- 4 / 5 Bee's Knees -
Amidst an overwhelming number of “see-me” lights on the market, how do manufactures attempt to distinguish their products from those of their competitors, and more importantly, where should consumers look to narrow their vast choices down to just a few winners? Start with a company that is committed to creating top-tier products at bike-mechanic-wage prices.
Enter the Lezyne Zecto Drive light pair, an enviable “see-me” light set for the discriminating cyclist. Common to the Lezyne family of products, both the Zecto Drive front and rear lights embody creative quality design. From its construction of durable composites and a CNC bezel, both lights gleam with quality. Couple premium construction with intelligent optics that eloquently disperse light while maintaining high intensity, the Zecto pair is sure to exceed expectations given each lights humble pricing.
Enter the Lezyne Zecto Drive light pair, an enviable “see-me” light set for the discriminating cyclist. Common to the Lezyne family of products, both the Zecto Drive front and rear lights embody creative quality design. From its construction of durable composites and a CNC bezel, both lights gleam with quality. Couple premium construction with intelligent optics that eloquently disperse light while maintaining high intensity, the Zecto pair is sure to exceed expectations given each lights humble pricing.
As with nearly all rechargeable lights of this day and age, the Zecto Drive offers the convenience of charging the device via USB. While some manufactures have designed a USB connector directly on their lights, Lezyne has opted for a more compact design by utilizing a micro USB port. This does require you to tote around a USB cable for the purpose of charging but it is still a convenient setup. The placement of this lights mode selector switch is well chosen and remains facing upwards for both the front and rear light in respect to the differences in mounting orientation… vertical for a seatpost versus horizontal handlebar. Additionally, the switch actuates confidently, even while wearing mid-weight gloves.
When it comes to mounting each of the lights, the front and rear are not created equal despite their identical construction…what on earth does this mean? Well, in my personal application the front light was mounted to my handlebar above the bar tape which added a spongy surface for the light to wrap around. Note that the back portion of the light is essentially a hard and smooth plastic/polymer, not a grippy material such as silicone or rubber. While this is no issue when mounting a light to bar tape, in contrast, mounting the rear light to a clearcoated carbon post yields a mating that is sure to scratch both surfaces. In my experience after very limited initial use of the rear light, I noticed small scuffs on both my seatpost and the light itself where they met. While the light is perfectly secure even on a smooth surface, I’m disappointed in the materials used for backing of the light. But again, both lights were very secure and the mounting straps made quick work of installation. Now, one thing Lezyne has accomplished that other companies haven’t is a dual-purpose mount. These lights are designed with a taught clip so they may be snapped onto a backpack, saddle bag, jersey or pant pocket…really whatever you dream up. For that reason, I love the rear light as a runners companion. Clip this guy onto the waistline of your shorts and go for a nighttime jog in confidence. The clip design makes less sense on the front light, however, if you use a basket or front pannier that could accept this guy, I suppose they would be well outfitted with a flashing do-dad.
Of course the most important aspect of any see-me light is its visibility. With 2 constant and 4 flashing modes including one “daytime” intensity flash, these guys aren’t without a plethora of settings. Not only do both lights project intense light in a wide pattern, they also have a light ring that wraps around the entire bezel and offers moderate visibility to anyone who is beside you. At night, the light ring is much more noticeable but is almost unnecessary given the easily noticed flashes of light reflected off the ground behind you. And actually, while this feature is beneficial for the rear light, I would argue it is a shortcoming for the front light. The last thing cyclists’ want is for their own light to shine back at them. Unfortunately the ring on the front light does just that. If you keep your eyes focused ahead you won’t notice it much, but one downward glance at your cyclometer and you’ll come face to face with your own light. If you mount the front light on your bikes head tube rather than its handlebar, this glare is almost entirely hidden. A final feature that is embedded within the light ring is a set of power indicator lights. These 4 colored LED’s convey the lights remaining charge in a convenient and downright snazzy way.
Again, with so many see-me lights on the market to sift through, it would be easy to overlook the Lezyne Zecto Drive lights. However, with its rugged construction, quality brand heritage and intense output, both the front and rear Zecto Drive lights are among the best on the market especially given their price. Yes, the mounts have a minor shortcoming in certain applications (as described), however, these lights are built to the highest quality standards and offer a dash of personality and uniqueness in an otherwise drab and uniform world of plastic-constructed crap.
