![]() A built-in accelerometer automatically switches into a constant burst mode when it senses a sudden change in speed. "The Rapid X2 Kinetic is a 50-lumen, USB rechargeable safety light that mounts easily on your seatpost. Introducing the Rapid X2 Kinetic, a movement-sensitive, day and nighttime light for your ride. It's for people who want a rear light that advises others that they are slowing down.Ĭateye says: "It's time for road safety to run 'round the clock. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it? Tell us what the light is for, and who it's aimed at. VerdictĪ good light but it doesn't deliver on the promised reliable brake light functionality Until then, I'd suggest you look at the Rapid X. Plus, with no option to manually select the brightest 50-lumen mode, in effect you're getting less light for more money.Īs the form factor, installation, battery life and brightness are all winners, hopefully Cateye will release an updated version with a more reliable accelerometer to deliver on the promise of a functional, reliable brake light. To me, this fundamentally undermines the USP of a 'brake light'. ![]() In all cases even moderate braking would trigger the 50-lumen mode – but also minor and major bumps and changes in orientation would as well. ![]() I tried mounting the X2 Kinetic in a number of locations – rear of the fork, seatstay, seatpost, on different bikes and at different angles – all with the same fundamentally random results. A following driver will wonder what on earth you are doing – that it's simply an erratic flash. If you're in a bunch ride and those behind realise your light is going off at random intervals, they won't trust it. You could argue that any light is better than no light, but when the proposition is that you advise other road users of your deceleration, any incidence of false alarms is not going to deliver the desired reaction from them. ![]() That's not to say it didn't 'work' – when decelerating under braking, the brake light came on every time. Unfortunately, it would also do so when accelerating or riding at a constant speed. On smooth or rough roads, fast or slow, going uphill or down, the brake function would activate. So the question must be: for an extra £13 over the Rapid X, does the X2 Kinetic actually work? Yes. Physically, and in brightness, flashing modes, charging, run-time and most other aspects, the Rapid X2 Kinetic is identical to the recently reviewed Rapid X Rear. The only difference is that instead of being able to manually choose the 50-lumen high mode, it only comes on for 2.5 seconds when the accelerometer detects you are braking. Over the years various firms have tried to bring this functionality to the lightweight, minimalist world of the bicycle with limited success – varying from the frankly awful Sigma Rear Brake Light to the 4.5-star Lupine Rotlicht and See.Sense Icon. Now the 800lb cycling accessory gorilla has waded into the smart rear light market with the Rapid X2 Kinetic. The ability to signal to other road users that you are slowing down is, generally speaking, a good thing – it allows them to react sooner, reducing the risk of collision. In terms of build quality and the features you'd want from a rear light, it's a good design, so it's a crying shame that the brake light element is so sensitive as to be not fit for purpose in real-world applications. The Cateye Rapid X2 Kinetic has a sensor designed to make it act as a brake light for your bike.
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