Review of Cateye TL-LD1100 LED Bicycle Tail and Safety Light (Red)

Cateye TL-LD1100 LED Bicycle Tail and Safety Light (Red)
By: Cateye Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 18
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Safety is Critical - another good product

On: 2008-03-15

A rear red light on a vehicle may be the most important safety component. This light has the technology, illumination and multi-mode feature that helps gain attention of anyone viewing you from behind. A good product at a good price with longer battery life than incandecent lamps.

This is the third best tail light on the market.

by: slider2699 On: 2007-09-27

I purchased the Cateye TL-LD1000 at my LBS. It was an impulse buy when I was taking home a new bike. The light appeared impressive in the packaging---big with LOTS of LEDs, so I thought it would compare favorably with the lights I used on my other bike(that frame was at the manufacturer being repainted after being hit by a truck)---the Planet Bike Superflash.

The Cateye light is a capable taillight. Its well made, and offers side visibility. However, it is not nearly as bright as the Superflash, which is cheaper, to boot. The Cateye light is larger than the Superflash, heavier than the Superflash, and eats batteries at a greater rate than the Superflash. My LD-1000 has been relegated to use on my town bike, which is only ridden in well-lighted neighborhoods at night.

So, if you need a taillight which will give you confidence at night----buy the DiNotte taillight. Its quite expensive($150+) but it puts out 140 lumens---which is brighter than most HEADLIGHTS. If the DiNotte is out of your price range, buy the Superflash. Buy several. If you are set on buying the Cateye, you wont be disappointed. Its a good light. But there are better options.

This is the third best tail light on the market.

On: 2007-09-26

I purchased the Cateye TL-LD1000 at my LBS. It was an impulse buy when I was taking home a new bike. The light appeared impressive in the packaging---big with LOTS of LEDs, so I thought it would compare favorably with the lights I used on my other bike(that frame was at the manufacturer being repainted after being hit by a truck)---the Planet Bike Superflash.

The Cateye light is a capable taillight. Its well made, and offers side visibility. However, it is not nearly as bright as the Superflash, which is cheaper, to boot. The Cateye light is larger than the Superflash, heavier than the Superflash, and eats batteries at a greater rate than the Superflash. My LD-1000 has been relegated to use on my town bike, which is only ridden in well-lighted neighborhoods at night.

So, if you need a taillight which will give you confidence at night----buy the DiNotte taillight. Its quite expensive($150+) but it puts out 140 lumens---which is brighter than most HEADLIGHTS. If the DiNotte is out of your price range, buy the Superflash. Buy several. If you are set on buying the Cateye, you wont be disappointed. Its a good light. But there are better options.

Also, the blurb in the item description is not accurate. Cateyes HL-EL530 is not anywhere near the brightest LED headlight on the market. It may be the brightest for under a hundred bucks, but its not close to the Niterider MiNewt or TriNewt, the DiNotte headlights, the Light and Motion headlights, or especially the lights from Lupine. Those are all much more expensive, but is lighting REALLY where you want to pinch pennies? It amazes me when I see guys on 5 thousand dollar Madones riding at night with three dollar blinkies and Cateye headlights. Meanwhile, I ride a Gunnar with a DiNotte 600L.:-)

A really Great Light - The only choice really

On: 2007-09-21

This light is at least twice as bright as anything else in its class. I dont see any reason to have anything else. It has five flashing patterns, but I just use the "use them all" mode. Dont look directly at the LEDs, cause it will hurt your eyes. One reviewer stated that the light cuts out. I find that mine does when the batteries get low, or maybe some corrosion. Its always fixed by removing and twisting or replacing the batteries. Just check for brightness before you ride. If it hurts your eyes, well, its working. You need one of these in back and one in front. Over half of all bicycle/car accidents are from cars pulling out in front of bikes.

