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Light & Motion Urban 200 front light

9
£69.99

VERDICT:

9
10
One of the best 'commuter' lights available. Very hard to fault.
Weight: 
111g
Contact: 
www.madison.co.uk

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With a claimed 200 lumen light output, the Urban 200 is the cheapest of Light & Motion's round-town lights but pumps out plenty of light for road and path use.

It's also the least expensive and least bright of their 25 front light options. Don't think 'least bright' means dim though. This is a light that's more than adequate for regular town and country road use. The beam has good central focus and a good high to low spread, if not as wide as some, and a bright amber light in side slots boosts visibility from side on.

The brightest of the three beam intensities is bright enough and well directed enough to see and be clearly seen on the very darkest roads and is adequate for occasional trail use.

Claimed burn times vary according to whether you're reading the packaging or the web site. On full beam we were getting about 75 minutes in cold conditions when split between a couple of rides.

But you don't need to use full beam all the time. Running half beam, 100 lumens, gave us a good 140 minutes and the 50 lumen option gave just under 5 hours. The flash mode, at 50 lumens, gives a claimed 18 hours.

Real world use in different conditions will mean you're likely to be switching between the beams and charging up again before you think you're likely to run low on power. You simply press the button on top of the light to move between beam modes, and hold it for longer when you're ready to switch off.

A regular recharge between rides is recommended as a recharge from empty can take 5 hours. A flashing light on the casing changes colour to tell you how much charge is in the battery (green means fully charged) and if you allow the charge to get very low while riding the beam will start flashing to warn you. To charge up you use a USB cable, not great if you need to recharge somewhere with no computer access or wall/phone charge adaptor but totally fuss-free in any other situation. The battery is a Li-ion.

Light & Motion's handlebar strap-mounted Urban lights all use a similar body design and include 400, 550 and 700 lumen offerings, topping out at £129.99. The tough stretchy mounting strap is easy to use, adjustable to all bar shapes and incredibly quick to fit and release, so there's minimum temptation to leave the light on the bike when you're parked up.

The light can swivel on the mount so you can set the beam up to point wherever you want it to point, very useful if you're mounting it on a curved part of a handlebar. The only thing we found less than ideal was that the light's USB port is so close to the strap mounting base that care was needed to avoid damaging the USB plug when attaching it for recharges. Otherwise, a near perfect light for most uses.

Verdict

One of the best 'commuter' lights available. Very hard to fault.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Light & Motion Urban 200 (2014)

Size tested: led

Tell us what the product 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?

It's is 200 Lumen front light that's small, very well made, very easy to use and rechargeable via any powered USB port.

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

200 lumen with 100/50 Lumen + flash options. Well sealed from the weather. USB lead supplied for recharges.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Well sealed from the elements. Tough body, robust easy to use mounting strap that fits any handlebar. Swivel attachment for beam direction.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Good beam spread, although not as wide as some. Ideal for urban and all but the most demanding dark rural use.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Light and Motion products have a good long term durability reputation.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
9/10

Very light for its power output.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

There are plenty cheaper lights around but few that we'd trust as much as this in the long term.

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

Perfect.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Low weight. Excellent power output. East to attach & remove.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The USB lead is a bit fiddly to plug into the light.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes, but only in the spicier versions.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 58  Height: 181  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: Merlin Ti  My best bike is: Ibis Silk SL

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

 

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