SQUIRREL_13946930
The BBB Signal Radar is a great light with excellent practical features: a battery-level indicator and in-built speaker. There are some issues with radar performance when compared to the best in the category, but it’s a solid performer at a very good price.
Priced at £119.99 / $209.99 / €139.95, BBB’s take on rearview radars comes with a unique difference. Whereas most rear radars need a GPS head unit, phone or – in the case of Lezyne’s React – a compatible front light, the Signal Radar can be used on its own thanks to its built-in 85dB speaker.
It also works with GPS head units because it transmits on both Bluetooth and ANT+, or with your phone via the Cannondale app.
The light itself offers a max of 80 lumens and a potential 14-hour run time. The radar element has a claimed detection distance of 190 metres, with a 35-degree detection angle, and it can detect up to eight vehicles.
BBB Signal Radar BLS-251 setup
BBB is part of the Pon.Bike group, which owns Cannondale, Cervélo, Santa Cruz, Gazelle, Focus, Kalkhoff and many others. So, while the Signal Radar doesn’t have its own app, it works with Cannondale’s app. You don’t need to own a Cannondale to use it, and you can add multiple brands of bike to the bike garage and assign components such as the BBB radar to your bike.
The app works as a bike computer, so you can display the radar on your phone screen. It can also connect to all major GPS units thanks to its ANT+ Radar and ANT+ Light support. I tried it with Garmin, Hammerhead and Bryton devices and it worked seamlessly with all of them.
Through the app, you can set the light mode from six options: peloton – a steady dimmer beam; high – the full 80-lumen mode; flash – fast, 80-lumen power flash; day flash – constant flash mode at lower power; steady flash – constant flash mode; and radar only – no light.
You can also turn the speaker on or off, and alter the sensitivity of the radar from low to max.
Switching to the low mode is useful when riding in heavy traffic, where the combination of multiple cars on screen, and the associated noise from the head unit/speaker can be distracting.
BBB Signal Radar BLS-251 fitting
A simple loop strap makes fitting a breeze, and it comes with a second strap that features a V-shaped base for compatibility with aero seatposts. It can only be used on posts, with no saddle-rail mount option.
Despite its large size and the relatively small strap/bracket combo, it remains reasonably stable. Bear in mind that the 10cm length could make fitting to smaller frames tricky, though.
BBB Signal Radar BLS-251 performance
While the Cannondale app support is fine, unless you’re going to use the app as your primary bike computer, it seems a little superfluous. This is because you can switch through light modes on the Signal Radar itself or use your head unit to change the mode.
I’m not a fan of flashing rear lights because I think they’re distracting for other road users. My run times were based on the solid ‘peloton’ mode, which lasted around four and three-quarter hours – somewhat under the five and a half BBB claims.
The light itself is impressive; its larger, wider shape is bolstered by the spread of 19 LEDs, meaning it is bright and highly visible.
The BBB’s radar performance is on a par with Wahoo’s Elemnt Trackr Radar and, like the Wahoo, it suffers from the occasional disappearing vehicle when they are travelling at the same speed.
The detection distance is a claimed 190m / 207 yards – according to the My Bike radar app, its maximum distance across all my test rides peaked at 137m.
On my busy peak-time commutes, the BBB coped admirably with multiple cars. On a few occasions, it detected two vehicles instead of one large one, such as a coach or articulated truck. Like most of its rivals here, it can get overwhelmed by a constant stream of traffic passing you.
Relying on the radar’s built-in speaker and not connecting to a GPS computer was interesting. The speaker’s alerts are loud enough to hear even in traffic, although you don’t get much of an idea of how close approaching vehicles are or at what speed they’re travelling.
The battery-level indicator (and speaker on/off) is a great touch – being able to see battery levels without connecting to an app or head unit is particularly handy pre-ride.
Other testers have reported false positives – I didn’t experience this on the road, but it did happen multiple times when riding through a long bike-specific, traffic-free tunnel. I’d suggest the radar was picking up either metal in the tunnel structure or power cables above.
BBB Signal Radar BLS-251 bottom line
The BBB is a solid-performing light, with good run times and visibility. The bracket position makes it harder to fit on smaller frames or bikes with less exposed seatpost length, though.
The radar performance is the equal of more expensive radars, such as Wahoo’s Elemnt Trackr and Lezyne’s React, but it’s a long way behind the Garmin RearVue 820.
BBB Signal Radar BLS-251 specification
- Dimensions: 99x42x35mm
- Weight: 90g
- Brightness: 80 lumens
- Waterproof: IPX6
- Claimed battery: 14 hours day flash mode, 5 1/2 hours in solid
- Radar detection angle: 35 degrees
- Radar detection distance (claimed): 190 metres / 207 yards
SQUIRREL_13946930
