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SEVEN DAY CYCLIST
CYCLING, BUT NOT USUALLY RACING
LATEST UPDATE: JANUARY 24th
HOW DO WE DECIDE OUR OVERALL RATINGS FOR PRODUCTS WE REVIEW?
Ravemen K1800 Front Light
180g (headlight) £99.99
The Ravemen K1800 is the biggest in the K series, capable of producing 1800lumens in the highest settings but with a good spread of modes catering for longer rides and indeed most all riding contexts. Nothing particularly new there I hear you say, and you’d be right. However, run times are reasonable, even in the higher setting and there’s a fair bit of over-rideable sensored tech that will tune output for best performance and economy, without you needing to program the light, download an app, or similar faff. For the most part, it's very accurate too. My one minor gripe concerns the standard mount-it’s up to the job but those from the PR and LR series would be a more substantial choice.
Pros: Excellent output, practical modes for road biased riding, very accurate sensored technology, rugged construction and weather resistance .
Cons: Standard handlebar mount could be sturdier, run times in the highest manually controlled setting relatively short.
Specification
£99.99 buys a K1800 light, USB C connectors, wireless remote, Go-Pro type and watch-strap type handlebar mount. There are some obvious similarities with its LR cousins. The casing is made from “aircraft grade” hard anodised milled aluminium alloy casing, which is not only rugged and protects the light from falls onto a hard surface from 1 metre, but serves as a heat sink, giving the 500mAh/3.7V lithium-ion battery, circuits, and diodes the best hope of a long, productive life. In common with the LR series, the rear quarter is made from an industrial grade plastic.
Another feature common to this and the LR series is IPX7 for weatherproofing, which means it can also survive submersion in water up to a metre and 30 minutes. There’s also a USB C port at the rear so you can refuel phones and similar tech or plug in a power bank for some added playtime, albeit to a maximum of 500lumens. Reassuring in a jam, nonetheless.
The polycarbonate lens is engineered to cast a road biased blend of spot and flood, projecting light so it doesn’t dazzle oncoming traffic. Now, before we get into modes and outputs, let’s explore the sensored tech. It shares the LR1600’s ambient light detection, which regulates the daylight flashing’s intensity between, meaning if you cruise into a section of road with overhanging trees, it’ll boost the output and taper it down when you’re emerging.
However, its more nuanced than that and will adjust in contexts such as rush hour town centre exodus where there’s competing illumination. There’s also a stop start function, which will put the light into a sleep mode after detecting zero movement for (minutes) and will automatically bring the light to life when it detects movement. Not essential, but undeniably convenient especially when stopping for a coffee and yarn, or if you’re prone to leaving lights on.
More novel, some might say interesting is the AI component that learns the lighting conditions of your regular ride routes/commutes and will regulate output accordingly. I was a little sceptical too, but there’s more to this than marketing puff or sales gimmick. There’s a blindingly obvious charge cum battery life indicator within the top mounted switch, giving you a sporting chance of getting home, or finding a charger when the battery’s dwindling. This ranges from green, to red and flashing read denotes you’ve (minutes) but as might be hoped, it’ll kick down to flashing as a bail out.
Switch & Modes 3.75/5
The top mounted switch cum battery life indicator is sensibly proportioned and verypositive-I’ve not had any issues with accidental engagements. It requires a definite, sustained 1.5 second press. Not difficult to command in middleweight full finger gloves, but a little trickier with some deep winter models. Enter the wireless remote, which comes as standard and is remarkably like those employed on the LR and 6000 units. I was amused to find ours would also switch the latter on from a metre or so away, but don’t fret, a quick re-set will prevent subversive riding companions holding your light hostage.
It's also fuelled by a CR2032 battery, which obviously, frees up the light’s rear port for charging or refuelling duties, while keeping bar clutter to a minimum. Distinct up/down switches and the subtle green backlight continue the convenient narrative-especially when you’re weary at the end of a long ride, or turbulent working day. There are 7 modes in total, if we’re including the AI nighttime and daytime running function, 5 if we’re being pedantic.
