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When cycling, you want to be confident that your maneuvers are always clear to other road users. One of the ways you can do this is to install a bike turn light. This indicator light allows you to show motorists behind you in the intended direction you will be taking.
This added visibility increases your safety. The turn bike lights flash at the flick of a switch to warn others of turns or impending lane changes. The lights are bright enough to be seen on foggy mornings and in light rain.
This is our selection of the best bike turn lights for your review:
- Ampulla Oricycle Rechargeable Bike Tail Light LED
- nubeam NB-600 Bike Bicycle Turn Signals
- Oricycle W1 Bike Ultra Bright Tail Lights, Remote Turn Signal
How to Choose The Best Bike Turn Lights
When you’re choosing the best bike turn lights for you, it helps to keep the following in mind:
Lighting Modes
The best bike turn lights are the ones with more than one mode. As well as static settings that show the direction you intend turning, you want to make sure that you’re visible at all times.
Think about your requirements, do you want a light that will show when you’re coming to a stop? Or, perhaps, flash as a hazard warning if you have to repair a puncture on the side of the road?
Brightness
The brightness of the turning lights is crucial as you want drivers coming up behind you to see them clearly.
During the day, you will need a light bright enough to be seen in sunny conditions, so you should consider a light with a minimum of 80 lumens.
The brighter, the better, and you can get a taillight with as many as 500 lumens of maximum output.
A bright, steady tail light included with the turn lights will help drivers estimate distance better, and the turn signal’s flashing will grab their attention. In daylight, 80 lumens can be seen from about 150 feet away, while a light of 500 lumens can be seen from approximately 500 feet away.
Our Lumens, Lux, and Candela article is a great resource to learn more about Lumens and light output
Power Source
Most bike turn signals have a remote unit that uses a primary cell battery, while the taillight usually has built-in rechargeable batteries and uses a USB for charging.
The battery size and type will determine how long the charge will last and how long it takes to recharge. A battery of 2200mAh can take up to 4 hours to recharge and give you a runtime of up to 7 hours of constant brightness at 80 lumens.
The mode you use will also affect the battery. If you use your light at a high constant brightness, this can reduce the battery charge very quickly.
Learn everything you need to know about Batteries with our Ultimate Guide to Batteries!
Durability
LED lights can withstand harsh weather conditions, won’t shatter when dropped, and function in low and high temperatures.
The light’s housing material should also be able to withstand harsh weather and consider how waterproof the remote control and taillight are. You don’t want to be caught in the rain and discover that your remote or taillight is no longer working due to water damage.
How durable is it? What does IPX6 mean? Read our Ultimate Guide to the ANSI/PLATO FL1 Standard symbols!
Mounting
Consider how and where the device will be mounted. The remote controls are small and unobtrusive and are attached to the handlebars by either a clamp or silicone strap. With their compact design, you can place them close to your fingers to flick the switch without having to look for it.
The turn light unit is usually mounted on the seat post, again, with either an adjustable silicone strap or a clamp. Most turn light units are under 5 inches wide, 2 inches high and 1.5 inches deep. This allows them to fit neatly under the seat without having to worry that they’ll get caught on something.
Click here to see the Best Bike Headlights reviewed!
The Best Bike Turn Lights Reviewed
Best Bike Turn Light Overall
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This taillight has an array of 29 LED bulbs, each with an output of 85 lumens. This makes you visible from a distance of 150 feet, even in daylight. The unit is 4.4 inches x 1.3 inches x 1.2 inches, and at 3.2 ounces, it is exceptionally lightweight.
It connects wirelessly to the remote control, which, itself, will attach to any handlebars of 0.71 inches to 1.1 inches in diameter.
The taillight is 4.5 inches x 1.3 inches and fits seat tubes from 0.98 inches to 1.26 inches in diameter. Both the remote control and the taillight have built-in rechargeable batteries with a capacity of:
- Taillight: 2200mAh.
- Remote control: 180mAh.
The taillight battery takes roughly three to four hours to charge fully and gives approximately 7 hours of runtime on constant brightness. The remote control takes up to two hours to charge fully but runs for up to 2 months.
Both batteries are rechargeable using the provided USB cable.
This Squibomb turning light can be used in most weather conditions and can withstand temperatures from minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. It has a waterproof rating of IPX4, which means this light can resist moderate rainfall.
Pros
- Wireless control via remote.
- Bright light at 85 lumens per bulb.
- Rechargeable Li-ion batteries.
- Waterproof, IPX4 rating.
Cons
- Taillight can’t be adjusted or angled.
- Initially, pairing the devices can be confusing.
Best Budget Bike Turn Light
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With a compact and sleek design, this taillight is 4.82 inches x 1.57 inches and connects wirelessly to a simple to use three-button remote control that you mount on the handlebars. The unit has double-colored LED lights, with the turn signals in yellow and the flash/steady light in red.
The taillight uses a built-in 500mAh rechargeable battery, and the unit comes with a USB cable. You’ll have to remember to switch the light off, as it doesn’t shut off automatically once the bike has been static for a while. The remote control uses a 3-volt Lithium CR2032 battery.
It takes the taillight approximately two hours to charge fully, and it can run for up to 8 hours in a flashing mode after a full charge.
The light unit and remote control can withstand most weather, including humidity, and are water-resistant, with an IPX2 rating.
Pros
- Built-in 500mah rechargeable battery.
