Product Description

2 AA batteries. 10 LED's. 3 flashing modes runs up to 100 hours. Constant mode runs to 50 hours. 18 - 44 mm seat post mounting. Clothing clip included.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22291 in Sports & Outdoors
• Color: Red
• Brand: Cateye
• Model: TL-LD1000
• Released on: 2007-05-23
• Dimensions: 2.00" h x 3.30" w x 3.70" l, .35 pounds

Features

• 10 red LEDs provide day-and-night tail-light visibility
• 2 LEDs on each side for bright side visibility
• OptiCube¿ headlight technology for optimal brightness
• Independently controlled rows of LEDs; 3 flashing modes
• Clothing clip included

Amazon.com Product Description
Featuring 10 red LEDs, this tail light is bright enough to be visible even during daylight and has two LEDs on each side to provide bright side visibility for extra safety. The light also incorporates Cateye's OptiCube technology, which was developed for headlights, to optimize brightness. Each row of LEDs is independently controlled by a side-mounted switch and offers four different modes, for a total of 16 combinations. Three of the modes are flashing to attract extra attention from motorists. The light mounts easily on any seat post from 18 to 44 mm in diameter. A clothing clip is also included.

About Cateye
Founded in 1946 in Osaka, Japan, CatEye is the leading manufacturer of cycle computers, lights, and reflectors to cyclists in the world. In 1964, CatEye was the first in the industry to create a flashing lamp for bicycles, followed by their first battery headlamp in 1982, and the very first bicycle head lamp using white LEDs in 2001. The company's Opticube lens and reflectors make the brightest and most efficient LED headlights. while their LD500 remains the only rear safety light that can meet the rigorous CPSC standards for reflectivity.

Customer Reviews

This is the third best tail light on the market.
I purchased the Cateye TL-LD1000 at my LBS. It was an impulse buy when I was taking home a new bike. The light appeared impressive in the packaging---big with LOTS of LEDs, so I thought it would compare favorably with the lights I used on my other bike(that frame was at the manufacturer being repainted after being hit by a truck)---the Planet Bike Superflash.

The Cateye light is a capable taillight. It's well made, and offers side visibility. However, it is not nearly as bright as the Superflash, which is cheaper, to boot. The Cateye light is larger than the Superflash, heavier than the Superflash, and eats batteries at a greater rate than the Superflash. My LD-1000 has been relegated to use on my town bike, which is only ridden in well-lighted neighborhoods at night.

So, if you need a taillight which will give you confidence at night----buy the DiNotte taillight. It's quite expensive($150+) but it puts out 140 lumens---which is brighter than most HEADLIGHTS. If the DiNotte is out of your price range, buy the Superflash. Buy several. If you are set on buying the Cateye, you won't be disappointed. It's a good light. But there are better options.

Also, the blurb in the item description is not accurate. Cateye's HL-EL530 is not anywhere near the brightest LED headlight on the market. It may be the brightest for under a hundred bucks, but it's not close to the Niterider MiNewt or TriNewt, the DiNotte headlights, the Light and Motion headlights, or especially the lights from Lupine. Those are all much more expensive, but is lighting REALLY where you want to pinch pennies? It amazes me when I see guys on 5 thousand dollar Madones riding at night with three dollar blinkies and Cateye headlights. Meanwhile, I ride a Gunnar with a DiNotte 600L.:-)

Extremely Bright and Well Made but with One Major Flaw
Extremely Bright and Well Made but with One Major Flaw

After have been a satisfied Cateye customer for over 20 years, I was glad to experiment with this product. Lately, my interest urban cycling has grown, which has encouraged me to investigate a range of bicycling safety products. As such, I purchased taillights from Bell, Cygo-lite, and Planet-Bike. The Cateye Opticube is by far the brightest. Yet, it suffers from one flaw in its lacking any reflective materials.

Recently, while driving through Chicago in the evening, I saw a cyclist several hundred feet ahead of me. What struck me after getting closer is that I could easily see his reflector long before his blinking taillight was visible.

This example illustrates where the Cateye offering falls short. When I first opened the package and mounted it, I was very impressed with the intensity. Yet, when I shined another light in its direction, there was no reflection. This is unlike my inexpensive taillights, which are functional as standalone reflectors even without battery power.

To Cateye's credit, this taillight is extremely bright. Even during daytime, looking directly into the flashing LEDs at arms-length will give you a headache. Yet, these LEDs are highly directional, unlike a conventional automotive taillight. At 100 feet, there is an immense difference between looking directly inline with the axes of the LEDs and moving slightly off center. The light tapers at five degrees or so, which is obviously disadvantageous. The additional four perpendicularly-mounted LED's help, but this is not as good as having a built-in reflector and textured lens that will scatter light from the LEDs as well as reflect light from automotive headlights.

The two independent switches for each row of LEDs are potentially useful features. However, there is again a flaw with this design. Because the two rows are not set to blink at the exact same time, the intensity is diminished. It would be nice to have a master switch or some auto-synchronization between the two rows to deliver maximum impact.

The solid construction of the Cateye Opticube is clearly evident. The plastic housing is thicker and denser than other taillights. It *feels* more solid in your hand. Also, it has an innovative cylindrical design, allowing for the proper placement of the four side LEDs. Clearly, Cateye spends more money manufacturing this taillight than its competitors. Is it worth the cost difference? This really depends on if you have a preexisting reflector on your bicycle and need improved scattering of light. In fact, if these shortcomings were addressed, the TL-LD1000 would be the best taillight on the market.

Pros
Extremely bright
Solid construction
Perpindicular LEDs

Cons
No built-in reflector
Highly directional LEDs
No master switch to engage both rows of LEDs simultaneously
Expensive

Absolutely amazing, again.
This is another amazing product from Cateye. I also have their EL500, a blazingly bright 4-AA electronic headlight ($33). The LD1000 has an upper and a lower bank of LEDs, including side flashers. There are four modes for each bank (solid, flash, streak, random.) It's extremely bright at night - almost a nuisance, but that's OK if I'm on a bike and you're in an SUV. It's also quite bright on a cloudy day (to grab a distracted driver's attention) and I suspect pretty visible even in daylight. If you've had regular $10 headlights and tailights, you won't believe the candlepower Cateye gets with is electronic LED lights. I do a frequent night or 5 am biking in cities, and this is so worth the $25-35 price.