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2008 LED Bike Lights Comprehensive Review - Single Emitter Lights
By James Sharp
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DiNotte 200L
(click here to view the images and graphs specific to this light)
 Earlier in the year, DiNotte changed their naming convention -- moving from wattage to lumens. Consequently, the 200L has 200 lumens, claimed. This is the successor to their Ultra 5W and Ultra 3W lights. The biggest difference is in the output, obviously. The new light has well over twice the output of the Ultra 3W and about 1.5 times the output of the now defunct 5W light. In addition to having more light, the beam pattern is improved. Gone is the dark spot in the middle of the beam.
DiNotte also took the update as an opportunity to make some additions to the software that runs the light. Before, there was a high beam, low beam and -- if the button was held for 5 seconds -- a flashing mode. Now there are three brightness levels and three flashing modes. Think of the light having two modes with a 6 second hold of the button switching between the modes. Mode 1 has the light on solid. Within mode 1 a push of the button cycles through the three levels. Hold the button for the requisite time and you'll be in mode 2. Mode two has three flashing modes, switchable by a single push of the button -- a slow blink, a high/low flash and a rapid burst. The light will turn on in the last mode used.
Nearly all of the changes were internal, however. The 200L still uses DiNotte's approximately 1-inch cylindrical housing that is held in place by an O-ring mount. The integrated tail light remains an option, though our test lights did not have it. DiNotte is also the only company in this review to offer their lights with AA batteries. We have the Li-Ion version, but if you have a bunch of rechargeable AA batteries lying around, the AA is still a viable option that could save you some money.
DiNotte has packed the 200L with features. To make the light an even better value, it comes with a 2 cell batter and a 4 cell battery. Combined, you've got 12 hours of light! In addition to two batteries, the light comes with a helmet mount and extension cord. It is also available with a wide beam lens, if the stock lens isn't wide enough for you. I'd stick with the stocker, though, the wide beam cuts down on the throw too much.
While the O-ring mount holds the light securely, it doesn't allow for much horizontal adjustment. With all of the bars we used, this wasn't an issue, but if you are using handlebars with very aggressive sweep -- or are running odd bars -- then you might not be able to get the light aimed properly without some sort of handlebar extender.
Light and Motion Stella 180L
(click here to view the images and graphs specific to this light)
 It's been a while since we had a Light and Motion light in one of our reviews. The first LED shootout had the Vega, one of the first high power LED lights on the market. Since then, L&M were strangely quiet. All that has changed, and the Stella certainly builds on their previous lights, both LED and halogen/HID.
Like they did with their Arc HID lights, Light and Motion built the light around a custom reflector and incorporated details and improvements found in their other lights. The battery is their small cub Li-Ion model -- there is a 180N that uses an NiMH battery and standard, overnight charger -- that, though small, takes advantage of the efficiency of the LED to provide a very impressive burn time. Equally impressive is the quick charge provided by the smart, multi-chem charger -- less than 2 hours.
The Stella comes with both helmet and handlebar mounts. The handlebar mount works with standard and oversize handlebars. The helmet mount uses a single strap -- as opposed to the dual strap set ups that NiteRider and DiNotte use -- and wasn't quite as easy to get mounted securely; vent placement was more critical and I found that the strap was either too long, or too short, depending on the helmet style.
The light turns on in high beam mode. Successive button presses switch the light through the four (four!) solid on settings and the single flashing mode. This does mean that there is quite a bit of button pressing going on if all you want are high and low beam modes. There is also a race mode that is reached by holding down the power button for 2 seconds. In this mode, there is only high and low beams, so you can swap between the two without going through all the others.
The tiny light is hardly noticeable when helmet mounted, and the small battery is easily stowed in a jersey pocket. Unlike the other single emitter lights, but just like L&M's other lights, the Stella has a long cord. This is great when helmet mounted, but isn't as clean as a shorter -- or no -- cord when used on the bars. The battery is small enough to facilitate mounting it near the bars on either the stem or top tube. I also found the button to be a little stiff, but it became easier to use over time.
NiteRider MiNewt.X2
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 The X2 is an emitter update to the original MiNewt. Gone is the Luxeon 3W and in it's place is an LED that uses less power but throws twice the light. Not a bad trade if you ask me. The housing is the same cast aluminum, but is now a nice titanium color -- that way your riding buddies know you aren't using old LEDs. The only other change is in the O-rings. The O-rings used to affix the light to the bars and helmet mount now have a pull tab making them at once easier and harder to use. Easier in that there is now somewhere to grab onto; harder in that you have be more careful to get the O-ring to seat all the way into it's groove on the mount.
A brighter MiNewt is a great thing. I am glad that they didn't mess with the light too much. I still like that, while using O-rings for mounting -- dirt simple, just how I like it -- the light swivels right and left. I like the short cord. I like the small, lightweight battery. I like that the top of the light housing protrudes slightly over the lens to help shield the rider's eyes from the light. I don't like the button on the battery -- BUT, I don't mind it as much this time around. I've gotten used to it. When I use the light helmet mounted, I can switch the light through my jersey pocket. If I'm using a hydration pack, though, I find having to get at the battery to turn it off, or to switch it from high to low -- or vice versa -- a pain.
As before, the MiNewt.X2 uses a Borofloat glass and reflector. The lens is very, very clear, and Borofloat glass is pretty darn tough. It is less likely to end up scratched after wiping off mud and grime that winter riding throws onto the light -- though care should be taken with any lens to not wipe dry and caked on mud off. Use water, your light will thank you.
