Sparse has created one of the best looking and functionally safest bike lights we’ve seen yet.
The design integrates the lights into your frame, making them exceptionally hard to steal. The icing on the cake is that they’re pretty good looking, too. Up front, the headlight’s mount doubles as a headset spacer. The tail light slides around your seatpost and fits all three common post diameters. In order to remove them, you’ve gotta take the stem or seatpost off the bike, creating a major deterrent to casual thieves.
The insides and functions look good, too. A Lithium Polymer battery powers them for four hours per charge. They’re rechargeable via USB and ship with a 6′ cord and wall plug, so all you need to do is park your bike near a socket to recharge them every few rides. The housing is die-cast aluminum and holds a double lens with silicone gasket to keep the electronics dry. They’re rated at up to 220 lumens in the front and up to 50 for the rear and will be available in black or brushed alloy.
Pics after the break…
Both lights keep things simple. The front has just on, off and blink modes controlled by a single button on the bottom. It’ll fit both 1″ and 1-1/8″ steerers. Production models will have a continuous reflector behind the LED bulbs to improve useable output and double as a reflector when the lights aren’t on.
The rear has a one-second flash “on” mode, an automatic mode that starts blinking when it senses movement, and off. In Auto, it’ll start blinking as soon as you start riding and continue for 60 seconds after it’s held still so it stays going when you’re at a traffic light. It’s meant to be a set it and forget it light…as long as you remember to charge it. Anyone else thinking that nice, flat top section would make a great home for a solar panel?
Interested? Pledge $50 and you get a tail light. Pledge $75 and you get the headlight. Pony up $120 and get the pair, or for $160 you’ll get a limited edition White alloy pair. Check it all out here. Estimated delivery is March 2013.
