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review

Light and Motion Vis180 LED rear light

7
£99.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Impressivly bright rear light but at a price
Weight: 
135g
Contact: 
www.madison.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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There’s no questioning Light and Motion’s Vis180 wow factor with its thirty-five lumens producing a “Ready Break” cocoon of light around rider and companion-perfect for winter training, utility riding or commuting with trailers/tag-alongs. However, you’d expect something pretty special from an Led costing the best part of £100.

Prised from the packet, it’s quite an imposing piece of kit tipping the scales at 135g, although much of this is attributable to the substantial li-on battery. Most lights boast 180 degrees visibility but the Vis incorporates a dedicated lens and clever mounting bracket ensuring optimal output regardless of positioning. Despite suggestion to the contrary, it assumed the contours of my helmet perfectly, although the additional weight was noticeable for the first few miles. The large on/off switch is just the right side of positive, won’t engage accidentally yet gloved hands easily navigate between cruise and race modes. Simply describing these as high and low doesn’t do them justice. Cruise denotes the full sequential cycle of high, medium and low whereas race should be thought of as the economy setting, forgoing medium in the interests of battery life

Toggling between the two on the fly is quite tricky so I stuck with cruise for most purposes, remembering to fuel up at the computer’s USB more frequently. It’s one thing being extremely bright; it’s another being visible. General consensus when followed along unlit rural roads by friends and family is that it emanates a piercing arc of light, readily visible from 750 metres. Larger vehicles certainly approached and overtook with greater care-regardless of mounting point.

It’s no less prodigious round town, the glow slicing effortlessly like a beacon through the barrage of flickering neon and bustling traffic. This umbrella of light has made roundabouts and intersections notably safer from all directions.

Waterproofing seems well and truly sorted on production models-we’ve been charging along the lanes in freezing November deluge without a hint of concern-even with the USB cover left provocatively ajar. That said, the 180 remains firmly of the water-resistant genre so a slither of Vaseline is advisable between cover and contacts on bikes sans guards.

Verdict

Impressive output but at a price

road.cc test report

Make and model: Light and Motion Vis180 LED rear 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?

"The Vis 180 delivers an SUV sized output from a compact lightweight package. At 10 times the light of the most powerful AA tail lights, combined with brilliant amber side lights, the Vis 180 lets the cars know you belong on the road too. With a tool-less mount, locking mount clip for frame or bag, and convenient cell phone micro USB charging, you will never go back to a blinkie again".

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

180 degree visibility ( from up to a claimed 1,000 metres), li-on USB rechargeable battery, tool free mounting.

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:
 
6/10

135g

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

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

In terms of outright power,there's little that comes close-especially in cruise mode. The bracket is superbly designed for optimum efficiency regardless where, or how its mounted. However, run times aren't as convenient for longer commutes and our pre-production test unit quickly succumbed to the elements. In fairness this has been addressed on our more recent production model.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Impressive output, well designed mounting bracket, good switch.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, in most contexts

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 37  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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6 comments

Avatar
davebinks | 13 years ago
0 likes

Only £99.99? A bargain.
I'll have one for every bike.

Note it only gets 7 out of 10 for performance and nothing higher for any of the other ratings.

At that price I would expect to have a police car with flashing blue lights driving along behind me to make sure nobody runs into me.

Avatar
STATO | 13 years ago
0 likes

I have an exposure MK2 red-eye rear light (same as a flare, but with a cable) and its amazing. The best bit about it is the fact it casts light everywhere, not just backwards (like the Dinotte), so much so, i got a positive comment of a guy scraping the ice of his car the other morning... as i was riding towards him!


Exposure Red-eye and MaxxD by dickyelsdon, on Flickr

Avatar
richdirector | 13 years ago
0 likes

The exposure flare is a great light too - just got a set for my bromptom - wee and doesnt mess with the fold.

Avatar
mrchrispy | 13 years ago
0 likes

exposure flare is an awesome light, you could get 2 and a charger for 100 quid.

saying that...i am yet to see anything better than my dinotte 140L rear. granted its a faff having a battery pack but christ its bright!!!

Avatar
surreyxc | 13 years ago
0 likes

Okay nice light, but really you can buy something like a Quark 4 7 or fenix CR123 torch, these take red filters, some have strobe modes, high low settings, around a 200lumen max output, a water proof rating, can be used as a normal torch, constructed out of aluminium and cost at least half the price of this light.

Avatar
Trev Allen | 13 years ago
0 likes

Tried a Red Eye/ Flare? I think we need a rear light comarison chart here!  1

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