Fortunately for my psychological well being, it’s virtually, virtually, mild once I clock off for the day. That means my alternatives for testing one of the best bike lights are waning, however there’s nonetheless some time till I even contemplate eradicating lights from my bike. Even then, daytime operating lights have gotten the norm now, so I could not even attain that time.
Numerous my testing this yr has focussed on entrance lights, however I’ve nonetheless been making an attempt a wide range of totally different rear choices over the previous couple of months and one which caught my eye greater than most – as a result of let’s be actual, rear bike lights are practical, however hardly the type of factor most of us lust after – has been the Knog Mid Cobber.
I spend a whole lot of time using across the metropolis. I do a weekly lap of all of the hills every Wednesday evening, however I additionally don’t personal a automotive so I get round on my fixie year-round. Side visibility has been an actual focus for me, having had a number of close to misses with automobiles, and along with the magnificent Magicshine SEEMEE 300, the Knog Mid Cobber gives greater than most on this division. It’s an excellent mild however isn’t good, and is extra fitted to round city than it’s for prolonged evening using out within the countryside.
Image 1 of 3
Design and aesthetics
Most rear bike lights, fairly understandably, take the type of a number of rear-facing LED bulbs. The hazard is often from behind you, and since LEDs aren’t laser beams they do throw out some mild sideways too in a cone form. Often you’ll see rear bike lights have home windows or cutouts within the aspect to permit extra mild to flee sideways, like with the Lezyne Strip Drive Pro 400+. The Magicshine SEEMEE300 initiatives a big cone of sunshine downwards, which works even higher. Taking the marginally extra easy strategy, the Knog Mid Cobber (the Mummy Bear within the vary betwixt the Big Cobber and the Lil Cobber) curves an array of LEDs right into a crescent form, throwing crimson mild instantly sideways.
It’s a disarmingly easy resolution that makes me marvel why it’s not been carried out earlier than. According to the Knog web site, it could be as a result of ‘18 factories informed us Cobber could be unattainable’, however given we’ve put a person on the Moon, have self-driving automobiles, and have created synthetic intelligence convincing sufficient to start to erode the material of society I think that is both hyperbole, or Knog was asking factories often tied up with producing pencils, shoe leather-based, or fizzy sweets.
The curved LED array is nearly an ideal semicircle, however because the very distal bulbs additionally venture sideways the efficient visibility is a claimed 330º. This is about as vast as you’ll discover anyplace and implies that if a automotive (or anything for that matter) is approaching you aspect on the driving force ought to see an honest quantity of sunshine, akin to what you’d usually see from behind.
The mild clips onto your seatpost with a easy rubber O-ring. There’s loads of room for even very deep seatposts, and there’s a replaceable insert to permit it to suit on extra aero posts too.
A single button on high controls all the pieces: Long press to activate, quick press to cycle the 8 totally different modes, lengthy press to modify it off. The modes are the same old array of stable outputs of various depth, together with some extra uncommon flashing patterns that make use of the curved form so as to add extra movement that you simply usually see in tail lamps. My favorite was the one which pans a strip of illuminated lights throughout the face, successfully mimicking a rotating mild. Runtimes fluctuate relying on the output, from a claimed 100 hours on eco flash (15 lumens, so very a lot a ‘get you dwelling’ mode), to 2 hours at 75 lumens full energy. With a 170-lumen regular pulse you’re taking a look at 2.5 hours, and with rolling flash (my favorite) you get 4.5 hours, so greater than sufficient for an each-way commute with time to spare.
Unusually it doesn’t have a charging port, which undoubtedly helps it obtain an IPX6 waterproof score, which means it may be submerged to 1 metre, so greater than sufficient for rear wheel spray with no mudguard. Instead, you pop the seatpost gripper off downwards to disclose a male USB connector – not USB-C, the outdated sort – which you’ll be able to plug into any USB outlet you see match.
Image 1 of 2
Performance
I can not fault the sunshine output of the Knog Mid Cobber. In phrases of including aspect visibility it does this in spades and it has quick grow to be one in every of my go-to tail lamps this winter, together with the aforementioned Magicshine SEEMEE300. Mounted up and switched on you actually can see that, even for those who’re coming perpendicular to the rider, you’re getting a full beam of sunshine, moderately than the light fringe of a central beam.
The mounting system is simple and comparatively safe, and in contrast to many different lights I’ve tried the Knog Mid Cobber didn’t have a dependency to rotate round sideways on aero seatposts, one thing the SEEMEE300 suffers with fairly badly. I additionally like the truth that the O-ring is replaceable, which means that if it snaps then it isn’t curtains for the entire mild.
I additionally can not fault the battery life, for the supposed use case a minimum of. This is firmly within the commuter mild bracket for me, and so I don’t actually suppose it’s honest to match it to these lights that may carry on truckin’ by means of the evening at larger intensities. It will get you to and from the workplace on a single cost on principally any of the sunshine modes, and on the workplace, there ought to be sufficient USB ports kicking about so that you can cost it up for those who’re forgetful.
Despite having 8 modes, which is greater than I’d actually prefer to must cycle by means of, they’re all distinct sufficient you could simply discover the one you like, one thing that may’t be mentioned for the SEEMEE300 or the Lezyne Strip Drive Pro 400+.
While the lighting and length left little or no to be desired, what did really feel missing for me was the construct high quality. Rear lights are sometimes subjected to a whole lot of abuse, significantly for those who don’t run mudguards, but it surely didn’t take lengthy for the rubber bumper to peel off mine. It’s a simple repair with some superglue, however after only some months of intermittent use, it isn’t nice. I additionally am not significantly fond of getting a male USB because the charging port. I perceive the reasoning – no cables imply fewer locations for water ingress – however over time I fear the connections would put on out in the event that they get gritty. Given it needs to be within the port a sure manner up too it implies that it is dependent upon having a certain quantity of free house round it to be inserted correctly.
Value
With an RRP of £62.99 / $69.95, the Knog Mid Cobber is sort of a premium commuter-facing rear bike mild, but it surely performs much better than your regular run-of-the-mill clip-on commuter lights. For this worth I’d count on the construct high quality to be higher although, so it’s not all sunshine and roses.
Verdict
If you’re trying to set your self up with the last word commuter bike mild for the rear then I feel that is most likely it. It’s a little bit bit extra of an outlay over correctly bargain-basement choices, however I completely felt safer and extra seen with it connected to my bike than I did with most different choices. It’s straightforward to put in, has no cables to lose, and is just actually let down by a barely lacklustre construct high quality, and the existence of the Magicshine SEEMEE300 which additionally gives nice aspect visibility at a barely cheaper worth, although the person interface there may be much more complicated.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Testing scorecard and notes
Design and aesthetics
Really novel and efficient design, although the mounting and charging leaves a little bit to be desired.
8/10
Light high quality
I am unable to fault it right here, it is extra seen from the aspect than something I’ve examined.
10/10
Control Scheme
There are a number of modes to cycle by means of, however they’re all distinctive sufficient that it is by no means complicated.
9/10
Battery life and charging
Charging is a little bit of a ache, and the battery life is extra attuned to commutes than massive winter miles and daytime operating.
7/10
Value
For what you get it is fairly respectable worth, let down by the construct high quality a little bit.