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Lezyne Deca Drive front light

7
£139.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Very well constructed light with great road beam pattern; mode selection is frustrating though
Weight: 
212g

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Lezyne's Deca Drive is their second tier light in terms of output, pitting out a claimed 900 lumen. Perfectly bright enough to see on unlit roads when paired with the broad, flat beam though the mode setting selections don't quite give you the light you need when you want it.

Let's start with the positives. The Deca Drive is a very good looking light and certainly well built with an all alloy CNC machined body and battery cover. There are plenty of cooling fins to disperse heat from the three LED's and the front of the body extends to create an eyelid keeping any light spillage from shining up into the rider's or oncoming drivers eyes.

USB rechargability is great for commuters that have access to a computer and if you go for the Fully Loaded package you also get a spare Li-ion battery that can be swapped over in about thirty seconds.

The whole light is hugely weatherproof and neat little finishing touches of the alloy clasp and hinge on the battery cover keeps the rain out with a tight seal.

As far as the beam pattern goes it's a good one for road use. The three LED's are mounted in a kind of arc which when added to the reflector puts light both on the road in front of the rider as well as a further reaching beam to pick out corners and potholes.

In the Overdrive Race mode the full 900 lumen is used and it's plenty to ride at daylight speeds on unlit country lanes. The pure white light picking up obstacles in the road and giving very clear vision of both verges. This will last for 90 minutes so the burn times aren't huge but acceptable for the size of the 2 cell battery.

The button acts as a fuel warning light changing from blue to green to orange then red when you are virtually out of juice.

My main issue with the Overdrive Race mode is that you can have the full 900 lumen or the 250 lumen of the economy mode. The full beam is bordering on being too bright for oncoming drivers when set at a sensible level on the handlebars so if you dip your beam you go from plenty of light to barely enough to see where you are going. The button being flush with the cooling fins means it's also a nightmare to change modes with gloves on without taking your eye off of the road.

Out of Overdrive mode you get 400, 700 and 250 lumen modes which gives you more options for varying road lighting conditions though lacking the serious punch of the Overdrive. You can't change between the two modes without turning the light off and holding the button for five seconds so its not something you can do on the fly.

The 400 lumen mode is enough to see by on unlit main roads with white lines and cats-eyes and will give you three hours of burn time. If the roads are wet and you aren't getting much reflection you need the 700 at a minimum which limits your ride to two hours.

If you are in town there are two flash modes, one uses two LED's on constant at low power with the third giving a more powerful flash while the second option is two LED's on flashing mode, I prefer the first for more all round visibility and the 350lumen allows you to go through unlit patches without having to change mode.

The bracket is a composite material which tightens with a thumb wheel and it fits pretty tightly and secure. It does look cumbersome though in relation to the sleek body design. I'd prefer to see something like Exposure's alloy mount at this price. You get one mount for each 31.8 or 25.4mm handlebar diameters.

Overall I'd say the Deca Drive is brilliant if you do the occasional night ride and don't see much traffic so you can run it at full. The beam pattern is very good and usable but needs to be in those higher two outputs to really give you the light spread you need. If you're a daily commuter you will be constantly charging it or sacrificing power to achieve decent burn times.

The £139.99 prices is on par with the quality of the build and while you can buy cheaper lights for the same power output I'd say the Lezyne is a better long term investment. The weight at 212g is acceptable for an alloy light with inserted battery.

A real mixed bag, lots to like but just as much to irritate.

Verdict

Very well constructed light with great road beam pattern; mode selection is frustrating though

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Lezyne Deca Drive front light

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the light is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

The Deca Drive is an all round road light thanks to a wide flat beam and the option to switch through modes to balance power with battery conservation. I'd say it is best for riders who mix urban with a bit of country lane riding.

Lezyne says:

The Lezyne Deca Drive is designed with a sleek CNC-sculpted aluminum body in a compact, self-contained configuration. It features Constant Lumens power management that drives three LEDs at a steady and bright 900 lm. Overdrive Race Mode makes it possible for quick switching between Overdrive and Economy, and its Infinite Light design allows for on-demand battery replacement. The Intelligent Power Indicator button allows the user to check the power level any time. It is recharged either with fast, high efficiency, 2 Amp recharging with a compatible wall adaptor, or via a Micro USB cable for ultimate convenience. The Deca Drive's Composite Matrix hard mounts secure the light to 31.8 mm and 25.4 mm handlebars. It is also available in the Fully Loaded package with aluminum handlebar mounts (31.8mm and 25.4mm), a spare battery pack, a Micro USB charging cable, and CM storage case.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the light?

