The light produced by the product is very good, excellent in fact, but the light is poorly made.
The first thing that happened is the plug (or cover) to the charging port fell off the light. This happened after only a few rides (less than 6). The loss of the plug didn't affect the light's performance but most of my rides where in dry (non-rain) conditions. I only did a few rides where there was rain. So,I can't say what would have happened if I'd have ridden in heavy rain or ridden many times in rain.
Just a few day ago, I took the light off the charger. There was an immediate problem. The light worked but I couldn't turn it off. It performed the normal functions, flashing and continuous, but it would not turn off. I had to let the light's battery discharge to make the light go dark. I haven't been able to make it work properly since then.
The problem is that I purchased the light less than a year ago. I'd expect it to last much longer than a year. I will add that the battery still seems to be working fine but what good is that if the light doesn't work.
I gave it two stars because the light performed very well while it worked. I subtracted three stars because its life span was too short and the construction quality is too low.
I won't buy from this manufacturer again.
I have several headlights from Light &Motion and think they're great. Unfortunately this taillight doesn't deliver. It's a tall taillight meaning that if you have a saddlebag, it will not fit on your seatpost. So instead the instructions suggest clipping it on the saddlebag and this is the problem. The clip is weak and you can expect the light to fall off quickly. Say goodbye to $80. There are better designed and bright taillights on the market so skip this one.
I don't ride at night but I still felt that a taillight was warranted for day riding considering traffic, etc. My riding partner has the same light and I saw that it was quite visible even on bright days and with a considerable amount of distance between us. In fact his fell off once on a ride and we hadn't noticed where it came off. We went back on our route and about a mile back I saw a flashing red light in the tall grass and was able to retrieve his light. If it hadn't been flashing there would have no way to see it. He also told me that after having his for a year he had not experienced any problems with it.
The L&M website claims the light can be mounted on helmets. The mounting bracket is designed to work only on seat posts which slope toward the taillight's direction. Helmets slope the away from the taillight's direction making a helmet mount useless. On a helmet, the light shines toward the sky, not towards cars.
Replaced the VIS180 with a Orfos Flare Pro, Much brighter and points more toward cars. The VIS180 would work better on a helmet if it could be mounted horizontally.
First of all I have owned this for about a year. I do like the brightness, modes, and usb charging. I dont like the removal and strap. As already mentioned the strap is very long (good to fit lots of seatpostsseattubes?) but there is not a nice way to control the tail. it just sticks out. not a killer but annoying. The removal from the strapclamp is vertical slotted so you need lots of clearance above the light so if you have a tool bag and a med to short post you cant easily take it on and off without undoing the strap. I would recommend only for some bikes.
I feel that I need to revise my first review in fairness to Light and Motion. If you read my previous review, it stated that I had lost the light in its first outing. I then contacted them directly letting them know what had happened. To my surprise, they replaced the light free of charge with proof that I had a receipt. When I received the new light, I still felt like the mounting that they advise on their website will not work on clothing or saddle packs. What I did instead was to take the seat post mount that they provide, and zip tied the mount to my saddle bag. Since then I have subjected numerous miles of gravel roads, and to date the light has stayed on. I deducted a star just because if your follow the instructions for using it without the mount, you stand a good chance of losing it. That said, it is a well built light that has a great company that stands behind it!
I'm a Light and Motion fan. I transitioned back to a Stella Headlight after twice having Lupine battery issues and I use a Light and Motion Urban 800 as another of my main headlights for commuting in the Canadian winter - I'm impressed with both, but my Vis 180 taillight gave out after 1 winter commute. I can see moisture in it - a taillight normally takes a beating in the rain and roadspray but I do expect more than one season from a $XX light. This is one piece of kit that I made the mistake of buying elsewhere.
I am sure that my light is the previous 50 lumen version. The high pulse setting is great during the day and the low flashing setting is more than adequate in the dark but the high flashing is better if there are street lights. It has been on my commuting bike with fenders almost all of that time but it has also made it throught 2-3 long very wet fenderless rides without any problems, even after it was several years old. The pulse mode is good for a day group ride without being annoying but it really needs to be pointed down and out of the other guy's eyes.
