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Lights - front
Radial Cycles Pharos front safety lightRadial Cycles Pharos front saftey light

Radial Cycles Pharos front safety light

8
by Steph Mann
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published May 10, 2015

1
£8.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Great little addition to your current bike lights, or as an emergency spare
Weight: 
31g
Contact: 
www.radialcycles.co.uk/
How we test

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The Radial Pharos front safety light is small, compact and light. It's really easy to attach to your bike and can be fitted in seconds. A good little light as a spare or for added visibility.

Weighing in at 31g this little light can literally travel anywhere. It will fit in your pocket, bike bag or jersey if you don't want it on your bike all the time. It attaches with a flexible rubber grip that will fit most bikes with ease. The beauty of this is that you can quickly remove it when you lock up your bike and take it with you.

It packs a lot into a small light. With a white three-watt LED, it gives off just enough visibility in the city. This won't light your path on unlit roads but is certainly enough to alert other road users to you.

The light has two modes, constant and flashing. It uses two round, flat CR2032 batteries (included) and these last 30 hours in constant mode and 90 in flashing. Which is a fairly decent amount of time. The downside here is that it isn't rechargeable, but batteries are fairly cheap.

Operation is simple. You just press the actual light once and it goes straight into flashing mode, press again and it's in constant mode. One more press and that's it turned off.

The body of the light is anodised CNC machined aluminium and looks really good. It's also water resistant and will cope with light showers well without water getting into the casing.

The price is £8.99 and is cheap as chips really. It's a perfect spare light or additional light for more visibility. It stands up against similarly priced models on the market well. The Lezyne Femto Drive LED light has similar constant time for battery life, but the Radial outstrips it in flashing mode with an extra 30 hours.

Verdict

Great little addition to your current bike lights, or as an emergency spare

The light comparator

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Radial Cycles Pharos front safety light

Size tested: black 40x28x33 mm

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

The light is aimed at those wanting a bit of extra visibility. Radial say: "With the same anodized CNC machined aluminum body styling as there older brother, the Pharos 3-Watt Front light, these Pharos Mini Safety Lights are a perfect accompaniment to any bike out as the sun-sets and after." They really are a good extra that will help you be more visible.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

* Easy to remove and attach

* Can be installed on handlebar diameter 19~32 mm

* Water resistant

Specification:

* Size: 40 x 28 x 33 mm

* Weight: 20 grams (without battery

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Small, robust and will handle a shower easily.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

A very easy to fit light that is simple to use.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

A cheap light as a second set, and at this price you could buy enough to light up the street. Downside is needing to replace batteries eventually.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

The light was really good. Simple to attach, use and increased my visibility.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

I liked the ease of attaching it to my bike.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 34  Height: 158cms  Weight: 61kg

I usually ride: Giant defy  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Under 5 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding, mtb,

 

Radial Cycles Pharos front safety light
Radial Cycles Pharos
Radial Cycles

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1 comments

Avatar
StraelGuy | 9 years ago
0 likes

I ordered one of these after reading this review. I run a See Sense rear light on EVERY ride but have often thought a 'be seen' front light was a great idea. It arrived today and it's a corker! Bright light and seems very well made 1 .

I can see it living on the bike until winter when the Exposure will take it's place.

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