CYCPLUS L7 Radar Tail Light — My Long-Term Review
Nadezhda Pavlova
I’ve been familiar with CYCPLUS as a cycling accessories brand for a while. In fact, I already own a couple of their products: a compact electric pump that I carry on rides, and the CYCPLUS T2 smart trainer I use at home for indoor sessions. Both have been reliable, easy to use, and good value for money. So, when I saw that CYCPLUS released a radar tail light, the L7, I was curious to see if it could deliver the same blend of affordability and performance that I’ve come to expect from the brand. After a few months of riding with the CYCPLUS L7 radar tail light, I’m convinced this little unit punches well above its weight. It’s compact, easy to mount on any of my bikes, and has proven to be a dependable companion on the road.
What I Like Most
• Lightweight & small: At 67 g and 76.5×37×25 mm, it doesn’t look or feel bulky on the seatpost.
• Quick, tool-free install: Pads and straps for different seat posts make it easy to swap between bikes.
• Simple modes: Constant, Blinking, Breathing, Radar-only.
• App control & battery check: Adjust settings and check charge via the CYCPLUS app.
• Brightness & visibility: Around 20 metre with 270° visibility.
• Peloton mode: Syncs cadence across multiple L7 units.
• Water resistance: IPX6 rating holds up in rain.
• Battery life: Up to ~30 h in radar-only mode, 15+ h in flash.
• Compatibility: ANT+ and BLE work with Garmin, Wahoo, and more.
Radar Performance
CYCPLUS specifies vehicle detection up to 160 m and tracks relative speeds from 6–160 km/h.
Day-to-Day Usability
Mounting: pads and straps keep it stable, plus a saddle-rail mount. Charging: USB-C, easy weekly top-ups. Brake sensing: light brightens during deceleration, adding safety cues.
Why I’d Choose the L7
• Value for money
• Tiny/light so it always stays on the bike
• App control for brightness, mode, and firmware
• Long battery life
• Fits any seatpost with included pads/straps
L7 vs. Garmin Varia RTL515
- Feature
- Weight
- Size
- Max detection range
- Visibility
- Light output
- Modes
- Water rating
- Battery life
- App control
- Mounting
- Garmin Varia
- 67g
- 76.5×37×25
- Up to 160 metre
- 270°
- 20 lumens
- Constant, Blinking, Breathing, Radar-only; Peloton
- IPX6
- 15–30 h depending on mode
- CYCPLUS app
- Straps, pads, saddle-rail mount
- CYCPLUS L7
- 71g
- 98.6×19.7×39.6
- 140–160 m (field-proven)
- 220°
- 40-60 lumens dependent on power
- Solid, Peloton, Day Flash, and Night Flash
- IPX7
- 6–16 h depending on mode
- Garmin/Varia app
- Garmin quarter-turn mount
Final Verdict
If you want maximum runtime, a compact package, and an app-tuneable radar light that fits any seatpost, then the CYCPLUS L7 is a fantastic pick. It does what you require and for a good price point. For my rides, the L7’s endurance, size, and simplicity make it my go-to radar light. Yes, Garmin make quality products. However, CYCPLUS have created a genuine alternative that is designed for a specific purpose and which does that job as expected. It’s definitely worth taking a look at.
