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Lupine Tesla 5 light review

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$519.90

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Lupine Tesla 5

BikeRadar verdict

4.5 out of 5 stars

"A bit pricey at over £300, but this is a very nice bit of kit that works well"

5 comments
Mon 12 Oct 2009, 5:00 pm BSTBy

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Over three hours on full power is pretty good going for a light that weighs in at under 350g, but the most impressive thing about this light is the beam pattern.

It's excellent, with a hotspot centre that packs considerable punch to light your way down the trail/road, and yet there's a well-defined peripheral spread as well that gives just the right amount of light for judging distance and speed.

This light defines a benchmark in LED beam patterns – the only other manufacturer to get close is Light and Motion – and just has something about it that lets you ride with utter confidence.

Lupine's programmable power control system allows you to switch between three modes of operation, and also control light cut-off behaviour depending on battery capacity settings.

Even when you’re using it on low power, it's still a light you can ride surprisingly quickly with. Side visibility is good too, and the simple O-ring mounting is both easy to fit and secure in use.

The battery level indication comes on nice and early (so no getting left in the dark), the mount is simple and solid, and the button is easy to use and positive in action.

It might throw out less light than Lupine's own Wilma 5, but this is an example of how the quality of light, and not the quantity, is the important factor.

Off-road: 4.5/5

Road: 4.5/5

What's the score with BikeRadar reviews? You can find a full explanation of our ratings here.

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User Reviews

There are 5 reviews on this post

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 comments

  • I dont own this light but if "Imitation is the sincerest (form) of flattery" then this light must be really good! When our Chinese cousins decided to clone a bike light (ripped off?) and use the same spec components it seems like they picked this one as the base.

    I paid £50 delivered for the clone (Dealexteme HA-III SSC P7, aka Magicshine) which is fab and I'm sure the original is even better. If I could afford a Lupine version - I'd probably get one.

  • I have the same light as the previous poster and have to agree, save your money and get the magicshine from Hongkong. In fact buy 2 for about a third the cost of the Lupine and mount one on the bars and one on your lid!

    The latest MBUK reviews the Dealextreme light, albeit with a ramped up price from a UK supplier.

  • Recently got the 2010 Tesla 5 for a lot less than the rec retail price from Merlin Cycles (who proved excellent in every respect). The light produced and the battery run times are both amazing and from something so light and compact. Flippin revelation compared to what i was using before!

    And in the event that spares are needed they are at least easily available in the uk as are distributed by Zyro. Personal experience in the past has shown: buy cheap, buy twice.

  • Nothing short of an amazing light. Didnt want to stop commuting just because the sun wasnt shining so thought the tesla would be ideal. 3 beam strengths to choose from and flash mode that draws welcomed attention. I have the Tesla 4 which just has a smaller battery hence less run time but even so lasts long enough. Also has a very good low batt warning so you know when to knock the beam down a tad, even on the lowest beam I can still ride to work in confidence in pitch black, full beam is just amazing! Lot of money but do not regret it at all.

  • I got the Tesla 4 as a freebie from Specialized when I bought my bike. It's excellent, currently using it for commuting where the low setting is enough even on unlit roads in the winter darkness and when I get out on the trails I'll put it on high and combined with a LED Lenser P7 strapped to my helmet it's as good as daylight.

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Specification

Name:
Tesla 5 (09)
Built by:
Lupine
Price:
$519.90

Description:
LED x 1 (4 diodes in one assembly) Bar and helmet mountable, Full power run time: 3 hours 14 minutes
Weight (g):
336 g
Type of Battery Required:
Lithium-Ion
Position:
Front

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