Bike Perfect Verdict
A brilliant balance of power, size and run time with a simply excellent ‘every day/every bike’ features package and all at a great price.
Pros
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Impressive run times for power and size
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Universal bar or helmet mounting
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USB-C power pack function
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Easy fast recharging
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Great price
Cons
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No remote control option
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Basic battery information
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Quoted run times are optimistic
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The best MTB bike lights are getting smaller, brighter and cheaper all the time. The new range from Lezyne has added an extra level of simple, durable, every day, every bike practicality that we love. If you don’t need fancy battery data or a remote control, the Macro Drive 1400+ is a brilliant option for not just MTB, but every sort of riding.
Design and specification
The alloy body is ribbed alloy for heat dissipation with a slight peak over the three LEDs behind the ‘Tri-Focus Optic’. The plastic back plate carries the USB–C charging/output port. This is covered with a chunky, tightly closing, replaceable rubber seal that gives the light a ‘total immersion’ IPX7 waterproof rating. Power on/off and mode change are all done via a single backlit rubber button on top of the light which changes color depending on mode/remaining charge.
It’s supplied with a replaceable rubber ladder strap with a slide-on rubber shoe to add stability on the best MTB bars. You can unscrew that and add a helmet strap mount or a GoPro mount instead. There’s also a 6600 mAh Lezyne Infinite Power Pack+ coming soon too. This more than doubles the run times of the built-in 5200 mAh battery so you’re looking at a five-plus to seven-hundred-hour-plus (yes really) output depending on the mode.
You don’t get a USB-C charging cable included but they’re pretty much universal now and the entire packaging is minimal and mostly recycled. They’ve even switched to a QR code for instructions rather than including a paper leaflet.
Performance
Mounting the light couldn’t be easier, even if you’ve got a weird-shaped one-piece MTB bar or an aero drop bar on a gravel bike. You can even swivel the light 90 degrees to fit a stem or slap it on a fork leg if bar space is blocked by bags. As long as you pull the strap tight it’s stable enough to keep detail perception mostly undisturbed even on rough descents. The lens gives a good spread of light for bar use with no obvious 'hot or not' spots and enough reach for confident riding at speed.
The default setting is a sequence of four steady levels from a claimed 200 to 1400 Lumens then three flashing modes for road use. Thankfully ‘Race mode’ (accessed with a five-second button press) just toggles between 1400 and 450 settings. That’s enough light for hitting tech trails you know flat out or going at a good pace on previously unseen sections. You can then cruise on climbs or easier bits in the lower setting without worrying into straying into a crazy world of strobe modes.
The claimed three-hour max power run time is definitely exaggerated as output drops noticeably past two hours and dwindles to a ‘crawl home glimmer’ shortly after two and a half hours even in temperate conditions. That’s still a long run for a light of this size/power though. While it’s not a fancy digital time read out the traffic light battery indicator does its job OK. Crucially the red flash warning light comes on with plenty of time in the tank (about fifteen percent) so you’re not suddenly plunged into darkness like some lights. Reliability has been excellent across several new Lezyne lights we’ve tested through several months of autumn and winter too.
Verdict
Lezyne’s Macro Drive 1400+ doesn’t have a fancy screen, a wireless remote or a Smartphone tuning app. It’s not the brightest light Lezyne offers (there’s a Super Drive 1800+ and Mega Drive 2400+ too) either. However, it’s got enough power to go hard off-road for as long as just about any rider will be out. It’ll handle a Solstice special or 24-hour solo race with the Infinite Power Pack+ too.
Where it wins is the fact it’ll fit on any bike, it’s super simple to operate, charges fast with a USB–C cable and works as a power bank. It still does all of that without a glitch after several months of crashing and drowning. It’s an excellent price from real shops who’ll give you proper back up too, not an internet special that might set your house on fire.
Tech specs: Lezyne Macro Drive 1400+
- Price: $99.99 / £100.00 / €100.00
- Size: 140mm x 47mm x 32mm
- Options: Helmet and GoPro mounts available
- Weight: 233g
