Bought and immediately loved: The Lezyne Zecto Drive
17.11.2016
Translation: machine translated
Light at the end of the tunnel at last! No more battery changes at last. At last: I've found the right bike light for me. Zecto Drive ❤️
I love cycling for life. Rain makes you beautiful, cold hardens you and sleet is better than any scrub. Only when it gets life-threateningly slippery in winter do I give in to the season and get on a packed bus. I'm not a safety fanatic. But the correct lighting is a must. Anyone travelling without lights in the dark season is putting themselves and others at risk. Please don't!
Now I'm sure the smart ones will jump out of the bushes and say: Then buy a city bike with integrated lights. Sure, you can do that. But for me, a bike light is always an emergency torch that I always have with me. It's useful in the cellar and a compact companion when travelling.
For the last few years, I've been using a (cheap) clone of the lightweight and practical knog. Frog Strobe. The pair cost 7.50 francs at my favourite cheap shop. The first pair was stolen. The rear light of the second pair was lost at some point. The rear light broke on the third pair.
The fourth pair was always neatly stowed away and never fell victim to thieves. Unfortunately, the lights in the jacket pocket sometimes switched themselves on - one CR2032 button battery please. To realise again and again with amazement: The two batteries for a single light cost more at the kiosk than the 7.50 for a new front and rear light. That can't be right. On top of that, you could only change the batteries with a watchmaker's screwdriver. You always have that with you anyway, logo.
I'd had enough. I had had enough. I'd spent a lot of money on rubbish. Battery Man was already looking at me sadly. I needed a reliable solution. It had to cost something.
The new bike light had to fulfil the following criteria:
- It should be detachable without a fixed bracket (elasticated system)
- It must be significantly brighter than the paltry 2.5 lumens
- It should have a rechargeable battery instead of batteries
- It must be solid
- It should not switch itself on in your jacket pocket
After some research on Galaxus, I decided in favour of the Lezyne Zecto. Yes, not a cheap item.
I've been using it on my way home for a fortnight now. The dark path where I have to push my bike up is now super well lit. With 60 lumens, it illuminates the surroundings in normal mode. If pedestrians come towards me, I switch it off by hand - today I got a "thank you" for that.
In "burst mode" it flashes twice as brightly and then glows with 120 lumens. This is the high beam, so to speak, and is unpleasantly bright for other road users at close range. Fortunately, it uses the last mode used after switching on.
This bike light does not require a fixed bracket and can be attached anywhere where there is a bar. When the carrier is loaded, it moves from the seat post to the carrier. The system of constantly attaching and detaching can be annoying and is not for everyone. For me, it works well from the wrist and is the most flexible. Thanks to a clip, you can also attach the lights to your rucksack, for example.
I charge the Lezyne Zecto Drive via micro USB. The connections are concealed under rubber caps. This means they are well protected even in the rain, but a little difficult to access. Since the fiddling is only necessary every fortnight, that's fine. I like the fact that I can charge the lights at any time with a small, lightweight power bank in my rucksack. When the battery is completely empty, charging takes two to three hours per light. Please note: Unfortunately, the lights cannot be switched on while charging.
The second drawback is that the buttons for switching on and off require some force. Yes, I didn't want the lights in my jacket pocket to switch on spontaneously and drain the battery. But man, these buttons are really tough.
This leads to the last criterion: stability. This is easily explained. The mechanics are solid and the housing makes a very stable impression. This thing can take a beating. Unreservedly recommended for cyclists who appreciate a quality product and prioritise flexibility.
While searching for a new bike light, I discovered the following interesting products
The brightness miracle with 3200 lumens. This is bright madness. For bikers who want to speed down a trail at night. Yep, this thing turns night into day.
The little brother of the Lezyne Zecto Drive. Dropped out for me because of the button batteries.
The knog. Blinder Mini Niner is a tough competitor. It's more compact, but the battery life is also significantly shorter - too short for me.
Do your own search - over 700 lights, dozens with top ratings from the Community.
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Header image: Zecto Drive at the store.
Aurel Stevens
Chief Editor
aurel.stevens@digitecgalaxus.chI'm the master tamer at the flea circus that is the editorial team, a nine-to-five writer and 24/7 dad. Technology, computers and hi-fi make me tick. On top of that, I’m a rain-or-shine cyclist and generally in a good mood.
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