StrikeDuo from BBB review – a headlight for gravel and mountain bikes
17.10.2023
Translation: Veronica Bielawski
Pictures: Patrick Bardelli
The StrikeDuo headlight shines with a maximum of 2,000 lumens. It was developed for gravel and mountain bikes, and is BBB’s brightest headlight. It turns the night into day.
The StrikeDuo bike headlight from BBB illuminates your surroundings with up to 2,000 lumens. And lights the way up to 210 metres ahead. The headlight is specifically designed for use on gravel and MTB trails where there’s no other light source. That’s to say, this 218-gramme chunk of a bike light is only of limited use in normal road traffic – unless your goal is to blind the road users around you.
Lumen (lm) is the standardised unit for so-called luminous flux. Luminous flux indicates how much light a light source emits in all directions. In other words, brightness. The lumen rating can be used to estimate just how bright a lamp is. The higher the lumen value, the more light it emits per unit of time. For comparison, the average candle shines with about 12 lumens.
Source: Patrick Bardelli
Source: Patrick Bardelli
The specs
The StrikeDuo headlight offers seven modes: two daytime modes with flashing and five nighttime modes.
Night mode
- 2,000 lm / battery life: 2:00 hr
- 1,300 lm / battery life: 3:15 hr
- 800 lm / battery life: 5:30 hr
- 350 lm / battery life: 12:30 hr
- 50 lm / battery life: 80:00 hr
Day mode
- 400 lm / battery life: 200 hr
- 200 lm / battery life: 120 hr
Source: Patrick Bardelli
BBB StrikeDuo for gravel and mountain bikes
The StrikeDuo features aluminium housing and is, as already mentioned, the strongest headlight from BBB and made for off-road use. The oval light cone in combination with the maximum 2,000 lumens illuminates everything in front of me and turns the night into day. Though given I didn’t quite ride my gravel bike at night, but at dawn and dusk, I suppose I should say it turns cockcrow and twilight into day. Even so, the forest gets very dark at twilight, and the lamp provided me with fantastic vision.
The scope of delivery includes the so-called StrapFix, a bracket for the headlight. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work on my gravel bike. The light keeps tilting down due to the shocks when I’m riding. I have to straighten it by hand every few metres. This is annoying, not to mention dangerous; there’s an increased risk of an accident if I’m constantly busy adjusting the lamp instead of paying attention to the path.
Luckily, there are other brackets available, for example the GoMount or Centermount 2.0. Both of these keep the headlight nice and secure, even during very bumpy rides. They can be purchased separately.
Source: Patrick Bardelli
Source: Patrick Bardelli
Bike light accessories
Quantity discount
CHF11.40 per piece for 2 units
BBB Handlebar holder BBB-Lights Centermount 2.0
The remote control
Finally, my favourite feature of this product: the remote control. It attaches to the handlebar easily with a small Velcro strap and connects to the headlight via USB-C. The remote control allows you to turn the lamp on and off and switch between modes. The fact I don’t have to take my hands off the handlebars for this is great. I can do everything with the thumb of my right hand while riding, which increases safety.
Source: Patrick Bardelli
The lowdown: a solid headlight for off-road biking
The StrikeDuo headlight from BBB has got it. Compared to the other bike lamps I’ve used, it’s a proper chonker at 218 grammes. On the other hand, its bulky look signals a kind of robustness befitting off-road use.
In autumn, the woods are quite gloomy as early as at 6 p.m. on cloudy days. Visibility is bad then. Admittedly, being on the road with 2,000 lumens, I almost feel guilty when I think about the forest animals; that’s how brightly the StrikeDuo illuminates the path and surrounding area. For my biking style, 350 lumens is plenty. I can still see what’s in front of me as well as what’s happening to my left and right.
Source: Patrick Bardelli
At 350 lumens, the battery should last over twelve hours, so I could easily ride all night in this mode. Not that I actually have. At 50 lumens, the battery should last up to 80 hours, which is interesting for ultra-distance cycling. Even though I was a bit sceptical at first due to its weight and dimensions, overall the StrikeDuo headlight has won me over.
Header image: Patrick Bardelli
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
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