Metro Pro 1100

I just got the light an my initial impression is that it's excellent. I purchased the 1200 lumen model and it really lights up the road nicely. I can see all the imperfections in the road clearly. It seems to be very well built although for the price one would expect some form of alloy metal. I’m not sure how long the charge lasts, but as long as it last me one to two rides, I’m satisfied. Overall, I found it to be a good investment for nighttime escooting. If it craps out in the next few weeks, I’ll be sure to come back and update my review.

Placing the new Metro Pro 1100 next to my older Metro 700, it would be easy to get them confused with one another. They both have the same outward shape and dimensions with nothing written on their exteriors to differentiate them. Outwardly, the 1100 Pro has two larger vents on each side of the light, while the 700 has three smaller vents on each side. The Pro also has a much smaller green-glowing, white-rubberized switch on the top. The charger socket on the 1100 Pro is a Micro USB, where the 700 has a slightly larger and more dated Mini USB. Both have the usual, fussy little rubber plug thingies that sorta cover their USB ports. (Can't somebody come up with something better?) And both came with short, appropriate USB cables for charging.In use, the 1100 Pro seems subjectively perhaps 20/25-percent brighter than the 700 on each comparable setting. The 1100 Pro has four modes in its regular startup mode: low, medium, high, and on with a pulse. The 700 has the same settings, plus a flashing mode. Holding the "on" switch down for 2-seconds enters the secondary modes for both lights. The 1100 Pro adds two flashing modes, a slow modulated pulse, and a low light for walking. The 700 adds only the low walking mode. Additionally on the 1100 Pro, a quick double-press of the switch while the light is operating in normal mode will go directly to "boost" setting, which will give a slightly extra-bright light. Pressing the switch again takes the light back to its last setting.The 1100 Pro seems as well made as the 700, which is a plus. So far, I haven't managed to run the 1100 Pro's still relatively fresh battery dead during a ride, so I can't really comment on battery life. With the longer, late spring days, its made it through two-hours of daylight pulse and high for maybe a half-hour at sunset, though that's not saying much. My experience has been that the 700 is good for only about an hour on high, somewhat more than twice that on the medium or pulsed-on settings, and at least 5/6-hours on the daylight flashing mode. Running either of these lights on a higher setting for a longer period of time, such as for a multi-hour night ride, would require some type of auxiliary USB power. But that's to be expected of any light this size and brightness.The bar clamps for these are easy to install, and I've fit them on both a 7/8" and a 1" bar. The lights are easily removable (as are the mounts). But make sure the light is snapped all the way back into the bar mount if you don't want to leave it on a trail.Whether or not the 1100 Pro justifies the current, almost 100% premium over an older 700 (which are still available as I write this) is a subjective matter. But the 1100 Pro seems to be well-made and fully-featured, and still prices well below most of its competition.

After weeks of combing through Amazon for a better and brighter light, reading countless reviews (sifting through the fakes to find the rare review that tells some truth about the lumens and other facts), as well as reading the bike light review websites and the history of CREE led, I've learned a few things which I will distill here.Most of the ubiquitous little inexpensive cup-shaped light (same or similar to the one I included in my 2nd photo) with a big battery pack that almost everywhere claims 1200 lumens is actually only 600 lumens. That's what I've been using on my bike for about 5-10 years. 600 lumens is bright, but just barely enough to see the potholes far enough away in complete darkness, I wanted something a little brighterA car headlight, for point of reference, is about 3000 lumens, so the lights all over Amazon for $20 or $30 dollars claiming anywhere between 1800 to 4400 lumens are almost all false advertising, or using cheap parts that will start a fire while you're using it or while you're charging it.This 1100 lumen light by Cigolite is the real deal (verified on review websites as well as being sold at legitimate stores like REI etc., aside from Amazon).Side-by-side comparison with my eyes as judgment - my old cup light (claimed 1200 but actually 600 lumens) was essentially the same brightness as the second level setting of this Cygolite Metro Pro 1100. When you press Cygolite once you get low, second press medium, third press high, and a fast double press give you 'Boost' - which is the full 1100 lumens.I ride around NYC on my adult scooter, and any pothole or unexpected crack in the sidewalk that I don't see coming could send me flying, I had to keep the speed low at night with my old 600 lumen light and was concentrating too hard because I couldn't see far enough ahead. I plan on riding now with the new Cygolite always on full boost 1100 lumens which I expect will give me the same riding experience at night as during the day.I'm pretty thrilled to get almost twice the brightness with a nice small, easy to install or remove light - and to be finally free of that big heavy battery pack!Based on all my research, I think I got the best intersection of lightweight, small size, super bright, and relatively inexpensive that there is. Similar lights with most of the same qualities go for $100 and up.I do not recommend falling prey to the high lumen claims for $15-$50 all over Amazon, the majority of them are pure false advertising.Not that it indicates anything about the brightness, but if anyone is wondering, in the photo of the light shining on the door, the light is set on low.