Review of LIGHT & MOTION ARC LITHIUM ION ULTRA HID BICYCLE HEAD LIGHT

LIGHT & MOTION ARC LITHIUM ION ULTRA HID BICYCLE HEAD LIGHT
By: LIGHT & MOTION Average Rating: 5.0 Total Reviews: 2
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Only light you'll ever need.

On: 2008-09-14

I remember the 1st time I turned this thing on. It was at a dark scary trail that I was unfamiliar with. I got my gear on and hovered over my bike and pressed the switch. It cast a dim light on the ground. I was disappointed to say the least. Then with every passing second, it grew brighter and more intense. Within 10 seconds I had a fiery blow torch on top of my head. I could slay dragons with this thing! The path was so bright I thought God himself had turned the sun back on just for me.

Ive had my L&M ARC Li-ion Ultra for 2 years. Its been a pleasure. I dont know what it feels like to miss daylight. Early night fall in winter doesnt bother me. Long rides that turn into night doesnt scare me. Sometimes its my sole companion on long, cold, desolate rides. Its really all I ever needed.

This lighting system is absolutely bullet proof. It never faltered. It never wavered. It never let me down. My mates running NiteRider stuff complain of ongoing issues. Common problems such as indicator light flashing for no reason, battery no longer charging or holding a charge, the cable fraying near the light, and the bulb not sparking on. Those guys all live with constant fear that their light is gonna fail them when they need it most. Ive never had that worry.

Brightness was as impressive back then as it is now. 550 lumens on low for 6 hours. And 675 lumens on high for 5. Nowadays, you can get a competitively priced LED system that weighs a little less but you only get half the run time with those smaller batteries. Ofcourse most people dont need a huge battery like the one in the Li-ion Ultra kit but it sure is great to not worry if you forgot to charge your battery the night before.

Ive seen a lot of LED systems out there including the Dinotte 600L which is pretty much state of the art and comes in a very good price point of $399.99 but its a tad bit down on lumens at 600. But like I said, Ive seen it and its a very impressive beam. The color is a bit softer and generally pleasing to the eye, but the L&M beam pattern is a little broader and smoother. Everyone that Ive compared my light with likes the L&M pattern the most. And the light isnt as blue, it is blue, but not as blue as NiteRider HID. The L&M is more white I guess. Definitely more comfortable on the eyes. But 600 vs 675 lumens is hardly noticeable.

300 lumens seem decent for mountain biking. NiteRider Mini Newt X2 Dual works really really well and is reasonably priced at $249.99. Its plenty of light to go 8/10. But if you want a system that throws so much light in front of you that other guys curse and cars high beam you, get the Light & Motion ARC Li-ion Ultra. I guarantee that you dont possess the skills to outrun this light.

"I Thought You Were A Car!"

On: 2007-11-18

I have just received this light within the last week. I have taken it out on only two short night rides thus far (roughly 5 miles each). Wow! This light is such a revelation when coming off of the AAA powered 1 watt LED type of light.

There is a powerful spotlight central beam that blasts ahead like the bat signal for several hundred feet. This central forceful beam is encased by a wide flood light field which is absolutely without a dark spot anywhere, allowing for riding at daylight speeds and daylight confidence.

So far I have had two pedestrians comment on my light. One simply said "I thought you were a car!" The second said "I thought you were a car. It looks like those new headlights on expensive cars! I couldnt believe it was a bicycle" These were two total strangers, one of which was a woman, in the middle of the night who were so impressed by a strangers bicycle light that they actually engaged me on it. That is strong testimony as people dont start conversations with total strangers on dark roads in the middle of the night very often.

The 5-6 hour battery life and the incredible amount of light that emerges from this little beast make it an extremely worthwhile addition to a bicyclists most closely held and valued accessory list. The cost of course makes it an investment as well.

The only weakness I know of so far is that the light bulb is so intense that it creates an electromagnetic field capable of wiping out the data transfer between the transmitter and receiver of my CatEye wireless bicycle computer. It warns of this in the literature within the box, but had I known it in advance I probably would have opted for the less expensive wired computer as opposed to the wireless.

If greatly increased safety, and truly being comfortable with what you are able to see when riding is held to be of high value to you, then think seriously about this light. I had researched and researched before spending on such an upgrade. The only other that seems to compete is a light by Lupine Edison and believe it or not, it is twice as expensive (over $1,000).

I bought mine from an ebay retailer at a substantial discount from the MSRP (about $450.00). I might have waited a bit more before spending the full asking price, but having now experienced what it is like to actually see where I am going (and to also truly be seen) I could never in a thousand years return to those AAA childrens toys that are sold to so many as headlights.

Lastly, the greatest difference of all with this light? Cars give you respect. They assume you are a motorcycle or a car with one headlight out. They actually wait for you to cross! What is that worth to you?

Ride safely ;-)