-3 watt Luxeon™ Star Power Light Source
-85 lumens-Brightest LED Bike Light Available!
-10,000 Hour LED Life
-Mv Current Regulation-Constant Light Output
-Low Battery Warning / Auto Shut-Off
-Rechargeable NiMH Battery
-Custom Integrated DT/dt Fast Charger
Submitted by
alex t
a Cross Country Rider
from l.a.
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2009
Strengths: quick charge, no battery pack to have to mount (built in), different settings are cool (blink/ 1 watt mode last for 3 hrs plus), looks, can plug it in to charge and forget about it--wont hurt it--quickest charge in the west
Weaknesses: bobs a lot on off-road (would be a decent bar light in combo with stella on the helmet) BOMBPROOF!! Fell off, ching, ching, ching ching...hit by car...ching...bashed into the curb...works perfect (crashed it again--ching..ching...down the hill...works PERFECT!)
Bottom Line:
This is probably the best commuting light that I have found. The thing charges up in like an hour and half, lasts pretty long (the other night I had forgot to charge--started blinking and still lasted like another hour on blink/low!!), mount it and forget it. Not that hard to get on/off (come on you sissys) and up/ down adjustment I have done on the fly literally on the trail (have to loosen the "quick release" knob just enough to turn it up/down then tighten back...if skilled takes about 20 sec--but dont try to adjust up/down with it tight because I broke the brass fitting on the inside of it off when I first got it...but CUSTOMER SERVICE ROCKED--NO QUES--JUST SENT ME A WHOLE NEW HOUSING--BY WAY TO GET TO THE BATTERY IT IS REVERSE THREAD, DONT ASK ME WHY BUT MAKES A NICE SECURITY FEATURE...SOME SH%TBAG CANT UNSCREW YOUR LIGHT IF HE DOESNT KNOW THAT...
NOT A RACE LIGHT FOR YOU XC/DH night riders...maybe get away with it on the bars, but i use at night on familiar trails and I like it fine but on UN-familiar trails, might wanna slow down a little (bouncy...drive your eyes a little crazy)
HANDS DOWN TOUGHEST LIGHT I HAVE USED (havent tried turbo cats...heard they are bombproof as well but $$$$)
you can talk these down/ find online cheap/ get it at closeout
IT IS 4 WATTS/ 2 WATTS / 1 WATT / BLINKING why you guys put its a "3 Watt" is beyond me
Similar Products Used: all cheap crappola cateyes, viewpoints, etc. and then a trail rat (whose battery lasted for a couple years then it started losing life after 30-40 min took forever to charge)
Bike Setup: old trek 990 (still going) cyclo style, 700s, all xtr everything 8 sp, manitou skareb
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
TwoWheelinTim
a Cross Country Rider
from Humboldt County, CA
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2008
Strengths: Lightweight, compact, durable metal casing, integrated battery/no cords or wires, rechargeable, bright enough for commuting, three light levels and flash mode, outstanding customer support from light & motion.
Weaknesses: Not bright enough for serious offroad night riding. Integrated battery cannot be changed out by user. When the battery wears out, the light must be returned to the manufacturer for battery replacement. A bit on the pricey side, but you get what you pay for.
Bottom Line:
This is a great light for commuting. The flash mode really gets the attention of motorists. I like that I can take it off the bike quickly and easily when I park at my destination.
I don't feel it would be sufficient for full speed off road night riding. It's compact and light enough to stuff in your camelback so it would make a good back-up light in case your main light fails or your batteries die.
Bike Setup: full rigid cannondale mtb set up for commuting.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
rider123456
a Racer
from Brooklyn, NY USA
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2008
Strengths: This is a commuter light. I use this here in NYC and is much better than the best Cateye lights which I eventually break. Easy to plug in and recharge and very well built. People can see me coming halfway down the block.
Weaknesses: The mounting hardware is not that advanced and a little harder to take off and on than a Cateye. Its heavy. Some people might think its expensive but there is no price on safety.
Bottom Line:
Best commuter light out there, its made in the USA of solid aluminum, I can put it in my pocket and recharge so no more wondering if my batteries are dead.
Submitted by
Rockett
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary Canada
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2008
Strengths: relatively light - Easy to use and mount. Quick charge; fairly long battery life compared to other lights
Weaknesses: Not a good product for dark nights on the trail. A commutter light at best. I did the 24 hours of adrenalin in Canmore AB this past weekend and was terribly disappointed in this light.
