As a helmet light to supplement my six-pack.
My old axis has died and is unrepairable sadly according to exposure.
Replacement would be one from their 2024 range.
Don’t know if any use but I have a brand new Joystick MK15, in silver, with helmet mount, that I haven’t ever used and am unlikely to do so, happy to sell for £100
Not Axis. I've got one and it's not as good as the two joysticks
Don't forget to look at the zenith as well.
I've had all 3. IMO the MaxxD pairs best with the Joystick and the Six Pack with the Diablo/Zenith
Axis was a bit meh with the MaxxD and lost with the Six Pack
DONT forget the 18% members discount!
Exposure no longer make the Axis, just the Zenith, Joystick and Diablo. FWIW, I prefer the Axis (Mk10) offroad with my MaxxD. It has just slightly more punch in the centre and a little more flood for the corners. than the MK16 Joystick I have. On the road, with an SB Activ, I can't tell the difference between the Axis and the Joystick. There's a little more flood from the Axis, but it's not much and just blends in with the flood from the SB. The new NK18 Joystick seems to have a bigger deeper lens, so may have more punch, but still be pointy.
With the lesser power of the Toro, I’m really liking the flood beam of the Diablo. It naturally extends out from the Toro beam as I move my head to go around corners. There isn’t really a hot spot, there’s just light where I want it.
I nearly got a Joystick or Axis, as I’m a big fan of the extra distance a spot beam reaches on the road. But after trying with the weaker Link+ light I already had for the road, I found a spot harder work off road - it’s better to see a wider area to pick the best line, rather than search for it with a spot.
To run the Diablo bright you really need a support cell though, unless you are doing very short rides. But these look like they might be discontinued - and don’t work with the 2026 lights, although presumably you can use a power bank. The Joystick has a bit of an advantage for battery life, as it’s giving out less light - but appears brighter in the distance as it’s a spot not a flood.
On my 2025 Diablo I really like full power for anything technical or fast, then 1/3 power is a useful level for everything else. From the specs, I don’t rate the brightness choices USE have made for the 2026 helmet lights. To get full brightness on the Diablo, the second mode is 1/6 as bright, which I reckon might be too big a drop. The other modes get 1/3 power at best, then drop to very dim. Great for riding through the night, not so useful for going out for a few hours maximum.
I’ve just bought the latest joystick and there’s a weird blue light dot in the middle of the beam which my previous versions didn’t have - not sure if its due to a change in led/lens, but it’s not as nice a beam pattern.
I have a Joystick and manage it's battery fine during night rides (don't have it on all the time). It's spot compliments a Maxx D perfectly.
My mate with a Diablo moans about it's poor battery life
Just popped my brand new Joystick Mk15 on the classifieds if any use to anyone.
I'd go with the lightest (weight) one. Hated the weight of the Diablo; not keen on the weight of the Joystick but find the Link ok... but that's only ok for being seen and not to actually see with!