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review

Lezyne KTV Pro Drive 75 rear light

8
£25.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Solid little light for all-day riding or a week's commuting, with good mounting options and visibility
Weight: 
50g

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The Lezyne KTV Pro Drive 75 is a compact, bright rear light with long run-time. Just 50g and compatible with any seatpost, its 75-lumen output sits somewhere between 'be seen' and 'legal obligation', and makes for a good backup choice.

  • Pros: Fits any seatpost, wide angle, long run-times, memory mode, angled bracket
  • Cons: USB-stick charging design, charge time & low charge remaining indication time

Back in 2017 Shaune reviewed the previous KTV Pro Drive, only really questioning the usefulness of the 3-lumen Economy setting. For 2019 the changes are tweaked optics increasing the advertised illuminated field from 180 out to a huge 270 degrees, a significantly increased run-time of about 40%, and a redesigned, angled rubber seatpost interface – all for about the same weight.

> Find your nearest dealer here

The Pro Drive 75 is dead simple to operate: press and hold the button for on, same for off. Press to cycle through the five modes, and it remembers the last mode used when you restart it. There's only the one button and it sits reasonably proud of the top of the light, making operation with gloves on easy.

There are two tiny battery charge level LEDs in the top right corner as you look at it, displayed by a single quick press of the power button without actually turning the light on. Green = 75% or more, green and red = 25-75%, and red-only means under 25%. The same LEDs show charging state: red for charging and green for charged. Handy, and nice to see charge level indication in a light so small and cheap.

It seems to run forever in 75-25% remaining, meaning the 25%-or-less indication doesn't seem to map to expected time remaining, so when you see that come on, get it charging sharpish.

When the light is turned on these charge level LEDs remain lit, so you can get an idea of time remaining without having to turn the light off and back on again.

Mounting

Fitting to your seatpost couldn't be easier: unhook the rubber strap, then rehook it around the post. Inside the rubber 'wings' there's a deep indentation to allow fitting to an aero seatpost without slipping, and enough give to also adhere securely to a normal post. For 2019 Lezyne has angled the rubber mount so as to make the lens vertical when on the bike. Unlike some other Lezyne designs, the ladder strap isn't retained, so make sure to hook it back up when chucking in a bag or it might go walkies.

The strap is thick yet also pliable enough to hold the Pro Drive 75 firmly on all diameters of seatpost, from skinny droppers to full-fat 30mm+ models.

Charging

Charging is via Lezyne's now-commonplace USB stick design, where you insert the light directly into a USB port after removing the secure rubber bung. It's handy not to need a cable, but inserting it into a standard low-profile Apple USB charger there was only just enough space to accommodate the depth of the light lens without excessively bending the USB tongue. Depending on what you're trying to charge it in, especially a low-profile laptop sat flat on a desk, you may run into issues here and require an extension cable (not provided) to facilitate charging without damaging the USB port or the light.

Lezyne KTV Pro Drive 75 - USB port.jpg

The rubber bung is very secure so no chance of losing it on the road, and as per its IPX7 rating, it survived a full minute under the road.cc Lukewarm Kitchen Tap Of Doom without letting a trace of water past.

Lezyne lists the charge time at three hours, but in repeated tests it took five hours each time, using different USB chargers. The charging current was only 0.1 Amp and I know the chargers are good for 2 Amps at each port, so it's the light's internal charge circuitry limiting current and therefore extending charge time here.

Performance

On the road, it works pretty much like every other light of this brightness. Yes, you can 'see' it from 100 or so metres away, but as we know 'being seen' is entirely subjective – there are plenty of internet examples of drivers ploughing into the rear of police and highway vehicles painted entirely in high-vis fluorescent paint with gigawatt-power lights flashing. Personally, I ride with a few hundred rearward-facing lumens of retina-burning disco-strobe righteousness, especially in the low-sun shoulder seasons and under dappled sunlight tree-lined country roads.

