Review of Planet Bike Blinky Super Flash 1/2-Watt Blaze LED Plus 2 eXtreme LED Rear Bicycle Light

Planet Bike Blinky Super Flash 1/2-Watt Blaze LED Plus 2 eXtreme LED Rear Bicycle Light
By: Planet Bike Average Rating: 5.0 Total Reviews: 39
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Almost makes capitalism worth it!

On: 2008-07-14

Im pretty skeptical of most products and companies. If you are not being outright farmed, even the good products are not all that. But, every time I turn on this blinky, "Wow, that is fing great!". It is stupidly wonderful. Planet Bike already made the second best blinky, the Seven, which is really good and somewhat cheaper. They could have just improved that a little and been fine. Instead they gave us the alien technology blinky from the future.

Seriously, this is almost perfect. Solid, good mounts, convenient, excellent battery life, good size, inexpensive if not cheap, almost too bright, very attention getting blink pattern. It is so effective that you can hear when it is on just by the sound of overtaking traffic. It would be nice if it had a wider coverage angle to the sides and up and down, but this is difficult to do. The Planet Bike Seven has extra LEDs that point sideways to help with this, but it is nowhere near as bright (it would be a good complement to the Superflash).

Planet bike also make the best headlight mount in the business. Unfortunately, their LED headlights fail to impress. Hopefully they will put the Superflash team on the headlights soon.

The other blinkys are just sad. Except the DiNotte, which is sexy, bright, beautiful and well over a hundred dollars and might get stolen and make you cry.

Great light

On: 2008-06-18

Installs and removes very easily. Very bright. I has 2 small LEDs that blink (2x) and then the big one at the top flashes. The top LED is very bright. Mine is mounted to the seat post. The light has 2 options: (1) flashing mode or (2) steady mode (just the top, bright LED stays on constantly.

I liiiiiike it !

On: 2008-06-03

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2GL4WTURQZ8XX

Flash pattern is ideal

On: 2008-06-02

I have the "stealth" version of this light. Same light but with all clear housing. As a car driver and a bike commuter I know that there have been times I have been driving when I knew there was a flashing light somewhere in the area, but it took me a few seconds to localize it.. i.e., figure out exactly where it was coming from. This light is different.. the flash pattern consists of flash flash FLASH, with the third flash being provided by a brighter LED. The two dimmer flashes help ensure the light will be easy on batteries, while still helping drivers figure out where you are, especially in rain. The bright flash will catch their eye first, allowing teh dimmer flashes to let them home in on you.

I have been considering buying a second one to leave on in the steady mode.. that way youd have to be near blind to not see me at night!

ABSOLUTELY five stars!!

On: 2008-05-23

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2RT8V7R5PY1Q6 This thing is a "MUST HAVE" for any half-way serious cyclist. Day or night, it puts out amazing light so hopefully some dummy in a car wont run over you. Well worth the bucks.

Bright Light

On: 2008-05-18

Researched and have used many light but is light is great. Very bright and has a flashing cycle that makes those in view of this light take notice.
Plan is to put one on each bike.

Planet Bike Blinky Super Flash

On: 2008-04-22

I ride my bicycle to work year round and I needed a tail light where I could easily be seen by motorists. I considered spending a few hundred dollars on a battery powered tail light but after seeing a review here on Amazon I decided to give the blinky a try. If the blinky did not work out I could always by the battery powered device. I have been thrilled with my decision. I bought two and use one on my helmet and one on my bike. A few friends who have seen me around town have commented as to how easy it was to see me from a distance. One friend commented that he thought I was a police car in the distance. I suspect that some day I will break down and spend the extra money for the $200+ battery operated tail light. But until then, I feel very safe and well seen in using the Planet Blinky.

Bright and Visible even in Daylight

On: 2008-04-05

I really like the brightness of the center blinking LED - it is extremely bright. I even use it during the day time to help me be seen as I ride the city streets of San Jose. I own two of these - one for each bike. I wouldnt be without it. It is easy to turn on/off, and it is not likely to fall off its bracket (like Ive had other tail lights do). You should get one too!!!

Best Taillight Ever!

