The Fenix BC26R rechargeable bike light delivers up to 1600 lumens in a compact, high-quality package. I’ve been testing the light on my weekly night ride and I’ve found it works well as a helmet lamp and could be a good choice for bikepacking too.
Fenix BC26R bike light specs
- Brightness modes: 1600, 600, 200, and 50 lumens plus one flashing mode
- Weight: 155.6g not including mount
- Rechargeable and replaceable 5000mAh battery; USB-C charging w/ 4-hour charge time
- Price: $120
- Buy from Fenix Lighting
My interest in the Fenix BC26R started when a friend mentioned he was considering the light for bikepacking, and to use on our weekly Tuesday night rides. With pass-through charging and easy battery replacement on the trail, the BC26R is a light that can keep shining from dusk to dawn with minimal effort. Fenix includes a 5,000mAh battery and it’s a fairly standard size if you want to pick up spares.
The compact size seems like a good for bikepacking, thanks to its simple design and the fact that it’s waterproof. Naturally I needed to dunk my test sample in a class of water just to make confirm.
Fenix also includes a handlebar mount with the light, and while it’s a high quality mount with precision machined parts, the mount doesn’t fit 35mm handlebars nor does it rotate side to side. The thumb-screw clamp is quick and easy to use and unlike other light mounts I’ve tested, the release mechanism uses a hinge and metal spring rather than just relying on the plastic to bend. Over time I’ve found these plastic-only mounts wear out and some of them snap apart completely.
Given the limitations of the included handlebar mount I decided the Fenix BC26R is better suited as a helmet light. The light weight and compact size isn’t too bad on the neck, and being able to swing the light beam around the trail is a plus. Fenix sells a low profile helmet mount separately that attaches to any vented helmet using zip ties so I ordered one for just $6, and also a GoPro-style mount ($6 too) for additional mounting options. Fenix sells another bike mount that does fit 35mm bars, though it’s much pricier at $20.
The helmet mount is one of my favorites because it’s so low profile and doesn’t snag as many branches as the other helmet lights I’ve tested. I also love the fact that it can be attached using simple zip ties rather than velcro straps that can be tough to route and tend to stretch over time. The Fenix helmet mount has stayed very secure throughout testing.
The Fenix BC26R uses a single Luminus, rather than Cree, LED. The Luminus LED is said to last 50,000 hours on average which works out to a quarter of a million miles of riding if you’re plodding along at 5mph in the dark. By comparison, a quick search suggests Cree LEDs last 25,000 hours on average.
With a single bulb the Fenix BC26R pumps out a pretty basic beam pattern that’s 100° wide. At full brightness I found the shape works well for riding tight singletrack and also wider gravel roads, projecting well beyond where I’m focusing on the path ahead. Tiny slits on either side of the light provide a bit of side illumination for commuting without being distracting on the trail.
Fenix shares the chart above on their website, and if you haven’t seen a chart like this it’s super helpful for understanding how brightness and runtimes are reported for bike lights. As you can see, the BC26R is designed to only run at full power on the brightest setting for a moment before gradually reducing down to about half power. This is to protect the light from the excess heat generated by the bulb and also to prolong battery life. Fortunately I’ve found my eyes adapt to the gradual drop in brightness, and having a decent amount of runtime is a big plus.
Gauging the actual real-world runtime is tricky due to the way the system works, but also because I’m constantly toggling brightness modes during the ride: Bright for the fastest trail sections, medium for pedally and technical singletrack, and low or ultra-low for paved and gravel roads. The Fenix BC26R has a battery indicator on the power button that goes from green to red, and also flashes, to let you know how much juice remains.
On a couple two- to three-hourish rides the indicator started flashing red much earlier than I expected; on other rides I finished in the green. I suppose temperature could have been a contributing factor, or perhaps I was in high mode for longer than I realized. For the most part battery life comes down to the physics of energy storage, where a bigger battery is going to mean a longer-lasting light. The BC26R is a small light so I’m not surprised the battery life is somewhat limited.
I am pleasantly surprised with the quality of the Fenix BC26R. There are far more metal parts on this light than others I’ve tested, and everything both inside and out appears to be meticulously constructed. Officially the light is waterproof to a depth of 2M so riding in the rain is no problem. The company also designs LED lights for tactical applications, and military veterans and first responders can receive a 20% discount.
The Fenix BC26R uses a USB-C charging port and is said to go from zero to 100% charged in about four hours.
Pros and cons of the Fenix BC26R bike light
Pros
- Quality construction
- Compact and simple form factor
- Replaceable battery
Cons
- Battery life is on the lower end for MTB lights, especially compared to bulkier lights
- Relatively simple beam pattern
- Included handlebar mount is limited
Bottom line
As a helmet light or a light for bikepacking, the Fenix BC26R is light, bright, and water tight.
