Illumination is necessary no matter what transportation you are currently using because it eases people noticing us and crucial for a trip after the sun goes down. For those cyclists who don’t let the night stop their journey, Cygolite Metro 500 Vs 550 are two amazingly reliably front lamp you may want to install on the bike. Both of them are very bright and should be ideal for different types of activities but also a little bit different so before you shop, go check which the best option below.
In this article, we are going to give you information about:
- Which Bike Lamp to Purchase
- What are Cygolite Metro 500 and 550
- What Cygolite Metro 500 and 550 Look Like
- How are the Brightness of Cygolite Metro 500 and 550
- What Modes Cygolite Metro 500 and 550 Come with
- How are the Battery Life of Cygolite Metro 500 and 550
- Cygolite Metro 500 Vs 550
Choosing for a Bike Lamp
Being active is fun, it is healthy for our body and mind, so it is never too late to start being active and ditch those sedentary lifestyle we used to have. For those who crave adventure, cycling is the best way to let you enjoy the surroundings while also burning calories and energy without being trapped inside a room with many people and the same exercising equipment we see everyday. Similar with any outdoor activities however, there are various gears you have to prepare when cycling including a bright lamp.
This is very important for anyone who is riding after dusk when the sun can no longer illuminate your path. Looking for the best option for your activity is crucial because while all of them are the same, they are different as well; even a close models doesn’t always perform the same. A bike lamp is needed to illuminate your path especially those we mount at the front while the rear and sides are more like a signal to make sure other road users will notice you.
There is actually no standard on how bright a bike should be but in general those with 300 Lumens should be enough to illuminate your path yet, they are not sufficient to let you see from far distance and it is always better to have a spare brightness as well because it will help you notice any object or uneven surface when riding at night. Lumens is the measurement to count the total quantity of visible light emitted by a source per unit.
Just like your flashlight, these bike lamps are also powered by battery which commonly being rechargeable or replaceable. On the other hand some also has this disposable alkaline batteries which is the best option if you want to ride lightly and conveniently. However, the most common batteries are Lithium-Ion or Lithium-Polymer type because they are smaller, lighter, and more powerful than disposable batteries, making them more popular and perfect for bike lamp application. In addition, they are convenient with USB charger thus we can add the juice almost anywhere.
Before shopping for the lamp, make sure we are getting the correct lamp choice since they also have different type of mounting styles and options. In most cases however, they are using strap or band or clamp mounts. Rear lights or safety lights are coming with strap system or band mounting mechanism that we can easily wrap around the seat post or handlebar.
| Cygolite Metro 500 | Cygolite Metro 550 | |
|---|---|---|
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| Shipping Weight | 4.8 ounces | 5.6 ounces |
| Product Dimensions: | 4 x 1.5 x 1.5 inches | 8 x 4 x 4 inches |
| Best Price | click here | click here |
About Cygolite Metro 500 and 550
If you are ready to hit the road and won’t let the lack of light be in your way, now is a great time to see what the market has to offer. While it is necessarily more important at night, they are also useful at days to make people who are using the road more aware of your bike. There are various amazing options that you can choose from when it comes to bike lamp but one of the most popular brands today is Cygolite.
We are sure most cyclists are familiar with them because they are also among the most well-known with lots of options and more importantly reliable, high quality bike lamps just like the favorite Cygolite Expilion 850 Vs 800. These two are highly rated for the price range because they are not only solid but also very bright with the former or its higher version being the brighter option and overall better bike lamp, ideal for side tracking after the sun goes down.
If you are riding the bike more leisurely and don’t plan to go off-road where there might be lots of obstacles and coverage, Cygolite Metro 500 and 550 are going to be a great models to consider. They are long lasting and built to work for years but also affordable and pretty bright for your daily commuting. As a close brothers these bike lamps are pretty much similar to each other but if you have used other lamps from the company, their difference is actually easy to distinguish.
And yes, it is basically their Lumens count because Cygolite usually put the brightness levels on the model to ease people when shopping and choosing their products. To put it simply Metro 550 is a higher model and about 10% brighter compared to Metro 500. Many users can shuffle the lamp depending on their decision but there is no huge or critical difference as well between the two for its cheaper version is actually already good.
Cygolite Metro 500 and 550 Design
Cygolite also tends to make their products too similar to each other including these Metro 500 and 550 because side by side they are identical and it is impossible to tell them apart unless you see the little sticker on their bottom which state the related information such as wattage but, if you check them closely their lens are also slightly different which probably will affect their performance later. They are very compact and around as big as an adult palms weighing no more than 110 grams.
As you can see on the sample picture above, Cygolite Metro 500 and 550 are supposed to be mounted on your handlebar with their clasp mounting, very convenient and easy to use. They are coming with built-in Lithium-ion internal battery which accompanied by the USB cable so even just with a laptop, you can add juice into the lamp. What’s not very convenient is they are non-removable like the Expilion series so there is no way to swap the battery once they go empty.
Cygolite Metro 500 and 550 Brightness
The first thing you may want to know when shopping for a bike lamp is their brightness because we want them to be bright enough and able to illuminate the path up to a certain distance especially if you are also doing some off-road after getting off from work. In this side both of them are very similar with Lumen difference at 10% making Metro 550 being the brighter lamp. When tested, they are indeed different and you can easily notice the significant as well.
The higher model is brighter and will illuminate the center of the road very well while Metro 500 is a bit dimmer in the same mode yet somehow the throw rate is further than its brother. The 550 is very bright and can be uncomfortable for those who comes from the opposite direction as you. In comparison this lamp is also covering a wider area of your path to make sure we can see what’s on the side of the road as well.
Cygolite Metro 500 and 550 Modes
Next is the features coming with Cygolite Metro 500 and 550 because usually bike lamps will have different working modes to let you adjust to the condition or application and battery life. In this side both of them are the same because there are equally 6 modes to choose from with High which is recommended to be used for maximum visibility, low for a casual cycling, Steady Pulse which is made to both illuminate and flashing to let other people using the road notice your bike, Medium, DayLighting for riding at day, and Walking mode.
Especially for the DayLight mode, this setting seems to be very bright especially in Metro 550 thus some road users like motorist may say your lamp is too bright and uncomfortable for them.
Cygolite Metro 500 and 550 Battery Life
Last but not least is their battery performance and while this is not a crucial issue for bike lamps with removable battery, it can be an issue for these two since they are built-in the unit and there is no way to extend the life after the battery dies except recharging. In its highest mode both of them will only last for an hour and a half. A combination of pulse and low mode will give you a longer working time around 3 hours, very good for a casual trip just before dawn.
Cygolite Metro 500 vs 550
Cygolite Metro 500 and 550 are a reliable option for cyclists who are not going to let the lack of illumination at night to be a problem for their journey. Their difference is on the lumens or brightness amount because the latter is indeed brighter to illuminate more of your path, especially the side road but, the Metro 500 somehow have further beam making it able to show a bit more of the path than its 550 brother.
Conclusion
There is no bad option between the two and their price difference is also very narrow making them an equally good option to go with yet, if we are to choose, the brighter Metro 550 is more ideal for a trip at night.