Ravemen's LS07 light set, which combines the FR500 front light and CL01 Pro rear light, is a great option for riders who want a tidy solution for their lights setup without resorting to more complicated under-mount systems.
That’s because the FR500 front light fits onto a quarter-turn mount interface and features a bracket on top of it to hold your bike computer.
Ravemen supplies both a Garmin and Wahoo male interface plate, depending on the mount you have, a female plate for either brand’s computers, and many others, to fit on top.
However, Ravemen expects you to already own an out-front mount, because it doesn’t supply one in the box (or even a strap-on handlebar mount).
On the one hand, it’s a reasonable expectation that most people considering this light set will have one supplied with their bike computer.
Anyone who doesn’t have one will need to shell out extra – disappointing if you’re already spending £89.99.
The flat shape of the FR500 front light means the beam is wide and flat, too.
You get an effective beam cut-off, which helps avoid dazzling other road users, but the beam also appears quite diffuse. That’s good if you don’t like having a focused bright spot, but less good if you want to ride at pace at night because the light can’t penetrate as far forward.
The irony here is that those after a clean aesthetic might be minded to ride more quickly, but I found that to be a tough ask once I started hitting 25km/h.
The modes are cycled through in the usual manner, with three static modes and three flashing modes – easy enough.
The CL01 Pro rear light can only put out 30 lumens, but with the LEDs wrapped around the fin-like design, visibility is better than you’d expect because you get true side-on output. This is a boon in urban areas with plenty of oblique junctions.
The battery lasted for just shy of 4 hours putting out its highest static setting, giving out after a further 45 minutes in a lower-powered static mode. That’s impressive given its size.
However, it isn’t going to cut through murky conditions as well because it simply doesn’t have the punch – so I’d consider using this light alongside a second standalone rear light with more power if, say, morning mist was a common thing on my commute.
If the lack of mount for the front light was an oversight, Ravemen appears to have compensated for the rear light, providing a standard seatpost mount and a saddle rail mount. The seatpost mount features a deep cutaway to help with fitting to aero seatposts, a nice touch without affecting the stability when fitted to a round post.
Using the saddle rail mount means you can’t use a saddle pack with the light, but if you share Warren Rossiter’s opinion that saddle packs have had their day, this needn’t bother you.
How we tested
I tested these bike light sets using two local test loops over the course of nearly two months – one largely street-lit, criss-crossing through a local urban area, and another almost exclusively un-lit on country back lanes. Both were ridden at night (meaning some late starts and early mornings), while I also used each light set for local rides during the day.
I also ran a battery burn-down test – discharging the lights from empty on their most powerful setting. This gives a good indication of the minimum battery life you can expect and flags when power-save modes kick in.
In my experience of testing over 100 lights, there’s usually a small discrepancy in burn times from one unit of the same light to the next, so my figures are intended as indications, rather than guarantees.
All front lights featured at least a 500-lumen maximum output and each set costs under £100.
Light sets tested
- Lezyne Fusion Drive 500+ / KTV Drive Pro+
- Magicshine Allty 800 v2 / Seemee 50 v2
- BBB NanoStrike 700i / Signal 80
- Ravemen FR500 / CL01 Pro (LS07)
- Moon Rigel Lite / Helix Lite
- Giant Recon HL 600 / Recon TL 200
- Cateye AMPP 500S / Viz 150
- Sigma Buster 800 / RL 150
- Knog Blinder Pro 700 / Plus
Ravemen also supplies two USB-C to USB-C cables in the box.
Ravemen FR500 & CL01 Pro (LS07) light set bottom line
The Ravemen LS05 is a svelte-looking set, and will likely appeal to riders who want a clean cockpit, and a tucked-away rear light.
There’s plenty to like here, but many will find a more ‘normal’ front light a better fit, while some may understandably prefer a more powerful rear light.
Product
| Brand | Ravemen2 |
| Price | €74.95, £89.95, $79.95 |
| Weight | 123g |
Features
| Light type | front_and_rear |
| Remote switch | no |
| Integrated battery | yes |
| Features | Ravemen FR500 (front) ● Weight: 101g ● Material: Plastic ● IP rating: IPX6 ● Lumens: 500 ● Runtime: 2:30-36hrs Ravemen CL01 Pro (rear) |
