
Bicycle Light Chart of Brightness Comparison
Lumens | Comparison |
100 | Cheap flashlight |
200 | Good flashlight |
400 | 40 watt light bulb |
800 | 60 watt light bulb |
What is the brightest bike light?
These ultra-bright lights are ideal for a pitch black forest trail ... If you’re after a pair of bike lights for the odd cycle ride, you’ll probably not want to part with the best part of £50. That being said, the general consensus from fellow ...
What are the brightest bike lights?
- Daytime running lights to be seen in daylight = 100+ lumens
- Urban commuting lights to be seen in town = 50 to 200 lumens
- Rural riding lights to see where you are going = 400 to 600 lumens
- Trail riding lights to see everything = 600+ lumens
How many lumens is a standard motorcycle headlight?
While the typical halogen headlight puts out about 700 lumens on low beam and 1,200 on high beam, an LED headlight bulb projects 3,000 lumens or more. LED headlight bulbs that emit between 6,000 and 6,400 lumens project light up to 500 meters, while headlights outputting 8,000 lumens reach up to 700 meters.
How many lumens are too many?
The question is how many lumens are too much not how many do you need.. so the answer is something like this. If you are outside.. it does not matter as long as you aren't in a confined space like an alley or between two objects that reflects light.

How many lumens do you need for front bike light?
We've mainly focused on front lights that will enable you to see where you are going on unlit cycle paths or rural roads. Generally speaking, we'd recommend a minimum of 200 lumens for urban commuting and 400 lumens for riding on unlit roads.
Is 400 lumens bright enough for cycling?
If you're riding on unlit roads, you're probably going to want a front light that's around 600 lumens as a minimum, but you also want to make sure that you're not going to be dazzling any oncomers. When cycling on the road, it's important to get a light that's not going to blind any oncoming traffic.
How many lumens do I need to ride a bike at night?
An average trail rider will likely be fine with about 200 lumens minimum; ideal is about 250-400 lumens. Some riders can ride really fast offroad at night but we find anything above 400 lumens doesn't help us go faster but burns battery life faster.
Is 800 lumens enough for a bike light?
An 800 lumen light, like the Cateye Volt 800 is bright enough so you can ride with confidence on pitch dark roads at 20 mph or even faster. If you ride blazing fast (25+ mph) or you ride on dark forest trails, you need an even more powerful light (1600 lumens or more).
How far does 800 lumens shine?
The brightness of an 800 lumen torch (UK for flashlight) is the power of light of 800 candles. This level is regarded as a very bright level of torch suitable for most outdoor tasks. The throw of light can be up to a 200m distance.
How many lumens is a car headlight?
On average, 2,000 – 4,000 Lumens is common range for many headlights. However, the output of an LED headlight kit is dependent upon many factors. One of the primary factors is the number or LEDs contained in each bulb.
Is 1000 lumens enough for night riding?
People had fun, they survived. Today, you'll see plenty of articles saying you need 2,000 lumens, minimum for trail riding at night, with plenty of folks out there creating little mini suns with 5,000 lumen setups. We're pretty good with the 900 lumen output of the NiteRider Micro 900 ($75).
Is 500 lumens enough for night riding?
Anything over 500 real lumens and designed to be seen with (vs. a safety light with a really broad beam) should be enough for you to see going down hills at a safe speed.
Is 1000 lumens too bright?
The Brightness of a 1000 Lumen Flashlight A 1000 lumen flashlight is quite bright and, depending on the lens or reflector design, powerful enough to reach a distance of 200 meters or more. This type of flashlight allows you to see objects from a far distance.
Is 800 lumens bright for outside?
The best range of lumens for outdoor lighting is 12 to 1,300 lumens. How many lumens you need for outdoor landscape lighting is between 50 and 700. The amount of brightness most people want changes based on location.
Is 500 lumens too bright?
A 500 lumen flashlight is bright enough for great for close up work either indoors or outdoors and suitable for outdoor walking, fishing, hunting and for keeping in your car ready for emergencies. As with all lighting, the wider the beam of a flashlight the less intense the light will be and therefore feel less bright.
