This spring, KOM Cycling announced the launch of a set of front lights and a mount that simplifies cockpit accessories all in one place.
While the mount is similar to others on the market, with a computer quick release stacked on top and a bolt-on mount for a light or a camera, the KOM Cycling mount does it differently. Not only is there a quick release on top for the computer, but there is also the same type of twist-on, twist-off clamp on the bottom to hold one of two lights.
Specs
(Image credit: Logan Jones-Wilkins)
- Light tested: 1,000 lumens
- Compatible computers: Wahoo, Garmin, and Hammerhead (with an adapter)
- Battery life:
- seven hours at low light setting (300 lumens),
- two hours at high light setting (1,000 lumens)
- MSRP: $119.99 for the 1,000 lumen light, $29.99 for the mount
Versatility over everything
(Image credit: Logan Jones-Wilkins)
Everything with the KOM Cycling mount and quick-release lights is built around versatility. That versatility is found in both the mounts and the lights themselves, but generally, the functionality of the system is built around stacking cockpit components.
The most elegant way to “stack” is with the KOM Cycling mount in the middle of the equation, with the light on the bottom and a GPS head unit on top. With interchangeable parts, the mount uses the same plastic body to support both Garmin and Wahoo quick-release systems, depending on the insert that gets bolted into the plastic body. The bottom quick-release mount is also able to take a camera mount to attach a GoPro or Insta360 action camera.
With interchangeable parts across the board, the light itself can go both below the mount or be stacked on the upper side of the KOM Cycling mount. In addition to the light fitting on other computer mounts, oriented to both a Wahoo or Garmin configuration, it can also act as a computer mount itself, with both computers neatly fitting on the quick-release indent on the top of the light’s body.
All the interchangeability makes things a bit confusing, and when the mount arrived, there was no shortage of small parts that made getting the mount and lights set up a bit of a chore. When the mount and light are set to the right settings, however, it becomes a great addition for the everyday rider who needs a reliable light without the fuss and aesthetic clutter of multiple mounts along the bar. The light itself is also aesthetically pleasing with a clean angular design and a neat pivoting head, which allows for an adjustable beam without changing the angle of the mount.
Conclusion
(Image credit: Logan Jones-Wilkins)
While the mount is bulky and its looks are a far cry from the slick integrated mounts that are almost standard these days, it transforms when the accessories are added. When the system is being used at its capacity, it looks its best and is extremely functional.
Throughout my testing, what became clear was that easy-to-use lights make night riding far less daunting. As a rider from the deserts of Arizona, lights are truly a year-round need. In the winter, lights are for squeezing in rides before or after the workday, as the temperature is more forgiving than the daylight. In the summer, lights are for the early morning rides to beat the heat.
Across the calendar, having an integrated system that makes it easy to grab a light at any moment or even throw the slim light in a pocket or a bag for later and have plenty of lumens to get home safely. While it may not be the best-looking mount, it certainly will stay on my bikes going forward, just maybe not for racing.
