Twilight cycling with the Ravemen FR300 bike light

Patrick Bardelli

27/1/2025

Translation: Katherine Martin

The Ravemen FR300 is a front bike light with some interesting features. However, it does have its disadvantages – especially in a sports context.

Bike lights. There’s a trigger word for you. What are the rules, regulations, dos and don’ts surrounding them? Though everyone may seem to be clued in on nighttime cycling, very few of us actually are. Myself included. Until recently, there was one legal requirement I had no idea existed. Namely, that the main lights at the front and back of your bike have to be solid i.e. not flashing. Shout-out to my fellow editor Martin Jungfer, whose illuminating article recently shed some light on the murky topic of nighttime cycling:

Ravemen FR300

Bike light manufacturer Ravemen kindly gave me one of its lights to test. In the advertising for the FR300, the Chinese brand gives a lot of prominence to the light’s flashing mode, which doesn’t consume much battery. However, as I’ve recently found out, using this 300-lumen, eye-catching, warning flashing mode is illegal if you don’t have an additional solid main light.

The FR300 is a compact, lightweight front light and a more powerful version of the FR160. With its maximum brightness of 300 lumens, the manufacturer says it’s ideal for city cyclists and commuters who’re riding in both daylight and poor light conditions. The FR300 is IPX6-resistant against heavy rainfall and has a USB-C charging port.

The specs

• LED: COB LED
• Battery: 1,200 mAh/3.7 V
• Dimensions: 82 mm (L), 60 mm (W), 25.5 mm (H)
• Weight: 75 g

What’s in the box?

• Ravemen FR300 front light with Garmin mount
• Ravemen Wahoo insert and mounting tab QTM01
• USB/USB-C charging cable
• Tether

The light comes with six different modes – three flashing and three constant. Its brightness ranges from 50 to 300 lumens. This is a measure of the total luminous flux emitted by a light source. It describes the brightness of the light source itself, regardless of how the light is distributed. A bike light with a high lumen measurement produces a lot of light, which is particularly handy in dark environments.

However, this measurement tells you nothing about how much light can reach a particular surface. Lux is the measurement used to describe that. A good bicycle light should have both a high lumen and an appropriate lux level. Unfortunately, Ravemen doesn’t provide any information on lux in the specs.

Wide-angle lens improves visibility

One feature I like on the FR300 is the wide-angle lens, which helps you see to the left and right more clearly. It seems like it’d prove especially handy at junctions and roundabouts.

I also like the fact that the light’s compatible with Garmin mounts. Apparently, it also works with Wahoo and Bryton computer mounts, but I didn’t try those out. However, the FR300 does fit on the Coros Dura mount too. Note from the manufacturer: the FR300 doesn’t work with the original Wahoo Element Bolt aero out-front mount.

The small tether that comes included with the light makes it that little bit more secure, proving especially useful on bumpy surfaces. You can also use the front light as a power bank to charge your bike computer if necessary. Plus, the FR300 has a mode memory function. This saves the last mode you used on your previous ride, booting it up automatically on your next cycle. Finally, the bike light has an automatic on/off switch. Check out the manufacturer’s video:

In a nutshell

The Ravemen FR300’s ideal for commuters

With its maximum brightness of 300 lumens, the FR300 is, in my opinion, a bike light suited to commuters and people who generally cycle on well-lit roads and/or at dusk. On dark trails, away from lamplit roads (especially when riding at night), I’d use a more powerful light such as the BBB or knog. lights pictured above.

Pro

• Compatible with various brands of mount
• Comes with a tether
• Better side-on visibility thanks to a wide-angle lens
• Mode memory function
• Automatic on/off mode

Contra

• «Only» 300 lumens
• More for street cycling than off-road use

Bike lights

Ravemen FR 300

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Patrick Bardelli

Senior Editor

Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.ch

From radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.

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