Rack mounted tail lights

[zan0416]

I'm having a terrible time finding a rack-mounted tail light, since everything on the market these days seems to be designed to mount on a seat post or drop tube, or even on clothing.  Can anyone recommend a tail light that is designed to be mounted on the rear rack using a bolt through the mounting hole provided on a rack?

Thanks for any suggestions! 

Dan

[John Nelson]

I will agree that rack-mount tail lights are in the minority, but you can find them. I was using the Planet Bike Rack Blinky 5 until it broke. Now I use the CatEye TL-LD570 Reflex Auto Tailight. Both were purchased at REI.

You can also buy a rack mount separately, which allows you to adapt most seatpost lights to the rack.

[mdxix]

Another favorite that includes a rack bracket is PDW RADBOT 1000.

[Pat Lamb]

Busch and Muller makes Toplights that are rear rack mounts.  If you've got a dynamo, they're great.  If you get a battery powered light, my experience is that they'll come apart and fall off when you hit a bump.  Maybe you could make it work with a rubber band to hold the light together.

[DanE]

I use the Rack Blinky 5 from Planet Bike. Purchased mine at REI.

http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3018_1.html

[dkoloko]

I'm having a terrible time finding a rack-mounted tail light, since everything on the market these days seems to be designed to mount on a seat post or drop tube, or even on clothing.  Can anyone recommend a tail light that is designed to be mounted on the rear rack using a bolt through the mounting hole provided on a rack?

Dan

I have removed the clip that comes with a bicycle taillight and screwed the light through the rack hole into the clip screw hole. That may make the taillight on-off switch too close to the rack to operate. I got around this by inserting a small tube between the light and rack, and using a longer screw through tube.

[Old Guy New Hobby]

I think the best rear blinky sold is the Planet  Bike Super Flash Turbo. Its 1-W LED is visible in all lighting conditions. The battery is good for at least 2 days of hard riding with eneloop rechargeables. You have to buy the rack bracket separately. I have never, ever had a motorist fail to notice me.

http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3070.html
http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3108.html

[zan0416]

Wow, not sure how I missed the Planet Bike option.  Very helpful, thanks to all for your responses.

Dan

[mdxix]

Note that both the RADBOT & Rack Blinky 5 include a reflective surface separate from the light. They continue to make you visible even when the light fails or runs out of battery.

Technically, reflective light is required by law (varies by state).

[Pat]

Dan,  I went through exactly what you are enduring, with the same problem with both front and rear.  I searched the web and could solve it for $$$$$ or bending metal.

I finally hit on a simple PVC solution that I cobbled together out of some left over garden parts.  I built a PVC bracket in the shape of an "L", and attached it under my rear rack and above my fender.

Parts List - six 90 degree elbows; six PVC pieces cut to length;  four zip ties;  a little black spray paint.
Time to assemble - 10 minutes + paint drying time.

I've used this on several thousand miles of touring.



Happy trails,

Pat

Pat

[adventurepdx]

Looks like Rivendell has a pretty good rack light, a Busch and Mueller one for about $40.
http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/lt009.htm

Another option to consider, if you have fenders/mudguards, is a fender mounted rear light. Especially since the "real estate" on the back of the rear fender isn't used for much of anything. PDW makes their "Fenderbot", which I have on my Crested Butte:
http://www.ridepdw.com/goods/lights/fenderbot%E2%84%A2


And Riv has the Dutch Spanniga version of the same thing:
http://www.rivbike.com/Spanninga-Fender-Light-p/lt007.htm

The drawbacks to the fender mounted lights is they aren't as powerful as others, 1/2 watt vs. 1 watt. But both of those lights (like the Radbot) come with built in reflectors.

[JayH]

I just bought a 50cent angle bracket and mounted that with a spare bolt/nut to my top shelf of my OMM rear rack and then used any standard red blinky (cateye I think is mine but most red blinkies would work, you just have to look at how they mount to the mount)...   The cateye I use is a ribbed circular that I just took another spare bolt and nut and mounted the light to my angle bracket, thereby not using the mount that came with the cateye but it works great and is cheap and light.

Jay

[mdxix]

Take a look at this detailed review of tail lights that includes:

• Cost
• Brightness
• Flash patterns
• Battery life
• Mounting mechanisms
• Ease of installation
• Ease of battery replacement
• Special features