A huge selection of bike lights are for sale on the market today, and finding the right system can be a challenge. So, we put together this list of bike lights with key stats, and grouped the lights by usage category. Of course we don’t recommend making a purchase decision based on specs alone, so be sure to read our bike lights primer to get the whole picture.
Gravel Grinder / Secondary Lights
If you like to grind gravel at night or are looking for a secondary light (either as an emergency light or a fill light), take a look at these inexpensive lights with less than 500 lumens.
| Light | MSRP | Lumens | Runtime (high) | Weight (g) |
| CatEye Volt 300 | $60 | 300 | 3 | 120 |
| Fenix BC20 | $58 | 400 | 2.33 | 125 |
| Lezyne Macro Drive | $70 | 400 | 2 | 93 |
| NiteRider MiNewt Mini 350 | $89 | 350 | 2 | 175 |
| Sigma Karma EVO | $165 | 320 | 4 | – |
Cross Country Lights
For recreational night riders, lights that are capable of producing between 500 and 1000 lumens are all that’s necessary. Many of these lights also pair well with a second bar or helmet-mounted light for excellent coverage and improved trail vision.
| Light | MSRP | Lumens | Runtime (high) | Weight (g) |
| Bontrager Ion 700 | $100 | 700 | 1.75 | 141 |
| Cygolite Expilion 850 | $140 | 850 | 2.25 | 140 |
| Cygolite MityCross 800 | $200 | 800 | 2.17 | 240 |
| Fenix BT20 | $124 | 750 | 1.83 | 156 |
| Gemini Lights Xera 950 | $190 | 950 | 2 | 207 |
| Gloworm X1 | $212 | 950 | 2.25 | 196 |
| Jet Lites X-52 | $229 | 825 | 3.5 | 356 |
| Lezyne Deca Drive | $150 | 800 | 1.5 | 265 |
| Light & Motion Stella 500 | $200 | 500 | 2.75 | 232 |
| MagicShine Eagle 600 | $149 | 600 | 1.5 | – |
| NiteRider MiNewt Pro 770 Enduro | $249 | 770 | 2.75 | 478 |
| Serfas TSL-550 | $140 | 550 | 2 | – |
| Serfas TSL-750 | $160 | 750 | 1.5 | 195 |
| Sigma PowerLED EVO | $250 | 900 | 3 | – |
| Xeccon Geinea I | $148 | 650 | – | 457 |
Race Lights
Mountain bike racing at night requires more firepower and longer-lasting batteries, so the following lights put out between 1000 and 2000 lumens and feature batteries that can last for hours on lower settings. Flip to high for the fast sections and dim your lights for the climbs, and you’ll be set to race all night long!
| Light | MSRP | Lumens | Runtime (high) | Weight (g) |
| CatEye Volt 1200 | $200 | 1200 | 2 | 214 |
| Cygolite Centauri 1700 | $350 | 1700 | 2 | 405 |
| Exposure Lights Diablo MK6 | $315 | 1300 | 1 | – |
| Exposure Lights Race MK9 | $350 | 1200 | 2 | – |
| Fenix BC30 | $128 | 1800 | 1.83 | 162 |
| Hope Tech R4 | $290 | 1000 | 2.5 | 338 |
| Jet Lites F3 | $199 | 1000 | 2 | 170 |
| Lezyne Mega Drive | $200 | 1200 | 1.33 | 265 |
| Light & Motion Seca 1500 | $400 | 1500 | 2 | 343 |
| Light & Motion Taz 1200 | $240 | 1200 | 1.5 | 216 |
| Lupine Piko 4 | $335 | 1200 | 2 | 180 |
| Lumintrail TB-1000 | $120 | 1000 | 4 | 370 |
| MagicShine MJ 872 | $150 | 1600 | 2.2 | – |
| NiteRider Pro 1200 Race | $269 | 1200 | 1.75 | 484 |
| NiteRider Pro 1800 Race | $349 | 1800 | 1.5 | 484 |
| Serfas TSL-T1000 | $320 | 1000 | 2 | 300 |
| Trail LED XXX | $300 | 1800 | 2.5 | 380 |
| Xeccon Spiker 1210 | $145 | 1600 | 3.3 | 508 |
Enduro Lights
We’re not sure what people used to call these lights just a couple years ago (really bright lights?) but today it seems more than one manufacturer has dubbed 2000+ lumen lamps “enduro.” Love it or hate it, it’s actually fairly descriptive, as these lights will allow you to ride balls-out in the dark without getting into too much trouble.
| Light | MSRP | Lumens | Runtime (high) | Weight (g) |
| Exposure Lights Maxx-D MK7 | $579 | 2400 | 2 | 292 |
| Gemini Lights Olympia 2100 | $300 | 2100 | 2.33 | 316 |
| Gloworm XS | $363 | 2000 | 2 | 330 |
| Hope Tech R8 | $440 | 3000 | 2 | 665 |
| Light & Motion Seca 2000 Enduro | $570 | 2000 | 2.5 | 495 |
| Light & Motion Seca 2000 Race | $500 | 2000 | 1.5 | 343 |
| Lupine Betty R 10 | $1095 | 4500 | 1.5 | 530 |
| Lupine Wilma 7 | $595 | 2800 | 2 | 360 |
| Lumintrail TB-3000 | $250 | 3000 | 3 | 585 |
| MagicShine MJ 880 | $220 | 2000 | 2.3 | – |
| NiteRider Pro 2200 Enduro | $429 | 2200 | 2 | 580 |
| NiteRider Pro 3600 Enduro | $699 | 3600 | 1.5 | 839 |
| Serfas TSL-2500 | $425 | 2500 | 1.75 | 540 |
| Spoke Grenade SG-2200 | $219 | 2200 | 3 | – |
| Trail LED DS | $500 | 3000 | 1.5 | 417 |
| Trail LED Halo | $1,200 | 6000 | 2 | 814 |
| Xeccon Sogn 700 | $285 | 2800 | – | 658 |
While this isn’t a comprehensive list, we did our best to include known manufacturers and a range of products from each. Did we miss any great bike light systems? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll do our best to update the post!
I can vouch for the JetLites F3. Super bright and no one will ride in front of me because it destroys their night vision. haha! candle power!! I also have a Serfas TL1000 and Serfas TL 1500 which are super bright, but bulkier. All have been very reliable.
I have the Niterider 1800 and love it.
For three years I’m using Magic Shine 1000 light ($30) and Spoke Grenade 1000 ($25). Batteries last up to 3 hrs on high (6 in medium) and capable of turning night into day. While these aren’t “known” manufacturers lights are well made and withstood some serious abuse in rain, snow and everything in between.
Batteries on Magic Shine better be replaced soon but it’s easy since a pack made of bunch of AA rechargeable batteries.
Thanks for the info. I’ve been looking at lights, and there are so many. Any reason not to buy a set of the same lights for both the bike and helmet? I’ve been trying to read/understand what works best and have heard some cause shadows on the trails.
Shadows on the trail is really only a problem when you’re running just a single light. Running the same light on your bars and helmet is fine and has the advantage of being able to swap parts if/when one of the lights has a problem.
I have been using NiteRider Lumina 600 and 650 for the last few years. Cordless and USB charged I now have 3 and thinking of getting another. I use one on the helmet and one on the bar (mountain bike and town cruiser). I keep one on my 29er all the time. These are low lumen by todays standards but two of these on high setting has been plenty for night time downhills and I switch to low settings on climbs. My only complaint has been when they went from 600 to 650 lumens they changed the charging cord so I have to make sure I have both handy. Looks like they have a 750 now.