressure spray. Frankly, there’s no reason why, with a modicum of care, you should not get many years of use.
Performance 4.75/5
Firstly, it’s worth pointing out that observers have told me that all the things the light claims to do, it does. The night-time trainers were impressed with the ReAkt function. In the middle of the group it was still bright, but gave no cause for vulgarity. Equally, for the lanterne rouge or the solo rider, it gives massive presence at a distance greater than any practical circumstances I can think of. Of course, it is not alone in that – the Ravemen TR300 and my aged Knog Mr. Chips both seem to have impact beyond the call of normal duty.
Side-on presence is not as good as some, although the broad beam cast should give you away . When commuting some prefer a curved or box lens when negotiating junctions or roundabouts. Having said that, high flash mode is pretty forceful in the urban jungle and I’ve not felt any perturbation. In the suburbs I’ve defaulted to mid programme steady. You’ll decide what is best for you. Then, of course, there is the ReAkt and Peleton functions that do most of the work for you.
Solo riding on unlit country lanes in high programme, I’ve been told that things are easily seen at 100 metres or further. In mid or low long run times have made it ideal for long night rides or several days of commuting pre-dawn as well as some evening jaunts.
Value 4/5
So, £100 puts this in, what I’d think of as, investment territory. The question is, just how far do you want to go and how much do you want to do. The Exposure Trace is still a highly effective light, but this upgrade gives twice the burn time as well as the other features.
I’ve found the Ravemen TR300 a very effective light in all circumstances with a higher lumen delivery, but, although tuneable, it has not the automated sophistication of ReAkt and Peleton. The same is true of the Ravemen TR500, which met with Michael’s approval and another pick of his, Lelumia the Beast.
Summary
Excellent run times make this a shoe-in for Enduro, all-night, long audax riding, for example. For the group winter-trainer the sophisticated electronics are a blessing. For the all-round cyclist wanting to avoid the pfaff of sneaky recharging at the workplace and are prone to after-dark diversions on the way home. In short, it is an excellent light for all-disciplines: a jack of all trades, and pretty much the master of them!
Verdict 4.75/5 Fabulous all-round light, if you are up to what it offers!
Steve Dyster
https://www.exposure-use.com/Brands/Exposure-Lights/Products/Bike/Rear/BOOST-R-ReAKT-Peloton
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2023