On: 2008-03-24

I have experimented with several different taillights from several different manufacturers, and this one is, by far, the best. It has all of the advantages: it is very bright and highly visible from a distance, it uses standard batteries (which allows for the use of rechargeables), it is lightweight, and it is well-built. All of the taillights that I had tried before this one suffered from one flaw or another (they used watch batteries with limited duration, they were not well-built and were easily broken, would fall off easily, etc.), but this one does not appear to have any substantial flaws. Not cheap, but worth every penny!

GOOD SCOOTER LIGHT

On: 2008-03-05

This light works on my scooter as i must use it to shop and get outside. The small lights that came on it did not have me feeling safe . Now i feel better and i use the light for daytime also.

Brightest tail light you'll find for the price.

On: 2008-02-25

I know of 2 other brands of bike tail lights that are brighter, but they each cost quite a bit more than $100. This one cost me less than $20. It is quite bright and its blinking pattern is attention getting, which is what you want. But, it could be better. The bright LED has a very narrow beam. To be most effective, the light should aim straight back horizontally, or even a slight bit up. If not aimed properly, the brightest part of the beam may be ineffective. If it is clipped to a seat bag, it may not be aimed properly since there really is no way to adjust it. If the seat post or seat stay mounts are used, the beam may still be aimed too high or too low. The mounts have small "teeth" that mesh at the pivot point to adjust it up and down. The problem for me was I could not adjust it to stay aimed horizontally, the teeth would mesh so it aimed either too high, or too low. I finally made a rubber spacer out of old inner tube to by-pass the teeth so they wouldnt mesh, and was able to get it aimed as I liked. Another thing I dont like is the body of the light is made of fairly soft plastic, so when you use a coin to open it for a battery change the coin groove will get a little mis-shapened. Finally, the light has a rubber like seal where the red lens fits against the body to make it weather proof, but I have read reports on some bicycle forums that water can leak in between the clear lens and red lens. The clear lens is just snapped into the red lens opening and reports are that when riding in wet weather the "rooster tail" of water thrown up by the rear tire sprays on the lens and water leaks in. I havent had a rainy ride since I got the light, so I can only say time will tell. I am glad I made this purchase, it is bright, but not blindingly so to drivers. I ride a lot at night during the hot summer, and this light gives me a higher sense of security. Now more cars move further away when passing me instead of nearly side swiping as they pass. If you want to order this light, be careful that you dont order the cheaper one with the black body. It has the same look as this one, but doesnt have the bright LED. ADDED: The light should lock in place with a small click when attached to its mount. If it doesnt, you have to hold the light in place and lightly press the mount "tail" toward the light until you feel the click. Do the opposite to remove it. Now I no longer have to press it, it clicks when I put the light in the mount. This is not mentioned in the instructions. This will keep the light from bouncing out of the mount on a bumpy road.

night fishing on a very busy lake

On: 2008-02-18

I use 10 of the Planet Bike Blinky Super Flash Tail Lights on my small row boat when I go night fishing on a very busy lake. Near dusk they work well and in darkness they are perfect for alerting fast moving speedboats, ski cycles and bigger boats to my presence. I use 2 when I Bike. I love the product.

Very good rear light

On: 2008-02-10

I use rechargeable Ni-Mh batteries in this rear light, but still it provides very good light, with 2xAAA 900mA/H it can run for at least 50 Hr with good visibility, after that the light becomes softer.
I only use the flashing mode, just to be seen by cars. And it is very visible.

planet bike "super flash" led rear blinker

On: 2008-01-25

This product is by far the best rear, red light led blinker, that I could find. I use it during the day to increase my visibility. I commute approx 5 miles to work year round (my return home is in the dark) . Blinker has performed beautifully even in 10 degree F conditions. Excellent product. It is well worth the price!

Great light!!!

On: 2008-01-21

After years of commuting in the cold, dark, rainy days in Seattle, I found this to be the best rear light yet. I have two of them, on my seat post and seat stay. Not only are they super bright, but they also hold up to the mud, dirt and grime. The battery seems to last forever and its 100% waterproof.
Would be a great safety addition for anyone from recreational rider to hard core commuter. All around great product!

SuperFlash is bright

On: 2008-01-20

So far it is a very bright light that I feel confident to have on the back of my bike. I purchased this light along with a cateye TL-LD610. I feel sure that the combo of these 2 will ensure I am visible for drivers from behind. I have seen other superflash lights on group rides & some of them are not that bright, but I think they just need new batteries. All in all a great product in my opinion.

a MUST HAVE!

