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review
Lights - rear
Infini Mini Luxo Rear LightInfini Rear Light Mini Luxo.jpg

Infini Mini Luxo Rear Light

6
by Shaun Audane
UPDATED Wed, Nov 08, 2017 15:46

First Published Nov 8, 2017

1
£26.99

VERDICT:

6
10
Robust and more potent than its size would imply, but pricey compared with the alternatives
Weight: 
31g
Contact: 
www.madison.co.uk
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The Infini Mini Luxo rear light is described as being 'a classy way to keep yourself seen in low-light conditions". On the plus side, it's brighter than the size would imply and quite captivating by thimble-type standards, but unless you're particularly pushed for space there are more effective blinkies for less money.

  • Pros: Well made, bright, decent run-times
  • Cons: Expensive

The Mini Luxo is very well made, with a CNC machined aluminium alloy body housing diode, circuitry and lithium polymer battery. The lens is broad, relatively flat and doubles as an on/off switch. Combining lens and switch minimises moving parts and keeps things simple when wearing thick winter gloves. It requires a definite press before coming to life. 

> Find your nearest dealer here

There's no memory function, but since there are only three modes I wasn't that fussed. Those three modes are flashing, constant and pulse, and the Mini Luxo has proved markedly brighter than I was expecting in pretty much every setting.

As a daylight flash it can't compare with, say, Bontrager's Flare R City light, but it's quite apparent on gloomy afternoons. At dusk and beyond, approaching riders suggested it was visible from around 100 metres along open roads, nearer 70-80m around town, which is reasonable.

It's a similar story in the steady mode thanks to the surprisingly potent diode. I've run it alongside two other flashing lights (15 lumens apiece) and it seems slightly brighter.

Flashing and pulsing have a slight edge when darkness proper falls, though again, 115/110m seems to be an average along unlit roads, 70/80m through town.

Run-times and charging

Run-times are reasonable: 2 hours in steady, 4:47 flashing, 5:33 pulsing. Charging takes 2 hours from the mains; bargain on another 15 minutes or so when it's supping from your laptop port. It'll go from flashing red to blank, signifying it's fully juiced.

Charging is via an android pattern charge port hidden behind the screw-on back. This, aside from being sleek, offers decent protection from the elements. Suffice to say, I've felt no inclination to add a blob of silicone grease, and it's passed my garden hose test with flying colours and not missed a beat when seatstay-mounted and belted along some waterlogged backroads.

Mounting

The mount – a familiar silicone strap and sculpted rubber pad – provides secure, finish-friendly tenure and works well with the full zodiac from skinny steel seatstays through to oversized seatposts.

Conclusion

Relative to size, the Mini Luxo is well made and more potent than I was expecting. At £26 it is comparable with similar designs such as the Lucas KOTR R15 (and the F40 front – you can read my review here), but there are scores of compact models representing better value.

> Buyer's Guide: 14 of the best rear lights for cycling

Bontrager's Flare R City mentioned above, Moon's Gemini and Cateye's Rapid Micro Rear are a few that spring to mind. Indeed, you can buy the Gemini as a front and rear package for £32.

Verdict

Robust and more potent than its size would imply, but pricey compared with the alternatives

road.cc test report

Make and model: Infini Mini Luxo Rear Light

Size tested: 15 Lumens

Tell us what the light is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Infini says: "The Mini-Luxo is a classy way to keep yourself seen in low light conditions

Single LED housed within aluminum outer case

Main body unscrews from back plate to reveal USB port for recharging

Lithium-ion polymer rechargeable battery

Flashing, Constant and Pulse modes

Push button lens is easy to operate, even with winter gloves

Supplied with mount"

I'd say it's competitively priced by thimble type design standards and brighter than I was expecting. However, it's expensive given the level of performance and different designs offering more light for less money.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the light?

CNC machined aluminium housings, screw down port cover, 3 modes, combined lens and switch, lithium polymer battery, single LED.

Rate the light for quality of construction:
 
7/10

Well made, using decent quality materials.

Rate the light for design and ease of use. How simple was the light to use?
 
8/10

Lens cum switch means it's very easy to engage and operate, even in heavyweight winter gloves.

Rate the light for the design and usability of the clamping system/s
 
8/10

Looped straps are secure and gentle on finishes.

Rate the light for waterproofing. How did it stand up to the elements?
 
6/10

As I'd expect from a screw down design. No problem with wet roads, rain and occasional blasts from the garden hose.

Rate the light for battery life. How long did it last? How long did it take to recharge?
 
6/10

2hrs charge time; 2hrs steady, 4hrs 47 flashing, 5hrs 33 pulsing.

Rate the light for performance:
 
7/10

Brighter and more captivating than I was expecting.

Rate the light for durability:
 
7/10

Seems well made, no obvious weak spots noted.

Rate the light for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the light for value:
 
5/10

Competitive alongside similar types, but relatively pricey compared with other options.

Tell us how the light performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Overall and as a contingency/tertiary light, the Mini Luxo is well made and relatively bright. Integrating lens and switch is great from a design perspective, and charge times are swift too, but it feels relatively poor value and less practical alongside other compact lights such as Bontrager's Flare R City or Cateye's Rapid Micro rear.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the light

Nicely finished, simple to use and brighter than I was expecting.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the light

Poor value for money when compared with other options.

Did you enjoy using the light? Yes

Would you consider buying the light? No

Would you recommend the light to a friend? Probably not.

Use this box to explain your score

It's a simple contingency light that is aesthetically pleasing and user friendly, and better than most of the "thimble" models I've used to date, but it's poor value compared with higher power models with 180-degree lozenge shaped lenses, which keeps the overall score down.

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 44  Height: 1m 81cm  Weight: 70kg

I usually ride: Rough stuff tourer based around 4130 Univega mountain bike frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

Infini Mini Luxo Rear Light 2017
Infini Mini Luxo Rear Light
Infini 2017
Infini
Shaun Audane

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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1 comments

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ShinyBits | 7 years ago
0 likes

Looks to be exactly the same design as my own-brand Evans one. As you say, it's brighter than you'd think, the flash certainly gets driver's attention. The only downside is the rubber pad part of the mount (that sits on the back of the light) is not glued on, and tends to come off when charging, so could get lost (hasn't happened yet).

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