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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 PR2000 Wireless Switch Control Headlight
289g £149.99
The Ravemen PR2000 Wireless Switch Control Headlight has a maximum output of 2000 lumens. On paper this might not get pulses racing - there are a lot of auction site specials claiming more firepower. However, the Ravemen PR2000 sports sophisticated optics and other technology making this output genuinely useable and easily tuneable to suit different environments.
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In common with others in the PR family, it features a handy charge port so you can refuel phones/GPS and similar tech mid ride. Or indeed, give the battery a power bank boost should you find yourself out longer than planned.
Pros: Powerful, versatile, and controllable output, wireless remote a significant improvement, IPX8 weather proofing.
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Cons: Though hardly bulky, consumes more handlebar than some, including Ravemen’s LR series, relatively short run times on full power.
Materials/Specification
Specification is reassuringly high. IPX8 for weatherproofing means it will withstand full immersion in mud and water. Nothing is completely waterproof in the literal sense, but consensus seems that an IPX8 rated light should withstand submersion to 3 metres and for over 30 minutes.
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Some moisture may infiltrate but it will not impair the functionality of the light. In my book, this covers most riding contexts, especially those including boggy British trails. Aluminium casings are another given on high power units.
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Aside from being rugged, they also serve as heat sinks, dissipating heat and thus giving diodes, circuitry, switch gear and battery a sporting chance of living long and healthy lives. In common with other high-power lights, the PR2000 features a thermal cutout, so if it’s getting a bit warm-say left on in the house, it’ll automatically shut down. Oh, and it’s designed to withstand impacts of up to 1 metre.
In common with its siblings, The PR2000 features a decent amount of metal- front and shell. Mil III hard coat anodised to look pretty, while locking the corrosion inducing elements out. The rear and mount are fashioned from “durable plastic”. As I said in my introduction, it’s quite beefy too, due in part to the dual lens design-100x48x27mm and weighs in at a reassuringly sturdy 249g (including mount).
Internally, we have two LEDS which work to the flood and spot narrative and with technology that eliminates glare and dazzle (although as with cars, there’s an element of operator responsibility- the full trail ready 2000lumens through town is going to generate discord.
A clear LED display sits behind the top mounted power and mode switches, communicating exactly how much juice remains in the 6000 mAh 3.7V lithium-Ion battery and, as we’d expect the memory function defaults to the last mode selected when you power up. I’ll get on to these in just a moment.
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Like most models, the Ravemen PR2000 isn’t user serviceable but the lithium-Ion cell is reckoned to keep 80% of capacity after 300 charge cycles, so even casual neglect should see it soldiering on a good two years or so down the line, and the two-year warrantee inspires confidence.
Mount 3.5/5
Identical to those employed across the PR family and for the most part, a solid choice. Plastics are precisely that and it’ll accommodate standard and oversize diameters thanks to a sensible choice of shims. However, you’ll need to rummage through the bodge box for thicker fare if you’re wanting to fit them to old school 25.4, or 26.0. It’s also better fit with round, rather than aero profiles. A consideration if you’re running a bar bag, or likely to be switching between several genres of machine. Oh, and the LR1600’s mount (pictured above) also proved fully compatible.
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It could always be mounted on an under-bar adaptor, such as this Genetic Neuron Accessory Bar or the Velo Orange Handlebar Accessory Mount Ravemen tell me it can be positioned. “Upside down with the Gopro adapter AUB01, but the low beam will be also upside down, in this situation, please tilt the angle a bit down”.
In case you were wondering, this applies to all the PR lights, aside from the PR2400. That out of the way, the OEM units’ Allen screw clamp ensures vice-like tenure over all terrains. My only very minor moan is that the tiny screw is easily lost, so steady digits and a lick of thread lock help.
Switch/Modes 4/5
There are two on the lamp, meaning you can power up and toggle up/down through the 9 modes. Now, this might be fine if you’ve gone for a medium, or low road setting and are bimbling through town but more of a challenge if you’re coming from the trails on 2000lumens.
Ravemen’s original wired USB bar switch made things easier and indeed, I’ll admit to a fondness for it. However, this time they’ve gone for a more refined, CR2032 fuelled wireless unit, just like their LR1600 .
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The main switch is activated with a firm ½ second press and subsequent prods toggles through the modes. Straightforward enough but the wireless remote can be fitted in a wealth of prod friendly positions, courtesy of rubber O-rings and is easily spotted thanks to the illuminated buttons.
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As with the LR cousin, it’ll play nicely with other tech- no issues with 99.9mph computer readouts when grinding up a gradient. Oh, and the two units are not compatible, so you won’t be able to sneakily take control of your riding companions LR1600, or vice versa. Perish the thought...Finally, those modes. There are 9 in total, segregated into road and mountain biking.
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Road comprises of a very sensible 1000, 500, 250 and 100lumen eco. Finally, there's a 500lumen fast flash. Mountain biking translates as 2000lumens, 1000lumens, and 500lumens (high, medium and low respectively) flanked by an emergency 2000lumen “Turbo” flashing. In my view a sensible spread that a relevant to conditions.
