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Moon Gem 2.0 LED front light

7
£24.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Good emergency light or complement to high power/dynamo systems
Weight: 
27g
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.

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Moon Gem’s imaginatively monikered 2.0 is a very capable emergency light, perfect for getting home safely from late summer/early autumn evening’s race meets/training runs. Reasonable output means it’s a great complement to dynamo and high power rechargeable systems too. However, while the power to weight ratio is impressive, burn times between charges are likely to frustrate tourists and long-haul audax aficionados.

Prised from the packaging, our seductive black test sample accentuated the design's clean lines and sharp angular styling, which suggests quiet homage to Blackburn’s tiny Flea system. Hardy aluminium/plastic construction feels reassuringly solid and the charge port is sensibly positioned away from rain and the possibility of any ingress by road spray and muck. An integrated rubberised ladder-type bracket wins brownie points for simple, secure fit aboard most handlebar diameters-although ours initially took some persuading to stay put around the Univega’s oversized mtb drops.

The power/toggle switch is something of a mixed blessing, firm enough to prevent those infuriating accidental engagements in the bottom of bags, panniers and jersey pockets but tricky to operate on the fly wearing full-finger gloves. Once powered up, there’s technically a choice of four settings- high, low, strobe and flashing.

Three LEDs deliver a claimed 16-19 Lumens depending on mode and a handy charge window blinks red when you’re down to the last thirty minutes of power and solid blue when fully juiced. Run times seem broadly accurate and from a full fuel-up, we’ve managed three hours in high, five in standard, six in strobe and six and a quarter in flashing. In practice, this has proved very reliable, never once dimming or plunging me into darkness, neither has the port cap allowed water to enter the unit despite riding through a two hour torrential downpour.

Real world output is surprisingly good, the pure white light providing a very natural hue giving accurate account of conditions ahead- even along unlit rural lanes up to about fifteen mph. Similarly, trickling through town where humble blinkys frequently blend into the neon sprawl, the moon gem grabs driver attention. Peripheral illumination is good proportional to its size, although used alone without high power/dynamo system, I felt more vulnerable negotiating darker junctions and roundabouts.

Verdict

Good emergency light or complement to high power/dynamo systems

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Moon Gem 2.0 LED front light

Size tested: n/a

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?

"With night riding &

racing more popular

than ever, it’s important

to have a set of small,

compact and

lightweight lights that

offer high performance

output for year round

use."

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

3 Ultra bright LED’s

16-19 Lumen output

240-270 LUX at 1m

4 modes:

High Beam

Low Beam

Strobe

Flashing

Charge & battery indicator

Horizontal bracket adjustability

Auto charge cut off

Optical lens

Side visibility

USB direct recharge

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10

27g

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

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

Moon's Gem 2.0 is one of the more capable contingency lights, bright enough to get home on without feeling like the proverbial "bobby dodger". The styling's sharp, it accomodates pretty much any handlebar diameter and peripheral visbility is better than the tiddlers thanks to sensible dimensions.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Smart styling, generous output, frugal burn times and relatively quick charging.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing, although USB charging can be a mixed blessing.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 36  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)

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