MAX LUMENS: 900

RECHARGE TIME: 12hrs (1A) / 6hrs (2A)

BATTERY: LIR18650 2 Cell (included)

COLOURS: Black or White

LUMENS/BURN TIMES: 900 / 1:30

700 / 2:00

400 / 3:00

250 / 6:00

350 / 6:30 (Flash 1)

150 / 21:00 (Flash 2)

BAR DIAMETER: 31.8 & 25.4

Rate the light for quality of construction:
 
9/10

The alloy machined body is smart and well finished as are the electronics which keep a constant flow of power to the LEDs so no variations in brightness.

Rate the light for design and ease of use. How simple was the light to use?
 
6/10

The Deca Drive is easy to use, the Standard or Race Overdrive settings are easy to change when the light is off and the instructions are easy to follow. When riding though there are some serious flaws, only having the 900 lumens available alongside the 250 leaves a big gap between brightness levels for instance. On the other Standard setting if you want to scroll through to use the 400 lumen after being on the 700 you have to go through two flash modes. Not ideal on unlit roads.

Finally the button isn't pronounced enough over the top of the cooling fins so mode changes are a nightmare with winter gloves on.

Rate the light for the design and usability of the clamping system/s
 
7/10

They clamp well although they are bulky with the thumb screw fixing. I would prefer to see an alloy clamp at this price.

Rate the light for waterproofing. How did it stand up to the elements?
 
9/10

No problems at all in heavy rain.

Rate the light for battery life. How long did it last? How long did it take to recharge?
 
8/10

For the size of the battery I'd say the burn times are pretty good as is the recharge time.

Rate the light for performance:
 
8/10

A really good beam pattern and performance is impressive on the Overdrive mode, it does lack punch on the lower settings though.

Rate the light for durability:
 
9/10

Well built and solid alloy construction, worth paying extra for reliability

Rate the light for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

Decent for an all inclusive light/battery package.

Rate the light for value:
 
8/10

A sound price taking everything into account, build quality, beam pattern, etc.

Tell us how the light performed overall when used for its designed purpose

If you don't have to change modes regularly while riding the Deca Drive is a really good light. Beam pattern and reliability are the two most important things in my eyes when it comes to front light and the Lezyne is great in those respects. Its just a shame its so frustrating to live with if you like to use different modes for different conditions.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the light

The beam pattern.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the light

The annoying mode settings and difficult to find button.

Did you enjoy using the light? Mixed views really.

Would you consider buying the light? No, it doesn't work for me.

Would you recommend the light to a friend? Yes, if it suited the style of riding they do.

Anything further to say about the light in conclusion?

IT might sound as though I'm being harsh with the Lezyne with regards to the mode settings but it just seems so over complicated. On a light with such short burn times you need flexibility of light output to get the most from it and scrolling through flashing modes to get to high and things like that just irritate when riding, especially when the button is so difficult to push.

All that aside it is a very good light in terms of construction, beam pattern and power.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 36  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Kinesis T2  My best bike is: Kinesis Aithien

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

 

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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20 comments

Avatar
bendertherobot | 9 years ago
0 likes

It's a real shame they've stopped. It's brilliant. Just brilliant.

Avatar
Dr_Lex | 9 years ago
0 likes

Not really much point, other than as a comparison to the standard "torch" lamps, as Philips have ended production of the SafeRide models, according to a release I read:
"Dear business partner, dear customer,

On March 31, 2014, Philips will permanently discontinue its line of LED BikeLights. This includes the sale of the products belonging to the Philips LED Saferide®, Philips LED Activeride® and Philips LED RearLight product lines. All products and accessories will be retired from the market.

After that date, the products will be no longer for sale, and orders will no longer be accepted. We will continue to provide aftersales and support services for the products that have been sold in the last years, according to the terms and conditions that you may expect from a Philips solution.

We strongly suggest that you liaise with your local sales partner, to discuss a last-buy option accommodating your business’ needs.

Should you have additional questions, we encourage you to learn more about the details through your direct customer contact.

We sincerely appreciate your support and regret any inconvenience this necessary action causes you."

This would explain why Rose bikes were selling them so cheaply last year- paid over £80 for mkI, yet under £30 for mk II!