Barely merits mention these days, but there’s a memory function, so you can just scoot off in the last mode selected. High is 1800 (1.5 hours cited), medium is 1000lumens (3 hours cited), low is 500lumens (6hours), Eco is 250 lumens (8 hours) and there’s a 500lumen pulsing function, which I’d describe as a hybrid of pulsing and steady. Finally, there’s the daytime running flash, which is between 500 and 100lumens.
As I said earlier, something for pretty much every riding context, although in common with competitor models of this genre, the 1800 is something you’d generally use as a boost for the darkest sections, but the wireless switch and AI options make this easier and more practical than most. To engage this, depress the main switch for 5 seconds until it blinks blue. To disengage, repeat the process. Took a few attempts before I got the knack but faff-free then onward.
It's also fuelled by a CR2032 battery, which obviously, frees up the light’s rear port for charging or refuelling duties, while keeping bar clutter to a minimum. Distinct up/down switches and the subtle green backlight continue the convenient narrative-especially when you’re weary at the end of a long ride, or turbulent working day. There are 7 modes in total, if we’re including the AI nighttime and daytime running function, 5 if we’re being pedantic.
Barely merits mention these days, but there’s a memory function, so you can just scoot off in the last mode selected. High is 1800 (1.5 hours cited), medium is 1000lumens (3 hours cited), low is 500lumens (6hours), Eco is 250 lumens (8 hours) and there’s a 500lumen pulsing function, which I’d describe as a hybrid of pulsing and steady. Finally, there’s the daytime running flash, which is between 500 and 100lumens.
As I said earlier, something for pretty much every riding context, although in common with competitor models of this genre, the 1800 is something you’d generally use as a boost for the darkest sections, but the wireless switch and AI options make this easier and more practical than most. To engage this, depress the main switch for 5 seconds until it blinks blue. To disengage, repeat the process. Took a few attempts before I got the knack but faff-free then onward.
Mount(s) 3/5
There are two options supplied within the bundle. One Go-Pro type and the “watch strap” type designed to entertain bar (or extensions) diameters between 22.2 and 35mm. By no means a deal-breaker, given the light’s weight, I would’ve preferred the same, clamp type mount utilised by the bigger PR and LR series.
The OEM strap felt a little whippy and allowed the light to slowly rotate when hustling along some pockmarked tarmac. I moved it from the thinner sections of the Soma Condor (link) bars to the oversized centre strip, which solved the issue. Expect to pull the strap REALLY tightfor narrower section bars or find a suitably beefy rubber shim from the bodge box. There’s also a nicely machined under bar mount, which is infinitely nicer, and I’d gladly pay a few pounds more to have as standard.
Output 4.25/5
Output, as I’d expect from this end of the market and indeed, Ravemen, is impressive. The full 1800 feels closer to 2,000, maybe 2200lumens, thanks to the optics. More than enough wallop for the darkest lanes and there’s scope for some gravel and less challenging trail antics. True to claims, oncoming traffic took notice at 180 metres-most vans, SUVs and similarly large vehicles dipped their high beams around the 150metre mark. Along the backroads, I could hit 25mph plus and have ample warning of upcoming and potential hazards courtesy of a decent spot.
However, as I said in my opening paragraph, unleashing the full 1800 will have a palpable influence in ride times.
The 1000lumens follows the brighter than numbers suggest narrative-closer to some pumping out 1300, meaning longer training runs are genuinely realistic. Along comparable sections, I could navigate at around 23mph on relatively clear nights, dipping to 19/20mph in misty conditions.
Low is again, closer to some promising 650-700lumens and I’ve had no issues being seen along comparable stretches of road. Arguably best for semi-rural contexts, I’ve still been able to navigate pitch black roads and potential hazards at 14-15mph.
It has more than enough bite for the backroads around dusk and as dawn’s creeping in, too. Similarly story with the 500lumen pulse, which as I say is best thought of as a hybrid mode, steady enough for navigating but with a bit more punch than its low, steady counterpart.
