January 4th, 2008 by

thien

Knog 605 $399.00

Light	Price	Claimed Lumens	Runtime	Battery Type	Light head weight	Battery Weight	Installed Weight	Lumens per gram	Lumens per dollar
Knog 605	$399	300	2hrs	Lithium Ion	113g	108g	186g	1.51	1.47

Description:

Then Knog 605 is the high-end light of the Knog line. It features a nicely styled light head with three LEDs. The aluminum and rubber casing is bonded together nicely and the rubber mounting strap is integrated into the light head. The first two LEDs serve the function of lighting up the trail. The third light is good as a map-reading light and has a Flash mode to help the rider become more visible to oncoming traffic.

The switch is external and can be placed near the grips so it can be controlled easily while riding. Each of the three LEDs comes with its own switch that operates independently. Each press toggles each LED through its light modes starting with the medium setting. To turn on full power requires five button presses on the three switches. Turning off requires four.

The battery is long and it mounts on the top tube. This light is for handlebar use only.

As the photos will show, the package is quite attractive and the materials and construction are very good.

Light Meter Readings:

On our light meter readings, it scored a 16. This equals the readings from the Ayup helmet light and the Dinotte 200L.

Light Head Close ups:

Mounting Options:

The Knog 605 can only be mounted on the handlebar. The long battery is mounted on the top tube and the external switch is mounted beside the grips for easy reach.

Strengths:

Very nice packaging and industrial design
Molded rubber bands make the battery and light head easy to mount
Separate bulb for flash mode can be good for commuting

Weaknesses:

Not bright enough for the price
Beam pattern has a lot of artifacts
An indicator lamp is lit the whole time the battery is plugged in
Too many button presses with its three switches to turn the light on and off
Light cannot be used on the helmet
External switch requires more handlebar room
Not as bright as lumen claims of 300

Bottom Line:

This light was designed for the commuter market and it shows. It’s very hip and cool. There are several light levels and the flash mode can work very well for commuters. However, the light is not quite bright enough on the trail and some usability issues also hold it back. The amount of light the rider gets for the money is not very high. Also some of the design issues, like the switches, limit its trail usability.

Beam Pattern Photos:

Knog 605