Cateye AMPP 500 front light review

The Cateye AMPP 500 front light is around the middle of the brand’s AMPP range when it comes to brightness.

And I think it hits the sweet spot between value (£39.99 / $39.95) and number of lumens (500). 

Respectable battery life

There are four modes on the Cateye AMPP 500: two steady (High and Low) and two flashing (Daytime Hyperconstant and Flashing), and there’s a mode memory function so your preferred setting is dialled in for when you next turn it on.

You get 1.5 hours of run time on High and 50 hours on Flashing, about the norm for lights with these specs. 

Recharging is via micro-USB, and it took around four hours for mine to go from empty to fully charged.

 When you’re running low, the button turns from white to red to tell you it’s time to recharge. 

A versatile and adjustable mount 

The removable mount simply slots onto the main unit, and Cateye’s unique ‘FlexTight’ bracket does the rest. 

The strap loops around your bars and back through, and a threaded piece of plastic tightens it up. 

The adjustable style means it’ll fit all sizes of round handlebar, and I managed to get it round the integrated bars on my road bike too. 

You can also remove the mount and attach the Cateye AMPP 500 to a helmet, or even to the bolt in the middle of your fork on more traditional bikes.

A confidence-inspiring beam

The lens uses Cateye’s ‘OptiCube’ technology, purported to make the beam wider. 

It certainly appears brighter than most lights advertised at around the 500-lumen mark. The AMPP 500 lights up a lot of the road as you ride along while also picking out street signs and road markings with ease. 

I’m confident using the Cateye AMPP 500 as my main light for night rides, and the other settings make it good for daytime use or commuting too. 

There are two transparent sections on either side of the unit at the front, offering excellent side visibility so you’re easy to spot coming out of junctions and side roads. 

Simple operation

I found the Cateye AMPP 500 easy to operate via the big top button, even with gloves on, and it helps that it’s always luminous so you can see it in the dark.

 It’s just a long press to turn on and off and single presses to cycle through the four modes, nice and simple. 

Sufficient waterproofing 

The waterproof rating is IPX-4, said to protect against splashed water, and quite a lot of bike lights now have higher water resistance ratings.

However, I’ve used the AMPP 500 in downpours and it appears to easily stand up to this abuse. 

Plus, the rubber bung over the charge port on the underside of the unit keeps the rain and mud out. 

Cateye AMPP 500 front light bottom line 

Overall, this is a very good front light that is bright enough for most triathletes who like to ride at night.

So I don’t think many will need to spend up to £35 more on the AMPP 900. 

There is now a new AMPP 500S with USB-C charging and slightly higher run times on flashing mode, which I think is worth upgrading to.

If you’re looking for a brighter front light from another brand, check out our review of the Lezyne Micro Drive 800+.

Cateye AMPP 500 front light specs

Price:	£39.99 / $39.95
Max lumens:	500
Max run time:	5 hours (constant mode)
Waterproof rating:	IPX4
Weight:	95g