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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?
Ravemen PR1400 Front Light
210g £109.99
The Ravemen PR1400 sits in the middle-lower end of their PR dual lens range of lights designed for all-round riding from road to trail. The lenses are designed to function like automotive lights. Having much in common with the other models, it is solidly built with many nice touches, including a wired remote control and a wide variety of settings.
Pros: remote control, range of settings, dual lens adaptability.
Cons: a few more lumens max on the single-lens would be useful for faster raod riders.
Specification 4.5/5
Acting a heat sink, the anodised, ribbed aluminium casing is solidly built – and helps manage heat dissipation. Inside is a 5200mAh/3.7v rechargeable Lithium-ion battery. This includes an “intelligent heat management circuit” to avoid over-heating.
The dual lens anti-glare system aims to avoid annoying fellow road users comes courtesy of two LEDs. The “long throw” spotlight beam and the wider flood beam combine to offer sufficient light for both road and trail riding, whilst limiting glare for on-coming vehicles. With that in mind, rapid changing is easy with the wired remote control.
We’ll deal with charge and run times later, but there is an LED display atop the unit which lets you know how long you have left. Atop are two buttons that control the output. The larger powers the light on, turns it off, and switches between single and dual lens, the smaller between modes.
The recharging point is tightly sealed with a flap. Next to it is a USB out port, similarly protected, in case your phone or other device needs a quick boost.
As well as the main unit and the wired remote, the box contains a bracket that fits 31.8-35mm bars (two rubber shims are included, as is a bolt). There’s a hex-head/Allen key to fit the bracket. Ravemen offer a variety of spares and these include watch-strap type brackets, if you prefer (look on-line for spares). Two o-rings to mount the remote – one is a spare are included. Of course, there’s a charging cable.
IPX8 waterproofing – more of this below.
Overall, this should suit most set-ups, and the availability of a range of replacement or substitute parts is very welcome. There’s a two-year warranty and a limited lifetime warranty. Even better, spares are readily available, although the light itself is not serviceable.
Mount 3.5/5
The mount fits most standard bar sizes, so long as they are round. This type of hinged bracket is simple to fit, provided you have sufficient space. It holds the light firmly, with a release lever to let it out. There’s no hint of involuntary ejection or of the bracket slipping, even when rattling over the pave/setts or rough gravelly trail. A minor grouse is that there is no rotational adjustment to allow you to turn the light a little way focus on the edge of the road, for example – but I suppose the wide-beam mitigates this. A different mount is available in spares – even better, the mount is shared with most other PR models, except the most powerful (such as the PR2400) that require a larger bracket.
Switch/Modes 4.5/5
Powering on and off require a long press. Once on, the larger switch also changes from single to dual lens modes. The smaller button does the rest, including the emergency blast. Both buttons have a tactile, rubbery feel and are very easy to locate in the dark and to operate with full-finger gloves. Even better, the buttons have a gentle green luminescence when things turn dark.
Away from the bike with light in pocket, I’ve not managed to unintentionally power on the light. That is in line with previous experience with similar Ravemen PR models.
I’ve mounted the remote on either the hoods or the bar, taking care not to risk getting the wire entangled with my hands. I haven’t bothered with a zip-tie, but that would hold it in place if necessary.
Performance 4.5/5
Top output should shed light 145m ahead, but more realistically, lower settings offer more prosaic illumination. Of course, they can be seen from further than that. I’ve lit up road signs at around 90m. Perhaps more usefully, pot-holes show up clearly on unlit roads at between twenty and thirty metres, depending on setting.
Official outputs in lumens for road riding (single lens) are – steady - 600, 400, 200, 100 and 100 rapid flashing. Mountain-biking with both lenses offers 1400, 600, 300. There’s a 1400 emergency mode, too - hold down the smaller switch – for a quick blast of bright light.
There’s little peripheral light with the PR range, and this model is no exception. This is unlike their other ranges which offer some presence when viewed from the side; the CR800, for example.
So, what do we make of this generous range of modes? Well, I’ve been happy with the 200-steady mode in town, even the 100 would suffice in quieter well-lit suburbia, especially if paired with a decent blinkie. Adding a blinkie or something like the Brightside Bright, Amber, and Sideways if you are a regular in busy rush hour traffic. I have found the 600 pretty good for a 12mph unlit canal side commute, but would go to the double lens were it unfamiliar territory. In that sense, keen road trainers might prefer the LR1200 for their winter work-outs, although I have found 600 perfectly sufficient for a decent 14-15mph on unlit country lanes. By the way, it’s a clean consistent light, which seems to punch above the stated lumens – in-line with previous Ravemen lights I have tested.
