Customer Reviews

Planet Bike 3040 Superflash Tail Light and Blaze Headlight Light Set

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this combo because I really needed a tail light and the extra headlight would be a bonus. Well, here's the story. The Superflash tail light is simply incredible. Whether in blink or steady mode, this thing is BRIGHT, even in daytime with direct sunlight. I have two of these Superflash tail lights and motorists can't miss me - in flashing mode you look like an emergency vehicle! The Superflash has survived falling off my bike while riding with only minor scuffs (I failed to clip it in completely - you need to be careful about that). The Blaze headlight is, on the other hand, disappointing. It has a very narrow, focused beam of only moderate brightness. In flashing mode, the beam is way too narrow as a "be seen" light, unless the observer is dead center in front of the beam. I use the Blaze as a spot light supplement to a wider angle headlight, but I would not recommend it as a sole headlight.

I needed a new rear blinkie and was just going to get the red super flasher, but I saw the combo and figured why not.

The rear blinkie is awesome. I thought it would be margnial given its size, but it's more than sufficiently bright. What I don't like is that I have yet to find a blinkie that I can mount to the bracket on my rear rack. Blinkies only seem to come with seat post mounts and/or clips for going bags. So I came up with a different bracket addition of my own and took the screw and removable thread out of the seat post rack and mounted the light horizantal on my new bracket. Works like a charm although not the most asthetic. Having said that, I found out tonight that Planet Bike makes a bracket for rear racks. So I'll probably get one. whew...

The front "Blaze" is a better led flasher than anything the dept stores have as far as flashers go. (I've got one mounted as well so I could compare.) If you need to light the path/road, get something else. Even a $30 high lumen mag type light or a couple of them would suffice if you can get them mounted with a rubber strap or one of those mag light bike mounts. But as a front flasher it does well. I think it's even sufficiently bright enough for daytime use.

The "Blaze" uses a cam lock type mount. Clever design. Actually, a very clever and smart design. However, I'm not confident enough in the materials to go as tight as I need. The little lever arm feels like it's going to snap. So it's important to get some shims in there to help keep the mount from sliding around necesiating the need to really get the quick release arm too tight.

For the price, it's a good safety combo as long as the buyer is aware that the front light is a just a flasher and not a head/flood type light for lighting the way.

I already have these lights but am fed up of swapping over the units from one bike to another. Also I ride at 4.30am, so when u wake up to find your first choice bike has a flat, swapping over the lights at 4.30am is a pain, frustrating and eats into your ride time. So I decided to invest in a second set of lights. I bought the same set again because they work excellently. There are several stretches of road I use that are unlit and often I will come across a stretch where the lights have gone out for some reason. These lights keep me visible and they illuminate the road so I can see pot holes or debris etc. Definitely consider these lights for your bike!!

My wife and I typically ride after work and that means in the dark during the winter months.

As we ride in SoCal in a residential area, we need to be seen by cars and that is the major objective of using the lights.

In the pulse mode, you stick out like a sore thumb. If they can't see you then they are either blind drunk or shouldn't be driving.

Despite the fact the lights are not sold as providing adaquate illumination for you to ride by, I find they throw enough light to get about 2 second view of things in your path. You may not know what it is but you did see enough to get around the object.

It was a snap to install them.

This set of blinky lights is a great option to get set up for night riding. I purchased the set because I had seen the Superflash Tail Light in action and was very impressed. In my opinion, it is one of the best bike tail lights available. The tail light alone would warrant a 5 star rating.

The headlight, I was not quite as impressed with. It's a quality light, but I found it was no brighter than the existing LED headlight I have owned for approximately 5 years. I was hoping that the improvements in LED technology would make this a brighter light. It's still a very good light to make you visible, but not quite enough to be used as your only source of light when it's completely dark out. Also, I did not have any issues with the attachment as other commenters have mentioned. Once you understand how the mechanism works, it is easy to adjust and superior to most attachment systems with the multitude of rubber spacers.

