XMR is the accessory brand from T.I Cycles of India. Their range has extended to both accessories and apparel of all types, designs and colour. XMR’s range of lights are a plenty and across different price ranges. We got the opportunity to test the XMR Strike 5.0 front LED light and here is what we thought.
The XMR Strike 5.0 is a front LED headlight for bicycles. There is no real lumen count given by the brand for this light. This light comes with 5 LED bulbs and this gives an extended visibility to the rider. With rapidly increasing lumen values often touted as a selling point for lights, the Strike 5.0 which isn’t brightest may not look impressive. But there is plenty of light for riding around town, whether that’s commuting to work or the short fitness rides. I even took it out on an unlit street with a bit of gravel and I was able to look at the surface when pedalling at a slow pace. There are 3 light modes: Steady, fast and rapid. The flashing mode is bright enough for decent visibility, but the flash speed is a bit slow. These lights run on 4 AAA batteries and give 6 hours on the steady mode.
I've always been a fan of the mounting system on XMR lights, and it's no different here. The light slides into the mount and clicks in very securely. The mount then straps on to the handlebars with a quick-release holder. It's quick and easy to install and remove, but the only negative point is that this holder mount is small and does not fit on to bulky handlebars. These lights will be mountable on most commuter bicycle handlebars. The light and the mount are both small and light-weight, making it the most compact light. The light turns on and cycles through levels of flash and rapid modes by just single clicks. The button is easy to use, even with gloves on. The top cap is easy to remove and the batteries can be installed quickly.
Overall Rating
There's a lot of competition for this light, and the XMR Strike 5.0 definitely holds its own. It's compact, has a solid mount, and a good balance of light to see with and be seen by. It's an excellent choice for commuting, cycling around town, or road cycling and most importantly all this comes only at Rs.295 making this bicycle light value for money.
Prices are subject to change by the brand, without due notice.