The L-Bow Mk-2 rear bike light is an unconventional entry into the market. Rather than a standard seatpost-mounted LED, it employs a long, articulating arm to position the light source further away from the bike’s centre line. The goal is to discourage close overtakes by physically and visually claiming more space on the road. Whilst the idea is a good one, I’m not sure it’s the best way to go about it for most people.
Design and visibility
The core concept of the L-Bow is its ‘arm,’ which allows you to mount the light facing up, left, or right. In the UK, pointing it to the right creates a visual buffer that effectively nudges drivers to give you more room.
The light itself features a pretty bright set of LEDs which sit at the end of the arm, and this is pretty bright and visible. However, the design feels like a missed opportunity because the long arm itself is merely a reflective strip rather than a continuous bar of LEDs. In the dark, this means the light can look like a standard, singular rear lamp rather than the wide safety barrier the product’s footprint suggests.
If it were up to me, I would make the entire arm a light-up LED, and allow things like sequential lighting, which would help it look like the longer arm that it is in the dark, and would do a better job at encouraging wider overtakes.
The maximum output of the light is 120 lumens, making it bright, but nothing crazy.
Installation and compatibility
Installation is where the L-Bow becomes a bit of a faff. It is only compatible with round seatposts (22mm to 32mm) and will not fit aero profiles. While the brand claims you can install the mount without removing your seatpost by squeezing the back of the clamp to open it, I would advise against this. The plastic can snap if squeezed too hard – an issue I encountered during testing unfortunately.
For an easier and risk-free fit, you really need to remove the seatpost entirely. If your post is on the narrower side, you have to use a combination of the shim and 3M padded tape – both of which are included – to fill the gap. On the plus side, the hardware used includes nyloc nuts, ensuring that once the 5mm bolts are tightened, they won’t vibrate loose.
Practicality and build
At 200g, this is really heavy for a rear light. The weight may matter less for a commuter, but weight-conscious riders will certainly dislike the heft. A similarly priced rear light, the Giant Recon, for example, weighs 50g – a quarter of the weight of the L-Bow.
The light unit attaches to the arm via magnets and is secured with a rubber band to dampen shocks – a smart inclusion since the arm’s length means it is possible to accidentally kick it when mounting or dismounting the bike. I’m not personally the biggest fan of having a light on an arm so long that it can be kicked.
One major practical limitation is for smaller riders. If you have limited seatpost real estate, you cannot mount the light in the ‘up’ position as it will potentially hit your backside. You are therefore forced to mount it sideways, taking away the ability to mount it how you like.
Additionally, because it requires a 5mm Allen key for any angle or rotational adjustments, you cannot tweak the position on the fly without a multi-tool, or a dedicated 5mm. Thankfully L-Bow includes one in the box.
Battery and charging
The run-time is decent and should cover several days of commuting. Thankfully, L-Bow has opted for a modern USB-C charging port. The light unit pops off the mount easily, so while the initial installation is a headache, charging is straightforward.
There is a rubber flap to cover the charging port, which is a bit of a faff to actually get into place properly. With it in place, the light has an IP65 rating, but you have to make sure it’s properly seated.
Verdict
The L-Bow comes in at just a hair under £25, making it a reasonably cheap option, but not a complete bargain. If it were a tenner, I’d be more willing to suggest for people to give it a go, but I’m not sure it offers enough for the price and the tradeoffs.
The earlier mentioned Giant Recon TL200 light comes in at just under £35, in a more conventional form, and with a maximum output of nearly double the lumens of the L-Bow.
Coming in a little cheaper, at £22.99 is the Moon Zircon R. It’s a little lower maximum output at 90 lumens. Charlotte said it was great on the whole, just a little lacking in battery life in one mode.
Conclusion
The L-Bow Mk-2 is an interesting idea that tries to address the very real problem of close passes. It is a bold approach to safety, but it comes with significant compromises in weight, mounting complexity, and looks. If you prioritise ‘claiming your space’ on busy roads over a sleek, lightweight setup, the L-Bow is a unique tool for the job – just be careful during the initial installation.
