Bontrager Ion 200 RT & Flare RT
What’s In The Video?
A overview and demo of the Bontrager Ion 200 RT and Flare RT daytime running LED bike lights.
As I mention at the start of the video, I am not any kind of an expert in bikes or cycling. I am not claiming to know which are the best lights for riding or why. These are the lights I chose so, as a tech channel and someone who loves a good LED torch or light, I wanted to feature them.
I welcome any feedback from keen or professional cyclists out there who might have an opinion on these lights or on Bontrager / Trek products in general. Are they overpriced or do you get what you pay for?
Support the Channel
Amazon don’t stock these lights at time of writing. If they do, I recommend buying them somewhere else because the prices I’ve seen are above the RRP for these lights. That said, if you’d like to support the channel, please click on the Amazon link below for any shopping you feel like doing! Thank you.
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The Bontrager Ion 200 RT (left) and Flare RT (right) are tiny devices
When you use a flashing rear light during the day, studies show you’re up to 240% more noticeable than a rider using no lights at all - trekbikes.com
Ion 200 RT & Flare RT Specifications
Max Brightness: 200 Lumens (ION 200) / 90 Lumens (Flare RT)
LED Type: CREE
Battery: Rechargeable Li-Ion
Charging: Micro-USB (short cable supplied)
Max Visible Distance: 2km Approx
Ambient Light Sensor: Yes (device can switch modes automatically)
Connectivity: Bluetooth (to Garmin & Bontrager devices)
Battery Life ION 200 RT (front)
High - 200 lumens - 1.5 hours
Medium - 100 lumens - 3 hours
Low - 5 lumens - 14.5 hours
Night Flash - 5 lumens - 30 hours
Day Flash - 100 lumens - 12 hours
Charging the Bontrage Ion 200 RT with the supplied Micro-USB cable
Battery Life Flare RT (rear)
Day Flash - 90 lumens - 6 hours
All Day Flash - 45 lumens - 12 hours
Night Flash - 5 lumens - 15 hours
Day Steady - 25 lumens - 4.5 hours
Night Steady - 5 lumens - 13.5 hours
Bontrager Review
Let’s take a brief look at the pros and cons of these lights. It’s better for me if you watch the video but if you don’t have time to watch or you just prefer to read reviews, I hope you can still get an idea of whether this is the right product for you.
Pros
Extremely bright with superb visibility
Five flash modes is enough for most people
Great battery life of up to 30 hours depending on the mode used
Simple to remove and fit to allow easy removal when leaving your bike
Simple to mount and re-mount to easily switch from one bike to another
Very compact and light weight making them easy to fit in addition to your main light
USB rechargeable so most power banks will work OK for ‘on the go’ charging *
* Some power banks will shut off below a certain current draw on charging. As these lights will not require much power to charge, you may find your power bank turns itself off before a charge completes.
Cons
So expensive. For many people’s use, these are single LED lights with basic flash functionality. £85 for a pair feels extortionate.
Did I mention the crazily high price?
Conclusion
These lights are most definitely ‘be seen’ lights. They do have always-on modes (as is required legally in many countries), but the battery life is much lower and the beam is not focused in such a way so as to light the road ahead. They’re just not made for that.
I love the idea of DRLs for cycling. I know motorists can sometimes find bike lights irritating because they are so bright these days, but I am a big advocate of doing the most you can to make sure you are seen. As a driver, I very much appreciate cyclists that take this approach.
The Bontrager Ion 200 RT and Flare RT are beautiful little lights with magnificent performance. They’re simple to use for beginners like me and offer more advanced connectivity and performance for professional cyclists or those with all the gear but no idea.
If you want great lights and are willing to spend the ridiculous asking price to know you’ve got great lights, go for it. If you just want something rechargeable that flashes, you could find something on Amazon for a tenth of the price.