Kiley and Blue Lug Koma Retro Tail Lights

Kiley tail light on a 1964 Schwinn Traveler

Finding a quality, retro-styled light for a bike is not always an easy task. In the past, I have made LED lights from vintage lights, I've bought generic and cheap lights, I've bought more modern styled lights, and I've bought retro but mid-market lights. My go-to brands for the past few years have been Soma and Kiley branded retro lights.

I recently have started using two newer offerings: the Kiley "coin edge" style tail light and the Blue Lug Koma tail light. Both of these lights are reasonably priced, and both rely on modern LED technology in a vintage-style housing. Both lights use the latest USB recharging connection.

Blue Lug Koma and Kiley Tail Lights with Boxes

The Kiley light is a small or medium sized round light with a metal housing. The lens is plastic. The center of the lens doubles as the button for turning the light on or off. The settings are basic: solid light, flashing light, and off. 

 

The Kiley Light Has a Knurled "Coin" Edge

The light has the "Kiley" name on the top and a knurled edge. It comes with mounting hardware that allows it to be a direct thread-in, or side screw/clamp-on. Battery life is generally quite good. Recharge time is a couple of hours if totally discharged. 

 

Kiley Tail Light on the 1964 Schwinn

The Blue Lug Koma is quite similar in construction to the Kiley. Unlike the Kiley, it has a plain, smooth housing without any logo or knurling on it. Both lights are very much "retro" in their appearance, but the Blue Lug is even a bit more retro and plainer than the Kiley. Function is very much the same as the Kiley: solid/flash/off modes, push-button center of the lens to operate, recharge using the newer USB connection. Mounting hardware is virtually the same as the Kiley - direct thread-in or side-mount clamp on/side screw. The Kiley typically comes with a charging cord, but the Koma does not come with a cord. Using the standard "new" type USB cord, it should not be hard to find your own cord.

The Koma is a Simple, Smooth, Attractive Tail Light

Both of these lights are generally in the "affordable" range. They are not truly "cheap", but they are certainly less expensive than custom or high-end lights. The quality of both the Kiley and the Blue Lug is decent. They appear to be made in either the same or very similar factories.  Both lights have a simple rubber flap to make them water resistant. The flap is a little on the thin side on both lights, but it should function OK in most conditions.

Sample of the Mounting Hardware in Both

My final verdict on these lights is "thumbs up" - recommended. Both lights are attractive in an old style way, but offer newer LED technology. They both are fairly bright and they both have a hazard "flasher" mode for day time use. Either one would look at home on a mid-20th century bike.  

1964 Schwinn Traveler Three Speed Bike

 

 

1941 Schwinn Henderson New World - Spring Arriving

 

Thankfully, it seems as if spring is at last returning. So far, it has been a bit on the cool, rainy side, but we have had a couple warmer days to get out for a ride. 

This 1941 Schwinn Henderson New World was a winter project I bought last November. A bicycle shop in Pennsylvania sold off a large collection of old bikes. Among them was this New World.

This bike came to me with an incorrect fork. A very helpful, fellow collector sold me a bundle of New World parts/projects, which included a correct fork for this bike. The fork came from a women's frame, so required trimming and some additional threading. As collectors, I think we need to keep as many of these old bikes on the road as we can. It's also good to connect with fellow collectors to share information, ideas for repairs, and sources of parts to keep these fine old bikes going.

 

As with every old bike, this one required a few, short "test" rides. I usually take the bike around the block here and see if anything is in need of adjustment. Fiddly items include the saddle height, handlebar position, brake caliper tightness, light positions, etc. In this case, I made adjustments to the brake pad positions, saddle leather tension, and saddle height. 

This bike has the usual, 21-inch men's frame. At 5ft 7in tall, I can ride either the 21-inch or the 23-inch frames comfortably enough. One thing that helps on the 21-inch frame is a taller stem or taller handlebars. The bars on this bike are pretty tall, typical of American-style handlebars of that period. 

 

This bike began life as a single-speed freewheel bike, but I have a nice set of three speed wheels on it. So far, so good in the early rides for this bike. Hopefully we have some good weather ahead to get the ride season started.

 

1941 Schwinn New World Henderson

 

Here is a less common variant of the Schwinn New World, the "Henderson" badged version. This New World is not much different from the usual early 1940s New World tourist. However, it has the ornate "Henderson" badge, which is what caught my eye. My grandfather's 1936 Schwinn balloon tire bike was a "Henderson" badged model. It too was black. 

So when I saw this 1941 New World was also a Henderson, I jumped at the chance to buy it. This bike needed a front fork replacement because it came with an incorrect, later fork that had been spray painted. I threaded and trimmed the steerer tube on the fork to fit this bike. 

The result is a beautiful, basic three speed tourist. Originally, this bike had a single-speed, wheel set. I swapped the wheels for a nice set of three speed wheels with chromed S6 Schwinn rims. I'll get more use out of a three speed, and if it ever had to be swapped back to original, it's as easy as putting the old wheels back on and removing the three speed wheels and shifter equipment.

The original saddle is in reasonably good shape, but is too dry to ride without causing it to break down. I have a classic, leather Lepper triple spring tourist saddle that should go nicely with this bike. The pedals are a nice, new set of MKS 3000S tourist pedals.

Specifications: 1941 Schwinn Henderson New World (as rebuilt)

• 21-inch, fillet brazed men's steel frame
• Henderson headbadge
  
• Wire-braced steel fenders 
• Schwinn-built chromed steel side-pull caliper brakes
• Schwinn-built steel brake levers
• Wald "knuckle" stem.
• Wald chromed steel handlebars
• Schwinn oval rubber grips
• Sturmey Archer three speed rear hub
• Schwinn script hourglass front hub
• Acorn saddle bag
• Kiley LED headlight with steel bracket
• black LED rear light
• Lepper triple spring leather saddle 
• Schwinn Stimsonite glass rear reflector