In pitch darkness our group of 20 rolled out from the Las Vegas strip for an early morning, pre-Interbike ride. Many of the roads didn't have a bike lane, so we made our own.
- Best bike lights for road cycling
- All our reviews of front and rear lights
- Lezyne Super Drive 1250 XXL review
Lezyne Laser Drive highlights
- Parallel laser lines alongside and behind rider
- 9 modes, two laser-only modes
- 2.5–17.5hrs claimed battery life
- Fits a variety of posts including aero models with adjustable rubber band
- 84g
Mmmmm, lasers...
Lezyne's new Laser Drive is a quality tail light with variable flash/steady settings, a strap that works for any seatpost and a good run time. But the headline feature is the two parallel laser lines that are projected on the ground on either side of the rider.
Drivers behind see not only a bright tail light, but a rolling red bike lane surrounding and trailing the rider.
The laser lines extend about twice the length of a bike.
Will these lasers protect a rider more than just a tail light? Well, they don't create a force field, but they do project a very noticeable and unusual light pattern on the ground. And when it comes to getting drivers' attention, bright and out-of-the-ordinary can't hurt.
The Laser Drive has nine different illumination modes, plus two laser-only modes. Run times range from two and a half hours on full 'Blast' mode to a claimed 17.5hrs on a flash setting.
In addition to the laser lines on the ground, the 250-lumen Laser Drive has a wide lens on the main light for 180-degree visibility.
The rubbery straps let you mount it on any seatpost, big aero posts included, in seconds, and the power/mode button is easy to operate while riding. A long press turns it off and on, and a short press cycles through the modes.
Lezyne Laser Drive early verdict
One of our go-to tail lights at BikeRadar has been the Bontrager Flare R. That light is bright (65 lumens), light (60g) and easy to mount on normal seatposts with its built-in rubber band. Although heavier, the Laser Drive is giving the Flare R a run for the money.
