Mark Adams With a CNC-sculpted aluminum body in a compact, self-contained configuration, the Lezyne Mega Drive is the ultimate high performance LED light built for trail or road use. It features Constant Lumens power management that drives three LEDs at a bright 1,400 lumens.
Overdrive Race Mode allows quick switching between Overdrive and Economy, and its Infinite Light design allows for on-demand battery replacement for a bright light that never quits. It is recharged either with fast, high efficiency, 2 Amp recharging with a compatible wall adaptor or via a Micro USB cable for ultimate convenience. The Intelligent Power Indicator button allows the user to check the power level any time. The Mega Drive’s bar mount secures the light to 31.8mm and 25.4mm handlebars.
Features:
- Max Lumens: 1400
- Weight: 265g
- Recharge Time: 12hrs (1a)/6hrs (2a)
- Battery: LIR186502 cell (included)
- Material: Aluminium, Composite Matrix
Lezyne Mega Drive Review:
If you’re in the market for an affordable, bright, and compact front light, take a look at Lezyne’s Mega Drive. This light offers a powerful 1400 lumen output and charges in less time than most other lights, which makes it a super convenient light for daily commutes and fast group rides. It’s also loaded with useful features like a battery indicator gauge, easy switch interface, and a lightweight, sturdy design. At around $100 retail, the Mega Drive is the best value in its class.
Light and Sturdy
The Mega Drive is one of the smallest, highest-power headlights you can buy. Measuring a mere 4.4 x 2.2 x 1.1 inches, the Mega Drive is small enough to fit in most cages or bottle mounts with an adjustable mount. Its big power output comes in a small package–sleek lines and metallic finish give this light a refined, high-end look. I usually like to stay away from red lights, but the Mega Drive’s deep red color is a nice touch that I think separates it from other lights on the market.
Impressive Performance
The Mega Drive isn’t just a pretty light–it’s extremely bright, too. With three Cree LEDs pumping out a whopping 1400 lumens, the Mega Drive’s “Overdrive” mode is aimed at commuters or road riders who need a lot of light very quickly. Overdrive will be fine for most situations, but if you’re looking to get the most versatile beam, you can also switch between Overdrive and Economy mode.
On Overdrive, the Mega Drive lets riders put out 20% more lumens than most other lights. In Economy mode, the Mega Drive’s LEDs are slightly less bright, but the light lasts longer per charge, and the beam has a controllable spot that increases its reach.
Another way the Mega Drive’s engineers have made this light an improvement on the competition is by upgrading the light’s control switch. The Mega Drive has a power button that glows red or green depending on how much battery the light has. It also has an “Intelligent Power Indicator” button that flashes the glowing indicator as the battery drains to provide a precise “fuel gauge” so you don’t run out of power out on the trail or road.
At around $79 retail, the Mega Drive is much more affordable than one of the other leading lights in the same power class. For example, Cygolite’s Impulse offers more lumens, but sells for a whopping $240. The Mega Drive’s Road model is more expensive and sells for $130. There used to be a helmet mount option available from Lezyne, but it’s been discontinued.
Charging the Mega Drive can be done with its included Micro USB cable or with a compatible wall adapter. The light has a USB indicator light that turns red while you’re charging it and green when the light is complete. It takes less than two hours to charge the Mega Drive with a 2 Amp wall adapter. This is nice for me because I typically find myself in a hurry to charge and get out the door. It also means I can charge the light in my car’s cigarette adapter, which is a nice, quick, and easy option if you’re in a rush. A great bonus for riders with smartphones is that the Mega Drive’s light also charges your phone. You’ll need an additional cable to do this, but it’s nice to have that option.
The Mega Drive also has a timer that can be set to switch the light off after a certain amount of time. For instance, if you want to conserve battery life, you can set the timer to switch the light off after 25 minutes.
One of the big superstars of this light is the Infinite Light Replacement Feature, which is unique to Lezyne lights. This lets you replace the rechargeable battery pack in minutes with a couple of Allen key bolts, so you can get back on the road without missing a beat.
Intelligent Battery Management
The Mega Drive uses Constant Lumens to manage the lights power, which means it maintains a consistent output regardless of how much of the battery you use. This helps to maintain a good combination of high power and multiple hour run times.
The light is made by Lezyne’s parent company, Composite Matrix, who claims their housing is the first designed to handle the heat generated by a 1400 lumen LED. This means the light has a high level of build quality and should hold up over time.
Riders can choose between three modes: Overdrive, Economy, and flash.
Overdrive:
Overdrive mode is very bright, and an ideal choice for those who need a lot of light very quickly. With 1400 lumens, the Mega Drive is about 20% more powerful than the competition. This is plenty of light for a fast, group ride. With a throw of 275 feet, it’s perfect for high riding speeds or mountain biking.
Economy:
In Economy mode, the Mega Drive produces 900 lumens, which is the industry-average lumen rating. It also lasts longer and doesn’t drain as much power thanks to Constant Lumens. On this mode, the light beam has a wide spot and is great for road riding, trail riding, and commuting.
Flash:
While you’ll mostly likely only use flash mode for riding at night, it’s a good option for the odd occasion when you need a light but also want a safe, effective red light. Most lights don’t offer a red flash setting without a separate light.
Flashing mode is very bright and ideal for unsafe or highly competitive situations where you want to get noticed. For example, at night it can be difficult for cars to see your front light, but they’re usually a lot more aware of a flashing red light.
Pros:
- Powerful light
- Bright
- Lightweight
- Handy features like the “Watt” mode and “Intelligent Power Indicator” button
- Potentially long battery life
- Very versatile beam, considering the light’s size
Cons:
- A dimmer light, such as the Cyclo-Spot Cyclespot 600 or Lezyne Micro Drive 1100 would be more suitable for commuting
- No helmet mount
- Pricey wall adapter ($20 retail)
- Only 1 year warranty
Where to buy:
The Lezyne Mega Drive comes in two light models: the Road ($79) and the MTB ($130), which are both quite affordable.
The Mega Drive is one of the best, convenient, and most affordable LED lights available today. It has lots of useful features and a fair lithium ion battery.
Overall Rating: **** Major kudos to Lezyne for improving the competition and coming out with a light that offers more for less. Their “Constant Lumens” technology alone is worth the price of admission.