On: 2008-01-18

the smallest brightest light ever..and half the price of REI. EVERY biker should have one!

Best compact flasher out there..

On: 2008-01-14

I love this compact flasher. I have used a strap of velcro and attached it to my helmet for commuting at night and have been told by motorists that I looked like a x-mas tree. (well, that the whole point aint it ?). I commute a lot at night and have a couple of these that I attach to my riding backpacks (Deuter Race-X Air and Deuter TransAlpine30). Overall it does a much better job than my heavy and unreliable Cateye TL-LD1100 which it attached to my seatpost. The only beef that I have with this light is
1. The clip, it keeps slipping off. How difficult is it for the designers to put a little nipple at the bottom of the clip to prevent it from sliding off. I have lost a couple of lights.
2. I wish this light was not so expensive and used a 1 watt led.

Planet Bike Super Flash Rear Light

On: 2008-01-07

The best and brightest rear bike light. So bright, it may be difficult to follow a rider with one in a pace line. Well made, weatherproof, long-lasting, and easy to operate.

Protect yourself from the drivers

On: 2008-01-05

The half-watt extremely bright flashing led in this light is a real attention-getter. I have two mounted, one front and one rear. If its quite dark, I can see the flash reflecting from stop-signs more than 50 yards away. Ive been using them for twice-a-day rides lasting about 20 minutes each for about a month now; they seem to be pretty easy on the batteries.

You need to occasionally ensure that its still securely held: the clip that retains it has a very tiny ledge that doesnt really do the job. This needs some re-design.

If you need a rear bicycle light, look no farther

On: 2007-12-28

I read the very positive reviews on Amazon before deciding to try the Planet Blinky Super Flash. I have several LED flashlights and I knew the 1/2 watt LED would be bright, but you have to see this to believe it. It is small and light and easy to install with several mounting options. I ride 4 times a week on public roads so I use this exclusively during the day on flashing mode. I dont think it is my imagination but cars give me a wider berth than before installing this light. My wife said she could see my flashing light over a mile ahead on a bright Arizona day. If you want to be really seen, then this is the only rear bicycle light to buy. Ive had it for over two months and Im still on the same batteries that came with the unit!

Bottom Line - The Best

On: 2007-12-25

I came across a video on YouTube with this rear bike light and just had to buy it. The unique flash pattern reminds me of emergency services (think ambulance) so you get noticed. i wanted to see how effective this light was so i had a friend ride my bike in front of my while I observed from behind. You would have to be blind not to notice this light.

Ow! My eyes! This light is awesomely bright and life saving.

On: 2007-12-23

I have to ride my bike on an industrial road to get to and from work. Believe me, I realllllly want to be visible at night on the way home. This light does the job, its amazingly bright and the trucks see me from way off, I can hear them slow down (which also helps calm my nerves on that annoying road).

The bike shop could have sold me a more expensive light, they had them, and I was ready to plonk down the money necessary to stay alive on my daily commute. When I told them "I dont want to die on my way home", they instantly recommended this light. I am very, very happy they did.

Best tail light for a bike. Period.

On: 2007-12-11

This taillight is bright and will certainly catch the attention of motorists after dark. Watch out, though. Looking directly at the flashing light at close range could cause permanent retinal damage. You have been warned.

great product!

On: 2007-12-03

I am a bike commuter and in the winter lighting is important. The Planet Bike Super Flash is bright, seems to go forever, very visible, and reasonably priced. I use two of them attached to my backpack. Very pleased with this product!

Fantastic! Recommended as the brighest light ever made.

On: 2007-11-11

I was searching for a rear light that could be viewed for long distances. And it really does this. It isnt like other cheaper bicycle taillights that you probably meet in internet ("chinese models"). They do not guarantee visibility far from you. Forget about it. Think in your security, mainly if you are a night biker.

Planet Bike Blinky Super Flash

On: 2007-11-03

This is an excellent, bright, easy to use, and reasonably priced light. My only complaint is that I wish its mounting options allowed it to be mounted to the rear rack on my commuting bike. However, I feel confident riding home in the dark with this flashing behind me.

Happy with purchase.