It really needs to be attached to a round tube with the silicone band. I tried clipping it to a jersey pocket a couple of weeks after I bought it as someone else did to their bike bag and mine too was lost. I did choose to immediately replace it.
Now after 5 years the light will still run for 3 hours on high but will only hold a charge for 2-3 days at which point it will not turn on. for the first couple years it could sit for 1-2 months. The price was $XXX then which was reasonable because there was really nothing else like it. Today, however, I think there may be some cheaper competitors. If someone were to steal it off my bike I would buy it again but I would wait for it to go on sale.
First of all, I am a big fan of Light and Motion products, but this one broke my heart. It seemed to be a good solid build, and according to my research, a great light. That said, the mounting system failed on its first outing, and was lost. I had it placed on the back of my saddle bag as per the instructions on L&M's website. I made sure it felt solid before I left, and after a 25 mile ride, it fell off somewhere. At $XXX I should expect better. Now my dilemma is to decide if I should put out the money again and hope for the best, or try something else.
Great light, mounts almost anywhere. The above poster says its not quick release once you put it in its mount. This is incorrect, once in its mount, to release all you do is push in on the light (pressure toward the mount) and at the same time move the light vertically, and it's released. If anything, it's faster than a quick release. Battery life is amazing. Have received many comments on how it's visible from the side.
I use a rear light more and more during the day. Ii makes me more visible. I have bought them for my adult children and encourage their use at all times. They are light and easy to use.
I bike during the day on heavily trafficed urban streets, this light gives me the comfort of additional visibility to vehicular traffic
This is a nice, bright light with nice side amber lights. I like the pulsing option which is not obnoxious for riders behind (versus blinking lights). The mounting strap is really long for regular seat posts, with nowhere to place the extra slack. I thought it would work nicely on my aero seat post (on Colnago K.Zero), but the light won't stay in place if the road is not perfectly smooth.
The Viz 180 may well be the most visible eye catching tail light on the market today, but it suffers from a fatal design flaw. The on/off pattern control button and the USB port are located exactly opposite each other with only small embossed USB trident and international C- control symbols on the black rubber covers to distinguish the two from each other. Reaching over your saddle (perhaps in a poorly lit garage) to charge the light, it is very easy to mix the two up and pop the control cover off, which is impossible to reseat.
I would not recommend it to a friend.
While Functions as Expected may not seem glowing, I had high expectations for this tail light and the Light & Motion Vis 180 has not let me down. Bright with sufficient different light modes and secure mounting option for seatpost (which is what I intended). I use it mainly for commuting on a CX bike.
Pros This light really is crazy bright, and the side lights are bright enough to attract attention from motorists. I like the fact that the light has a pulse mode, and that it's rechargeable.
Cons I've only been using it for a few months, but the mounting strap seems a bit flimsy for the job. I've reefed on the strap to get it to stay put on my mountain bike, but it still slips around a bit.
Size is right for seatpost, battery life is good, brightness is great even on lower battery-saving setting.
This is a powerful and well-built light. It's a bit heavy for what I use it for (night urban commute). The clip system is not quick-release once you've put it into the mount it's meant to stay there. Of course it's still quick to remove by undoing the strap, but it wasn't what I was expecting.
I love light and motion lights, including this one but a few notes. Power button can be a pain to turn off after a ride. The strap is oddly long and doesn't seem super secure on the bike. Heavy light. But I do love that it doesn't strobe light cars and just brightly pulses.
Yes it's expensive but how many cheaper lights have you broken or lost?
If you commute at night your safety is worth the extra $$$.
Pros Super bright, excellent build quality and durability. Long battery life. cool factor.
Cons curious mount philosophy but very secure. Optional rack mount is a fail.
Working on a second as mine was stolen off the bike.
