Bike Light Buying Guide

It doesn't matter whether you ride your bike during daylight hours, dusk, dawn or night. Bike lights are an essential accessory that increases your visibility and ensures other road users see you. Learn more about bike lights and what to look for with our buying guide.

Do You Need Lights on a Bicycle?

Here is Australia bike riders must legally use rear and front bike lights when riding at night or during dark conditions. While each state and territory has varying requirements, the general road rule is to have the following: A white bike light at the front which is visible from at least 200 metres, a red bike light at the rear that is visible from at least 50 metres away, and a red reflector that's visible at the back of your bike from 50 metres away.

If you're based outside of Australia, it's important to comply with local laws and regulations regarding bike lights. In general, front lights should be white and rear lights should be red. Lights should be visible from a certain distance and not cause discomfort to other road users.

Use bike lights at night and during the day

You must use your bike lights in low light conditions or at night. Otherwise, penalties may apply. While using bike lights during the day isn't compulsory, it will give you added visibility to drivers with poor peripheral vision. Choosing bike lights with a simple on-off flashing sequence will improve your visibility to other road users and pedestrians.

The Best Bike Lights On The Market

Once you've bought your bike and a helmet, bike lights are the next most important purchase. Knog's wide range of bike lights include bike light sets, front bike lights, rear bike lights, light mounts and accessories. The bike light sets below vary in price points and features.

For value and quality, the Knog Plus Bike Light Twinpack is ideal. This bright and versatile bike light set is popular with road cyclists and commuters who want to be seen. They're easy to mount on your bike, clothing, helmet, or backpack. Features include:

Visible from up to 450 metres away
Rechargeable via integrated USB-A connecter for cable-free quick charging (4 hours)
Multiple light modes, including eco-flash, to increase run time
Full beam run time of 2 hours, and up to 40 hours on eco-flash
Waterproof with IP66 rating
Ultralight at only 17 grams
Suited to urban cyclists wanting to 'be seen'

The Knog Blinder Bike Light Twinpack is a mid-level priced bike light set offering a more prominent face to create a brighter output. By using Chip On Board (COB) technology, this bike light set provides 200 lumens for the front bike light and 100 lumens for the rear bike light. Features include:

High visibility via large illuminating face
USB rechargeable via integrated USB-A connecter
100% waterproof with IP67 rating
Quick & easy mounting
Runtimes of up to 60 hours on eco-flash
Suited to urban cyclists wanting to 'be seen'

The Knog Blinder 900 & Mid Cobber Bike Light Set is a brilliant choice for cyclists who demand the very best in performance and safety - with the Cobber being the world's only rear light with a 330 degree beam. Add to this the Blinder 900 with long runtimes, carefully considered beam angles, powerful light output and multiple mounting options – the light set delivers on all fronts, while greatly improving your confidence on the road. Features include:

Powerfully bright 900 lumen front bike light & 170 lumen rear bike light
Long runtimes of 100+ hours
Waterproof ratings of IP67
USB rechargeable
Suited to cyclists in all environments wanting to 'see' and 'be seen'

What to Look For When Buying a Bike Light

When you're buying a bike light, you should consider the following features and benefits:

What type of riding will you be doing? Urban commuting, open roads and / or unlit trails?
What lumen output does the front and rear bike light have?
Water resistance level - water resistant or waterproof?
Ease of use – is it easy to mount to your bike?
Charging – does it need a cable? Is it USB rechargeable?
What light modes does it have & does that cater to your needs?
Are you using lights on the road or off-road? Road riding needs a light that focuses ahead, while off-road riding needs a broader light to illuminate rocks, tree roots and other obstacles.

Where Should Bike Lights be Mounted?

To get maximum visibility, bike lights need to be mounted in the following places:

Rear bike lights: Popular areas include mounting them on your seat post, under the saddle or bike rack. They need to be visible if you’re carrying bags or panniers.
Front bike lights: Need to be mounted at the right height to reduce shadows and improve visibility. Popular places include handlebars, head tube, fork or front racks.

How Bright Should Bike Lights Be?

The brightness of bike lights is measured by lumens, the official SI unit that calculates how much light gets emitted from a light source. If you're cycling through well-lit areas, a lower-lumen light is ideal. However, bike lights need a higher lumen count of 600+ lumens if places are unlit or if you're cycling in the dark. Your rear bike light usually has a lower lumens than front bike lights.

Another important consideration with bike lights is the length of time a bike light will operate before needing to be recharged. Getting a bike light that gives you more running time than your average ride length will ensure you've got power in reserve. Ideal if you need to stop to fix punctures or take an unexpected detour. Carrying a spare fully charged bike lights will ensure a safe ride if your main set doesn't work. Shop for Knog bike light sets here.

In Summary

Browse Durable Bike Lights Here

Since 2002, Knog has been offering award-winning cycling and outdoor accessories. Knog has developed a worldwide reputation for creating durable, long-lasting products that provide functional and practical bike lights.

When shopping for Knog durable bike lights, ask yourself the following questions:

Where do I use my bike? Short commutes or city riding only needs bike lights with short running times, while a bike trip out of town will need longer running hours.
What do I need to see? City commuters must see motorists and pedestrians, while mountain bike riders must have a broader beam to identify possible obstacles.
Who needs to see me? Remote riders prefer a single constant beam of light as collisions are less likely. Suburban riders need to use a pulsating and flashing beam so buses, trucks, cars, and other cyclists can see them.

From urban commuter to weekend warrior or competitive racer. Our range of bike lights will lighten up your cycling experience while making it easier to see.

Have you got questions about bike lights? Get in touch here.