The latest USE Exposure Sixpack MK14 boasts the full might of the brand’s R&D department as it features a tweaked circuit that allows it to kick out more lumens than before. As a result, it displays the same user-friendliness and the heft of battery life the Sixpack has made its name for, but it’s brighter and smoother. It does require a fair investment, which may put off non-regular night riders.
- Best mountain bike lights 2024 - top-rated lights for night riding
- Exposure Lights MaXx-D MK15 review
- 9 top tips to make the most of the off-road night riding season
USE Exposure Sixpack MK14 - Technical details
Claiming to be ‘the pinnacle of off-road lighting’ there’s a lot at play here, and for the asking price, you would expect so. The main headline is that the Sixpack MK14 now boasts more lumens, 5,800 to be precise which has been achieved through more efficient circuitry.
Offering a run time of two to 36 hours, there’s a plethora of programs to choose from all of which provide options of outputs and run times to help the user find the perfect balance for their rides, whether marathon efforts or quick post-work blasts. Two of those programs provide access to Exposure’s Reflex technology which uses a combination of accelerometers and thermisters to continually collect data on the angle of the gradient being ridden and the speed.
Throughout the period of a single ride, Reflex takes this data and learns from it to detect what kind of terrain is being ridden at what speed. It’ll then output the correct amount of light for the particular conditions. So in a nutshell, it’ll come to know when you’re climbing or standing still and reduce the lumens to save power, and when you’re descending something technical, it’ll bosh out its full 5,800 lumens for when you need it.
The Sixpack’s Internal Thermal Management, Optimised Mode Selector, and OLED Status Display are all features we’ve come to expect from the brand.
That lumen count is provided with help from six white XPL2 LEDs and housed within an anodised 6063 aluminium casing is a 20,000 mAh Lithium Ion battery that’s said to reach full charge in eight hours. That casing meets an IP rating of IP65.
Included in the box is a quick-release bar bracket, a charger, and a guide. Exposure then claims a weight of 386g - I weighed it at 404g without the handlebar bracket.
USE Exposure Sixpack MK14 - Performance
Having tested and enjoyed the MK12 Sixpack, there are a lot of features that remain unchanged. Instead, it’s clear that the brand has brought small revisions to its flagship light making an already great product better.
It’s as user-friendly as before but its increased lumen count makes it all the light anyone would ever need. Not only is the Sixpack brighter but it’s generally more capable as it illuminates deeper into a trail but its spread is super smooth.
There’s still a hot spot in the centre of the light’s beam, which is to credit for lighting up deep trail sections but that hotspot graduates smoothly into a wide flood. And wide, it certainly is as there’s impressively little distance between the face of the light’s lens and the point at which light hits the floor. There’s a great benefit behind this too as it provides more light for steep turns than I could ask for.
Reflex is a key technology for Exposure and I’ll admit, it’s something I didn’t gel with before but on the MK14, there have been some real improvements. Once in use and after a small descent or two, the Sixpack MK14 becomes a light I’ve never had to touch once switched on. It does need a bit of time to learn what’s going on and it only gets cleverer as a ride goes on but it takes all of the management away from the user.
I’ve tested the light primarily on an e-MTB where the Reflex tech made itself obvious, dimming when stopped and unleashing half the power of the sun on the trail when descending. It even reins the output in when riding fast but mellow fire roads. It’s not the be-all-end-all for all users, however, as those who want to be properly frugal with their battery capacity will be flicking through the output modes but for a few hours after work, I’ve not been left wanting extra juice.
In fact, battery longevity isn’t bad at all. Left in full power mode, with Reflex working, I’ve been able to get three hours of riding in with some battery left in the tank. Of course, there’s then the long list of programs to choose from that’ll help you eke out every milliamp hour.
As always, the Sixpack’s build quality is stellar. It’s class-leading and sure to last for years. With its annual updates, USE Exposure can be likened to the Fifa video games. Every year, the brand’s tinkering and tweaking to make its products better and more usable. If you own last year's, this year’s Sixpack MK14 won’t be worth the investment, but what USE Exposure is bringing to the table is a consistently excellent light that’s only getting better as time goes on.
USE Exposure Sixpack MK14 - Verdict
At £495, the Sixpack MK14 is expensive, but Exposure has packed in the tech, which makes it worth the outlay if you’re a night-riding aficionado. If you’re out riding in the dark multiple times a week, the investment makes lots of sense, but if nighttime adventures are rare occurrences, spending that kind of money might not be the way to go unless you’re looking for durability
We can’t talk lights without bringing up Magicshine’s Monteer 12000. It claims to output the number of lumens as per its namesake, but it is a light plus battery combo and despite that, its battery is smaller at 10,000 mAh. Magicshine does promise up to 121 hours of run time but that is in its day flash mode. You’ve got the extra weight to consider, and a large battery to strap somewhere on your frame.
Rustling up a comparable 6,000 lumens is the Moon Canopus Pro (here’s our review of the regular Canopus). It’ll set you back £325 which includes a USB-C remote control
The 14th iteration USE Exposure Sixpack is as rich in features as it is all-out performance. Its subtle improvements make for a more user-friendly and generally brighter experience. It's expensive but probably the last front light you'll ever buy.
Add comment