After work, test rides don’t stop here at Cyclingnews just because it’s dark (and cold… and wet). I’ve been testing out the latest Specialized Diverge in the dark, and while I’ve been crashing about in the woods, I’ve been illuminating my way with the ludicrously bright Exposure MaXx-D as part of my testing for my guide to the best bike lights.
It’s truly transformative, with its maximum brightness of 6,000 lumens and ability to automatically increase brightness the faster you ride. It’s allowed me to hit trails at the same speed as I would in broad daylight, and it has a battery life more than enough to cope with extended periods in pitch black… but for gravel, I don’t think you should necessarily buy one. It is amazing, but it’s frankly overkill.
For MTB duties, where the jeopardy is higher and the risk of a surprise tree is higher, I can see the appeal, but on gravel tracks in the forest, you don’t need one that bright. I do, however, understand the appeal of just getting the product with the biggest number. People buy diving watches that can cope with deep-sea conditions only to wear them in the shower, and I have previously purchased a sleeping bag capable of keeping me alive in the Arctic, only to use it (uncomfortably) in the mild British Autumn.
Sadly, I've not been able to find a comparable deal Stateside. Competitive Cyclist does stock Exposure lights, though, just not these models. You still might find a good one though.
Why are these so good then, and probably more pertinently, what sets them apart from less expensive lights?
Let’s start with the build quality. Exposure lights are legendary in this regard. They’re as close to unkillable as bike lights can get, with beautifully machined alloy bodies awash with heat-dissipating fins and extremely sturdy (if a little fiddly to install) mounts. I’ve had an aftermarket mount fail on a descent, sending my beloved Exposure Strada tumbling down the tarmac at over 60km/h, and it was still on and running when I grabbed it from the path of an oncoming car. It needed some repairs, using Exposure’s also famously good after-sales repair service, but it didn’t die on me. I’ve also heard tales of people losing theirs on 24-hour MTB races in the wilderness and finding them on the next year’s event, still working perfectly.
Build quality doth butter no parsnips when it comes to actually seeing where you’re going, and both the Toro and Race are more than bright enough for the job at hand. The former pumps out 2,650 lumens, with the latter boasting 3,850, but these peaks are only reached in Reflex mode. With Reflex switched on, the light automatically brightens and dims the intensity of the wide, flood beam depending on your speed. More light when you need it on fast descents, and less on slower climbs, conserving battery in the process and keeping your hands firmly on the bars and not fiddling around for the button. It’s subtle, but effective.
Finally, there’s the battery life. There’s a bit of a learning curve when it comes to selecting the modes – you have to load in a package of mode options that the light remembers until you change it, then when riding, you can switch between the 2 or 3 modes you’ve loaded. What it means in practice is that on short rides, you can tune the light to maximise your burn time. Brighter on short rides, and extending out to a full 36 hours at the very extreme. And now, for the first time, charged with USB-C, rather than Exposure's proprietary port, meaning you can also use it as a power bank in a pinch.
All deals
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⚡️ Amazon Black Friday: Deals specifically for cyclists, with Amazon's next-day delivery
Brand-specific Black Friday roundups
🚲 Black Friday Trek bikes: Deals on all of Trek's bikes, clothing, helmets, shoes, accessories and more, found at Trek and beyond
🚲 Black Friday Canyon bikes: Our pick of the top deals on Canyon's bikes, sold direct to consumer from Canyon's website
🚲 Black Friday Specialized: Our pick of the best deals on Specialized's bikes, including Tarmac and Aethos, plus shoes, helmets, kit, tyres and so on, from Specialized's own website and beyond.
👕 Black Friday Castelli: A roundup of our favourite Castelli kit deals, found across the various Black Friday sales.
👕 Black Friday Rapha: With 25% off sitewide, we've rounded up our favourite items from the British brand.
💾 Black Friday Garmin: A live, ever-changing roundup of our favourite deals on Garmin's bike computers, smartwatches, heart rate monitors and more, from Garmin's own site and beyond.
💾 Black Friday Wahoo: A roundup of our favourite deals on Wahoo tech, such as smart trainers and bike computers, from Wahoo's own website and beyond.
Category-specific Black Friday hubs
💻 Black Friday indoor bike trainers: A collection of deals related to cycling indoors, with bike trainers, software, fans, and perhaps even the odd laptop or TV.
👟 Black Friday cycling shoes: A roundup of cycling shoe deals from around the world, with everything from budget options to high-end carbon race shoes.
👕 Black Friday cycling clothing: A handpicked roundup of deals on cycling apparel, with everything from socks to speedsuits.
🚸 Black Friday kids' bikes: Our pick of the best deals on kids bikes from the US and UK, with options for all ages.
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