The Lezyne Strip Drive Front Light is bright and compact and designed primarily for daytime visibility and urban commuting. While its light output is impressive, its unique horizontal form factor presents some specific mounting challenges that riders should consider before purchasing.
Design and mounting
The most striking feature of the Strip Drive is its sideways orientation. Unlike traditional “torch-style” lights, this unit sits horizontally across the handlebars. It attaches via a simple, robust rubber strap that is compatible with both standard round bars and more modern aero profiles.
It’s a bit of a love it or hate it design. Because it sits sideways, it occupies a significant amount of real estate on the tops of a road bike handlebar. If you have narrow bars – common for smaller riders – you might find yourself struggling for room to mount it alongside a computer, whilst still having room to hold on.
It also doesn’t play particularly well with out-front computer mounts. I’ve found you then have to mount it further away from the stem in that scenario.
However, for those who want to keep their cockpit completely clear, the versatile strap does allow you to mount the light to a fork leg, which is a clever alternative, allowing you to stay visible without cluttering the bars.
Visibility and beam pattern
As a ‘be seen’ light, the Strip Drive excels. It features a very wide beam pattern that provides excellent side visibility, making it a reliable choice for navigating junctions in all weather conditions.
Lezyne says it has a 270° visible beam, meaning you can be seen from all around, which is a great safety feature. That wide spread, however, means it is less effective as a ‘to see’ light. If you happened to get caught out without adequate lighting, then you might be able to get home safely with it, but the beam pattern and output really don’t lend themselves to clearly lighting the road ahead.
Battery life and charging
Lezyne has packed some impressive run-times into the light. You can get up to 50hrs on the high-intensity Day Flash, which is exceptionally bright, and up to 75hrs on a more gentle Femto mode. This makes it a great set-and-forget option for commuters who only want to charge their lights once a week, or even once a month.
The charging is handled via a modern USB-C port, which is a welcome standard that ensures easy charging, and good compatibility.
The light is controlled by a single button which sits on the top of the unit, with a long press to turn the light on or off, and a single tap to cycle through the modes.
Similarly to other Lezyne lights, there is a pair of LEDs used to display the battery: a green to say over 75%, the green along with a red to signify 25-75% and a red only to show less than 25%.
Conclusion
The Lezyne Strip Drive is a powerful, highly visible front light that will impress. If you prioritise being seen by traffic from all angles, the output and battery life are hard to beat.
The main drawback is the form factor. If you prefer a clean cockpit with a light tucked neatly under your Garmin, this isn’t the light for you. But if you don’t mind the horizontal aesthetic or plan to mount it on your fork, it’s a robust and reliable choice for any weather riding.
At £40, this is a reasonably priced light, especially for something offering this sort of output and battery life.
I reviewed the Moon Meteor last year, and that is another decent option for a light to be seen with. It has great battery life, a great daytime flash and a more conventional mounting method too, so it can sit more out of the way. It comes in around a tenner cheaper than the Lezyne too, at £29.99, although it’s not as bright.
There is also the Magicshine Allty 400 which Shaun thought was good. It has good run-times, nice flash modes and a good build. The mount is a bit more of a letdown though compared to others. It also doesn’t have the best battery life in the higher solid output modes, but it too comes in at £29.99.
Overall, I was impressed with the light output from this unit. It’s bright with well thought out modes to allow for optimum visibility and battery life. It has a unique form factor, which may suit you, or may not, but it’s an easy to use light, and it will help to keep you safer on your bike.
> See and be seen with our top front bike lights for on the road, trail or path
Test Report
What does the manufacturer say about this product?:
A powerful and versatile LED bike light, the Lezyne Strip Drive Front Light is designed for optimal visibility and performance. Offering seven combined solid and flash modes, it delivers up to 700 lumens in Day Flash mode, ensuring high visibility during daylight rides. With an impressive 75-hour max runtime in Femto mode, the rechargeable battery ensures long-lasting performance for extended rides.
This front light comes with a versatile silicone rubber mounting strap, securely attaching to both round and aero bars for easy installation. The lightweight, co-moulded construction is IPX7-rated for waterproof durability, making it perfect for all-weather cycling. The USB-C charging port (cable not included) allows for fast, convenient recharging.
Featuring Wide-Angle Optics with 270° visibility and attention-grabbing light modes, the Strip Drive Front Light is an exceptional light for cyclists looking for reliable illumination in any condition.
Modes (Lumens/burn time): Economy – 50 / 15 hours; Blast – 200 / 4 hours; Pulse – 200 / 10 hours; Flash 1 – 200 / 15 hours; Day Flash 1 – 200 / 50 hours; Day Flash 2 – 700 / 20 hours; FEMTO – 20 /75 hours
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of this product:
Lightweight and durable co-moulded design
Wide Angle Optics for up to 270° of visibility
Max output 700 lumens or impressive 75-hour runtime in Femto mode
7 combined solid and flash output modes including highly disruptive Day flash mode
1400 mAh battery capacity
Includes a versatile silicone rubber mounting strap
Max Lumens: 700
Recharge Type: USB-C waterproof charging (cable not included)
Weight: 78g
Dimensions: 70.5mm, 36.8mm, 34.8mm
Water-resistance rating: IPX7
Any further comments on quality?:
The build quality is very good. The light feels nicely made.
Any further comments on performance?:
The light output is very impressive. The only thing I struggled with a bit was the mounting method.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested?:
It sits quite close to the lower end of the scale, with not that many lights coming in cheaper.
Any further comments on design and usability?:
A single button makes life easy, and it’s very intuitive to use.
Any further comments on the clamp?:
It’s easy to use, with just a single rubber band to secure the light. I am just not that sold on the sideways mounting form. It feels like an odd way to have a light, taking up valuable bar real estate.
Does the light have a waterproofing rating? If so, what is it?:
IPX7
Any further comments on waterproofing?:
I’ve had no issues.
Any further comments on battery life and recharging?:
On the daytime flash mode, which I’ve preferred, it lasts a long time, and it charges quickly via USB-C.
Any issues with durability?:
No problems so far.
Any further comments on weight?:
At 78g, it’s not the lightest, but it’s also not the heaviest.
Did you enjoy using the product?
Ish. The output is good, but I don’t really like the mounting arrangement.
Would you consider buying the product?
Not for me. I like a neat light position.
Would you recommend the product to a friend?
Possibly. It has a bright output and helps keep you visible.
Use this box to explain your overall score
A bright and well functioning light, just let down a little by its form factor.
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 “Lezyne Strip Drive Front”
I think this is meant to be mounted to your headtube or fork…
@Aluminium can The description on Lezyne’s website says it “Includes a versatile silicone rubber mounting strap that securely mounts on both round and aero bars or compatible components.”
So it’s definitely “meant” to be mounted on handlebars if you want and would seem to be the default location. Yes it can be mounted in other places too, and the review does note it can also be mounted on the fork.
Just from the pictures, I’d be surprised if the strap was long enough to go around a typical headtube.