Bottom Line:
I like this light because of the easy to use part and the fact that there's no external battery pack. However, the light under performed when it came to its actual function - TO LUMINATE THE TRAIL IN FRONT OF YOU!! As I mentioned in the "product weakness" - this would be fine as a commutter light for around town or some light evening trail riding but it is a terrible light for dark rainy nights in the mountains.
Similar Products Used: none - this is my first light
Bike Setup: 2006 Giant Reign; Shimano XT drivetrain and cranks; Fox RP3 rear and Fox 32 vanilla R front.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
bonzo2007
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2008
Strengths: Very good build quality, simple setup, fast charging, smart battery, no external battery pack, nice switch, good for commuters looking to upgrade.
Weaknesses: Not bright enough for night rides on dark roads. Weak throw. Slow strobe. Mounting bracket.
Bottom Line:
I returned the L&M for the Niterider. For a $60 premium, I'm much happier.
Strengths: The light is pretty bright and hassle free. I like it's different modes, especially the blinking. Its construction seem bomb proof. I like how you can leave the charger plugged in and that it takes only two hours to charge.
Weaknesses: The light is hard to remove from the bar mount.
Strengths: No wires, no cumbersome battery packs, lightweight and really simple to use. Excellent charging system, again very simple and a fast 1-1.5hr charge time.
Weaknesses: Not suitable for offroad use where helmet mounted lights are probably a better option anyway
Bottom Line:
Great unit for urban commuting at night. Strong enough to see the road ahead at a speed of 10 mph. In flash mode I never had an oncoming motorist who didn't see me coming.
Similar Products Used: Cateye lights for many years - simply inadequate illumination.
Bike Setup: Flat bar roadie w/ panniers for inner city commuting.
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Submitted by
Eric Powell
a Weekend Warrior
from Walla Walla, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2007
Strengths: 1)Bright, 2)Multiple power settings - including blink, 3) good runtime, 4)solid feel, 5)good power hole plug for water resistance. 6)double-click turn-on, 7)Price
Weaknesses: 1) Ball retainer in handlebar clip/mount is hard to release to remove light, you almost seem like you are going to break the light, 2)Slightly narrower beam than I expected, 3)Label Residue/staining on top of light from instruction label location 4)Side to side turns too easy and up-down hard to change
Bottom Line:
MTBR description is wrong. . . it is a 4-watt LED. Excellent light. Very bright, lights trail well, although for unfamiliar trails I would recommend two lights (still cheaper than less-bright alternatives,) which would give some more depth to what you are seeing. I would recommend this light to anyone. Suggestions to manufacturer: 1) Re-think the mount--it's nearly impossible to adjust up and down when tight, and removing the light for security is very stressful as you always are afraid you are going to break the mount or the breakaway disc. 2) Make the battery replaceable or substitutable with standard alkaline/etc batteries. If you forget to charge you are screwed, instead of being able to throw some disposable batteries in for that trip.
Weaknesses: Hard to dismount light unit from quick mount (handlebar)
Bottom Line:
Works excellent as a commuter light. I would not take this offroad, it's not bright enough. Charge times stand up to factory claims. It simply works like a charm. I have gone for weeks without charging up the light. Other lights are out now that are on par or better, like the Niterider MiNewt setup, but those require a separate battery which can be bothersome if you commute and routinely have to remove your accessories when you lock up your bike in public. This is where the Vega shines, just one item to pop off and stash in your messenger bag. Ironically tho, my props to this feature also leads to a con: the quick release ain't so quick. It takes a good amount of force to slide the light unite off of the handlebar quick mount. Build quality is excellent and so is customer service. A 3-rating for value because there are more options nowadays and this light is no longer the solo player in high end LEDs. That said, it get 4 chillis overall. I would give it 5 if the quick mount was truly quick.
Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Clara, CA
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2007
Strengths: Light Weight Durability Frees up the water bottle cage Beam color
Weaknesses: Not enough to be the only light offroad
Bottom Line:
I reviewed this light shortly after I got it, and after 2 years, several wrecks, lots of use offroad and for commuting, I thought I'd give a follow-up. Nothing has broken on it (I keep my bar mount loose so it spins when I crash), runtimes may be down slightly, but not too bad. I've relied on it several times as my only light at Demo - I have to ride slow, but I can ride. Great for the climbs in and out. After my first review, Light and Motion contacted me quickly and provided rapid response to my questions. For what it is, I'm very happy with it. As the LED technology continues to develop, maybe they'll be able to overhaul my light with a new LED and new batteries..
