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If you want to extend your days on the saddle - or have to as a commuter - you need a good light on your bike. Ideally, one that complies with the German Road Traffic Act (StZVO) and pleases the police, as well as allowing a reasonable speed on the trail and pleasing the person behind it.
Such bicycle lighting is now available from Lezyne. The US company from Reno, Nevada, has its well-known burners, for example the Super 600The light has been reinforced once again and upgraded to a massive 1200 lumens! The lens was also modified to make it suitable for use in road traffic.
The result is the Lezyne Deca 1200 StVZOa bike light that can really do everything from station road to mountain forest. We also have the new Rear light Strip+ Ai Alert StVZO and strolled around in the dark.
And because mountain biking is also fun in the evening - provided it's warm and dry enough - we support the Lezyne Deca 1200 front light with the available Infinite Light Power Pack XL+. This is an additional battery from the manufacturer with a huge 13,200 mAh - that's about three mobile phone batteries at just 345 grams.
The Lezyne Deca 1200 StVZO front light in practice
Lezyne sells the Deca 1200 front light in a "Loaded Kit". The scope of delivery includes the bike light, the additional battery in + or XL+ and an additional handlebar mount alongside the normal rubber strap.
This set allows the light to be used in various ways - we opted for mounting with a bracket and the battery in the top tube bag during the test. The battery can also be carried as a power bank in your rucksack to charge your light, sat nav and mobile phone on the go. The additional battery can also be strapped to the top tube.
Installation using the standard bracket is correspondingly simple. However, I fitted the additional bracket to keep the handlebars tidy, especially as the Deca 1200 is less likely to be stolen as it is screwed in place.
The battery pack has a cable that is just under one metre long. Not too long, so that you don't have to stow away any metres anywhere, not too short, so that you have enough room to manoeuvre even with large frames and deep pockets.
With 1200 lumens, night almost becomes day
The Deca 1200 bike light from Lezyne has 4 light levels - the first is completely sufficient as a position light in the city. Two and especially three (800 lumens) are extremely bright and are completely sufficient for cycle paths. The blast mode with a full 1200 lumens also lights up winding trails quite well and provides a far-reaching bubble of light on country roads that nobody is guaranteed to miss. Together with the thick additional rechargeable battery, you are covered for almost the whole night, even at full light power - according to the manufacturer, approx. 7.5 hours.
Technical data for the Lezyne Deca 1200 StVZO Loaded Kit bicycle light
- Price: 149.95 euros (RRP) >> available here
- Maximum 1200 lumens / 21 hours maximum runtime
- StVZO-optimised lens
- CNC-milled aluminium housing
- USB-C rechargeable Li-ion battery with charge indicator
- IPX7 water resistance standards
- 6600 mAh battery capacity
- Weight: 215 g
- StVZO approved: yes
- K-number: K 2557
- Blast mode: 1200 / 02:30 (lumen / hh:mm)
- Enduro mode: 800 / 03:00 (lumen / hh:mm)
- Economy mode: 250 / 09:30 (lumen / hh:mm)
- Femto mode: 40 / 21:00 (lumen / hh:mm)
The Lezyne Infinite Light Power Pack XL+ in test
The Power Pack from Lezyne initially makes a very robust impression. Although the manufacturer does not say anything specifically about IP certification, the push button and charging socket closure appear to be very waterproof. As the battery can be strapped to the frame, the same splash protection can be assumed as for the lights: IPX7.
Lezyne has programmed the device for intelligent energy management: When used with compatible Lezyne LEDs, the lights utilise 100% of the Power Pack battery power; however, depending on the mode selected, additional power may come from the light's internal battery.
In modes with lower light output, the Power Pack charges the internal battery and supplies the lamp with power. When the lamp is switched off, the additional battery charges the lamp's internal batteries. A mobile phone connected to the USB-C cable is also charged very quickly. A short cable is included for charging the Power Pack.
Technical data
- Weight339 g (with cable, own measurement)
- Cable length: 985 mm
- Can can be used as an external USB-C charger for GPS devices or mobile phones
- Secure attachment to the frame with adjustable Velcro strap
- Capacity: 13,200 mAh
- Tension5 Volt
- Price129.95 Euro (RRP)
Test of the Lezyne Strip+ Ai Alert StVZO rear light
To complete the package, we invited the new rear light from Lezyne into the test, the Strip+ Ai Alert StVZO. As the name suggests, this is also approved for road traffic, where it is often even more important than the front light. If you ride at night on unlit roads, you can quickly be overlooked by cars approaching from behind if you don't have enough red light on your rear.
Not with this rear light, because with 40 lumens and, above all, 270° side visibility, it is also very easy to see, even in rain or fog. Thanks to "Ai Alert" technology, the rear light develops twice the luminosity of 80 lumens when you slow down abruptly. The light therefore recognises braking and lights up to alert others. This may not be new, but it is still practical.
And the new rear light, which also had predecessors, now makes a very robust impression, the USB-C charging port is sealed under a thick rubber cap, and because of its exposed position, usually on the seat tube, it is also IPX7-certified: "Waterproof when submerged for a short time" - that should be enough in the rain and mud.
It is attached using the usual rubber band and also covers 31.8 mm seat tubes, larger than this will be difficult. For just under 45 euros, the Lezyne Strip+ rear light is certainly a good investment on its own.
Technical data
- Price: 44.99 euros (RRP) >> available here
- Maximum 40 lumens / 17 hours maximum runtime
- StVZO-optimised lens with 10 LEDs
- Wide-angle optics with built-in 270° side view
- USB-C rechargeable Li-ion battery with charge indicator
- Compatible with aero and round seat posts
- IPX7 standard
- 1900 mAh battery capacity
- Colour: black
- Connection: USB C
- Weight: 71 g
- StVZO approved: yes
- K-number: K 2297
- Number of modes: 3
- Blast mode: 40/07:00 lumen / hh:mm
- Economy mode: 20/17:00 lumen / hh:mm
- Brake light only: 80 lumens
Conclusion on the Lezyne bike light and additional battery
The Lezyne package we tested, consisting of front and rear light plus additional battery, comes to a total price of around 320 euros - although street prices are likely to be cheaper. As we didn't make a direct comparison with other manufacturers, no comparisons should be made here.
However, the impression is that the overall package offers a relatively high level of light and quality at a good price compared to others. The light pattern is much wider and also far above the head, what our testers criticised about the Lezyne 600+.
Bicycle lights from Supernova or Lupine, which play in a similar league in terms of light output, cost far more and do not come with a rear light. My personal purchase tip for long summer nights or short winter days.
Marc Strucken
Editor