At 75 lumens max, the Pro Drive 75 isn't the Deathstar-disco light you're looking for, but does what I'd call a good job of alerting road users to your presence, and the purported 270-degree visibility does kick out a fair bit of light to the sides. Certainly it's not 75 lumens, mind, so don't expect to be lighting up a side street intersection as you roll past or sit at the lights. It's a moot point as to the legality of a rear light projecting red light forwards.

> Buyer's Guide: 17 of the best rear lights for cycling

I'd say the most likely use case is the 75-lumen Day Flash mode, purported at 10hrs run-time. I measured it at 11hrs, a solid overachievement and one that makes it a contender for an all-day audax or touring be-seen light. Another audax/touring-friendly feature is that the Pro Drive 75 can be easily run upside-down on a seatstay if your seatpost is obscured by luggage, using the extra ladders to make for a tight fit around slimmer tubes. While the subsequent lens angle isn't quite vertical, it's plenty good enough.

It scores well on value too: it outshines the Blackburn DayBlazer 65, for example, in both lumens and features, for less money. For those features and performance, and Lezyne's reputation for good customer support, I'd say £25 is a very good deal.

All in all, the Lezyne KTV Pro Drive 75 is a cracking little rear light. The mount, run-time and viewing angle all improve on what was already a solid performer.

Verdict

Solid little light for all-day riding or a week's commuting, with good mounting options and visibility

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Lezyne KTV Pro Drive 75

Size tested: 75 Lumen

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?

It's a solid little light for long rides or a week of commuting, with good mounting options.

Lezyne says: "Compact, aero-post compatible safety light featuring a Daytime Flash mode. Its co-molded construction is super light, yet durable and has an IPX7 waterproof rating. NEW -- Up to 19.5 hours of runtime (6.5 hour increase) with highly improved optics. Its Wide Angle Lens offers up to 270° of visibility. The KTV Drive Pro Rear provides up to 75 lumens (Daytime Flash) and five output/flash modes. And it features an integrated USB stick for convenient cable-free recharging. Also available in pairs."

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

Lezyne lists:

MAX LUMENS: 75

WEIGHT: 45g

MAX RUNTIME: 19:30 hours

RECHARGE TIME: 3 hours (it's not - it takes 5hrs)

Rate the light for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Solid and drop-proof.

Rate the light for design and ease of use. How simple was the light to use?
 
10/10

Couldn't be simpler, and memory mode is great to have.

Rate the light for the design and usability of the clamping system/s
 
10/10

Dead easy and very effective.

Rate the light for waterproofing. How did it stand up to the elements?
 
10/10

Didn't let a drop past.

Rate the light for battery life. How long did it last? How long did it take to recharge?
 
8/10

Battery life is excellent, but would be good to see charge time around the advertised 3hrs instead of 5.

Rate the light for performance:
 
8/10

It's as bright as advertised.

Rate the light for durability:
 
9/10

Feels properly solid and no concerns re dropping it.

Rate the light for weight:
 
9/10

50g is nothing. Almost.

Rate the light for value:
 
8/10

It outshines the Blackburn DayBlazer 65 in both lumens and features for less money. For the performance and features, and Lezyne's reputation for good customer support, £25 is a very good deal.

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

Yep, it works really well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the light

The charge indication, and memory mode.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the light

Charge time - it's looooong.

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

Overall it's a great little light. If it charged faster and the charge-remaining indication was more accurate, I'd be tempted to give it 4.5 stars.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 46  Height: 183cm  Weight: 72kg

I usually ride: Merida Ride 5000 Disc  My best bike is: Velocite Selene

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo-cross, club rides, general fitness riding, mountain biking, Dutch bike pootling.

Living in the Highlands, Mike is constantly finding innovative and usually cold/wet ways to accelerate the degradation of cycling kit. At his happiest in a warm workshop holding an anodised tool of high repute, Mike's been taking bikes apart and (mostly) putting them back together for forty years. With a day job in global IT (he's not completely sure what that means either) and having run a boutique cycle service business on the side for a decade, bikes are his escape into the practical and life-changing for his customers.