Switching to the dual lens for more technical bits of country lane – sometimes not much better than forest trails – and, again, you have enough light with the 600 for some recreational off-roading. I’d say that there’s enough for hitting higher speeds on gravel or singletrack with the 1400. Mind you, at, say, 12-14mph, I’ve happily rolled along forest trail with 600 up. However, the same trend would be true of other Ravemen PR lights.
I’ve reserved the 100lumens flashing for dull-weather day-time running. 100 is, some would say, overkill for a blinkie, but it would make a very able assistant even if wasted in that role.
Run/Charge Times 4/5
When low power is reached, “Lo” on the LED display, you’ve still got a generous twenty minutes or so before things finally run out.
Of course, as Ravemen point out, environmental considerations, temperature for example, can play a part in battery longevity. I’ve generally got ten to fifteen minutes longer than the stated times, but that could be down to the unusually weather during testing.
So, I’d suggest that the following are pretty much what you can expect. As it says on the box, so to speak; single lens; 600lumens 3.5 hours, 400lumens 5, 200lumens 9.5, 100 21. Flash gives around 13 hours.
With both lenses you get 1.5hours at 1400, 600 offers 3.5, 300 9.5.
Charging up has taken between 3 and 3.5 hours. Neither the fastest or the slowest.
Care/Durability 4.5/5
An IPX rating of 7 or 8 designates fully waterproof, although you may wish to avoid prolonged jet-washing (not good for the rest of your bike either). IPX8 suggests that in tests the device will resist for over half an hour when submerged deeper than one metre – Ravemen suggest up to two metres. Personally, I see no reason why anyone should try this, and I have not tested that aspect! Equally, splashing through streams, dropping your bike on a river-crossing carry (try not to drop it and I’d remove lights first, personally), or the most torrential downpour should leave everything fully functional. Certainly, as with other PR models, out PR1400 has resisted any normal ordeal by water.
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Drop it from a metre and it should be alright, according to the spec. I have not done this deliberately, or accidentally. Nor have I whacked it with a hammer. The unit feels rugged, but, electronics do not like being bashed about, so usual cycling activity should cause no issues.
Keep the ports securely covered when they are not in use.
Value 4/5
Splashing out over £100 for a well-made, 1400lumens max light, from a reliable brand is not at all unreasonable. Ravemen offer a through range of lights in this range, from the PR800 to the PR2400, with most bases covered in between. You’ll pay more or less for more or fewer lumens. Value with these depends very much on fine nuances and what you want to do, as well as how fast you want to do it. Frankly, lighting is an extremely competitive filed, often differentiated by build, heat management, and durability rather than lumens.
The Halford’s Advance 1800lumen light has some similarities to the PR1400. In addition, the battery can be swapped for a replacement mid-ride. RRP is twenty pounds or so less than the PR1400, but at IPX5 hell and high-water riding may ask some questions. Charge time is longer, too. Lifeline also have offerings at this price point, but they have less in common with the PR1400. Their Pavo 1400, for example, has two modes – although both of these are reduced by half with a motion sensor: 700lumen minimum might seem a bit over the top for commuting purposes. The Nitecore 1400 is also cheaper, has some interesting features, but seems to be road orientated.
From the USA (beware of import duties UK and EU readers) Cygolite Ranger 1400 comes in at a similar price, but is single lens – suggesting use on road and forest track, although the blurb also states its suitability for trails, which its Rocky Mountain origins would support.
The Lezyne Macro Drive 1400 has an exceptionally wide range of modes and runtimes. You’ll pay a similar amount to the PR1400, and’ if my previous experience of Lezyne lights is anything to go by, you’ll get similarly high build-quality.
Summary
Judging your own lighting needs can be pretty tricky and there’s a plethora of Ravemen PR lights, let alone competitors. Too much choice? Almost, maybe, but the Ravemen PR1400 offers a lot of mileage to all-year commuters, winter roadies, and nocturnal gravellers.
Verdict 4.5/5 Another great light from Ravemen, well-built and adaptable.
Steve Dyster
https://www.bob-elliot.co.uk/viewdetailV2.php?target=35468
PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2023
