REVIEWED: Full Beam X-12 Lights

Summer might not seem like the time to review lights, but pity the riders who live somewhere like Alice Springs. Sure, they have about 300km of awesome singletrack surrounding their town. And sure, they have two of the most enjoyable stage races in the country, the Easter in the Alice and the Redback (nee ICME). And yeah, they have a really great mountain bike club. And of course they (usually) don’t have to worry about mud and rain.

But it’s also bloody hot. A lot of the time. So early morning and night time offers a reprieve.

But that’s the case in other areas too. While high powered lights are great for events, and riding through winter, they’re also great for getting out when the trails are cooler and quieter in summer.

I reviewed the Full Beam Fusion Speed LED in Issue 143. I loved the super high power, the single unit, and the technology behind the speed sensitivity. But I didn’t like having to fit a cabled speed sensor to my bike.

Out back – the button has a great tactile feel, and the lead threads on.

The Full Beam Night-Nemesis X12 is even stronger than the 3000 Lumen model  tested earlier. When isn’t 3000 lumens enough? Well that’s not really the point, it’s more about having that power on hand when required – for really, really fast riding.

The X12 pumps out over 4500 Lumens, from a single bar-mounted unit. The battery is separate, stowed in a fairly basic bag that you can to attach on your bike, or under your seat – depending on where there is room. It all looks pretty industrial, and with the case taken into account, it is. The seals for the cords are fantastic, and the chances of one wriggling loose when riding must be non-existent. The cord screws onto the back of the light – it’s not budging. The casing is waterproof, and Full Beam even encourage you to clean it in the sink!

All that power is no good if you don’t know how to use it, and although the X 12 can pump out 4500 Lumens, it can also be tuned, with up to 5 light modes that you can configure yourself, so you can get 1000 Lumen for 10hrs, or go out guns blazing with 4500 Lumens for an hour and a half. Plus stops in between.

The spread is broad, and really even. I didn’t notice any dead spots in the light. All I noticed was lots of light, everywhere. If you have ever had doubts about seeing enough when riding at night, then book a test with the Full Beam X-12, and be ready to be surprised.

The battery pack is a little rudimentary – but you can fit it just about anywhere.

But as bright as it is, there were times I still wished for a head mounted light to off set the X-12 on the bars. This might not be necessary for your riding. It wasn’t a problem in corners, more on the rockier terrain that typifies the riding near where I live in Sydney. As good as a light like the X-12 is, when you’re getting your bike up ledges, or over rocks into a chute on the other side, there’s enough of a gap there where the beam is in the trees and you’re looking at darkness. Not often per ride, but unnerving!

This is a very location specific critique though – but one that Full Beam have responded to. Since we received the unit, Full Beam now supply a very versatile helmet mount (the same as from their Night Fire) with the X-12 for no extra charge. Winning.

All up, the X-12 really is a Night Nemesis. It throws huge amounts of light down the trail, with great clarity. The build of the product is bombproof, and you can tune it to be the light you want it to be. The clamp can still be a little fiddly, but once it’s setup it is fine. And now, you can run it on your handlebars or helmet – whatever suits your trails, preferences and riding style.

Hits:

– So much light!

– Tuning options

Misses:

– Clunky straps for the battery pack

Price: $899

From: Full Beam Australia