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review
£49.95
VERDICT:
A great set of round-town winter commuting lights
Weight:
64g
Contact:
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.
What the road.cc scores meanGood scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
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The BBB Signal Combo is a good set of mini lights for riding around town and built-up areas. The battery life is decent, and the price acceptable.
They're lights for being seen by rather than seeing with – a maximum of 50 lumens at the front means you won't be heading off-road with them – but they'll cope with poorly lit paths. They work really well for around town riding, making sure I was seen when the sun went down. During the testing period there was a lot of fog, and the flashing modes were particularly helpful for this.
Find your nearest dealer here
Buy this online here
These LED lights are powered by a lithium battery, and there are four modes on each light, with varying degrees of brightness. Each is simple to use, with a single button that you press and hold for two seconds before using to cycle through the modes.
The rear has a choice of three steady modes – 4 lumens (6 hours), 8 lumens (3 hours), or 20 lumens (1.5 hours) – while the front has 12 lumens (6 hours), 24 lumens (3 hours) and 50 lumens (1.5 hours). Both lights have a flashing mode that lasts for 12 hours.
An indicator lets you know when your battery is half full, so you can gauge how much time you have left in each mode.
The set comes with two USB cables, so you can charge the lights from a socket or from your computer at work. Charging is said to take roughly 2.5 hours; I drained the lights and both were fully charged in just over this.
Both lights rotate 360 degrees, giving flexibility in how you want them positioned when mounted. Using a silicone strap for mounting, they can be fitted almost anywhere on your bike, and the front fits most handlebars regardless of diameter. The fact that they are easy to mount makes them easy to remove, too, which is handy when you lock up your bike.
>> Check out our guide to the best front lights here
At £49.95 rrp for the pair, it's a fair price for an excellent step up from cheaper replaceable battery lights for those who commute daily.
Verdict
A great set of round-town winter commuting lights
road.cc test report
Make and model: BBB Signal combo
Size tested: n/a
Tell us what the product 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?
These lights are aimed at any cyclist wanting to be seen and are suited to commuters.
BBB says: "Perfect for commutes in fall or winter when the sun goes down early. The StrapMount silicone strap allows the Signals to be mounted virtually anywhere on your bike, frame, handlebar, seat post or seat stays."
I agree that it is a great commuter light set that works well.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Front light:
Uses 1 super-bright white COB LED. (Chips On Board)
Battery power indicator on top.
Rubber enclosed water-resistant switch provides direct and responsive activation.
Quick and easy to charge by USB.
Economic power consumption for long lasting battery life.
Easy mounting, angle adjustable silicone StrapMount bracket included. Fits both standard and oversized handlebar diameters.
4 modes: low beam, standard beam, high beam and flashing beam.
Charging time is typically 2.5 hours and the system is protected against short circuits, overcharging and total discharge.
High quality Lithium polymer (300 mAh 3.7 V) battery.
The lithium battery can be charged up to 300 times without performance loss.
Weight: 30 grams.
Size: 70 x 24 x 16 mm.
Colors: black.
Rear light:
Lightweight and compact USB rechargeable rear minilight.
Uses 1 super-bright red COB LED. (Chips On Board).
Battery power indicator on top.
Rubber enclosed water-resistant switch provides direct and responsive activation.
Quick and easy to charge by USB.
Economic power consumption for long lasting battery life.
Easy mounting, angle adjustable silicone StrapMount bracket included. Fits all seat post diameters.
4 modes: low beam, standard beam, high beam and flashing beam.
Charging time is typically 2.5 hours and the system is protected against short circuits, overcharging and total discharge.
High quality Lithium polymer (300 mAh 3.7 V) battery.
The lithium battery can be charged up to 300 times without performance loss.
Weight: 30 grams.
Size: 70 x 24 x 16 mm.
Color: black.
Rate the product for quality of construction:
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
8/10
The lights are easy to use and work well.
Rate the product for durability:
7/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
8/10
They are lightweight.
Rate the product for value:
7/10
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
The lights work really well in built-up areas.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The 360-degree rotation.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Nothing.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your score
The lights are simple to attach and work well.
About the tester
Age: 35 Height: 158cm Weight: 61kg
I usually ride: Scott Contessa My best bike is:
I've been riding for: Under 5 years I ride: A few times a week I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding, mountain biking
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Add new comment
6 comments
Cycling Plus reviewed these last month and came to a similar conclusion, awarding them 4/5.
But fifty quid for back-up lights???
Unfortunately, many of the 'reviews' on road.cc have become less in depth and just thinly veiled adverts. Sad to see.
How many things can you say about a light? I thought the review was good, as were most other ones. Switch off Xwheels.
On reflection yes, a bit overly critical. Just used to reading and sometimes relying on the honest and intelligent high standard of reviews by road.cc over the last few years.
But agreed, there is probably not much more to say about these lights as they are fairly unexceptional.
let us know what else it was you wanted to know, and we'll see what we can do
Beam pattern, angle of view - it's all about wide visibility with COBs I thought. And there's a big link to a webshop in the review. Does this generate affiliate revenue, as the address suggests? Doesn't matter to me but should be clear, if it does, please.