Avatar
J90 replied to Dr_Lex | 8 years ago
0 likes
Dr_Lex wrote:

Not really much point, other than as a comparison to the standard "torch" lamps, as Philips have ended production of the SafeRide models, according to a release I read: "Dear business partner, dear customer, On March 31, 2014, Philips will permanently discontinue its line of LED BikeLights. This includes the sale of the products belonging to the Philips LED Saferide®, Philips LED Activeride® and Philips LED RearLight product lines. All products and accessories will be retired from the market. After that date, the products will be no longer for sale, and orders will no longer be accepted. We will continue to provide aftersales and support services for the products that have been sold in the last years, according to the terms and conditions that you may expect from a Philips solution. We strongly suggest that you liaise with your local sales partner, to discuss a last-buy option accommodating your business’ needs. Should you have additional questions, we encourage you to learn more about the details through your direct customer contact. We sincerely appreciate your support and regret any inconvenience this necessary action causes you." This would explain why Rose bikes were selling them so cheaply last year- paid over £80 for mkI, yet under £30 for mk II!

 

Did they explain why though? Production costs possibly?

Avatar
horizontal dropout | 9 years ago
0 likes

Rose Bikes say theirs are the later model with the led surrounding the switch so I bought one. Thanks for advices.

I started paying by paypal but after exchange from euros to sterling it was more expensive so I bought it with a debit card. Something to watch out for.

By the way road.cc said somewhere that they have not tested the Saferide because Philips won't send them one. Does anyone in Bristol or Bath have one they could borrow to test? It would be nice if it was in the light comparator.

Avatar
bendertherobot | 9 years ago
0 likes

If you can get it, get it.

I tend to sell my lights after each winter. But the Philips is a keeper.

That and the See Sense front and rear I've paired it with.

Avatar
horizontal dropout | 9 years ago
0 likes

I refresh charged the Philips batteries and they improved, and I charged them in the light and one of them at least lost capacity. Batteries are over three years old and unused so not surprising if they are not good. Eneloops is good advice, version 4 by Panasonic.

Knurled screw is a great idea, will have a look in my bits box.

I wrote to Rose and they have the later model in stock. No longer £25 (what a blag!) but cheaper than Amazon even with postage.

I try not to buy from Amazon because of the tax evasion but I have to say their customer service and returns system has been brilliant.

Avatar
Helidoc | 9 years ago
0 likes

The main complaint seems to be the way that overdrive mode is set up, with most options locked out other than very bright and moderate. Lezyne does this with most of their lights, and some reviewers as well as me see that as an advantage. There is a recent road.cc review of a Moon Xpower 780that makes exactly this point (http://road.cc/content/review/135519-moon-x-power-780-front-light ). My Superdrive is always in this mode, and the simple switching is quite an advantage. I ride on unlit rural roads a lot, and although I use my 700 lumen overdrive mode, switching to 150 for an oncoming car doesn't affect my ability to see the road, although I do have a smaller 150 lumen commuter model on the bars as well.

Avatar
shearer27 | 9 years ago
0 likes

I've just bought one of these (I had some Wiggle vouchers for Xmas) so I will let you all know how I get on with the light. I only do one or two night rides on unlit roads a week but using it for the first time last week I was impressed with it's brightness and beam pattern. I went for the loaded option as it had the spare battery and alloy handlebar mount.

Avatar
horizontal dropout | 9 years ago
0 likes

While Saferide is being mentioned, I bought a Saferide 80 from Amazon. When it arrived it was a 2011 model (underside has a 4 digit code ending with 11) and the batteries don't charge very well. The newer models have some improvements but I'm not sure how to order specifically a newer model.

I asked Amazon to do something about the batteries and they sent a replacement light - with the same battery problem.

It's great light, if a bit heavy, and more than bright enough for me. I would definitely buy again if I could find a late model one.

What model (date code) have other people got and how is the Saferide 60?

Avatar
bendertherobot replied to horizontal dropout | 9 years ago
0 likes
horizontal dropout wrote:

While Saferide is being mentioned, I bought a Saferide 80 from Amazon. When it arrived it was a 2011 model (underside has a 4 digit code ending with 11) and the batteries don't charge very well. The newer models have some improvements but I'm not sure how to order specifically a newer model.

I asked Amazon to do something about the batteries and they sent a replacement light - with the same battery problem.

It's great light, if a bit heavy, and more than bright enough for me. I would definitely buy again if I could find a late model one.

What model (date code) have other people got and how is the Saferide 60?

There's some at Rose. No idea which year. New stock so SHOULD Be the new model.

The main difference is, with the new one, when it switches onto low, after a period of set time, you can switch it back to high until it runs out.