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Test Report
What does the manufacturer say about this product?:
Give traffic the L-Bow
The L-bow mk2 rear safety light encourages vehicles to pass you at a safer distance, drastically reducing close passes. Why? Because the L-Bow’s unique design makes you appear wider to faster moving traffic.
User Friendly
The L-bow rear safety light can be used in countries driving on the left or on the right side of the road so you can take it with you on a trip away… just flick it over to the other side!
Unique Patented 360′ Magnetic Connector
The L-Bow uses a unique 360′ magnetic connector making it super easy to orientate in any direction, left, right and upright. This same mechanism also protects the L-Bow from bumps, falls and enables it to move out of the way when mounting or dismounting your bicycle.
The light portion is easily removed in seconds, just undo the rubber strap.
Intended for ROAD USE ONLY.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of this product:
Up to 120 lumens brightness
8 light memory modes including daylight burst flash
Weighs less than 200g
Rechargeable powerful 1200 mAh lithium-ion battery
USB-C (charging cable included)
2/3 hours to full recharge with up to 45hrs run time
Waterproof IP65 rated
Stainless steel and aluminium anodised bolts
Aligns to 3 different positions
Mounting bracket included to fit ROUND seat posts from 22-32mm (will not fit aero seat posts)
Padding out 3M tape and shim included for seat post fitment
Allen key included
Instructions and spare rubber band included
Any further comments on quality?:
The light feels quite solid, but the method of mounting isn’t the nicest, and if you squeeze the mount too much, there is a risk that it may break, in the same way my one did.
Any further comments on performance?:
I struggled to get it to fit any of my bikes. When I did, the light was reasonably bright, but it is massive and weighs a lot more than any other rear light.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested?:
There are a few options which are a little cheaper, but it is certainly towards the lower end of the price scale.
Any further comments on design and usability?:
Using the light was easy with just a single button, but with regards to mounting, it is probably my least favourite light I’ve ever mounted.
Any further comments on the clamp?:
The clamp is probably the weakest part of this light. It only fits round posts, and the easiest way to fit is by taking out your seatpost, which is far from ideal.
Does the light have a waterproofing rating? If so, what is it?:
IP65
Any further comments on waterproofing?:
The charging port flap is a bit of a faff to ensure it’s in properly, but otherwise it is okay.
Any further comments on battery life and recharging?:
The battery life is decent. You should get a week or so of commuting out of it without too much challenge, and the USB-C charging is quite quick too.
Any issues with durability?:
The mount broke while I was attempting to install it. It can still be used fine, but it isn’t a great sign.
Any further comments on weight?:
It weighs about 15 times more than the Moon light I compared it to.
Did you enjoy using the product?
No, not at all.
Would you consider buying the product? Never.
Would you recommend the product to a friend?
If they commute, and want to discourage close overtakes then maybe, otherwise no.
Use this box to explain your overall score
A good idea for a way to discourage close overtakes, but not a great way to do it. I wanted to like this light, but was disappointed with the mounting method, the lack of an entire arm of LEDs, and the weight.
About the tester
Age: 25Height: cmWeight: 72kg
I usually ride: Storck AerfastMy best bike is:
I’ve been riding for: 10-20 yearsI ride: Every dayI would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: Road racing, Commuting, Touring, Club riding, Mountain bike XC, Mountain bike Enduro, Mountain bike downhill/freeride
2 thoughts on “L-Bow Mk-2 rear bike light”
I have this, but no longer use it as the light had a habit of falling off it’s magnetic mount when going over more aggressive speed bumps
I’ve never commented on a review, but in this case I need to. This light is phenomenally effective for what it is designed to do. Avoid close passes. I’ve cycled about 20 years through central London traffic doing 3-5K miles a year and nothing beats this in terms of almost completely eliminating close passes. Makes no sense to compare it to a normal light and for the amount of product you get, it is very cheap. I have 6-7 other rear lights incl. a Garmin radar light, but I would never compare them to this. The weight also has no relevance for most commuters. Yes I would not put it on my light aero optimised road bike. Likewise I’m not even slightly annoyed that my cargo bike would not ride well with 25mm tires. Anyway, love Road.cc. Brilliant normally.