Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Moon X-Power 700 front light

7
£104.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Versatile light that genuinely performs in all conditions but pricey compared with ever more powerful trail-style lights.
Weight: 
96g
Contact: 
www.raleigh.co.uk

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

The Moon X Power 700 is a an extremely versatile super-commuter lamp for those who want to hustle to work in the lower settings but need sufficient wallop for back road exuberance on the way home. However, while seven modes and user friendly design are definite plusses, rural bombardiers are perhaps better served by Magicshine 8J808E/patterns offering 1000 lumens and better economy for twenty odd quid less.

Build quality is excellent throughout. The Moon X Power 700's rugged machined-aluminium casing resists everyday carelessness much better than composites and incorporates a clever heat sink, giving the single Cree XML U2 LED the best possible chance of reaching 50,000 hours before cashing in its chips. Helmets get an easier life too when pairing the X700 with ultra-powerful off-road systems.

Collimator lenses ensure pin-sharp projection. This one is countersunk to minimise the risk of damage during a tumble. The USB charge port is tucked behind a snug-fitting drawbridge type flap that affords excellent protection from Mother Nature. It has has coped admirably with gloopy forest fun and hosepipe testing.

Charge time is typically five hours from zero to hero when suckling from a laptop or tablet but using the mains charger shaves seventy odd minutes from this.

Depressing its rubberised switch unleashes the full Monty, a claimed 700 lumens. Subsequent prods nudge the light output down incrementally to 200 lumens, and high speed strobe and SOS modes are are on hand should need arise. Given my locale 500 lumens seemed fine for most sections and had oncoming traffic waiting patiently while I charged ahead.

Mounted on the bar and in steady mode, the Moon X Power 700 is visibile to other traffic from around 400 metres, and the road surface is readable to 17 metres at 25mph on clear nights without dazzling others. Peripheral punch is much better than those side slits would suggest, maintaining conspicuousness when negotiating roundabouts and other danger zones in the lower settings.

The claimed run times seem pretty accurate too; though the battery life indicator slipped from blue to red in just 25 minutes, leaving me eight miles or so to run. However, I always made it back to base with all guns blazing.

Pushing my luck, I've squeezed out 1hr 45min on full beam but a 90-minute run time has been the norm.

Unlike the 1000+ lumen 'day lighter' type of light, the Moon X Power 700 never becomes uncomfortably hot to touch, though after 40 minutes it gets warm enough to thaw fingertips should temperatures tumble unexpectedly.

Verdict

Versatile light that genuinely performs in all conditions but pricey compared with ever more powerful trail-style lights.

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Moon X-Power 700 front light

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the light is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

"Includes charger, quick release handle bar mount and helmet mount.". Moon are pretty matter-of-fact about things. In my book, its a high end commuter cum helmet light with sufficient wallop for fast paced fun along rural backwaters.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the light?

1 x CREE XML U2 LED 700 Lumen output

Integrated, interchangeable Li-ion rechargeable battery

Smart USB Rechargeable or via mains with adaptor

Low battery, charging and fully charged indicator

On the fly battery change for endurance rides

7 light modes - constant, flashing and SOS

Up to 1 1/2 hours run time on High

Up to 7 1/2 hours on Low

Up to 5 1/2 hours on Flashing

Water resistant construction

Quick release bracket with horizontal adjustment

Side visibility

Precision optic lens

Heat sink cooling

Rate the light for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Well built.

Rate the light for design and ease of use. How simple was the light to use?
 
7/10

Extremely user friendly design and I really like the ability to swap the battery by the road/trail-side should need/preference arise.

Rate the light for the design and usability of the clamping system/s
 
8/10

Simple to install and readily accommodates all handlebar diameters.

Rate the light for waterproofing. How did it stand up to the elements?
 
8/10

Passed my usual tests without so much as a flicker.

Rate the light for battery life. How long did it last? How long did it take to recharge?
 
7/10

Very reasonable, although lags behind more powerful models with external lithium-ion cells. Have managed 1hr 45, 7hrs 17, 5hrs 23 (high, low and flashing respectively) from a full mains charge.

Rate the light for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the light for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the light for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the light for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the light for value:
 
6/10

Tell us how the light performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Moon X700's main appeal is versatility, morphing effortlessly from solo road/commuter mode to secondary/helmet lighting when trail blazing. The ability to carry additional cells earns further brownie points, though run times in the higher settings aren't overly generous.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the light

Good, versatile power output, great build and the ability to extend run times by carrying additional cells.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the light

Feels a little pricey compared with some 1000+systems offering similar economy but then again the 700 is arguably more versatile.

Did you enjoy using the light? Yes.

Would you consider buying the light? Yes.

Would you recommend the light to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

 

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

Add new comment

2 comments

Avatar
huddslad | 10 years ago
0 likes

I bought this light for 74 pounds and thought it would be a good buy based on the review. The are a couple things your review got wrong for starters it aint water proof, it leaked water the first time i got caught out in the rain. Because the body is made up of 3 pieces and there is no seal between the back end and the metal heat sink body water can get it.The build is also very plasticy and compared to the lezyne deca or super drive it is inferior in build quality. I should paid a bit more and gone for lezyne which is all aluminium.

Avatar
allez neg | 10 years ago
0 likes

I think the reviewer has been channelling Troy Queef.

Latest Comments