Add new comment

6 comments

Avatar
fixation80 | 4 years ago
1 like

A lot of these seat post lights do not take into account the angle  when fixing, they tend to direct light downard, I had to make a 'wedge' for my very good leyzine light.

Avatar
a1white | 4 years ago
1 like

I have one of these. was disappointed with it, as It developed a fault and decided to randomly cut out and stop working (even on full charge), after a few months of use, which is not what you want from your rear light on dark roads. Also there is no, get you home, low power mode. it just turns off when it is out of battery, so you need to keep an eye on its; charge.

Avatar
LezyneOfficial replied to a1white | 4 years ago
1 like
a1white wrote:

I have one of these. was disappointed with it, as It developed a fault and decided to randomly cut out and stop working (even on full charge), after a few months of use, which is not what you want from your rear light on dark roads. Also there is no, get you home, low power mode. it just turns off when it is out of battery, so you need to keep an eye on its; charge.

Hi there,

Our lights carry a two year warranty, so you should be covered! If able, can you please send an email to warranty [at] lezyne.com or submit a ticket to our main customer service channel Support.Lezyne.com? Our customer service team will be happy to help you out.

Cheers!

Avatar
fennesz | 4 years ago
3 likes

75 lumens is good enough as a backup light?  Really?   I'm sure 75 good enough for everything.  Those Cateye Orbs are amazing, they're 5 I think.

The bit about riding with several hundred lumens rear facing is frankly ridculous.  How much on the front?   Blinding everyone in the name of safety - who's safety?

Avatar
CyclingInBeastMode replied to fennesz | 4 years ago
0 likes
fennesz wrote:

75 lumens is good enough as a backup light?  Really?   I'm sure 75 good enough for everything.  Those Cateye Orbs are amazing, they're 5 I think.

The bit about riding with several hundred lumens rear facing is frankly ridculous.  How much on the front?   Blinding everyone in the name of safety - who's safety?

Exactly, this 'arms race' is stupid, it doesn't increase visibility any, even a very low amount on the rear is suffice if the person behind is bothering to look. Where's the evidence that increasing wattage/brightness has increased cyclists safety, for front lights it certainly allowed cyclists to go faster same as with motors, so yes you can see more but your thinking time is reduced due to increased speed that you think you can ride safely at due to the increased throw/brightness so you end with either worse outcomes or overall no change in safety.

I have a FWE rear on my audax tourer, I feel it's more than enough https://www.evanscycles.com/fwe-rechargeable-rear-light-30-lumen-EV277494 I use it on pulse mode which i think is a good balance with regards to run time and optimum mode for being seen, not that one should ever need a rear not to get rear ended/close passed.

Avatar
KiwiMike replied to CyclingInBeastMode | 4 years ago
3 likes
CyclingInBeastMode wrote:
fennesz wrote:

75 lumens is good enough as a backup light?  Really?   I'm sure 75 good enough for everything.  Those Cateye Orbs are amazing, they're 5 I think.

The bit about riding with several hundred lumens rear facing is frankly ridculous.  How much on the front?   Blinding everyone in the name of safety - who's safety?

Exactly, this 'arms race' is stupid, it doesn't increase visibility any, even a very low amount on the rear is suffice if the person behind is bothering to look. Where's the evidence that increasing wattage/brightness has increased cyclists safety

I agree 100%, if someone isn't looking, no manner of brightness short of an actual magnesium flare is going to make a difference.

I remember years ago seeing a cyclist from about 500 yards away, under dappled trees. I pulled over and asked what light he was using, turned out to be the 70L Lezyne Micro Drive rear. Then a few years on I saw someone using a 250L See.Sense Icon+ and was even more impressed - that for me is the gold standard of rear light, that will afford you the best-possible chance of being seen without blinding anyone.

And enough with the Stockholm Syndrome of 'blinding' bike lights - a car's brake lights are at least 100 Lumens, on top of the actual rear red lights. Each. At least, and that's not including ancillary high stop lights etc. I don't recall millions of rear-end car crashes happening every evening because people were 'blinded' by the car in front.

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