Ravemen’s FR series of bike headlights offer a convenient dual mounting design that lets you stack a GPS computer above it for a clean cockpit setup. They’ve been busy adding more options to the lineup with the newest one being this FR1500 which has even more output for nighttime riding. Ravemen offers two variations of the FR1500, a $74.95 SE version without a front mount and a $84.95 version with a mount included. As the name implies, the FR1500 has 1500 lumen output from two LEDs. To achieve the higher output, the FR1500 has a 3600 mAh battery along with a USB-C charging port.
The Ravemen FR1500 combo mount light offers an even brighter 1500 lumen output with a convenient dual mount design.
| Retail Price | $74.95 (SE) / $84.95 |
| Rating | 8.9 / 10 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 142 |
| Likes | + Bright 1500 lumen output for daytime or nighttime visibility + Clever dual-sided mounting for sandwiching between a GPS computer 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 FR1500 SE comes in a bright orange cardboard box with a glossy graphic of the headlight on the front. Branding and specs are printed directly on the box along with light output per mode. Inside the box you’ll find:
- FR1500 headlight
- Wahoo adapter for top/bottom mounts
- Bryton adapter for top/bottom mounts
- GoPro to Garmin adapter
- Safety tether
- USB-C to USB-C + USB-C to Micro USB cables
- Instruction manual and warranty card
Note, the SE version does not come with an out front mount which is convenient if you already have a mount setup.
MOUNTING
One of the unique features of the FR1500 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 FR1500 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 FR1500 looks a bit bulky with its ~1” thickness so it won’t blend in as well from side angles.
FIT & FINISH
Visually, the FR1500 looks similar to the Ravemen FR1100 with a large body and dual LED lens. To achieve the higher 1500 lumen output, Ravemen has used a larger 3600 mAh internal body which results in a slightly longer body. It’s nearly the same thickness at 27.5 mm / 1.1 inches but it’s now 90 mm / 3.5 inches long and 59 mm / 2.3 inches wide. Ravemen has smoothed out the edges of the metal body to give it a sleeker appearance and provide more surface area for airflow and heat dissipation. There are two LEDs placed at the front of the light within a wrap around lens that curves slightly upward for a unique appearance.
A single power button with backlight is placed on the left side along with a rubber cover for the USB-C charging port. You can also use this light as a power bank to charge your GPS computer using the same port. Glossy accents along the beveled top edge and some contrast to the otherwise semi-gloss black exterior. Branding is limited to Ravemen on the top and FR1500 printed in a glossy black on the right side.
USER INTERFACE
Ravemen has utilized a simple one button user interface with a raised rubber button on the left side. It has a wide center cutout to show the LED color which will be green or red depending on the state. A single press of the button with the light off will show the battery status as green (35-100%), red (5-35%) or flashing red (<5%). Holding the button for 1.5 seconds turns the light on or off while a single press with the light on cycles through the six available modes. The light has mode memory which means it remembers the previous mode it was on when it was shut off. There is only one smart mode, an auto on-off feature, which Ravemen allows you to enable or disable by holding the power button for 3 seconds with the light off until it flashes. This feature will automatically put the light in a standby mode if no vibrations are detected for 2 minutes, and automatically turn on if something is detected.
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 (300 lumen / 6.5 hr), medium (700 lumen / 3.5 hr) and high (1500 lumen / 1.8 hr). The light is quite bright at the full 1500 lumen output with enough runtime for longer rides thanks to the large battery. For daytime riding there is an erratic daytime flash mode that is 500 lumen with 48 hr runtime that is daytime bright. You can also run the light in rapid flash (300 lumen / 30 hr) and a slow eco flash (150 lumen / 60 hr) which provides the maximum runtime.
Compared to the FR1100, the FR1500 has longer runtimes and higher outputs across the board making it a better choice for faster rides. The heavier weight and slightly larger size are the only downsides to the upgrade but are well worth it if you do a lot of nighttime riding. We found the medium and high constant modes more than bright enough for nighttime riding but you do have to cycle through the flash modes which is very distracting at night to change the modes. During the day, the two LEDs and the daytime flash mode are very bright and help keep you visible with very low battery usage.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Ravemen FR1500 to be a bright and well designed combo bike headlight. Ravemen has taken their FR lineup and added a larger battery to push the output to an impressive 1500 lumens with this model. The upgrade adds a slight amount of weight and size to the already bulky combo light design, but it’s a great choice for riders to need night time visibility for early morning or night rides. As with the other larger FR lights, the FR1500 is a great in-between option that is daytime and nighttime bright while still offering the clever sandwich-style mounting to place it directly under a GPS computer. The same downsides apply this FR1500 as the previous ones though: bulky size that doesn’t hide as well as the FR160 and thin models, single level menu requires cycling through flash and the lack of a true sharp beam cutoff lens. That said, the Ravemen FR1500 is a welcome addition to the FR lineup that offers even more output with a negligible size and price increase.
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.