Philips BF48L20BBLX1 Battery Driven Bike Light Review
The BF48L20BBLX1 battery driven bike light by Philips utilizes a couple of high powered LEDs that are housed in a unique reflector design which offers an impressive beam distance of two hundred feet for ultimate safety for cyclists. The LED light features two modes high power mode and eco city mode. The high power mode works for up to two hours, while the eco city mode works for eight hours.
As people become increasingly environmentally conscious more and more people are taking a green approach by riding their bikes to work. Cycling has also seen a boost in the fitness world because it’s an effective low impact exercise that’s perfect for rehabbing, losing weight and staying in shape. But with this boost in cyclists all over the country, so has there been an increase in bike and car accidents, especially at night.
This sudden spike in cyclist deaths has caused states to implement bike safety laws that require the cyclist to take the proper steps to remain visible at night.
Staying safe on the road is crucial if you can’t get your bike ride in until the evening or if you ride your bike home from work at night. Riding when you’re tired only increases your chances of an on the road collision because you won’t be as vigilant compared to when you’re well-rested.
LED Bike light by Phillips Rundown
This model comes with a one year warranty on all parts, which is a big selling point for the avid cyclist. The innovative aluminium housing is waterproof, which allows you to ride around safely in all types of weather. Also included are rechargeable NiMh batteries, user’s manual and white 5500 Kelvin lights. With easy mounting capabilities, the light is designed to easily fit on any style of bike, no tools for installation required.
For good reason, most state laws require cyclists to use a front mounted bike light at night and a red reflector or red light on the rear. You should never ride at night without a rear reflector and front headlamp, which is where the genius of this Phillips bike light comes in. With the two optional modes, rechargeable batteries and easy mounting, there is simply no excuse for riding unsafe at night.
Most bikes are sold with very small reflectors, which are actually totally inadequate for night riding. Unfortunately, the bike-car collision rate has skyrocketed within the last few years. Most of these crashes involved a cyclist who was operating without the proper night time riding equipment. Using the proper equipment makes you more visible to others on the road and can make riding around at night much safer.
The right type of bike lighting is important for a couple of reasons: first, it makes you predictable and visible to other drivers and cyclists on the road. Second, it will help you to see clearly, which means easier road navigation.
Many cyclists tend to ride around in urban environments where it’s easier to navigate, so most don’t bother using bike lights and this can be very dangerous. While a bike reflector can offer good visibility for overtaking traffic, most bike-car collisions come from the side or front of the cyclist. Car headlights that are on intersecting paths with the cyclist usually don’t shine on the bike’s reflectors until it’s too late for the driver to avoid a collision or yield the right of way. Only with the use of a bike headlamp can a cyclist be sufficiently visible at night.
Battery Driven LED Light for Cyclists Pros and Cons
Pros: This model features two power settings and rechargeable AA NiMH batteries, which are recharged via a USB port and included charger. Most types of bike lights are equipped with a round beam pattern, kind of similar to a flashlight, resulting in most of the light being thrown up in the air or even into the eyes of drivers, instead of on the road ahead of the cyclist. The Safe Ride light beam is shaped similar to a car headlight and features a sharper cutoff at the top of the beam. This works to keep the light on the road where it’s needed the most.
While some users complained about the short life of the high power mode, others stated that the low power mode is really all you need for great visibility.
The light’s solid aluminium body is very durable and built to last, unlike other models of this size which are commonly made of plastic.
The light provides a nice, wide angle of coverage, working to improve visibility on the road.
One person mentioned that they dropped the headlight many times on concrete and blacktop, used it in heavy rain and it easily stood up to these conditions.
Cons: While the manufacturer claims that the run time for the high power mode is two hours, some consumers noted that the light switches to low power mode after an hour of high power mode use. This can be potentially dangerous for some cyclists, depending on the area they’re riding in. Users recommend planning ahead and brining at least one spare battery set. Taking out and replacing batteries that are partially drained doesn’t affect or reset the output to high, but putting in recharged ones will. The circuit actually looks at a battery’s remaining charge and not a timer. Another consumer mentioned the difficulty of getting to the batteries, which requires an M3 hex key, which is included. The M3 hex key can be kind of awkward to carry around and can be easy to misplace.
If you’re looking for a more powerful light, consumers suggest the Light & Motion Taz 1200 Bike Light.
According to some consumers, the battery life runs out after around ten months.
Phillips Headlamp Conclusion and Rating
Consumers who purchased Philips BF48L20BBLX1 Battery Driven Bike Light gave it a rating of five out of five stars, making this one of the best bike headlights on the market, and our top rating product. Durable, easy to use and impressively strong, this light has everything you’re looking for in terms of safety and reliability.