Ravemen’s FR series of headlights combine a headlight and GPS mount into a single accessory for cyclists looking for a sleek way to add a headlight. The newest addition to the FR lineup is the FR1100 which offers impressive output while retaining the FR500’s shield like shape. Ravemen offers the FR1100 as a $64.95 SE version, which we have in this review, without an out-front mount and a $74.95 option with the mount. As the name implies, the FR1100 has a bright 1100 lumen output with two LEDs. The light has a large 2500 mAh internal battery with USB-C charging port and the capability to charge other devices.
The Ravemen FR1100 combo mount light offers an impressive 1100 lumen output with dual LEDs for daytime or nighttime riding.
| Retail Price | $64.95 (SE version) / $74.95 |
| Rating | 8.8 / 10 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 118 |
| Likes | + Bright 1100 lumen output for daytime or nighttime visibility + Sleek appearance with sandwich design that sits between GPS and mount + Power bank functionality for backup power on the go |
| Dislikes | – Lacks a true sharp beam cutoff – Bulky size compared to smaller FR models for daytime riding – Single level menu means you need to cycle through flash modes to change output level |
| Where to Buy (US) | Ravemen |
UNBOXING
The Ravemen FR1100 comes in a bright orange cardboard box with a center cutout that lets you interact with the headlight. Branding and specs are printed directly on the box along with light output per mode. Inside the box you’ll find:
- FR1100 headlight
- Wahoo adapter for top/bottom mounts
- Bryton adapter for top/bottom mounts
- GoPro to Garmin adapter
- Safety tether
- Garmin / Wahoo adapters
- USB-C to USB-C + USB-C to Micro USB cables
- Instruction manual and warranty card
With this SE version there is no out-front mount so you’d need to use your existing mount with the provided adapter to match your bike GPS mount style.
MOUNTING
One of the unique features of the FR1100 and the other FR lights, is the sandwich-like design. There is a male mount on the bottom and a female mount on the top that allows the light to be sandwiched between a mount and a GPS computer. The design results in a sleeker way to add daytime or nighttime visibility without the need for more adapters or mounts. Ravemen includes adapters for Wahoo and Bryton, as well as a GoPro to Garmin adapter that allows you to mount the FR1100 below an out front mount or attach a GoPro device above it. The adapters have a simple screw on design and a standard quarter turn mechanism with extended tabs that lock it in place. Note, compared to the lower output Ravemen FR160 the Ravemen FR1100 looks a bit bulky with its 1” thickness so it won’t blend in as well from side angles.
FIT & FINISH
Visually, the Ravemen FR1100 looks almost identical to the FR500 with a thick shield-like shape. Beveled edges help reduce the visual size while a front wrap-around lens ensures visibility from multiple angles. To achieve the higher output, Ravemen has increased the battery size to 2500mAh, which is 500 mAh more than the FR500, and increased the size of the metal heat fins and body. It’s only a few millimeters larger than the FR500 with dimensions of 82 x 61 x 25.4 mm or 3.2 x 2.4 x 1 inches. While the light is not as sleek as the lower output FR160, it is still a nice way to add daytime or nighttime visibility directly under your GPS computer. This type of light is something we first saw with the Fabric Lumaray but modernized and improved with Ravemen’s FR series. Other brands like KOM Cycling have released some similar lights such as the Quick Release 350 but it’s a segment that is still relatively uncrowded.
The FR1100 has a plastic housing with metal heat fins underneath it to help dissipate heat with the higher output LEDs. There is a single power button on the left side along with the USB-C charging port next to it with a rubber cover. The Ravemen FR1100 has a dual LED design with both lights angled downward in a fixed angle. It’s a simple lens design with additional vertical diffusers to help reduce glare or oncoming traffic. Unlike the FR1000, the angle is not adjustable and you would have to tilt your entire out-front mount to fine tune the beam beyond the preset angle. With the light on, the wrap-around lens illuminates which provides excellent side visibility. Even with only the two center LEDs, the lens reflects the light and can help illuminate the bike handlebars.
USER INTERFACE
The user interface on the FR1100 consists of a single button with a single level menu. There is also a backlight on the button which will either be green (40-100%), red (5-40%) or blinking red (<5%) to reflect the current battery status. Holding the power button for 1.5 seconds turns the headlight on and off while a single press cycles through the six available modes. You can also turn off the auto on-off mode by holding the power button for 3 seconds while the light is off. The auto on-off mode uses a vibration sensor to put the light into standby mode if nothing is detected for 2 minutes and automatically turns on again when it does. Ravemen has also incorporated mode memory which ensures the light always turns on in the same mode it was shut off in.
LIGHT OUTPUT
Ravemen has programmed the light with six output modes that consists of three constant modes and three flash options for daytime and nighttime riding. There are three standard constant modes: low (250 lumen / 7.5 hr), medium (500 lumen / 3.5 hr) and high (1100 lumen / 1.8 hr). The light is quite bright at the full 1100 lumen output with enough runtime for longer rides thanks to the large battery. For daytime riding there is a warning flash with a more daytime flash style erratic illumination that is 500 lumen with 45 hr runtime. You can also run the light in rapid flash (300 lumen / 21 hr) and a slow eco flash (150 lumen / 46 hr) which provides the maximum runtime.
During the night time, even the medium mode is more than sufficient with a wide and far beam pattern. While it’s not as fancy as the Magicshine EVO lights with sharp beam cutoffs, the diffusers and downward tilted LEDs light up the road and give you visibility for higher speeds. During the day, the various flash modes are also day time visible with long runtimes that let you minimize recharging time. As with a lot of combination products, the FR1100 gives you good daytime and nighttime visibility but it isn’t the best in either category. It’s bulky as a daytime riding light and the lack of a sharp beam cutoff means you have glare at night. However, it’s still a very good light for both scenarios and offers a big upgrade in output compared to the FR500 while still retaining its combo mount form factor.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Ravemen FR1100 to be a bright and well packaged bike headlight. Ravemen has been able to use a combination of a larger battery and internal changes to achieve an impressive 1100 lumen output with only a negligible size increase from the FR500. That means you keep the shield-like shape and mount-GPS sandwich design the FR lights are known for while making it bright enough for faster night time rides. We would describe the FR1100 as the perfect light for someone who spend a lot of time riding at sunset or sunrise as you get the best of both worlds, daytime visibility and a bright nighttime beam. The Ravemen FR1100 still a bit bulky in terms of thickness to fit the larger battery and heat diffusers but it’s a nice option if you don’t want to buy separate daytime bright be-seen front lights and higher output nighttime headlights.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by RAVEMEN. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.