Author Topic: Rear Cat-Eye - Brompton specific  (Read 3042 times)

Rear Cat-Eye - Brompton specific
« on: 02 June, 2017, 04:59:57 pm »
So I thought I'd treat the Brommie to one of the specifically-designed-to-fit-under-the Brompton's-saddle 2017 from my LBS - who also happened to supply the Brompton.
It is much lauded (by Brompton) for allowing you to fully drop the seat tube without removing the light.
Got it home to find the bag contained one light, one USB lead (I'd have preferred it if the light had a USB tab under a rubber cap - like my Leyzene KTVs do, which if you lose the cap, the light remains functional. Lose the lead and the light works not so much), and a hole.
A hole through which the bracket had made good its escape  >:(
So back to the LBS, this time I saw their mechanic - the same guy who PD my Brommie.
I pointed out the bag had been opened and the bracket was missing.
He scrabbled around in the drawer and produced a bracket, bought it over and fumbled round under my saddle with the words 'Only it won't fit this saddle, you need the 2017 saddle'.
I groaned as my saddle is hardly worn from once a weekly, or even less frequently, shopping trip, so I was reluctant to replace it.
Mechanic went over to the wall, pulled the saddle off the hook, ripped off its packing card and gave it to me FOC  :thumbsup:
How this saddle differs is that it has an M5 threaded insert moulded ino it's base, and that is what the bracket screws onto - if only they had given me an M5 bolt!!!
Those of you who know me will know that an absence of an M5 bolt is not really an issue in my house. And  I'll bet the one that comes from Cat-Eye isn't  stainless.
So the light is pretty bright, and has more modes than you could wish for.
I've no idea of run time.
I've already said I would've preferred it to have a capped USB tab rather than a loseable lead.
The bracket will also take other Cat-Eye lights - such as the LD600 - the staple of my other bikes.
Which makes me wonder whether the bracket is available on its own - probably not, as I'm sure they'd like you to pony up the £20.00 for the light.
I don't remember reading in any of the reviews or in Brompton's blurb that it'd only work with this year's saddle.

Tl;dr?

Brompton specific rear USB Cat-Eye does pretty much as it says on the tin.
Someone has been playing it lite with saddle information.
Chris Compton's after sales service rocks.


PaulF

  • "World's Scariest Barman"
  • It's only impossible if you stop to think about it
Re: Rear Cat-Eye - Brompton specific
« Reply #1 on: 02 June, 2017, 10:34:46 pm »
Got a Moon light from my LBS that includes a mount that attaches to the saddle rails...

Kim

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Re: Rear Cat-Eye - Brompton specific
« Reply #2 on: 02 June, 2017, 10:40:52 pm »
Some decent pictures of the Cateye one here: http://brilliantbikes.co.uk/brompton-battery-lighting/2541-brompton-cateye-saddle-mounted-rear-light.html


Got a Moon light from my LBS that includes a mount that attaches to the saddle rails...

Me TAAW.  It's a Moon Comet:



Sits lower than the Cateye, which means it's a bit more jacket-proof.  Similar runtime.  Main downside is the mini (rather than micro) USB charging port.  Possibly a bit more bash-prone than the Cateye (particularly in the vertical alignment, which I found gave a slightly better horizontal spread of light).

Surprising how uncommon rear lights with saddle-rail mounts are.  They're ideal for folding bikes, for obvious reasons.

Re: Rear Cat-Eye - Brompton specific
« Reply #3 on: 02 June, 2017, 10:43:05 pm »
You've done it for tonight's Marmite content.
Where is the friggin' light?  :)
FWIW Safari won't play with your link
But that's safari.
No Guardian, No Indi, No Telegraph - or is it just me?

PaulF

  • "World's Scariest Barman"
  • It's only impossible if you stop to think about it
Re: Rear Cat-Eye - Brompton specific
« Reply #4 on: 03 June, 2017, 09:35:16 am »

Here you go:


ian

Re: Rear Cat-Eye - Brompton specific
« Reply #5 on: 03 June, 2017, 12:06:41 pm »
I just put a normal clamp at the very top of the seat post...

Re: Rear Cat-Eye - Brompton specific
« Reply #6 on: 03 June, 2017, 02:05:29 pm »
I just put a normal clamp at the very top of the seat post...

Funnily enough, to date, that's what I've been doing with my Lezyne KTV....

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Rear Cat-Eye - Brompton specific
« Reply #7 on: 04 June, 2017, 08:12:56 pm »
If you have an extended seatpost, most lights fit.  I'm only 5'10" and I have the extended seatpost pulled ip all the way (Ti) or almost all the way (steel).  The standard post is a bit on the short side for an average-height rider who wants the seat height at 95% of inside leg.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.