A really Great Light - The only choice really

On: 2007-09-20

This light is at least twice as bright as anything else in its class. I dont see any reason to have anything else. It has five flashing patterns, but I just use the "use them all" mode. Dont look directly at the LEDs, cause it will hurt your eyes. One reviewer stated that the light cuts out. I find that mine does when the batteries get low, or maybe some corrosion. Its always fixed by removing and twisting or replacing the batteries. Just check for brightness before you ride. If it hurts your eyes, well, its working. You need one of these in back and one in front. Over half of all bicycle/car accidents are from cars pulling out in front of bikes.

Cateye TL-LD1000 is AWESOME!

On: 2007-08-03

This is by far the best rear light Ive seen for a bicycle. Its extremely bright and even has side facing LEDs so that you are visible from both the rear and side. Let me stress... The LEDs are the brightest Ive seen on this type of light which makes you very visible. Of course, you can adjust the combination of intensity and flashing to your preference. Anyway, I highly recommend this one.

can't miss it, not reflective

On: 2007-07-23

not very reflective but you can see it for miles when its on. Not particularly wide angle operation. works very well.
battery life is good.

Amazing!

On: 2007-07-19

I commute to work on my bike a few times a week and always ride home after dark. Im absolutely amazed that with this flashing tail light on the back of my bike at night cars actually slow way down when they pass me and actually gave me a lot of space. Most cars actually change lanes to go around me. I usually use the light with the top row set to flashing mode and the bottom row set to random mode. The overall result is similar to the flashing lights on top of a police car, and it is blindingly bright.

Fairly bright for night usage.

On: 2007-07-04

Its bright but not nearly bright enough to command drivers respect. During the day, its close to useless.

In order to really get drivers attention, I bought a DiNotte Lighting Ultra-Tail Light. Now, that light is astonishingly bright. Cars now move over an entire lane when they pass us. I use it in flashing mode and it can be seen from over 180 degrees and easily visible from over a mile behind.

I use Velcro to angle the Dinotte rear lamp upwards during the day (theres no angling provision) so that the light can be clearly seen.

Cheap? Nope! $270 for two (2) units with NiMH batteries, recharger and shipping. Whats your life worth?

I put the Cateye on the front of the bicycle. Between a NiteRider Firestorm 07 mounted on the helmet and the Cateye, we cant possibly be missed by a sober driver.

The best bike Tail Light on this Planet

On: 2007-05-14

Cat Eye Rear Bike Light/ Flasher TL-LD1000 is the best investment you can make for visibility. Face it, as bicyclists, we have to make our best efforts to make ourselves visible to our fellow motorists. This light makes it happen. I absolutely loooooove it.

The best bike Tail Light on this Planet

On: 2007-05-13

Cat Eye Rear Bike Light/ Flasher TL-LD1000 is the best investment you can make for visibility. Face it, as bicyclists, we have to make our best efforts to make ourselves visible to our fellow motorists. This light makes it happen. I absolutely loooooove it.

Extremely bright!

On: 2007-04-07

If you want to be seen at night, this one is for you!!! Dont buy anything else or youll regret...

Extremely bright!

On: 2007-04-06

If you want to be seen at night, this one is for you!!! Dont buy anything else or youll regret...

tl-ld1000, dangerous in any mode

On: 2007-03-19

Friends dont let friends ride with this taillight--it cuts out. itll come back on if you whack it, but you dont know when a taillight goes out. changing the batteries makes it work, but the problem is not the batteries. the jostling it gets when you change batteries is what makes it work.

Cat eye customer service is great--theyll send you a brand new one if you send it back, but do you really want another 1000? Well, maybe, IF they have fixed the problem, but since they havent acknowledged the problem...

Im told some of the newer ones have some internal bits made a little different and may hold the batteries tighter, so maybe theyre okay...maybe.

dont use this light as your only taillight--use with a back-up. the cat-eye 600 is a fine light.

Bike Light

On: 2007-03-18

I know I can be seen with this light. More flashing options than Ill ever use.

