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BBB HighFocus 1.5W LED HeadlightBBB Hi Focus.

BBB HighFocus 1.5W LED Headlight

8
by Shaun Audane
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Oct 28, 2011

4
£44.95

VERDICT:

8
10
Unusual but very competent light for commuting, training and beyond
Weight: 
149g
Contact: 
www.windwave.co.uk
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The BBB High Focus 1.5 watt LED is a remarkable light in so many respects. A compact CNC machined aluminium body houses a clever variable focus beam while a beefy silicone strap cum mounting bracket affords a universal fit across the spectrum of handlebar diameters and most sportier lids too.

Powered by four AAA cells, there's no need to break into a cold sweat 'cos the laptop's two hours away, simply swing by the corner shop, supermarket or garage. However, this pushes running costs up in the long term, which might not be ideal for regular marathon moonlit meanders - you can use rechargeables though, and side windows allowing the beam to bleed through would be a welcome improvement.

Available in a choice of black or silver, the high focus produces 100 lumens at full power, tapering to a very average but town and suburb serviceable thirty- two in low and flashing beams. These are adjustable between 12 and 22 degrees to suit riding conditions, a sharp spot being preferable for road duties, rotating the fluted head accordingly produces a flood better suited to trail riding. This is a surprisingly smooth action, easily performed in winter weight road and mountain bike gloves. The same is true of the soft action switch.

Just the right side of spongy, it's positioned in the base and easily located with a podgy thumb and shows little sign of unintentional engagements when snoozing in the messenger satchel. Access to the battery tray is simply a matter of turning the fluted end anti clockwise. Beefy threads and O-ring seals afford a snug union, passing the hosepipe test so unlikely to fall foul of the elements, although the threads can benefit from a jot of synthetic, non-lithium grease.

The casings stocky profile looks at home on most genres of machine from mountain/cross mounts, fixers through to tourers. Talking of which, it's been possible to strap it securely around heavier gauge low rider/rack mounts as a compliment to the dynamo for some old school all-terrain touring. Run times are the upper end of middling, returning nine, 20 and 58 hours in high, low and flashing from the premium quality cells, although this dropped by twenty per cent with rechargeables.

Verdict

Unusual but very competent light for commuting, training and beyond

 

road.cc test report

Make and model: BBB HighFocus 1.5W LED Headlight

Size tested: Silver

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?

BBB give little away only to suggest the variable beam allows it to be tailored for use in both road and mtb contexts. In my book it doesn't compete with the uber lumen rechargable types but serves well as a secondary helmet lamp for the trail or bright, minimalist design for long commutes/winter training.

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

Headlight, Aluminum casing, uses a high power 1.5 Watt Luxeon Rebel LED.

Variable focus: from a 12 - 22 beam.

Rubber enclosed water-resistant-switch provides direct and responsive activation.

Water resistant casing.

Easy mounting, angle adjustable silicone StrapMount bracket included. Fits both standard and oversized handlebar diameters as well as the BLS-69 HelmetMount helmet bracket.

Weight: 160 gr.

Uses 3 'AAA' batteries (included).

Rate the light for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Extremely well executed for the money.

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

Heavy duty silicone watch type-a simple, secure fit in seconds around handlebars and helmets.

Rate the light for waterproofing. How did it stand up to the elements?
 
8/10

Passed the garden hose testing.

Rate the light for battery life. How long did it last? How long did it take to recharge?
 
7/10

Run times are impressive since it's fuelled by three AAA cells, although received wisdom suggests there's a 15-20% drop using rechargeable nicds.

Rate the light for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the light for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the light for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

169g by my scales.

Rate the light for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10

Pleasure to use.

Rate the light for value:
 
9/10

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

The quirky high focus is a remarkably competent little light that fills the gap between simple seen-bys and retina burning rechargeable trail types perfectly. Adjusting between the spot and flood settings is a doddle- even on the fly. Simply rotate the machined lens shroud to suit. The ultra refined movement shames models twice the price and there's plenty of oomph for navigating unlit roads at twenty odd mph. It's a fair trail companion too, although regular nocturnal forest frolics should be accompanied by a more powerful 'parent' system.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the light

Excellent build quality and performance for the money. Consumes nominal handlebar space for an uncluttered look on minimalist mounts.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the light

Nothing.

Did you enjoy using the light? Yes

Would you consider buying the light? Very likely.

Would you recommend the light to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb 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, mtb,

 

BBB HighFocus 1.5W LED Headlight
BBB
BBB 2011
LED cycle light
LED commuter light
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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4 comments

Avatar
Psyclyst | 13 years ago
0 likes

On the subject of reviews I'd be very interested to see how the new Edinburgh bike Vision 300 (£99) does along side the Exposure Joystick and the Lezeyne Super Drive. The EBC said this was their version of the popular Joystick.

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?f_ProductID=13953&f_Fu...

Avatar
horizontal dropout | 13 years ago
0 likes

Hey reviewers how about a review of this one: http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_8&products_id.... It's got a CREE 3 watt LED and is only £5.60. I would be really interested to see what you get for the money compared to some of the quite expensive ones reviewed here.

I'm not affiliated to the shop in any way, just interested.

Well done the light comparison database btw.

Avatar
Rob Simmonds | 13 years ago
0 likes

The clamp looks identical to the BBB High Power (on test at the moment) which has a nice notched bevel at the base allowing you to rotate the light.

Hopefully Shaun can confirm, just to be sure.

Avatar
cat1commuter | 13 years ago
0 likes

Does it use three or four AAA cells?

Does the handlebar mount allow the light to rotate?

I'm interested in the latter, since I have On-One Mary bars on my town bike. They don't have space next to the stem to clamp a light, but have a long 25.4 mm section on either side which is at 40 degrees. This rules out most lights!

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