Bicycle lighting has really come a long way in the last 20 years, with the advent of 24-hour mountain bike racing pushing the technological envelope into everyday cycling. U.S.E.’s lineup of Exposure lights typify this evolution.
CFD is the acronym used in the marketing materials—that’s Cable Free Design, compact CNC aluminum packages containing the latest LED bulb and li-Ion battery technology with no wires to cause grief. These attributes are present over their whole line of lights, from the single-LED Joystick to the 2, 3, and 4-LED models. The Joystick has a claimed 240 lumens in a svelte 76g laser-engraved package. I found it a real treat for a pretty wide range of rides.
A single lit push-button on the rear of the light controls everything. While charging, the button flashes. When turned on, it glows green, yellow or red to indicate one of the three power levels. After you’re done selecting the power level it then shows the available charge as the battery drains. All Exposure lights claim a 3-hour run time at maximum brightness, 10 hours at the medium “Ride” setting, and 24 hours at low. I tested its run time by turning it to high and letting it rip. It was still burning after four hours.
I first used the Joystick for some commuting. With its tiny size I was expecting it to work as a typical commuter light: be seen, but not much else. After a whim, I turned my commuter bike into the woods and was pleasantly surprised to have the Joystick guiding me down a rather dark trail. I found the beam pattern impressively bright in the middle and tapering off evenly to the sides. This is accomplished with the use of collimated lenses specifically designed for this purpose.
The Joystick can be mounted to the handlebar with a simple zip-tie-style clamp, but the helmet mount is much slicker. This mount consists of two disks that screw together, one on the inside of the helmet, poking through a vent, and one on the outside, with an articulating knuckle on top for directional adjustment. With this mount I didn’t have to turn my head a lot to see where I was going.
Exposure lights are available in the United States exclusively through Ibex Sports in Rollinsford, NH. The two-year comprehensive warranty, which even covers batteries, is serviced through this U.S. office. LED’s are covered for life.
Price-wise, at $199, the Joystick is way up there. But it’s a highly versatile tool that can take you to a lot of places in well-lit style. www.exposurelightsusa.com