Output 4.25/5 & Run Times 3.5/5
Starting with the road settings, unleashing the 1000 lumens proved very useful, even along the darkest lanes. Navigational prowess equated to a steady 19mph (for context, two of my K-Lite dynamos are 1300lumen and I can cruise along the same roads in comparable darkness at 20-22mph).
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Clear skies, or semi-rural settings 23mph plus. The spot is very crisp and provides excellent feedback - holes, rabbits, mud and similar nasties are easily spotted and swerved. Well, those rabbits are a law unto themselves .....
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Again, more common these days, but the road lens is engineered to project the beam toward the road, so while there’s plenty of punch, provided you’ve angled he light properly, there’s little danger of dazzling oncoming vehicles, dog walkers and pedestrians. In terms of being seen, most oncoming vehicles seemed to register my presence at around 100 metres. Dipping their lights, slowing down, or both.
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However, this didn’t apply to wild rabbits who, caught in the beam did their best to test my handling skills. There have been a couple of occasions where I’ve gone for the trail 2000 but only when there’s been thick mist rolling across open fields and for short periods.
Of the two, the 1000lumens road beam also offers the best balance of performance and economy. In temperatures between 8 and 18 degrees, I’ve consistently returned 2hours from a full charge. If you are running a little low on juice, still have a way to go and haven’t a power bank to plug in, the 500-lumen medium has a surprising amount of navigational bite along the backroads.
We’re talking 15-16mph along unlit lanes and oncoming traffic seemed to register my approach at around 50 metres. In the power to economy stakes, its optimal for navigating semi-rural contexts, or in low light-pre-dawn and dusk contexts along B roads, before prodding up to the 1000 when it’s close to pitch.
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Run times are cited as 4hrs 30, I’ve returned 4 hrs 22 from a full charge. 250 lumens is, in my view, optimal for suburban contexts, although I’ve gone down to 100 from time to time, mainly to conserve battery. Again, run times have been within a few minutes of the 10 and ridiculously frugal 25 hours respectively.
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The 1000 lumen flashing, which makes a fabulous daylight running mode, performing well in bright sunlight as well as overcast days. The tempo really cuts through competing illuminations in congested traffic and anecdotally, other traffic registered my approach at around 200 metres. Further along open roads but again, helpful when negotiating roundabouts and entering the flow of traffic.
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The mountain bike modes are the classic combination of flood for casting a wide overview and sot for picking out the details. I’ve alternated between the high (2000) and medium (1000) lumen modes with the odd dip down to 500 when conditions allowed.
For the most part, the 1000 lumens offer excellent navigational power. Crisp and clear, I could tackle bridlepath and singletrack to around 18mph, confident in the knowledge a deft prod of the wireless remote would unleash the full 2000. Frankly, the output this generates induces massive grins and to some extent, navigational speed is only limited by your legs.
However, it’s worth packing a power pack if you're determined to stick with the full 2000, until the novelty subsides, and you start making more Inteligent use of those other modes. For example, the 500 lumens are more powerful than I was expecting and a good bet for cruising home on, say leaving a gravel path and along the road home. Then of course, there’s the 2000lumen Emergency flash should you need something ultra frugal and potent for contingencies. As before, run times have been within eight minutes of those cited-1.1, 2.2, and 4.5 hours for the high, medium and low (2000,1000 and 500 lumens) respectively.
Care/Durability 4.25/5
Ours still looks packet fresh several weeks and much mixed terrain shenanigans later. Provided you’ve not had a major crash, and are a least loosely sensible with charging, I see no reason to think it won’t be serving faithfully a few years down the line (as is the cases for its 1200lumen stablemate).
Value 4/5
At a penny shy of £150, taking everything into account, there’s not much that can really go toe-to-toe with it. Magicshine Alty 2000 comes in at £114.99 boasts 2000lumens, an OLED Power and beam mode indicator, removable lithium-Ion cell and Garmin mount. It’s also a bit lighter than the PR2000. However, run times in the highest mode are an hour, there’s no remote switch. Magicshine Ray 26000 (£113) is a much closer contender and shares the PR series tuneability, although it lacks the OLED display, and the wired remote switch is rather crude by comparison. Cat Eye Volt 1700 (£179.99) is a 5-mode design that’s been around a while now.
Pumping out a maximum of 1700lumens, it has a replaceable lithium-Ion battery and a 1700lumen hyper flashing mode. However, the range is otherwise more road/commute centric at 500 lumens (medium) and 250 low. There’s no remote, or OLED display and it only meets IPX4 for weatherproofing.
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Light & Motion Seca Comp 2000 front light has a sensible spread of modes for road and trail alike, but the ladder strap mount is less secure than the Ravemen’s (although it’s also compatible with Go Pro mounts), there’s no power bank option, or indeed, a remote for that matter. It's also considerably dearer at £254.99.
Summary
If you’re a serious trail rider, wanting 2000 lumens for extended periods, designs such as Sigma Sport Buster HL2000 with big external battery packs are arguably the way forward. However, of the compact models genuinely capable of being most things to most people, the Ravemen PR2000 is superbly engineered and crucially, extremely user friendly.
Verdict:4/5 Powerful light with superb build quality and sensible modes for most riding contexts.
Michael Stenning
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2023
