In my opinion, tail lights are a necessity for every ride — day and night. With the added visibility, it gives cars a good head’s-up well in advance so they can plan their passing much more carefully. The latest creation from Lezyne is the Laser Drive with a variety of modes and also adds laser lane markers to boot.
Lezyne Laser Drive Features:
- 9 light modes and two laser modes
- Easily mounts to almost any seatpost
- Waterproof design
- Rechargeable via mini USB
- Max lumens: 250
- Run time: 2:30 – 17:30 (depending on mode)
- Weight: 84 grams
- MSRP: $59.99
Lasers aren’t just for Star Wars
Having a bright tail light is mandatory, in my opinion. At 250 max lumens, the Lezyne Laser Drive is definitely bright, and it has some unique features that set it apart. For starters, let’s talk about the laser part. Yes, it has lasers that project lines on either side of the bike.
Those lasers are most beneficial at night or during low-light conditions. Unfortunately, they aren’t visible during the day. So, if you were hoping for daytime laser action, you’ll be disappointed. Early mornings or evenings will deliver a tell-tale “hey man, give me some space” line to other riders and drivers on the road.
The Laser Drive is very easy to install and sits flat in place very well on round seatposts. With modern D-shaped seatposts, it does have a tendency to slip off to one side or the other. I’d venture to guess it will work just as dandy on an aero post as well (Lezyne says it fits, but I haven’t personally tested it). A simple rubber strap stretches easily and stays tight on the extra small 25.4mm seatpost found on the 2018 Cannondale Synapse.
Here’s a great video from Lezyne showing how it functions at night.
While I can appreciate being able to brag about having so many modes, I’d honestly appreciate more simplicity. Perhaps it could offer just three: day flash without lasers (since you can’t see them), night flash (with lasers) and solid. As it is, I’m just going with the most obnoxious setting with lasers and I don’t care whether it’s day or night because dammit, I’m going to be seen on the road. I suppose some locales may have regulations on lights, so a variety of modes may be usable but I’m going with the most bright and blinky mode I can get and sticking with it.
Charging the Laser Drive requires a micro USB cable. One is included but if you are like me, you have easily 100 of them lying around. I typically charge it after a couple of rides and have yet to experience battery loss. It charges up quickly, but I haven’t timed the exact recharge duration to know an exact time.
Another little nice feature is that it remembers the last light setting used when turning off and back on. That’s nice because, as I mentioned, I just kept it in the brightest daytime mode for every ride. All it takes to get it back into that mode is a long press on/off.
The Good
- Killer daytime visibility — 250 lumens baby
- Lasers, yes lasers
- Easily-mounted and stays put
- Simple rubber strap
- $60 for more safety, yes please
The Bad
- Could simplify the modes to make it bonkers easy
The Bottom Line: Lezyne Laser Drive
I would only ride without a taillight if all of mine had dead batteries (which hasn’t happened yet). Do yourself a favor and get a super-bright, obnoxious tail light so you can be seen and respected on the road. And, the Lezyne Laser Drive is an easy option that mounts in a jiffy and is, you guessed it, very bright.
Buy Now: Available from Amazon.com
2 Comments
H Jason,
Thanks for the lovely review. I had been looking into laser lights but wasn’t sure about this one as it feels as if the lasers are too close and not encouraging cars to pass by and keep their distance. I was looking at this other lights called RIDR lights (https://ridrlights.com/). Have you seen them before and even maybe reviewed? Would be keen to hear your about your experience.
George
I haven’t seen RIDR Lights, but they look very similar to the Lezyne Laser Drive. The lasers are really only effective at night or during early morning or late evening rides. Bike commuting in the dark would be great with these.