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review
Lights - rear
Knog Blinder Link - Saddle2022 Knog Blinder Link Light Saddle Mount.jpg

Knog Blinder Link - Saddle

8
by Stu Kerton
Mon, May 29, 2023 19:45
8
£56.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Bright, with eye-catching patterns, a great build quality and a secure mount
A range of eye-catching patterns
Good run-times
Stands up to the elements
On the pricier side
Only a 10% warning of low battery
Weight: 
80g
Contact: 
www.freewheel.co.uk
How we test

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As its name suggests, the Knog Blinder Link - Saddle clips on securely to the rails of your saddle (there's a Rack version, too), and thanks to its COB LED design offers not only impressive brightness, but also some rather eye-catching patterns that help make you noticeable against the urban landscape, day or night.

For more options, check out our guide to the best rear bike lights.

> Buy now: Knog Blinder Link - Saddle for £44.99 from Tredz

The bracket clamps to the rails of your saddle regardless of their shape, round or oval; all of the options I tried fitted without issue, anyway.

2022 Knog Blinder Link Light Saddle Mount - mount.jpg

It clamps securely, leaving the light sitting horizontally just below the saddle. I quite like this position as it sits high up to catch following drivers' attention. There is also a clip in the box that allows you to fit the Blinder to your belt, bag and so on.

It does mean the Knog is right in the firing line of road spray if you aren't using mudguards, but it has one of the highest IP ratings, IP67, which means complete protection against dust (the 6 part), and immersion in water up to a metre. It had no issues in keeping out heavy rain and road spray, and being attacked by the power shower in my bathroom.

2022 Knog Blinder Link Light Saddle Mount - side.jpg

In total there are eight modes including high and low steady and a range of flashes.

The Knog uses COB (Chip on Board) technology where the multiple small LEDs come on in blocks in a brightness of up to 100 lumens, and they are able to create some cool patterns – KITT from Knight Rider anyone?

The highest lumen count of 100 is reserved for the High Flash, which lasts 19 hours. Other modes last 4 hours, 7, and 14. The most frugal is the Eco Flash, which lasts 50+ hours while still pumping out 30 lumens; impressive.

Charging is taken care of via USB-C with the port sealed from the elements, and while charging a green LED is shown until full charge is reached, at which point it will turn off.

2022 Knog Blinder Link Light Saddle Mount - light back.jpg

When the light is running, a green LED shows until the battery gets to 10%, whereupon it will turn red. You'll need to keep a note of your ride times (or charge the light after each ride) as you won't see the red or green light while you are riding, so you could run out of power without realising. The Knog doesn't switch to the lowest setting either when the battery runs low.

Keep on top of your charging times, though, and there isn't much to dislike about the Blinder Link – as long as you are happy to pay the £56.99 price tag.

You can get some very bright lights for that sort of money, like the Lezyne Zecto Drive Max 250, as tested by Steve in 2021 – a light capable of putting out 250 lumens, with decent burn-times, for £52.

Or for just £29.99 you could have the Cateye Viz 150 that I tested in 2021, offering – as the name suggests – an extra 50 lumens over the Knog.

These are seatpost-mounted lights, though, so if you want a dedicated saddle mount with a secure fitting then the Knog is a good choice. It's a bit pricey, but that solid and secure fitting mount is an added bonus. It'll also stand up well to a wet or dusty climate.

Verdict

Bright, with eye-catching patterns, a great build quality and a secure mount

road.cc test report

Make and model: Knog Blinder Link - Saddle Mount

Size tested: 100 lumens

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?

Knog says, "Often the best location for a rear light visibility is just below the saddle of your bike, as such the new Blinder Link has the ability to mount just below the saddle keeping the seat post clear of clutter and the light at the optimum position for visibility to other road users"

This saddle-mounted light has good burn-times and plenty of modes.

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

From Knog:

CHIP ON BOARD LEDS

Using advanced COB LED technology mean the Link produces a clear, bright and consistent beam of light.

SUPER BRIGHT

Producing a powerful 100 Lumens means the Link is bright enough for use any riding conditions

100% WATERPROOF

With an IP67 rating, this light can be summered in 1 meter of water and still come out shining.

SADDLE MOUNT

Universal saddle rail mount, easy to fit and secure without taking up vital seat-post space.

CLIP WEARABLE

When not on its designated mount, the Link has a clip that allows a rider to attach it to their bag, their belt or anywhere they wish to have additional visibility.

CHARGE INDICATOR

Convenient LED glows green whilst the light is charging and turns off when the light has achieved full charge capacity.

USB C RECHARGEABLE

No need to worry about batteries with Link; simply recharge by plugging into any USB C port using the supplied cable.

LOW BATTERY INDICATOR

No need to guess when you're light need to be recharged with a convenient LED that lights up red when your light dips below 10% remaining charge.

LIGHT WEIGHT

Weighing just 40 grams this is lightweight in all the right ways.

8 MODES

The Link has eight modes to choose from, including: 50 Hr runtime, so whether you are looking for the best battery life or the most eye-catching light pattern, the link has a multitude of options to pick from.

