LEZYNE Micro Drive Pro 800XL Light

Product Information

Overdrive is the Micro Drive Pro 800XL operating at its full capacity, 800 lumens (who'd have guessed); this will burn for 1 hour 45 minutes, a whopping 30 per cent increase on its predecessor's run-time in the same mode. I've made use of this for the darkest of lanes but rarely had it on for the duration of a ride. I prefer the 400-lumen Blast mode, which is enough on familiar roads (plus, knowing I have four hours to play with is more comforting).

That said, the weatherproofing is to Lezyne's usual high standards. Over a few months of riding in occasionally soaking conditions the Macro Drive 800XL didn't miss a beat, nor did the road.cc shower test of doom faze it. The Day Flash mode puts out 800 lumens and is top notch for riding in daytime traffic; EVERYONE notices you! It's followed in the cycle of modes by Flash and Pulse; these two are much better for evening riding in urban areas – they don't send your eyes funny but still make others aware of you.

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I tend to use both lights in "race mode" after dark, but in the daytime in the normal setup so I can use the pulse mode for additional visibility as needed. This is a sinusoidal "flash" that doesn't blow people's eyeballs out. I get migraines from sudden strobing flashes, so I do not use the daytime flash modes unless I believe my life is in danger. At dusk, I begin on the low-power femto/economy mode until it gets dark enough, then put it in race mode. I've been a fan of the Overdrive Race mode for years, and consider any light without it fundamentally unfit for purpose. The ability to toggle directly between what is effectively High and Low Beam is a basic need for every cyclist, on- or off-road. Our beam test comparison data contains beam shots and data for over 40 of this year's lights, so you can directly compare one with another. After it, we take a look at the various options in lighting technology and recommend some of our favourite lights. The housing unit itself feels and looks solid and has enjoyed and survived the recent barrage of showers. I still took it into the shower with me to test, and it continues to function without fault. The USB port cover is pretty hefty and needs a firm push to ensure that the seal is engaged. It clearly does its job well. Mounting Redesigned for our Year 13 collection, the Strip Drive Rear features our new Wide Angle Optics lens that provides up to 270° of visibility. It also features an increase of 27 hours in runtime for a maximum of 57 hours. Its co-molded construction is more compact, but still boasts five LEDs for up to 150 lumens of output. With 11 output modes, including a Daytime Flash mode, it’s got options for any time day or night. A versatile mounting system attaches to aero or round posts and it’s micro-USB rechargeable.

The light is compatible with a remote switch but I didn't test this. Personally, I found the operating switch easily accessible and the addition of a cable to operate it doesn't strike me as a huge advantage. Battery life and charging The one exception I'd make are German lights manufactured to throw a shaped beam that cannot dazzle oncoming road users. In that case you can just use them on full all the time. But then on paths where you wand uniform coverage, for example to get even left-right cornering coverage, they don't work. For the record, I have had a number of interactions with Lezyne support, and so far they have always stood behind their products.Like Stu with the Lite Drive last year, I think eight modes is a bit much, but there's sure to be something to meet your needs and cope with every circumstance on the road. The Micro Drive Pro 800XL offers be-seen modes as well as a powerful beam that's sufficient for dark night outings on unlit lanes. It will suit most commuters and many keen roadies, a realistic option that will help you avoid the super-powerful, eye-blinding, wallet-emptying elite light category... The slight green cast of the LEDs I found to be slightly easier on the eyes than the brighter white often used by brands such as Exposure. Value The Lezyne Macro Drive 800XL is a decent-enough, all-in-one light with significant runtimes, but it's let down by poor beam focus and a wobbly mounting system. Cons: Perhaps too many modes that have to be scrolled through; modes not grouped in the most practical way

When on you can cycle through the modes or a five second press when the light is off activates the Overdrive mode which reduces the options to just two. Mounting the Lezyne to the handlebar is taken care of by a rubber band, and it gives you plenty of options for varying diameters of tubing. The 800XL sits at the bottom of Lezyne's 'Performance' range, which then drops to 'Sport' with lights of 450 lumens or lower. In the 800XL you get standard light settings from 15 up to 400 lumens, with runtimes decreasing from 63 down to 3 hours. There are 150 lumen pulse and flash modes lasting over 13 hours, plus Lezyne's trademark 'Overdrive Race mode', with a simple toggling between 'low beam' at 150 or the Overdrive 800 flagship output lasting 1hr 40mins.

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I have had two of these lights in frequent use for the past three years, an 800 and 1000. Both are mounted to the bars with an optional alloy clamp mount, which I believe is well worth the extra cost. Also, both of mine have external controllers. I use the wired controller with the 800 and a wireless controller on the 1000. Since technology marches on, the wireless controller is now offered with the 1300 lumen light, but mine is the slightly older and still totally adequate 1000 lm spec. Typically I use the ultra-low setting near dusk when you begin to need visibility but you can still safely see where you are going. Then after dark I use race mode, on this one with the remote wired toggle button. The system has proven to be a 10 for reliability, and once you figure out the operating scheme, it has become second nature.