On: 2007-10-30

The reviews on this light did not lead me astray. The photo is misleading as I too was expecting a big clunker of a light. It is about an inch shorter than my ipod shuffle, if you remember what those look like, and only slightly wider, perfect size. The blink mode is definitely an attention grabber. Comes with a mount for the seat post and seat stay. Slides onto mount and has a security snap to keep it in position. Dont know if Id trust it to stay clipped to a belt loop. Anyway, Im happy with the purchase.

Light of the Night

On: 2007-10-29

This is easily the best rear taillight on the market today. If you do much riding at night you should invest in one of these.

Very visible

On: 2007-10-28

Just what I was looking for! Its very visible, given how its lights flash in an asynchronized manner. Its easy to use and luckily designed so that it doesnt trip on by mistake.

Very visible

On: 2007-10-27

Just what I was looking for! Its very visible, given how its lights flash in an asynchronized manner. Its easy to use and luckily designed so that it doesnt trip on by mistake.

A home run for self powered tail lights.

On: 2007-10-25

This light is the best bike tail light for under thirty dollars. Sure, there are bigger and brighter lights, but those always cost more and dont even touch the battery life of this light. Despite this lights size, it manages to emit a very powerful flash that can last over 100 hours. This light is even noticeable in daylight due to its flash pattern.
Not only do you get Planet Bikes life time warranty with this light, but it is also a very well supplied package with multiple mounting options and included batteries.

My only gripe with this light is the side angle visibility. At this price however, that might be asking too much of an already great light. You could always buy two and mount them at different angles if you were so concerned with sideways visibility.

Awesome little blinkie

On: 2007-10-24

Cannot believe how brightly annoying this little device is... i installed 3 of these in my mtb. I look like a christmas tree on wheels but it definitely helped a lot with my visibility while cycling the road.

For the price, planet bike has a winner.

Awesome little blinkie

On: 2007-10-23

Cannot believe how brightly annoying this little device is... i installed 3 of these in my mtb. I look like a christmas tree on wheels but it definitely helped a lot with my visibility while cycling the road.

For the price, planet bike has a winner.

Bright & Beautiful!

On: 2007-10-02

It claims to be the brightest bike tail light in the planet... its not... its the brightest bike tail light in the universe! Its small yet super bright, I like the powerful flash pattern and that it comes with two AA batteries. I also like the fact that you could mount it varies ways - I enjoy running and biking (all in the morning before the sun rises) and I simply attach this light to either my shorts or by bike. You cant miss if you buy this product, I stronger recommend it.

Second only to the DiNotte.

by: slider2699 On: 2007-09-27

I have used the Superflash since it hit the market last year. Planet Bike has definitely hit a home run with this one. Its very affordable, cheaper than the much-vaunted Cateye LD-100, but its brighter than everything but the DiNotte($150+). I use a Superflash on my seatbag, and one on the blinky strap on my Bell Metro helmet(another excellent product). Those two lights get me plenty of respect from motorists.

If money is no object, buy the DiNotte. Its the best light available. 140 lumens of red flasher will get the job done. But using a couple of Superflashes is an excellent choice. Bright, attention getting, lightweight, affordable, and made by a company who gives money to bicycle charities. I love it.

Second only to the DiNotte.

On: 2007-09-26

I have used the Superflash since it hit the market last year. Planet Bike has definitely hit a home run with this one. Its very affordable, cheaper than the much-vaunted Cateye LD-100, but its brighter than everything but the DiNotte($150+). I use a Superflash on my seatbag, and one on the blinky strap on my Bell Metro helmet(another excellent product). Those two lights get me plenty of respect from motorists.

If money is no object, buy the DiNotte. Its the best light available. 140 lumens of red flasher will get the job done. But using a couple of Superflashes is an excellent choice. Bright, attention getting, lightweight, affordable, and made by a company who gives money to bicycle charities. I love it.

Blinding!

On: 2007-09-04

Currently, I have four bicycle taillights in my possession, including the new Cateye Opticube. The superflash is by far the brightest. Interestingly, it is also the smallest and weighs in at a diminutive 53 grams. When I first opened the box, I was actually disappointed as I expected something 2-3 times as large. Planet Bike truly hit a homerun with the Blinky Superflash.

With the incredible brightness of the main LED, this light is visible from a distance on a sunny day at noon. I havent seen anything like it. In addition to the sheer intensity, visibility is enhanced by an interesting flash pattern that combines two smaller LEDs to produce a Morse-code-like signal.