Similar Products Used: Nitesun halogen system (for 10+ years) Custom made LED system A couple of cheap setups
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Francois Pepin
a Downhiller
from San Jose, CA
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2006
Strengths: Great color, super bright, great runtime, smart charger, 4 power output levels, self-contained
Bottom Line:
This light is amazing. I've had to rely on it a few times as my only light for descending Demo Forest trails as well as some other local trails. This light is bright enough to allow decent speeds and allows me to attack steep, technical single track. While I prefer to match any bar-mount light with a helmet mount, I'm very comfortable riding with this as my only light.
It's tough to use this light on a fire-road because it's a bar mount and doesn't light up the entire road width. I tend to miss the "features" that are found on the sides of fire-roads.
Fast and intelligent charger helps protect battery, as does the low power notification and auto-shut off. This light has hit the ground a few times in crashes, and it has held up great. The swivel "tension" is adjustable with one screw, and the sliding mechanism holds the light in place quite well. Even through roots, rocks, drops and jumps, the light holds its position so I can keep riding without readjusting.
4 Chilis for value as it is expensive, 5 overall because it's nothing short of amazing and worth the $$
Strengths: - Super bright (for an LED) - Nice even beam - All-in-on compact design - Top notch build quality
Weaknesses: - Takes alot of force to remove from bar mount - No up/down tilt (only side to side swivel)
Bottom Line:
Light & Motion is top notch in their execution of lights, everything seems thoroughly thoughtout and designed. Coming from a Niterider HID light that finally died and was too expensive to keep up, I wanted to try a Luxeon powered LED unit after reading the good reviews in the press and online on lights like the Vega and the Dinotte. I went with L&M because I has regretted buying the Niterider over the Arc HID. The Vega surprised me with it's brightness. It is not a replacement for HID, so do not expect that. It's a commuter light that is powerful to be seen and light your way. I like the flexibility of changing from the stronger 4watt setting to see on dark roads, to the blinker for lit roads. All in an instant click. HID has been too bothersome for commuting with all the cords and batteries. Don't be mislead by the photos of the Vega's beam pattern. No photo I have seen has done justice to the Vega's bright beam, all photos make the beam seem narrower than reality. This is an ideal commuter light. It's an offroad light IMO. I think it might be possible to use offroad if you are riding a trail you are very familar with, then there are no surprises.
Similar Products Used: Nothing in this category (super brite LED). Just a bunch of smaller 3 light LED blinkers then a gloriosly bright Niterider Blowtorch HID.
Strengths: Very bright light. My buddy was impressed and raved about the visibility and said that I made a good purchase. He finished a little ahead of me and rode back to see how it looked. I had it in flash mode and he said that I was more visible than the car that pulled up behind me with it's headlights on. This was at dusk on a cloudy night. Very clean install on the bike. I just leave it on and charge it on the bike. Manager at LBS had been using his for two years and liked it.
Submitted by
joseph c.
a Cross Country Rider
from san diego,ca.u.s.a.
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2006
Strengths: very very durable,versatile,self contained unit
Weaknesses: THE MOUNT!
Bottom Line:
this has to be one of the most versatile and durable lights i have ever used. the durability can be validated by the fact that it has fallen of my bike 4 times. this all took place on road rides at about 25 to 30 mph. the main cause can be traced to the handle bar mount, just to weak for the weight of the light when the front wheel encounters rough ground. i did not give up on the light because of its quality, instead i mounted it to my nite rider handlebar mount. it was a match made in heaven, but it will take a little work on your part. with the nite rider mount i can even adjust the light on the fly and have used the light as my handle bar light on our 24 hour races. just a tip on mounting the light, i found that if you use a thin rubber pad right under the light, it keeps it stable and still adjustable. you will need a larger washer under the nite rider mount or do what i did, gouge out some of the plastic to make the original hardware fit. this was done with the original nite rider handlebar mount, i have not seen the newer mount.
Submitted by
Robert Patterson
a Cross Country Rider
from Klamath Falls
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2006
Strengths: I purchased this light for street use only and it has yet to fail me. Very bright, and the beam angle is perfect. This light is bright enough that I don't worry about how fast I ride, sometimes speeds as high as 45 mpg. Mounting is easy; charging even easier, battery life excellent. I use the two watt setting when on flat ground and it lasts 3-4 hours. The strobe is excellent for getting attention in lit areas at night. It is light weight with no battery pack and cables.
Weaknesses: The light swivals pretty easilly, which would be somewhat of a pain for trail riding, but like I said, I didn't buy this light for trail riding. I have yet to find any real weaknesses with this light that would affect my riding.
Bottom Line:
I have a lot of friends that do nothing but complain about the light setups they have. For me, this is the best thing going for street use, and I recommend it highly. The price is excellent, even at the $170 MSRP. I doubt that there is anything better on the market in this price range.
