Cool, look forward to seeing the shots and getting my order in – just don’t tell the wife haha

Oh, I should do a mini review.

Similar products used:
[list][*]Hope R4[/*][*]Hope vision 2 and 4[/*][*]Smudge’s light from last year[/*][/list]

Used for:
[list][*]About 250km on the road bike (on bars)[/*][*]About 100km on the mountain bike (on the helmet)[/*][*]About 50km on the mountain bike (on the bars))[/*][*]about 30km of night running and orienteering(on head strap)[/*][/list]

Light Unit
The light the Gloworm produces is comfortably better than any of the other torches I’ve used or seen. It lacks most of the hotspot of Smudge’s torch and has a warmer and brighter light than the R4. It seems to have a slight colour to it which helps throw features into better relief – especially on the bars.

I use the light with the standard spot/flood optics and it has a very wide flood with a very mild hotspot but still a great deal of throw. I’ve yet to want for more light and when riding on the road I rarely use it above the very lowest light modes. Even off road I can happily rode 90% of the time in low or very low light modes. For night orienteering I spend most of the time between kites in very low light modes and flick up if I need a bit more penetration into thickets or when it’s misty.

Criticisms of the light unit:
I think the flash modes are way too bright to want to use on the road, they’re easily capable of dazzling oncoming traffic.

I’m not sold on the remote switch, it’s great on the head strap but the velcro pads have come off my helmet and bars already. Maybe a couple of loops of double sided velcro might be better?

I’ve not managed to run the battery down yet, which is good! I’ve done four hour rides with it.

mounting options:
Now, I have to say this is where I’m not completely sold on the X2. The handle bar mount is, as mentioned above, a bit rattly. This is being fixed, woo!

Also, the relatively narrow helmet mount isn’t stable on my Giro Xar as it has a ridge down the centre of the helmet. I’ve made a moulded mount out of sugru and it’s perfectly stable now however a wider plate, ideally in a slightly flexible plastic and longer velcro straps might be a better solution.

The head mount is excellent, comfortable and stable. If I was to make a suggestion for the future a larger flexible plastic rear plate would add stability over really rough ground and I’d like the straps siliconised.

Overall:
Bloody good light, I’d choose it over any of the other lights i’ve used. None of the issues above have required more than a five minute fix and the light is bloody, bloody good. I’d like more low light modes for road use and some tweaks to the mounts but that aaide – whoop!

Thanks for the review – sorry I have only just spotted it. Glad you are pleased with the X2.

With reference to the areas you would improve –
The QR handlebar mount will be available from the end of next week as an optional upgrade.

The Giro Xar seems to be tricky to mount lights to – I’ve seen other people having issues mounting a variety of lights to them. Perhaps helmet designers should try to include a flat area for mounting lights on the front of their helmets.

I will copy your review to Gloworm for them to consider your feedback.

We have a 1 week Christmas present promotion on the Gloworm X2 – reduced by 15% until the 16th December to £127.50

Hey, just seen your comments. Agree that the Xar is a bit of a pain.

Done a few more night orienteering events now and just a couple of comments on the head mount. I still think it’s very comfortable but I’d like a slightly longer strap and the two plates definitely provide less stability than a specialist head mount. Personally I think designing a common head and helmet mount has compromised both very slightly. Still love it to bits and would buy it again tomorrow.

Pleased you love it. Gloworm read customer feedback and act on it or build it in to the next version of the product.

I know some changes are in progress to the headstrap but I’ve not seen one yet.

There have been a couple more excellent X2 reviews this week on http://www.bikemagic.com and http://www.imbikemag.com/issue21

Hopefully, Singletrack will have put their X2 through the Grinder soon.

Still very impressed with mine. Only weird thing I have noticed is if you unplug the charger but leave the battery attached, the battery continues to power the charger LED, so not sure if this could lead to the battery running down if you left it.

That happens with all chargers/battery packs in my experience (I’ve just tried it with a few different ones and they all do it).

If you unplug/switch off the charger you need to disconnect the battery pack as it will run it down.

Guys, what is the X1 like? I’m considering the x1 & x2 deal so I can have bar & helmet options, then when wife & I ride or commute we can have 1 each. Hoping the x1 is enough on it’s own for off-road? I’ll use the x1 & headstrap for trail running as well due to it’s light weight.

The x1 is great for trail running used with the flood optic

The X1 is an excellent helmet light. More spotty than the X2 as of course is only a single LED, but SUPER powerful.

I have just started running one on my lid with my old exposure Maxxd on the bars. Perfect!

I went with the 4 cell battery which I put in my camelback and a 2 hour ride on HIGH only used 20% of it!!

If I needed a complete solution I would go for the dual package of an X1 on the lid and X2 on the bars.

A good friend just uses an X2 on his lid and its so good he doesnt use a bar light.

Personally I think two are needed, especially if one fails out on the trail, you have a backup light to get you home.

Go for it. Well made kit and excellent value!

Thanks for feedback/ help guys. Think you’ve helped seal the deal!

We are now running a promotion specifically aimed at people competing in endurance races who need a new light.

Simply email sales at crgmoto.co.uk with the event you are competing in (bit late now but for example Strathpuffer) and we will send you a 10% off code for a Gloworm X1 or X2. If you want a spare battery pack, these will be half price if bought with the light system.

The X2 got 4.5 stars out of 5, Most Wanted and Value awards in Guy Kesteven’s review in MBUK this month.