As far as I can tell at this juncture, there are no design flaws with the Superflash. For my purposes, however, I would have preferred a larger clip for use on my backpack.

Pros
Extremely bright
Small
Built-in reflector
Sturdy housing

Cons
Could use a slightly larger clip for attaching to a backpack (very minor)
Too directional (i.e. not enough spread)

Blinding!

On: 2007-09-03

Currently, I have four bicycle taillights in my possession, including the new Cateye Opticube. The superflash is by far the brightest. Interestingly, it is also the smallest and weighs in at a diminutive 53 grams. When I first opened the box, I was actually disappointed as I expected something 2-3 times as large. Planet Bike truly hit a homerun with the Blinky Superflash.

With the incredible brightness of the main LED, this light is visible from a distance on a sunny day at noon. I havent seen anything like it. In addition to the sheer intensity, visibility is enhanced by an interesting flash pattern that combines two smaller LEDs to produce a Morse-code-like signal.

As far as I can tell at this juncture, there are no design flaws with the Superflash. For my purposes, however, I would have preferred a larger clip for use on my backpack.

Pros
Extremely bright
Small
Built-in reflector
Sturdy housing

Cons
Could use a slightly larger clip for attaching to a backpack (very minor)
Too directional (i.e. not enough spread)

more top-notch bike gear from Planet Bike

On: 2007-08-31

I had to toss my otherwise serviceable Blackburn rear light when the brittle plastic mounting clip failed after about two years of use. Determined to purchase a quality replacement, the Planet Bike brand was the obvious choice. Like the well-worn Planet Bike headlight Ive been using, this model taillight is made from a durable plastic that resists cracking from normal patterns of wear, such as accompanies attaching and detaching lights from their mounts when parking bikes. Anyone who rides a lot in the city knows that leaving lights attached to parked bikes is a bad idea. Since the Planet Bike people are avid cyclists, their designs reflect this consideration and the result is durable mounting systems. It is also worth mentioning that this light is extremely bright, rivaling car taillights for visibility on dark streets. A very fine piece of gear from a company run by enthusiasts and definitely not the last item Ill buy from this company.

almost blinded myself!

On: 2007-08-27

Just got this taillight in the mail a week or so ago and I am still amazed how bright it is! I ride a Sun EasySport AX recumbent bike and the smaller of the 2 mounts fits perfect on the frame of the seat. Its easy to remove from the mount and clip on shirt,belt or pack. I was using another led taillight, unsure of the brand, and it looks like a dim nightlight compared to the Super Flash. There may be brighter taillights out there, though youd probably have to get one of those expensive battery-hogging strobes to do it. This is the only LED taillight Ive yet seen that even mentions the word "watt". If youve ever used a Luxeon LED flashlight, they start at I think 1 watt, well this thing seems about that bright! Although I havent tried it yet during daytime rides, Im pretty sure that it will be seen then too. Just dont look directly at it from close range.

almost blinded myself!

On: 2007-08-26

Just got this taillight in the mail a week or so ago and I am still amazed how bright it is! I ride a Sun EasySport AX recumbent bike and the smaller of the 2 mounts fits perfect on the frame of the seat. Its easy to remove from the mount and clip on shirt,belt or pack. I was using another led taillight, unsure of the brand, and it looks like a dim nightlight compared to the Super Flash. There may be brighter taillights out there, though youd probably have to get one of those expensive battery-hogging strobes to do it. This is the only LED taillight Ive yet seen that even mentions the word "watt". If youve ever used a Luxeon LED flashlight, they start at I think 1 watt, well this thing seems about that bright! Although I havent tried it yet during daytime rides, Im pretty sure that it will be seen then too. Just dont look directly at it from close range.

brightest tail lights you can get

On: 2007-05-16

they are very bright so the idiots even in the police depRTMENT can see
them at night.

Brightest light ever!!

On: 2007-03-28

This is the ONE light if you want to be seen at night. It is unbelievably bright. Dont get the one with the black back as that is an older model and no where as bright as this one. EVERYONE who sees this light gets one as it is the brightest theyve ever seen!!

Great Tail Light!!!

by: Anonymous On: 2007-02-07

This light is bright! I purchased this to put on a second bike. My other bike has a Cateye LD600, which is a good light, but not nearly as intense as the Superflash. Very happy with this.