Especially in the cold season, we mountain bikers repeatedly come up against a very basic problem: "Will there be enough light left for a short tour on the local trail?" So if you want to get on your bike after four o'clock in the afternoon in December, you need to take precautions. There is a wide range of bike lights and headlamps on offer, but most of them are completely unsuitable for off-road use. Too little battery life, too short a range, too little brightness or too much weight are the usual spoilsports.
2000 lumens with a weight of 192 grams (without battery)
A frustration-free alternative for us mountain bikers, but also for skiing or tobogganing, from March 2015 could be the XEO 19R from LED Lenser be. At 192 grams, the headlamp including straps is not an ultra-lightweight, but according to the manufacturer it should emit a maximum of 2000 lumens. This is roughly equivalent to a normal car headlight. The range is said to be 300 metres. The special feature: The light cones of the two LED spotlights can be focussed on different areas. An optionally switchable automatic mode adjusts the light intensity to the ambient brightness and dims in oncoming traffic. However, the XEO 19R does not have StVZO approval for road traffic.
With this kind of power, even an LED will eventually get too hot. This is why LED Lenser has equipped the XEO 19R with a passive cooling system and a temperature sensor that reduces the power when overheating is imminent, but also increases it again when overheating is no longer imminent. Air slots in the housing of the lamp ensure that the airflow is optimally channelled past the lamp to cool it. Therefore, the faster you are travelling, the longer the XEO 19R can deliver its full power.
Four hours of battery life at maximum performance
With two adjustable lenses, the XEO 19R can be customised to the rider's individual preferences. The battery life at maximum power is around four hours. If the operating mode is reduced to 1000 lumens, the battery even lasts eight hours. Up to 20 hours are possible with a still respectable 200 lumens. The battery weighs 280 grams, but it can - and should - be carried comfortably in a jersey or rucksack. Other devices can also be charged from the battery via USB cable while the lamp is in use.
The XEO 19R will be available from 2 March 2015 and costs 279 euros including brackets, chest and head strap and a neoprene bag for the battery. Not a bargain, but - if the specified lumen value is achieved - a good price for the performance.
We get a first impression of the LED Lenser XEO in this video. It lights the way for Ibis pilot Tobias Woggon at the early morning start on the trails of Finale Ligure. Have fun!
Adrian Kaether
Editor
