Lezyne Macro Drive light - first look
The Lezyne Macro Drive is the bigger, brighter brother of the Micro Drive front light.
The body is a longer version of the neat, CNC machined aluminium cylinder we first encountered on the aforesaid Micro Drive. Further similarities include the Maximum Optical Reflection (MOR) lens, intended to produce a beam that is wide, smooth, and bright, an LED, and a button mounted on top of the cylinder that changes colour to indicate the remaining charge.
Lezyne Macro Drive – illuminated
The Macro Drive offers a simple selection of five modes (a good thing, in our view: compare and contrast with the 56 settings offered by the recently tested Lupine Piko TL Max). The brightest Blast setting throws out 300 lumens for approximately three hours; perhaps enough to see you in and out of the office for a few days between charges. Nine hours at 200 lumens is claimed for two flashing modes, while the steady state Enduro mode promises the same output for 4.5 hours. The Economy mode pledges nine hours of illumination at 100 watts.
Like the Micro Drive, charging takes place via USB, but unlike the Micro Drive, the Macro contains a Micro USB port, compatible with the chargers of many smart phones. The cable should ease the fears of those concerned by the fragility apparent in a light protruding from a computer (as is the case with the Micros).
Attaching the Macro to your handlebars is a simple affair, thanks to a curved mounting bracket and robust silicon rubber strap. It is effective and versatile, and has worked on a slimmer bar, normal, oversize and even the flattened sections of the aero sections on the EA70’s on the Test Rig.
The 93 gram Macro Drive has the look of a well made, lightweight commuting light, which we expect to be equal to the challenge of alerting motorists to your presence on lit urban streets, and perhaps a little bit more. We’re looking forward to finding out. Check back soon for our full review.
I bought one and charged it fully last night, ready for this morning. It fits well and works well, but the battery life is “optimistic” – I got 25minutes before the red/green indicator showed, before dimming it to save power. Can I ask that reviewers chill the units to 2-5 degC to simulate real conditions at night? And then give a real life battery life test.
Been riding the whole winter here in Oslo @ 60degN, most days in -10c or colder. Battery lasts a week’s worth of commuting, 4 hours @200 lumens. I punch it up to 300 lumens for one short dark section, and down to 100 on the more recent lighter days. Brilliant light, and it’s weathered the Nordic winter very well. Just bought a second unit as a gift for my wife.