I put new batteries in, 2900's I think, Ansmann. Lasts ages now.

Avatar
oldstrath replied to horizontal dropout | 9 years ago
0 likes

Charging mutilple batteries in the light really doesn't work that well. Eneloops and a separate charger work much better.

Avatar
bendertherobot replied to oldstrath | 9 years ago
0 likes
oldstrath wrote:

Charging mutilple batteries in the light really doesn't work that well. Eneloops and a separate charger work much better.

If you can be bothered to take them out of the light, which involves unscrewing the tiny nut etc. If you use it daily, as I do, that's a faff. Though I must get round to fitting a knurled screw. I also charge it, again, in work, just in case.

Avatar
Peowpeowpeowlasers replied to horizontal dropout | 9 years ago
0 likes
horizontal dropout wrote:

While Saferide is being mentioned, I bought a Saferide 80 from Amazon. When it arrived it was a 2011 model (underside has a 4 digit code ending with 11) and the batteries don't charge very well. The newer models have some improvements but I'm not sure how to order specifically a newer model.

I asked Amazon to do something about the batteries and they sent a replacement light - with the same battery problem.

It's great light, if a bit heavy, and more than bright enough for me. I would definitely buy again if I could find a late model one.

What model (date code) have other people got and how is the Saferide 60?

Get yourself some Sanyo eneloop XX AA batteries. They'll last miles longer, easily a couple of hours on low-beam.

Avatar
Dr_Lex replied to horizontal dropout | 9 years ago
0 likes
horizontal dropout wrote:

[...]

What model (date code) have other people got and how is the Saferide 60?

Haven't checked, but I have the first model with three blue lights to indicate the charge and the second model with a green > amber > red surround to the power button. The battery access also changed from tiny allen bolt (with retaining washer) to slotted screw.

The SafeRide60 I have is a dynamo version, but I'm sure I've seen a 40 lux version which would be fine for street lit riding; the 60 is borderline in dark country lanes in my experience.

Avatar
DaveE128 | 9 years ago
0 likes

What peowpeow said.

This isn't a sensible beam pattern for road use IMHO. When are bike light manufacturers going to start offering beam patterns like car headlights - a powerful dipped beam with a clear cut off to avoid dazzle and a main beam you can switch from/to easily?

Avatar
Dr_Lex replied to DaveE128 | 9 years ago
0 likes
DaveE128 wrote:

[...] When are bike light manufacturers going to start offering beam patterns like car headlights - a powerful dipped beam with a clear cut off to avoid dazzle and a main beam you can switch from/to easily?

Time for a kickstarter?

(And another +1 for the previous comments about shaped beams - currently 2 x SafeRide 80 and 1 x SafeRide 60 for the three active bikes)

Avatar
bdsl replied to DaveE128 | 9 years ago
0 likes

The Trelock Ls 950 has a powerful dipped beam. It doesn't have a main beam option though.

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oldstrath replied to bdsl | 9 years ago
0 likes

Don't think anything does. The Strada has a good mainbeam, but the dip beam certainly isn't STVZO if you care - the only current option other than homebrew seems to be to fit a second light and faff around with on/off switches

Avatar
Peowpeowpeowlasers | 9 years ago
1 like

> "the front of the body extends to create an eyelid keeping any light spillage from shining up into the rider's or oncoming drivers eyes."

This is a fudge. An "eyelid" does not prevent dazzle since the beam is not correctly focussed. To work correctly, an "eyelid" would need to be several feet long. Don't believe me? Put your car's headlamps on full beam and stick a sheet of cardboard over the top. Only when you're stood closer than 6 feet or so will the cardboard have any effect; anyone further away than that will still be dazzled.

Only a correctly focussed beam will prevent dazzle, and this can only be achieved with good optics like those seen on German stvzo lights. And please remember, that about half of the 900 lumens output will be heading up into the sky where you don't need it. A properly focussed beam needs only half that power because all the light goes where you need it. This has the added advantage of extending battery life.

Avatar
bendertherobot | 9 years ago
0 likes

It's an odd one. They appear to have made a conscious decision to move the bright setting to overdrive. It wasn't always this way, at least with the Mark 1 Mega Drive for example. On that one it was race mode, which basically did the same as overdrive does now in terms of limiting your options but the brightest setting was still available outside race mode.

FWIW, 700 lumens from a Deca/Mega drive is probably enough for road riding.

Personally I changed to a Phillips SafeRide which is just better overall. Particularly since Rose Bikes sold it to me for £25............

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