XLC’s Comp light set consists of its Francisco front light and Pan rear, and it’s an okay set for general urban riding, with a German-style beam to make the best use of the Francisco’s limited output. You’ll want more power for longer, darker excursions though.
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The front light comes with four AAA batteries, which makes you feel a bit like it’s 2010 before you realise they’re rechargeable, and once you’ve shoved them in the aluminium body you can recharge them via a micro-USB socket, so it’s no different to any other rechargeable light.
The bracket is decent enough – a reasonably solid plastic affair that has a rubber insert for grip and closes with a cam lever. It’s a bit fiddly to set up first time around but it stays put provided you fit it to a bit of the bar where there’s no taper; it tends to work its way down a taper and end up rattling around.
The front light has a high mode and a low mode. Neither is going to have you hurtling down pitch-black lanes in the middle of the night but it’s enough to see by at a gentle pace.
The beam is a German-style one; the StVZO regulations stipulate that 95% of the light from the beam has to go onto the road to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers. What that means in practice is that the XLC makes decent use of its limited lumens by directing them to the tarmac. The limited light up top sometimes means it’s not as easy to see turnings, and signs don’t get illuminated anything like as much, so you have to pay attention a bit more if you’re looking for your turn in the dark.
My main issue with the front light is the lack of side visibility, which is useful around town as an extra bit of light for cars approaching from side roads to see.
The rear light will also be a fillip to anyone who gets bored cycling through endless modes. It has two, and that’s only if you count off as a mode. One of the other stipulations of the StVZO regulations is that the rear light has to be continuous and not flashing, so there’s just on, basically. You might prefer a flasher, or to pair this light with another one that flashes, but it’s a decent enough light for all that.
> Buyer’s Guide: 19 of the best rear lights for cycling
The rear clip means you can attach it to a bag or a pocket, and the seatpost mount is easy to fit and solid enough for the job. You’re not going to be using it as a daylight running light, but after dark it’s just about bright enough. Again, it’s rechargeable and the run-time is decent.
Both lights have proven to be well waterproofed through some filthy weather, and I’ve been happy enough knocking round town with them as my only light source. If you’re looking for something to light your way well beyond the city limits then they’re not the best choice: they’re a bit underpowered for going anywhere really dark at any kind of speed, and the rear doesn’t have the kind of punch you’d want on faster roads after dark.
> Buyer’s Guide: The best 2021 front lights for cycling
At over £60, these don’t offer particularly good value. Given their limited output you’re only really likely to be considering them if you’re cycling after dark in areas that are already predominantly lit, and for that something like the Fabric Lumacell set or the Infini Super Lava/Sword set offer better value: the former is much better for getting you seen, the latter if you need to light your path as well. The XLC set is nicely made, but hard to recommend against the competition.
Verdict
Well constructed lights that are okay for urban use
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road.cc test report
Make and model: XLC Comp Francisco/Pan Light Set
Size tested: 40 lux front
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the light set?
XLC lists:
– XLC Comp Francisco 40 Lux
– 40 Lux
– incl. USB charging cable
– aluminum casing
– 1 High-Power LED
– High Power mode / energy saving mode
– burning time: 3 / 9,5 hrs
– incl. bracket Ø 22 – 31,8mm
– incl. 4 x LR 03 (AAA) batteries and XLC rear light Pan 3 LEDs 3 ultra-light red LEDs
– incl. USB charging cable
– 3 light modes
– incl. indicator
– waterproof
– burning time steady mode: approx. 4 hrs
– universal mounting options
– battery: Lithium ion poylmere
– StVZO conformable
They’re nicely made lights.
Not many modes to get lost in. Mounts are good.
Both good, rear feels a bit flimsy.
No issues during testing.
I was getting about 3 hours out of front and rear. Charging takes a couple of hours.
They’re decent rather than great.
Front feels solid, rear less so.
There are better value sets out there.
Tell us how the lights performed overall when used for their designed purpose
They’re okay.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the lights
They’re straightforward to use and well made.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the lights
They’re only just bright enough for urban riding and underpowered for unlit stuff.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
They’re quite expensive when compared with sets from the likes of Infini and Fabric.
Did you enjoy using the lights? Not especially: they’re okay.
Would you consider buying the lights? No
Would you recommend the lights to a friend? No
Use this box to explain your overall score
They’re okay. You can get better light sets for less money.
About the tester
Age: 47 Height: 189cm Weight: 94kg
I usually ride: whatever I’m testing… My best bike is: Kinesis Tripster ATR, Merida Scultura, Dward Design fixed
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track
9 thoughts on “XLC Comp Francisco/Pan Light Set”
Using AAA batteries might
Using AAA batteries might seem a bit old tech, but there are advantages: you can cheaply have a fully charged spare set for instant use instead of waiting for a fixed battery to charge, and replacement is also cheap and easy once the original set is failing.
I dread to think what my bespoke Cateye battery will cost to replace, if it’ll even be possible to get one in the future.
I miss easily replaceable
I miss easily replaceable batteries on long dark rides. It was so much less stress knowing that I could dive into any 24h petrol station shop and pick up a handful of AAA batteries and be good to go again! I understand that it’s easier (cheaper?) to seal in ‘ready packed’ batteries, but my old Cateye 5-LED blinky has survived 8 years of all-weather abuse, so a well designed battery hatch clearly does the job just as well!
to be clear: this is *not* a
to be clear: this is *not* a light you’d want on a long, dark ride, AAA batteries or no.
Definitely something to be
Definitely something to be said for AAA powered lights. Whilst I wait for my USB-C rechargeable rear light to be invented, I use an £8 cheapie from Wilko. The batteries seem to last for ever, and whilst I have to remember to remove, recharge and replace (assuming I can find it again) my front light every ride, the Wilko just soldiers on faithfully without making any demands beyond that I keep a spare pair of AAAs resident in my bar bag.
Sriracha wrote:
It’s here already…
https://road.cc/content/review/268291-moon-meteor-storm-dual-front-light
Plus the Li-Ion batteries are replaceable. Could take a couple of spares along on a ride no problem (in a suitable case so they don’t short out!).
Thanks HoarseMan! Good to see
Thanks HoarseMan (and Hawkinspeter)! Good to see a trickle has started. It’s mainly “be seen” lights I’m after, I almost never ride at night. If I did get another see-by front light I’d want a road beam (I know, some people are never happy)
What I really want is a pair of decent front and rear DRLs that I can fit and forget and only need to recharge infrequently and then by USB-C. Paradoxically, it turns out that for the rear the nearest thing is an AAA battery powered light!
I think Moon are steadily
I think Moon are steadily moving over to USB-C, so perhaps one to watch. They’ve certainly got your rear light requirement covered:
https://road.cc/content/review/269533-moon-cerberus-rear-light
You won’t benefit from any faster charging with USB-C on a small light, as there’s a limit to how much power a battery can take. But they are more water resistant than micro usb, orientation agnostic and if that’s the cable you use on all your other devices, more convenient.
Fly6 is USB-C rechargeable
Fly6 is USB-C rechargeable and is quite a decent rear light (plus camera).
Quote:
Ain’t that the truth, sadly!
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