The Minewt.X2 has three modes: high, low and flash. Flashing mode is reached by holding down the power button. I'm glad that I didn't have to cycle through the flashing mode when going to from low beam to high beam. Having the flashing mode makes the light more versatile for commuters, too.
I liked the original MiNewt and the X2 builds on the strengths of the original, adding quite a bit more punch without decreasing the run time. Really, what's not to like? It's also the cheapest Li-Ion powered light in this review, though that's tempered somewhat because replacement batteries are expensive -- remember all of the electronics are housed there. Overall, though, the MiNewt.X2 has the same strengths and weaknesses of the original.
NiteRider SolMate
(click here to view the images and graphs specific to this light)
 Take the MiNewt, update the emitter to more current specs -- but not to the absolute brightest available -- subtract the Li-Ion battery -- using an NiMH in it's place -- and have a simple on/off switch and what you'll end up with are the Sol/SolMate models. The SolMate is the identical to the Sol, but comes with a helmet mount and extension cord. The casting for both lights is the same as the MiNewt, but is black, instead of titanium colored. The O-ring mount is also the same as the MiNewt as is the nice reflector and Borofloat(tm) glass. The charger is rather slow -- 8 hours -- but it is a smart charger, so you don't need to worry about shutting it off right away.
This is an economical light. Street prices are under $150 for the Sol, and about $30 more for the SolMate. At 115 lumens, it makes a good helmet light, or back up handlebar light. To that end, the one to get is the SolMate, since it comes with the helmet mount and longer cable.
The NiMH battery is slightly larger than the Li-Ion version on the MiNewt and the button -- still on the battery, you know -- is not on the front, but is on the side next to the power plug. I found this positioning to be slightly more inconvenient than the MiNewt's switch to use when bike mounted. It was much more difficult to use in my jersey pocket, though. Because the light is just on/off, though, I found that I didn't reach for the switch as often as I did with the MiNewt.
While NiteRider cut some corners with the Sol/Solmate, they didn't where it counts -- in the optics -- and it shows. While not as bright as the MiNewt.X2 -- though brighter than the original MiNewt -- the beam pattern is the same.
Like the MiNewt.X2, the Sol and SolMate have the same strengths -- good light head, horizontal adjustment, O-ring mount, reasonable run time, quality optics -- and the same weakness -- button on the battery -- as the original MiNewt. While it's brighter than the original MiNewt, the Sol and SolMate don't have all of the features. Do you need a low beam mode? If not, this simple light might be the ticket.
Exposure Lights Joystick MaXx
(click here to view the images and graphs specific to this light)
 We first saw the Joystick last winter, and were impressed with how light weight it was. The light was small, self contained, and while it didn't have the best beam out there, it was serviceable and it's strengths made up for it's shortcomings. The new light is smaller. It's brighter. The battery lasts longer, and has an optional external pack to increase the run time further.
The Joystick MaXx, is everything the old light was, and more. The original Joystick had one of the narrowest beams, while the new MaXx version is noticeably wider. The button has been repositioned to the back of the light, next to the charging port, making it easier to find and operate with gloved hands. The new switch lights up as well -- green for high, orange for medium and red for low. Once the switch has indicated which setting you are on, it reverts to illustrating the condition of the battery: green for full, orange for less than 50% battery left, and red indicating less than 25% left. Below 5% capacity remaining, the switch flashes red. The new light still has a flashing mode, as well, but no longer do you have to cycle through it when switching from low to high.
I like the helmet mount. It's the same as before, but it's still just as novel. The light pops on with ease, adjusts with ease, and stays where it's put. It's very, very lightweight. The one drawback is that if you don't have a central vent in your helmet, the light will be mounted off to one side.
One nice touch Exposure thought of, the rim around the back of the light us cut away next to the button. This does two things; first, it makes access to the button easier for a gloved thumb or finger, and second, it makes finding the switch easier as well. Because the light is a cylinder, it isn't always mounted with the switch in the same orientation. On the larger lights, Exposure has placed the button in the center, but on the Joystick MaXx, there wasn't the room, so they had to mount it off center. It is still, however, easy to find and use.
Single Emitter Summary:
Frankly the new -- aptly named -- Joystick is a joy to use. However, it doesn't seem to be as bright as its spec makes out. Looking at the numbers, you'd think that it's the brightest of the bunch, but it's not. It is on par with the rest, however, and is lightest by some margin. The MiNewt.X2 and SolMate build on the legacy left by the MiNewt and are similar in many ways. The output is of the X2 is good, but the SolMate is merely adequate. The 200L is the brightest of the bunch. It makes a very good helmet light, and though it has a battery connected by a cord, the battery is light enough to mount on the helmet along with the light head. The Stella 180L is easy to use, has a long run time, and a nice beam pattern.
Looking at the prices, the cheapest are the NiteRider products, but the DiNotte has two batteries. The Exposure is a little more expensive than the 200L, but is the lightest by far. The Stella is the most expensive of the group and as such is not a very good value.
Last time, I gave the nod to the Exposure Joystick. This time, while I am tempted to do it again, I have to say that the single emitter light I'm recommending is DiNotte's 200L. It is the brightest -- though the specifications might say otherwise -- and it's light weight enough. If you discount the battery since it will be in a pack or pocket, it's actually 10 grams lighter on the head, including the helmet mount. Throw in the crazy long run time and the fact that it has the two batteries and you've got a winner. For bonus points, the batteries don't have any electronics in them, so they are the least expensive to replace -- the four cell battery is only $70 while the two cell is only $50.
James Sharp is a contributing editor for GearReview.com; more of his ramblings and a look at upcoming reviews can be found at his blog -- Lactic Acid Threshold.
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