At a glance A very bright, easy to fit, rechargeable rear light with dedicated amber side lights perfect for commuters.
Tested by
Oliver Laverack, tester for The Bike List
Performance
When it comes to commuting, riding at night or in low-vis conditions a good set of lights is a life saver. A good rear light means vehicles sneaking up from behind will see you in enough time to make sensible overtaking decisions. Research carried out by Light and Motion showed that 96% of the 1550 cyclists surveyed said that their biggest fear was getting hit from behind. However, according to their research only 30% of accidents are rear collisions. Despite this, as you can't see what's happening behind as you ride, I firmly believe in making my rear as visible to other road users as possible.
As the name suggests Light and Motion's Vis 180 is designed to offer 180 degrees of visibility for road users both alongside and behind you. A super bright red LED at the top of the light is accompanied by a second amber LED lower down which together kick out up to 35 lumens. The red LED warns cars approaching you from a distance; the amber LED (also visible to the rear) splits the majority of its light to either side.
Behind the clear plastic case there's also a red retro-reflective stripe which gives road users another chance of seeing you - although they'd have to be driving with their eyes closed not to have seen these super bright LED's.
In fact, the red LED is so bright that I'd recommend attaching the light before switching it on otherwise you'll be standing in the bike sheds for a minute or two waiting for your retinas to stop sparkling. Attaching the light and adjusting its angle really couldn't be any easier. You won't need any tools as the design uses a rubber strap that can be stretched round your seatpost or through a couple of vents on the rear of your helmet. Make sure you loop the strap through the hole on the side of the mount and then back on itself to secure the light properly. The mount pad is made from a soft rubber compound and does a good job of preventing the light from moving around. It's worth watching the video to see how easily this light can be attached, removed and adjusted. Once attached, the red button on the side of the mount allows you to pivot the light so you can get the optimal angle for being seen. The strap has a good range so can easily be used on a seat stay if there isn't room on your seatpost and can also easily be attached to a loop on your backpack.
The on/off switch is located on one side and the USB charging port is on the other. Pressing the switch once will start the red LED pulsing and the amber LED flashing on their brightest settings. Another press will offer the same on a lower power setting. A third press will set the red LED to be on constantly whilst the amber LED flashes. A fourth press will turn the red LED off and keep the amber LED flashing. Holding down the on/off switch for a couple of seconds at any time will turn the light off. I used the light mainly on its first setting to get the maximum benefit of the super bright LEDs whilst also achieving a good run time. The lower power settings were useful on a couple of occasions where I'd forgotten to charge the light for a few days and didn't want to risk running out of juice before getting home so it's nice to have them there just in case.
The light also has a battery status indicator light which has four settings (green, amber, red and flashing red). Run time on a full charge is anywhere from 4 to 8 hours depending on the power setting. For the first most powerful pulsing and flashing combination which I use almost exclusively I found the Vis 180 would last around 8 hours before dropping to just the amber light flashing.
Compared to the run time of other rear lights the Vis 180 is a little disappointing. You can get other lights almost as powerful, some of which can last for up to 80 hours, but these don't include dedicated side lights. However, this is offset by the ability to charge the light via any computer with a USB port using the provided micro-USB cable - useful if it's running low as you get into work. The use of a micro-USB cable also ensures that this light is future proofed as from 2011 onwards all mobile phone chargers in Europe will have a micro-USB port for charging from the mains. To fully charge the single cell Li-ion battery takes 4.5 hours and is simply a case of lifting the rubber cap with a USB symbol on it and plugging in the micro-USB cable to both the light and a computer that's turned on. The battery status indicator light will then start flashing green to let you know the battery is charging.
You can remove the light from its bracket by pressing the red pivot lock button, returning the light so it touches the mount and then pressing the light against the seatpost and up until it releases. It's easy to do but you'll need to re-align the angle of the light each time you put it back on. To prevent having to re-adjust the angle of the light each time I found it easier just to remove the strap and take both the light and mount off at the same time.
Despite being designed in California, USA, the Vis 180 is well suited to the slightly less sunny conditions of the UK and has so far completely resisted drinking water despite being subjected to a number of wet rides. At 110g this light is relatively heavy for its size (8cm tall x 3cm wide x 3.5cm deep) but that's a small price to pay for what is clearly a very robust light designed to withstand all the elements.
The designers at Light and Motion have really poured some time and effort into this design and have clearly set themselves the task of creating the best light they possibly can without normal limitations of reaching a price point. The end result is a very robust and truly excellent bit of kit which will set you back a whopping £100. If you're a dedicated commuter who battles with congested roads on a daily basis then bright rear light with dedicated amber side beams was designed for you. The only question is do you mind spending three or four times as much as you would on other lights that are on the market? If you look at the Vis 180 as an investment over a few years then it starts to make more sense as it should last as long as the integrated rechargeable battery. The Vis 180's amber side lights in particular have certainly given me more confidence at night and although not measurable I feel that drivers often give me more consideration when overtaking than before. Having used this light for a few months I now wouldn't want to ride at night without it.
Buy from www.chainreactioncycles.com
Light and Motion says:
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.
Specifications:
• Lumens: 35
• Run Time: High- 4:00, Pulse- 8:00
• System Weight: 131g
• Mounts: BIKE/BAG/HELMET
Cruise and Race Modes:
Stay Visible Press once to turn the light on. You can then cycle through Pulse High, Pulse Low, Steady On, Pace line (eliminates the Top Pulsing light). To turn off, Press and Hold for 2 seconds.
Battery and Charger:
The Vis line uses a single cell Li-ion cell carefully packaged inside the light. These products feature a new battery charge indicator that reliably reports the charge status so you know when to re-fuel.
Find out more www.bikelights.com