Extremely Bright

On: 2007-03-02

I bought this Cateye taillight after reading numerous taillight reviews. Its extremely bright during the night (and day though I only use it at night). Having this taillight while riding the 4.5 miles home from work at night definitely offers a sense of security (with awful Delaware drivers coming up behind me), especially when I see cars braking as they pass by. Even non-biking friends have passed me at night and confirmed that the light provides more than ample warning. The two rows of lights have individual switches that can be varied from flashing, solid, strobing, and random. Using the various blinking settings save battery-life and are more noticeable. The LED lights are definitely efficient since Ive only changed the batteries once or twice in a years time. I should also point out that I ride in the rain and winter, and have not had any problems with water or cold. This taillight also offers two mounting options: a seat post mount and clip for a waist band. I use the waist clip(to avoid excess water from the rear tire) and have only had one occassion when it fell off after I hit a huge pothole.....the solid plastic construction definitely held up for that beating. All in all, a great light thats worth the few extra $ to be safe.

Hope this helps!

Whoa!! Thats BRIGHT!!!

On: 2007-01-17

I purchased this light for my sister who is an avid (rabid even) cyclist. This light has multiple patterns and has got to be the brightest on the market. I have confidence that she and her group can bee seen for at least a half a mile! I highly recommend this product!!!

Whoa!! Thats BRIGHT!!!

On: 2007-01-16

I purchased this light for my sister who is an avid (rabid even) cyclist. This light has multiple patterns and has got to be the brightest on the market. I have confidence that she and her group can bee seen for at least a half a mile! I highly recommend this product!!!

Bright Light

On: 2007-01-12

I needed a rear light for my Trikke, and this one really delivers,Its very bright.Daytime and more importantly night time.I would not ride in the street without it

Extremely Bright and Well Made but with One Major Flaw

On: 2006-09-26

Extremely Bright and Well Made but with One Major Flaw

After have been a satisfied Cateye customer for over 20 years, I was glad to experiment with this product. Lately, my interest urban cycling has grown, which has encouraged me to investigate a range of bicycling safety products. As such, I purchased taillights from Bell, Cygo-lite, and Planet-Bike. The Cateye Opticube is by far the brightest. Yet, it suffers from one flaw in its lacking any reflective materials.

Recently, while driving through Chicago in the evening, I saw a cyclist several hundred feet ahead of me. What struck me after getting closer is that I could easily see his reflector long before his blinking taillight was visible.

This example illustrates where the Cateye offering falls short. When I first opened the package and mounted it, I was very impressed with the intensity. Yet, when I shined another light in its direction, there was no reflection. This is unlike my inexpensive taillights, which are functional as standalone reflectors even without battery power.

To Cateyes credit, this taillight is extremely bright. Even during daytime, looking directly into the flashing LEDs at arms-length will give you a headache. Yet, these LEDs are highly directional, unlike a conventional automotive taillight. At 100 feet, there is an immense difference between looking directly inline with the axes of the LEDs and moving slightly off center. The light tapers at five degrees or so, which is obviously disadvantageous. The additional four perpendicularly-mounted LEDs help, but this is not as good as having a built-in reflector and textured lens that will scatter light from the LEDs as well as reflect light from automotive headlights.

The two independent switches for each row of LEDs are potentially useful features. However, there is again a flaw with this design. Because the two rows are not set to blink at the exact same time, the intensity is diminished. It would be nice to have a master switch or some auto-synchronization between the two rows to deliver maximum impact.

The solid construction of the Cateye Opticube is clearly evident. The plastic housing is thicker and denser than other taillights. It *feels* more solid in your hand. Also, it has an innovative cylindrical design, allowing for the proper placement of the four side LEDs. Clearly, Cateye spends more money manufacturing this taillight than its competitors. Is it worth the cost difference? This really depends on if you have a preexisting reflector on your bicycle and need improved scattering of light. In fact, if these shortcomings were addressed, the TL-LD1000 would be the best taillight on the market.