- Three lighting modes.
- Up to eight hours in flashing mode after a full charge.
- One year warranty.
Cons
- The remote control battery is not rechargeable.
- It won’t automatically shut off.
- No specific lumen rating
Click here to see the Best Bike Tail Lights reviewed!
Most Durable Bike Turn Light
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The Kokoin can easily be mounted on a bicycle helmet or under the saddle of the bike. The tail light comprises 40 LED lights, which emit a total of 500 lumens, which makes the light visible up to 500 feet away.
This product features a wireless remote control that uses a CR1632 lithium coin 3V battery. The tail light uses a built-in 800mAh rechargeable battery. On a full charge, the light unit will run for up to eight hours. The light unit is lightweight at 0.79 ounces and is compact at 1.37 inches x 4.29 inches.
The light has four modes:
- Right turn signal.
- Left turn signal.
- Warning light.
- Flashing light.
The easy to use, three-button remote control allows you to easily choose a mode depending on your need. Should you go for a run, you can take the taillight with you as it has a hook to connect it to running gear or a reflective vest.
Pros
- Multi-purpose light.
- Light unit has a built-in 800mAh rechargeable battery.
- Visible up to 500 feet.
- USB cable provided.
Cons
- The remote control uses a replaceable 3V lithium battery.
- May not be waterproof.
Best Featured Bike Turn Light
Ampulla Oricycle Rechargeable Bike Tail Light LED
This Ampulla product comes with a unique ground virtual lane, which is a laser that acts as a warning light to motorists and helps the rider keep straight. It has an array of 29 LED bulbs with an output of 85 lumens each. They can be seen clearly in daylight up to 150 feet away.
The light is 4.3 inches x 2.5 inches x 1.1 inches, weighs 4.4 ounces and is mounted under the saddle. It has a rechargeable battery with a capacity of 2200mAh and will have run for up to seven hours on a full charge.
Mounting the remote control to the handlebar is easy. Slide it on and tighten with the thumbscrews. The buttons lighting up to show what mode you’re in is a nice feature. It’s also rechargeable and has a battery capacity of 180mAh.
The taillight comes with a turn light signal, brake light, and the following features.
Three modes in Red Alarm Mode:
- Steady.
- Blink.
- Light sensor mode.
Two modes in Ground Line mode:
- Steady.
- Blink.
Pros
- IPX4 water-resistant.
- Turn signals auto-stop after 60 seconds.
- Ground virtual lane.
- 180-degree adjustable mount.
Cons
- Taillight unit doesn’t have a quick-release feature.
Most Streamlined Bike Turn Light
nubeam NB-600 Bike Bicycle Turn Signals
The nubeam NB-600 has a wireless remote control unit that’s mounted on the handlebar, while the lighting unit is attached under the seat with a limber but durable silicon band.
For cycling enthusiasts who like to shave off every ounce and streamline their ride, the taillight is 4.05 inches x 1.97 inches x 1.02 inches and weighs a meager 2.43 ounces. The remote control is 1.53 inches x 1.77 inches x 0.79 inches and is 0.77 ounces.
Both units use rechargeable batteries, 700mA and 200mA, respectively, and they can be charged via USB for extra convenience.
This taillight is multi-functional and comes with the following features:
- Left/ Right turn signal.
- Anti-theft alarm.
- Rear safety light.
- Electric horn/bell.
- Wireless connection.
On a full charge the light unit has the following run times:
- Low Flashing: 15 hours.
- High Flashing: 10 hours.
- Low steady: 8 hours.
- High Steady: 5 hours.
- Emergency: 12 hours.
A power-saving function automatically turns the lighting unit off if no movement is detected for 10 minutes. Both the remote control and lighting unit are water-resistant, rated IPX4.
Pros
- FCC Certified.
- Comes with an anti-theft alarm.
- Water-proof, IPX4 rating.
- Both are rechargeable via USB.
- Power-saving feature to ensure longer lasting battery life.
Cons
- Doesn’t include sensor braking.
Most Versatile Bike Turn Light
Oricycle W1 Bike Ultra Bright Tail Lights, Remote Turn Signal
The Oricycle has a hive-like appearance to enhance brightness. It uses a 75 lumens chip-on-board LED light source. The lights are 1.92 inches x 2.55 inches x 1 inches. Each light can be mounted separately on the forks, handlebar or under the saddle. It has a built-in battery with a capacity of 230mAh, with the following run times:
- Normal: 4 hours.
- Red Flashing: 3.5 hours.
- Yellow flashing: 3 hours.
The unit has two modes:
- Turn signals.
- Emergency flash.
The remote control uses a CR2032 battery. At 2 inches x 1.96 inches x 0.72 inches, the unit is tiny. Simply mount it to the handlebar with an included rubber band.
Both the tail light and remote have a quick-release feature.
Pros
- IP65 water-resistant.
- Quick-release.
- Multiple mounting options.
Cons
- Rubber band mounting is not the most durable.
Click here to see all of our Bike Light Reviews!
Conclusion
Fitting the best bike turn light to your ride could be the thing that saves you from being hit by a careless, unobservant driver who isn’t ordinarily mindful of cyclists on the road.
Our top choice is the , but you’ll need to decide which one is best for you based on where you ride and what features you prefer.
Whether you ride at night or during the day, a bike turn light is a great safety feature that every cyclist or biker should have.