Runtimes

Mode Lumens Runtime Hrs

Steady On - High 35 4

Steady On - Low 20 7

Low Flash 50 7

High Flash 100 19

Fading Flash 30 14

Pulse Flash 70 19

Accelerating Flash 30 7

Eco Flash 30 50+

Rate the light for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the light for design and ease of use. How simple was the light to use?
 
8/10
Rate the light for the design and usability of the clamping system/s
 
8/10
Rate the light for waterproofing. How did it stand up to the elements?
 
9/10
Rate the light for battery life. How long did it last? How long did it take to recharge?
 
8/10
Rate the light for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the light for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the light for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the light for value:
 
4/10

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

Fits securely to saddle rails and offers plenty of brightness.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the light

Cool flashing modes.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the light

Little warning that battery life is getting low.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It's at the pricier end when you look at similar lights on the market, although it does come with a secure fitting saddle specific mount.

Did you enjoy using the light? Yes

Would you consider buying the light? Yes

Would you recommend the light to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

It's very good. Yes, it's on the pricier side of things but it's well made, comes with some cool modes and good burn-times, and that solid and secure mount.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 44  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 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,

Knog Blinder Link - Saddle 2022/23
Knog Blinder Link - Saddle
Knog 2022/23
Knog
Stu Kerton

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!

Add new comment

8 comments

Avatar
David9694 | 10 months ago
1 like

But the name "Blinder", it's slightly worse than Marauder, Barbarian, Defender and the like. 

Avatar
peted76 replied to David9694 | 10 months ago
3 likes
David9694 wrote:

But the name "Blinder", it's slightly worse than Marauder, Barbarian, Defender and the like. 

Count yourself lucky they didn't follow the recent trend and have kept the vowels in..... 'Blndr'

Avatar
mark1a replied to peted76 | 10 months ago
2 likes
peted76 wrote:

Count yourself lucky they didn't follow the recent trend and have kept the vowels in..... 'Blndr'

I find that so fckng rrttng.

Avatar
Cugel replied to David9694 | 10 months ago
2 likes
David9694 wrote:

But the name "Blinder", it's slightly worse than Marauder, Barbarian, Defender and the like. 

Such items so-named are for attaching to your "weapon of choice" (aka, in civilised talk, a bicycle) for which you "pull the trigger" (buy) not if the thing works but rather if you're impressed by the US-speak advert-name. After all, you will need it in "the war on the roads"; possibly in the war of all-against-all approved by Neolib loons everywhere.

As any fule no, violence is the best and immediate solution to everything, as demonstrated in them US filums portraying various gimlet-eyed gunslingers in huge car-weapons driven madly through everything, especially peds but even whole buildings! All bought items are therefore best described as some sort of harm-inducing thing.

On the other hand, I've had four Knog Blinder lights (2 front, 2 rear) working well on me bikes for over 10 years now, with only a small decrease in the battery lives. One did need a new rubber attachment thingy, which had been supplied in the original packet as a spare. So, despite the infantile name, I might buy another one if my current one does eventually go phut.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Cugel | 10 months ago
1 like
Cugel wrote:

Such items so-named are for attaching to your "weapon of choice" (aka, in civilised talk, a bicycle) for which you "pull the trigger" (buy) not if the thing works but rather if you're impressed by the US-speak advert-name. After all, you will need it in "the war on the roads"; possibly in the war of all-against-all approved by Neolib loons everywhere.

As any fule no, violence is the best and immediate solution to everything, as demonstrated in them US filums portraying various gimlet-eyed gunslingers in huge car-weapons driven madly through everything, especially peds but even whole buildings! All bought items are therefore best described as some sort of harm-inducing thing.

On the other hand, I've had four Knog Blinder lights (2 front, 2 rear) working well on me bikes for over 10 years now, with only a small decrease in the battery lives. One did need a new rubber attachment thingy, which had been supplied in the original packet as a spare. So, despite the infantile name, I might buy another one if my current one does eventually go phut.

"Blinder" can also mean "an excellent performance" in British English though

Avatar
ktache replied to hawkinspeter | 10 months ago
1 like

Or in the Australian vernacular.

Glad this has been reviewed as I have been tempted to get this one. My relatively recent adoption of proper mudguards has meant I can lower my Hope R4+, the Crud no longer obscuring the lowered position. I'd considered some of the Exposure rears on my saddles, apart from the manufacturer's bracket there are several 3D printed designs our there, but removal when leaving out presents difficulties.

Then I met someone with a big curved Knog on his seat post and it was cool. And then Knog emailed me about this one.

I'd really like something for my right hand seatstay, Moon used to do some, but don't seem to supply the relevant "O" rings anymore (not from my readings) and the sealing might not stand up to my levels of filth.

Avatar
David9694 replied to hawkinspeter | 10 months ago
2 likes

It's still the same idea - like a dazzling performance. 

I know, I know:

Drivers - cyclists should have proper lights

*fits Knog Blinder*  

drivers - aaargh! not like that

 

Avatar
cyclisto replied to David9694 | 10 months ago
0 likes

Besides Barbarian (please inform me if wrong) the rest names are used in cool military aircraft, so why not? Sounds like good marketing if they manage to convince you pay 50+quid for a rear light with minimal side visibility.

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