- 3 / 5 Bee's Knees -
“Everybody likes a deal,” or so the saying goes. The other line reads “you get what you pay for.” How about a 500lm bike light for $50…$40…$30?...and throw in a taillight? I’ll be honest, I’m skeptical of any product that claims to compete with a comparable product priced three fold. One more: “too good to be true,” well, let’s find out.
From Cycle Torch, the Shark 500 bike light is more of a system than a single light. This package includes a front light, rear light and plenty of elastic bands for mounting each to various tube sizes achieving relatively universal fitment. Like lights of much higher price points, both the front and rear are USB rechargeable and offer some level of water resistance. What sets the Shark apart from others, aside from its price, is its unique beam pattern.
Of the lights I’ve tested, most offer a circular beam pattern with a center hot spot. Only CatEye has strayed from this to create something I little more controlled. In similar fashion, the Shark projects a beam pattern that resembles an upside down trapezoid with a center hot spot. In general I like this shape. Not only does this setup claim to prevent light glare to oncoming traffic, it also conceptually puts light where it’s usable rather than scattering it into places unseen. To achieve this however, a shroud is installed to mask certain parts of the pattern. But as a result, this usable light is lost because the inner surface is black and non-reflective. So while the beam pattern is effective in shape, it is not the most efficient. That being said, the output does appear to be as claimed, a middle-of-the-road 500lm. As for the rear light, output is far from blinding. The viewing angle does promote road presence but again the intensity is surely inadequate for daytime riding and still somewhat limited for nighttime use.
Operation of the front light is simple as can be, the rear is easier yet. Clicking the rear lens cycles through each of the rear lights settings, holding for a couple seconds powers it off. The same is true for the front light via its top mounted button. This light is also color lit to indicate remaining charge. From a tactile perspective, the button is snappy…a light snap/click. It could be glove friendly but isn’t raised enough to say it would work great.
Overall the construction seems impressive for the price point of each light. The rear is a nicely CNC machined piece of Al and the compact size looks appealing. By contrast, the front is constructed mostly of plastic to reduce cost and significantly reduce weight. Though the light may appear a bit cheap, the build seems robust enough for general use. As a whole, the front light is unnecessarily large compared to lights of similar output but isn’t prohibitive.
Both the front and rear light employ a strap style mounting system. Security is maintained with the ultralight rear light, but the front does exhibit some jittering over moderate bumps. Given the design of the small foot and rubber strap, I’m surprised there isn’t more vibration to be honest. Mounting the rear light proved to be easy, while the front light was somewhat difficult due to the placement of the strap hooks. In a nutshell, the mounting system performs slightly better than expected yet still somewhat poor. Beyond vibration, the foot of the front light also marred up my ENVE carbon handlebar…not a pleasant sight. Time will tell if the rear light produces scuffs as well...considering its lack of padding I suspect it will.
Before drawing any conclusions about the Shark 500 bicycle light system, remember one key factor: price point. My personal experience with this light is mixed with positives and negatives. The front beam pattern and output is great for the price, the rear light does not provide enough output for commuting cyclists, the front mount isn’t ideal, some elements feel cheap while others feel almost premium. These lights are a mixed bag but they do make a lot of sense for hobbyist riders. This website trends more towards premium products than budget options, but both items fulfill a need. Therefore, the Shark 500 bicycle light system is a value oriented setup that should easily satisfy budget confined riders. More serious cyclists like myself wouldn’t trust our lives to a $5 helmet and likewise we’ll likely look to a higher buck setup to safeguard our well-being. But again, the Shark 500 is an impressive package for its price.
SWEEPSTAKES - Sweepstakes is kindly offered by CycleTorch. All entry rules and winners will be established and handled by CycleTorch. Subjective Cyclist is not responsible for managing these rules or verifying compliance with rules.
- Entry ends June 30th 2016 https://bluehost.wishpond.com/youtube/
More Info: cycletorch.com
SWEEPSTAKES - Sweepstakes is kindly offered by CycleTorch. All entry rules and winners will be established and handled by CycleTorch. Subjective Cyclist is not responsible for managing these rules or verifying compliance with rules.
- Entry ends June 30th 2016 https://bluehost.wishpond.com/youtube/
More Info: cycletorch.com