Is 500 lumens bright enough bike light?
LIGHT IT UP. 500 Lumens output can brighten up the even the darkest of spaces, whilst giving you exceptional daytime visibility. Our 3-26 hour battery life can take you the distance so you can enjoy the long journey without any worries.
How many lumens do you need for a bike light?
How many lumens do you need for bike commuting lights? Anywhere from 200 to 600 lumens is recommended for bike commuting lights. Make sure you have a front light that is at least 400 lumens for urban riding, or 600 lumens plus for riding on unlit roads. Now there are a few more considerations when choosing bike lights for cycling to work, ...
How many lumens does a bike need?
Front bike lights for urban bike commuting only really need to be about 400 lumens. This is because the street lighting and other light sources make urban areas that much brighter.
What are the best lights for a bike?
What are the best lights for bikes? LED lights that are USB-chargeable and have a strap attachment are the brightest, most convenient and versatile bike lights currently available. These will not only make you safer but they are also easy to charge and have a good runtime.
Why do you dip your lights?
Dipping can be done to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic, especially if your lights are over the 600-lumen mark. You can do this with most good lights that have a strap attachment, although many others also have this kind of feature.
Do bike lights work for commuting?
safety of bike commuting. Getting just the right bike lights for commuting is a tricky thing since some journeys need far better and more expensive lights than others, while certain conditions will also require different lights, with cost always a consideration, too. To answer this question, let’s jump in straight away.
Do bike lights dip?
Many good quality lights will also have a dip function in the different modes so remember to look for this in the product description when buying lights for bike commuting. To go along with dipping them, swiveling and turning lights is also helpful.
Do front bike lights need to be doubled?
Front Bike Lights for Commuting. As mentioned above, front lights will need to be usually double the brightness, or ‘lumens’, of the rear lights on your bike . With this increased brightness comes increased cost, but this is certainly worth it since it makes for a much safer, easier and more enjoyable ride to and from work.
What is a Good Brightness for a Bike Light?
Cyclists travelling through well-lit areas should aim for a 100- or 200- lumen light. If you’re cycling through unlit areas and need to increase visibility, you’ll need a higher lumen count. Anywhere between 200 to 600 lumens is ideal, especially for commuters.
Can Bike Lights Be Too Bright?
Yes! If lights aren’t used properly or positioned at the correct angle, they can blind other pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.
How Many Lumens Should a Bike Light Be?
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to lumens. The ideal count will depend on whether you’re night riding, day riding, travelling through urban areas, or cruising on unlit roads.
How Bright Should a Bike Light Be?
Remember: bike lights aren’t just for night riding. Though they’re not legally required for day riding, they can help you improve your visibility and make you more noticeable to motorists.
What are Lumens?
Lumens are units of measure describing the amount of visible light produced by an object or system. A lumen measures luminous flux per unit area, and it’s estimated in candela/m² (cd/m²).
Advantage of Having A Bike Light
Having A Bike Light protects you from injury and vehicular damage. When biking at night, you need to see where your bike is going so that you don’t crash into any obstacles in the road or other cyclists.
Conclusion
The number of lumens you need for bike lights will depend on your needs and preferences. Ensuring that drivers can see you when coming from the front or behind is a key factor in choosing how many lumens to get. The most important thing with bike lights is making sure people see you!
How many lumens should a bike light be?
If you want to ride quickly on unlit roads and trails, you should be able to see over 1000 Lumens, which should give you enough foresight to ride confidently.
Is 800 lumens enough for a bike light?
There is a conclusion. If you are only riding on unlit roads with a symmetrical beam light, something with a moderate output should suffice.
How many lumens do I need to ride a bike at night?
It depends on how fast you are. The ideal minimum for a trail rider is about 250 to 400lm. Some riders can ride really fast offroad at night but we find anything over 400lm doesn’t help us go faster but burns battery life quicker.
Is 200 lumens enough for cycling?
It is possible to cast a beam on the road and offer enough light to ride on unlit roads and paths at a reasonable speed. If the terrain is rough or you come across a hazard in the road, then you might want to look for something brighter.