Pros
Extremely bright
Solid construction
Perpindicular LEDs

Cons
No built-in reflector
Highly directional LEDs
No master switch to engage both rows of LEDs simultaneously
Expensive

Excellent, excellent tail light

On: 2006-07-20

This tail light is very bright! In the day, on fully charged batteries, I can see this light 4 blocks away. It has a number of different light patterns that you can choose from. I didnt have too much trouble mounting and setting it up was relatively easy. If you want the batteries to last, I would leave the light pattern on some type of streaking or flashing mode. Leaving it solid will drain the batteries since there are 10 LEDs. All in all, I am very happy with this light.

I will say one thing though, my friend bought a regular tail light, simple 3 LED flashing one. It was pretty bright also but didnt have as many LEDs flashing. His battery has been lasting much longer than mine and is a bit brighter than my CatEye now, in 2 nights of riding. But what do you expect, the CatEye is running 10 LEDs.

Excellent, excellent tail light

On: 2006-07-19

This tail light is very bright! In the day, on fully charged batteries, I can see this light 4 blocks away. It has a number of different light patterns that you can choose from. I didnt have too much trouble mounting and setting it up was relatively easy. If you want the batteries to last, I would leave the light pattern on some type of streaking or flashing mode. Leaving it solid will drain the batteries since there are 10 LEDs. All in all, I am very happy with this light.

I will say one thing though, my friend bought a regular tail light, simple 3 LED flashing one. It was pretty bright also but didnt have as many LEDs flashing. His battery has been lasting much longer than mine and is a bit brighter than my CatEye now, in 2 nights of riding. But what do you expect, the CatEye is running 10 LEDs.

Reliable, bright, and solid

On: 2006-02-01

Ive owned this light for about 2 months now. I purchased it when the cateye taillight i had previously succumbed to water and died. This light will (almost definitely) never have that problem. I say this because the battery compartment is essentially the bulk of the light, and it is easily accessed and sealed with a turn, no tools necessary. It has two sets of 5 LEDs, 3 facing the rear, 1 facing each side. These sets are independently controlled with a good switch (it has a nice feel, emits an audible "click" when pushed, and is rubberized). It came with a number of brackets and other plastic pieces for mounting, and this is my ONE complaint. There was no easy way to mount it to my rear rack. Come on Cateye, all it would take is a 2 inch metal bracket...

I have not used this light much in wet weather, so i cant speak to its operation there.

I like Cateye lights, and will buy another. I recommend this light.

Absolutely amazing, again.

On: 2005-11-20

This is another amazing product from Cateye. I also have their EL500, a blazingly bright 4-AA electronic headlight ($33). The LD1000 has an upper and a lower bank of LEDs, including side flashers. There are four modes for each bank (solid, flash, streak, random.) Its extremely bright at night - almost a nuisance, but thats OK if Im on a bike and youre in an SUV. Its also quite bright on a cloudy day (to grab a distracted drivers attention) and I suspect pretty visible even in daylight. If youve had regular $10 headlights and tailights, you wont believe the candlepower Cateye gets with is electronic LED lights. I do a frequent night or 5 am biking in cities, and this is so worth the $25-35 price.

Absolutely amazing, again.

On: 2005-11-19

This is another amazing product from Cateye. I also have their EL500, a blazingly bright 4-AA electronic headlight ($33). The LD1000 has an upper and a lower bank of LEDs, including side flashers. There are four modes for each bank (solid, flash, streak, random.) Its extremely bright at night - almost a nuisance, but thats OK if Im on a bike and youre in an SUV. Its also quite bright on a cloudy day (to grab a distracted drivers attention) and I suspect pretty visible even in daylight. If youve had regular $10 headlights and tailights, you wont believe the candlepower Cateye gets with is electronic LED lights. I do a frequent night or 5 am biking in cities, and this is so worth the $25-35 price.