Lumos Firefly: the most versatile bike light(s)?

Over the last decades, there have been numerous attempts to a) add blinkers (a.k.a. turn indicators) to a bicycle and b) make lights smarter. While there are great products, such as the addition of cameras (e.g., Cycliq), Radar (e.g., Garmin), accelerometers for brake function, or even proximity sensors (such as the here introduced Dash), the attempts at adding blinking function to indicate turns have all so far not proven successful on the market.

Lumos, the company that has already introduced the fairly popular smart helmet with integrated lights, is now having a go at smart lights with turn indicators through their latest Kickstarter campaign. Their Firefly lights are connected and controlled through an app on your phone; they can be controlled with an optional remote, run in sync (if you get several of them, for example, to use the turn signal function), and can be used as front light (white) or rear light red. The blinking is also triggered either by remote or by phone (for those of you who have your phone mounted on the bar or stem), and the brake light works through an accelerometer housed in the remote (so you need the remote for that function).

The lights are rated as “be seen” lights, so if mounted in the front, they won’t help you see that road, but they ensure you are being seen. There are several options for backing, based on how many lights you would like to get (most backers opted for 4 lights), and then you add on the optional accessories such as the remote, the signal mount or bar-end mounts, and additional charging cradles (the included charging cradle fits only one light, but the lights charge wirelessly and Lumos are working on a multiple-light charger).

Summary:

What’s to like:

• wireless charging (increases durability)
• control via smartphone app
• sync between the lights
• brake light function
• versatility (can be used front and rear)
• turn signal function
• mount is attached via rubber band (easy to replace)
• If you have a Lumos helmet already, the lights can sync with it, and you can use your existing remote (as long as it is the standard remote)
• Lumos is a established company and the product likely will be of solid quality

What I don’t like:

• magnetic mount (they say the bond is strong, and do have lengthy documentation on this, accessible through their Kickstarter site)
• the remote is not blip style (means buttons are likely not placed where your fingers are already on the bar)
• only one charging cradle included, even if you order several lights

Final thoughts: The lights have a lot to go for them, but they are also not cheap. You might find that turn indicators on bikes look silly; it is, however, the language that other road users use, and raising your hand to signal a turn when you might need both hands on the bar can be risky (even experienced cyclists might not want to take a hand off on a bumpy road). I wish the remote would work with satellite bips that can be placed anywhere on the handlebar so that you can operate it in a split second. In my opinion, that could be a game changer.

Got any feedback or questions? Please comment in the section below!