C3 Sports MaxPatrol 600 DLX Patrol Light/Tail Light

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by Jon Constantino, PCI #1872, Panama City (FL) Police Department

I am a police officer with the Panama City Police Department with 14 years law enforcement experience. Half of that time has been on a patrol bicycle. I have had experience using various different lighting systems, and the MaxPatrol 600 is by far the best system I have used. In this review, I will share my thoughts, describe its functions, and list some pros and cons of the unit.

Installation of the unit was a breeze; the front light has a standard tool-less tightening mechanism with a sturdy tightening bolt. The side lights can be affixed to the top tube, bottom tube, and/or either the seat stay or chain stay. The side lights use a sturdy rubberized latching system. The rear taillight has three screws that attach to just about any bag/rack support system.

The wired remote switch also mounts to most handlebars with a sturdy rubberized latching system. The function of the light control device is very simple, and it provides easy access in any mounting option for quick controls. The controls are simple: a headlight/taillight button and a pursuit button. The “light-on” button, identified by a single circle, activates the front CREE LED, 600-lumen light and the strobing red rear taillight. A second press of the light-on button dims the front light to 240 lumens. The taillight can be switched off by simultaneously depressing both the light-on button and pursuit button.

The pursuit button is identified by three circles. A single press of the pursuit button activates pursuit mode, which on my MaxPatrol 600 DLX is a red/blue wig-wag. The device also offers an optional rapid-pursuit mode when the pursuit button is held down for two seconds. Rapid pursuit mode allows for 3x red and 3x blue flashes per second. The optional side-mounted pursuit lights, which are rated at 400 lumens, add extra visibility for both day and night operations.

The MaxPatrol 600 DLX is powered by a 7800mAh lithium ion rechargeable battery. The battery comes in a waterproof cover and attaches to either the bottom tube or, in my case, the rear mounting bracket for my patrol bag. In my experience, the battery lasted a week of intermittent use, which is a huge plus. The battery indicator is built into the buttons and is color-coded for battery charge indication.

I used the lighting system for approximately two months, both day and night patrol. At night, the pursuit package enabled me to not only conduct effective traffic enforcement, but also to be seen by other officers when conducting field investigations or when backup was needed. The lighting system, including the side lights and tail light, is highly durable and maintained its function even during foul weather conditions. On the down side, the lights did develop some condensation inside of the clear plastic housing. This was easily fixed by using a Phillips head screwdriver to remove the clear cover, which allowed me to clean it with ease.

The only other notable problem I experienced was with the wired splitter that connects the battery pack to the rear tail and side lights. The wire uses a split plug-in system to separate and disperse the power between the front and back lights. The plug from the rear and side lights has a gasket or o-ring that is supposed to keep the plug secure. During the first week of strenuous use, I noticed that rear and side lights were inactive due to the gasket moving, which caused the plug to become unsecure. Eventually the gasket fell completely out of the plug housing. Even with this minor issue, and without the gasket, the system worked perfectly without it. In fact, the plug was more secure during my use without the gasket.

There are many reasons why the gasket could have come loose and fallen off completely. During my patrol shift, which is twelve hours, my bicycle is often secured to the back of my vehicle on a rack. The rack straps were close, if not up against, the plug splitter. This could have dislodged the gasket prior to riding, after which the riding caused it to eventually work its way off.

The MaxPatrol 600 DLX gets a 9.5 out of 10 in my book. It is easy to use, made out of solid CNC’d aluminum, offers up to 600 lumens of lighting power, and enhances the public safety cyclists ability to operate their bicycles effectively while being highly visible. I recommend this system for any agency that has a proactive bike unit or bicycle patrol.

C3Sports lighting systems are available from IPMBA Corporate Member Police Bike Store, which offers discounts to IPMBA Members. Visit www.policebikestore.com, email info@policebikestore.com, or call 973-366-5658 for more information or to place an order.

Jon began his law enforcement career in 2004 as a Special Police Officer 1 in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, and was appointed as a bicycle patrol officer. In 2006, he was hired by the Point Pleasant Beach (NJ) Police Department as a Special Officer 2 and was hand-selected for their Bike Unit. In 2011, he moved to Florida and the Panama City Police Department. He was appointed to the Community Patrol Unit and conducted bicycle patrol. In 2016, he transferred to the Philadelphia (PA) Police Department, as a patrol officer. In 2018, he returned to the Panama City Police Department, where he conducts bicycle patrol during his shift with the promise of a bike unit in the near future. He can be reached at jconstantino@pcgov.org.

Photos courtesy Jon Constantino.

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