Lezyne Laser Drive rear light review

With close passes a persistent problem, the Lezyne Laser Drive is designed to improve visibility and encourage a safer passing distance. As well as a standard rear light, the unit emits two beams of light along the road surface. Angled slightly outwards from the bike, they are designed to increase the chances of drivers noticing the rider and encourage them to pass at a wider distance.

The Lezyne Laser Drive also comes with a range of no less than nine different light modes, three constant with up to 40 lumens output and five flashing with the brightest giving a 250 lumen pulse.

Pressing the top-mounted button toggles through the modes, but the light turns on in the mode which you last used, which is helpful as most of us won't alter this often between rides. You can also set the laser guides to constant, flashing or off.

Lezyne is building pseudorandom pulsed modes into its lights this year. The inconsistent pulse has been found to draw attention better than a consistent blinking pattern. There’s certainly no excuse for a SMIDSY with the Lezyne Laser Drive’s higher output flash modes.

The lens extends quite far around the body, which provides 180° visibility, too.

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To blast out so much light, the Lezyne Laser Drive uses four LEDs. It’s quite a heavy, large unit for a rear light, to accommodate all that functionality and the battery to drive it. Quoted run times vary between 2.5 hours and over 17 hours depending upon the mode used.

Seatpost attachment is via a rubber band, with two flexible rubber guides on the back of the light helping to keep it in place, even on aero seatposts. It’s also designed to take account of the angle of the seatpost, so that the light unit shines more or less horizontally and the laser guides shine onto the road surface.

Recharging is via a concealed USB port, covered by a rubber bung. It’s reasonably sealed against water ingress and tucked away against the seatpost at the top of the unit too, adding to its protection. Lezyne says that the unit is fully waterproof.

The price, at £57.99, is admittedly higher than most on the market, but the unique lasers mean this option is set well apart from the competition.