Lupine C14 Mag in the test: The very high-quality LED rear light from Lupine with a magnetic holder can feature a brake light and light sensor. You can find out how the battery-powered rear light performed in our detailed test here.
The StVZO-compliant rear light from Lupine proves to be of very high quality right from the first touch. The aluminum housing makes it very robust and waterproof, but of course at around 75 grams it is significantly heavier than most other taillights in our test. Of course, the high-quality battery-operated rear light scores with additional safety features; The brake light function detects sudden braking and then causes the lamp to briefly light up brighter and then switches back to the original light level. In addition, a light sensor is also installed in the Lupine C14 Mag. A brightness sensor scans the ambient light and activates the rear light as soon as it gets too dark. It should be noted that the C14 Mag must be switched on for this. The sensor-controlled switch-off occurs with a delay of approx. 20 seconds when changing from darkness to brightness.
Facts & figures
| weight with bracket | 74,25 grams |
| Lighting time max. | 22h |
| Lighting time min. | 14:30 hours |
| Luminosity Max. | 45 lumens |
| Page visibility | 240 degree |
| StVZO approved | Ja |
| Auto sensor light | Ja |
| Stoplight | Ja |
| Charging time | 3h |
| Price RRP | 95, - Euro |
Our test impression of the Lupine C14 Mag
packaging and assembly
The Lupine C14 comes in a small, sturdy cardboard packaging, which we like because the lamp can easily be put back into the box even after unpacking. Very practical when storing and traveling and also environmentally friendly as it is completely plastic-free.
When it comes to mounting the C14 Mag, Lupine offers two different options. As with all other taillights in the test, the C14 Mag can be attached to the seat post with a rubber band. The rubber band can be adjusted to different seat post sizes in three stages. In addition, the lamp can also be mounted firmly on the saddle frame with two screws and is usually slightly higher than when mounted on the seat post. The special thing about the Lupine C14 Mag with both mounting options is that the lamp can be removed from the holder and is attached to the holder using a strong and very stable magnet system. This is particularly helpful when charging, as the holder only has to be installed once. In addition, you can easily take the taillight with you when you stop for a longer period of time and thus protect it from simple theft.
Operation and battery life
The operation is still very easy with just one button. Changing the settings requires a short time to read, but is described simply and beautifully in the operating instructions. You can turn the lamp on with a double click on the single button and turn it off again with a long press on the button. If you press the button briefly while the lamp is on, you can, for example, switch the light sensor or the brake light on or off. You can also change the brightness of the continuous light in the settings or reset the lamp to factory settings.
The battery has a very large storage capacity and lasts up to 14:30 hours in continuous light mode - top value in our test series! The status LED gradually shows how much capacity the battery still has. Green glow means more than 75%, green flashing means between 51-75%. At less than 50% the status LED lights up red and when less than 25% is reached it flashes red. Using the included magnetic charging cable, charging takes approximately 3 hours. The status LED again shows a green light when the battery is fully charged. During charging the LED lights up red.
Due to its stable construction and magnetic holder, the Lupine C14 Mag is significantly heavier at 74,25 grams than other taillights in our test, but the additional weight primarily shows the higher quality of this lamp. The side visibility is very high at 240 degrees and therefore offers additional safety in road traffic. With a price of 95 euros, the Lupine C14 Mag is more expensive than the other rear lights, but we think the price is definitely justified. With the brake light, light sensor, magnetic holder and the very long battery life, you really get a top-class battery-powered rear light.
What is allowed, what matters?: Battery taillights
Battery-powered rear lights: When it comes to lighting, cyclists today benefit from uncomplicated rules and high-quality technology. However, it can't hurt to know what the StVZO requires - here's a brief overview. Cyclists in particular have benefited from the new version of the legal regulations on bicycle lighting in June 2017: the requirement to carry battery-powered lights has been lifted; Today, bicycles only have to be used “during […]