Conclusion: If Planet Bike packaged their 1 watt headlight with the Superflash tail light, that would be an ideal combination. As is, this set is a very good value.

These lights are great! The Superflash tail light is the brightest one on the market, but you don't have to just take my word for it. If you look up the tail light by itself, you'll see about 150+ 5 star reviews for it. Also, the local bike shops try and sell the tail light alone for about $35...almost as much as this combo set. The mounting options are great as well. I like to clip it to either my backpack or on my seat bag, but it does come with the necessary hardware to mount directly to your seat post or on the seat stays.

The front light is a good blinky. It too is very bright. I have read a few bad reviews about it, but that is mostly due to improper use. It DOES have a narrow beam. This light set is meant to be used as 'BE SEEN' lights...not 'TO SEE'. In my opinion, it does do an ample job of lighting the road ahead of you in low light situations, but if you are riding in complete darkness away from any street lights, you may want a proper headlight...and you're not going to find that for under $50.

UPDATE:June 22, 2011
Well, over 2 years later, and the lights are still going strong. I did upgrade to the PlanetBike 2w Blaze headlight on 12/10, but I still have the 1/2w as a back up. The Superflash tail light is NOT the brightest light on the market anymore, but it is still among the favorites of avid cyclists. The only issue I've had so far is that one of the contacts in the tail light was corroding. All I had to do was scrub it a little with a green scrubby and it was all good again.

As noted in other reviews, there are many LED headlights that are comparable to this one. The headlight provides good visibility and covers an adequate area in front of you. If you want to see all the details of the street or trail, please spend the money for a high intensity light set. If you want to _be_ seen by other cyclists and motorists, this is the light for you.

The tail light is is by far the best in this price range -- very bright, irregular flash pattern catches my attention when overtaking some one running one of these.

Both lights work well on rechargeable NiMH batteries. I recommend this light set to anyone who is on the road during the dusk and dark hours.

I bought this light set because my halogen helmet light's battery pack went on the fritz.

Pros:
Tail light is awesome. Worth the price by itself.
The headlight sips battery power - it will last nearly forever.

Cons:
Tail light has no cons. It rocks.
The headlight is not bright enough to be practical. I know my commute really well by now, and most of it is lit by streetlights, but the headlight is still not bright enough to make me comfortable.
No helmet mount for the headlight (and Amazon doesn't sell one, either.)

I used the headlight twice, then went and bought the 2 watt version. It fits the bill for an inexpensive headlight. The half-watt version with this set is not bright enough to be classified as a headlight IMHO. If you mostly need a head light, don't buy this. Buy the 2 watt headlight from Planet Bike. If you mostly need a tail light, then this headlight is a nice add-on.

Light set was needed for teen riding at night thru very dark neighborhood. After reading reviews and narrowing down to Planet Bike, I came across a link that was very cool and helped determine what light set would work for us ([...])
So far the light has worked very well and is made solidly. Clamps were easy to use and stay on well.

Holy Mother of Pearl! These lights are BRIGHT! C'mon, seriously, what is the most mandatory, obligatory and predictable thing you will do when you get your new lights, eh?

... You know this... you can do it...

RIGHT! You're going to turn them on and look right into the lens from about 18" away! Dingdingding... you get the prize!

You also get faded vision for about an hour and a heckuva headache! These babies are BRIGHT! These are the only/first lights I've owned, so could be others are just as bright; but, if there are brighter lights available, I wouldn't want 'em. I also got the optional mounting bracket for the rear rack, and with that, both were easy to install.

Anyone who runs into me when these lights are on, and then says "Gosh, Officer, I didn't SEE him" should be forbidden to ever leave their house, operate electrical appliances, reproduce, etc.

The only thing I would have designed differently (as others have noted) is to make the front light beam more wide, instead of a spot. Not a biggie in my case, because I'll use the lights more to identify my presence rather than to light the road.

And, yes, I admit it... after getting faded vision and a headache from looking into the lights?... yeah, I did it again. Hey, I'm not the brightest... oh, no, too easy... I won't say it.