At a guestimate, oncoming cars seemed to clock it at 100metres. At the other extreme, its bright but not aggressive, so shouldn’t anger other road users if you’ve forgotten to taper down (or weren’t leaving it to the AI) through built up areas. This is where the Eco mode comes into its own-assuming you didn’t want to go the pulsing or flashing route.
Then we have the daytime running mode. Thanks in no small part to the sensor’s precision and the flashing tempo, it’s highly effective and fits conditions. For example, 500lumens around sunrise and in cloudy/overcast conditions, 1000lumens in more intense wintry sunlight. In these contexts, oncoming traffic seemed to register from at least 100metres- very welcome when filtering through congested traffic. 800 lumen dynamo lamp running, I wasn’t surprised to find other traffic noticing the Ravemen’s daylight flash first.
Run& Charge Times 3.5/5
These have been within a few minutes of those cited by Raveman, regardless of whether I’ve been running the light in its manual settings or letting the sensored and AI tech take control. Temperatures during our test period have been between 7 and 2 degrees. Charge times have also been within the 3.5 hours cited and a little quicker from the mains.
Durability/Care 4.25/5
Typical of Ravemen, it’s a very well-engineered and rugged light that has shrugged at the usual torrentially wet and gritty stuff. Lens and body have also taken direct hits from rogue stones when I’ve been exploring some dirt roads. These haven’t made any impression whatsoever, neither has heavy rain, garden hose rinsing/torture testing.
The switch isn’t waterproof to the same, submersible sense but other than adding a quick, precautionary lick of silicone grease to the contacts, it’s never missed a beat. Keeping lithium-ion batteries charged and not letting them dip below 70% charge too often is the key to getting the absolute best from them. Ravemen tell me it will go 800 charge cycles before dipping to 70% of capacity.
Value 3.75/5
Specifications are getting higher every year. £99.99 is very solid value, especially given the specification. See Sense Beam+ front light produces a maximum of 1500lumens, features an intelligent mode, which adapts the light to conditions and is also customisable via an app.
This also allows you to share data such as road conditions (potholes and other surface imperfections, for example), it can also alert a designated person if it detects you’ve been involved in an accident. However, £180 is nearly twice the Ravemen K1800’s asking price, there’s no remote and IPX67 for weather resistance is slightly lower too.
Lezyne Super Drive 1800+ Smart LED Front Bike Light is another very solid example with a tough CNC machined aluminium alloy housing. Producing a maximum of 1800lumens from three diodes, Lezyne reckons its optimised for road and trail duties and it also meets IPX7 for weatherproofing. Connected to their KTV smart connect rear light, front and rear lights can be synchronised and there’s an app allowing modes to be customised to taste. However, at £150 rrp, it's a good bit dearer than the Ravemen.
Cat Eye AMPP1700 Front Bike Light offers 7 modes, 1700lumens in the highest setting, a CNC machined aluminium alloy body, a 5000mAh Li-ion battery promises a maximum of 60hours from a full charge. However, there’s no sensored technology, no remote, IPX4 for weatherproofing is arguably fine for road duties but again, falls short of competitors and at £139.99 is also a good bit dearer. Knog Blinder Pro 1300 is also £99.99. It offers a maximum output of 1300lumens, up to 120 hours run time, 6 modes and meets IPX67 for weatherproofing and various mounting options. However, it lacks the remote and sensored technology.
Summary
Lights are getting increasingly sophisticated, more effective and for the most part, user friendly. The Ravemen K1800 is a rider-friendly, powerful light with generally impressive run times and reliable sensored technology. Its intuitive to use, relatively compact and reassuringly sturdy. The wireless remote is similarly intuitive to use. Even though it’s a road biased model, I’d welcome a sturdier OEM bar mount like those found on the bigger LR and PR models.
Verdict: 4/5 Sophisticated, user-friendly and very rugged light for road biased riding but OEM mount could be improved.
Michael Stenning
Bob Elliot Co Ltd - Suppliers of high quality bicycle supplies to registered traders
PUBLISHED DECEMBER 2024
