Nov. 2011 Update:

Another year and more improvements from Cygolite. We are focused on the Expilion 350. That's right, the Expilion has increased light output to 350 lumens! Just two years ago it was cutting through the night with 200 lumens, and now it delivers 75% more light with the same run time of 3 hours on high and 6 hours on medium.

As impressive as the upgraded light output is the lower cost. With a list price of $109 the Expilion 350 is discounted from previous years. More light at a lower cost is a good combination.

The new model carries over the same great features as before: all in one design with no seperate battery pack, USB charging option, and light weight. Stop in to check out the latest Cygolite Expilion 350 for yourself. We think you will like it!

Nov. 2010 Update:

The Cygolite models reviewed in the following article have been updated. The latest generation models have the same great features but with increased light output. For example…

The Mitycross 350 becomes the Mitycross 400 due to an increase in light output from 350 lumens to 400 lumens. Runtime from the battery remains the same at 3.5 hours on high. The new Mitycross 400 features OSP (On-Site Programmable) technology. This allows you to program brightness settings directly to the light with the push of the button.

The Expilion 200 becomes the Expilion 250, with an increased light output from 200 lumens to 250 lumens. Runtime remains the same at 3 hours on high. The new unit has three brightness settings (hi, med, low) compared to two on the former model. The Expilion 250 features the same all in one design with no external batteries or wires and convenient USB or wall outlet charging options.

So there you have it, both models offer more light output and more features!

Let there be Light!
Cygolite Milion 200 & Cygolite Mitycross 350 Bike Lighting Systems
September 2009

Introduction

Our friend the sun is reducing the amount of time it spends with us each day. September 26 is the equinox when we have an equal 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. By Dec 19 we will be limited to 9 hours 41 minutes of daylight, the minimum amount of daylight for the year.

For those of us who continue to commute by bike or ride for fitness, the reduction of daylight is a small problem. Fortunately, the latest bike lighting systems are very capable of illuminating our path.


Light Technology - LEDs

The latest and greatest technology for bike lighting is LED (Light Emitting Diode) based. LED lights offer the following benefits:

•  LEDs are energy efficient enabling long run times per battery charge
•  LEDs are durable and have a long life expectancy with no need for bulb  replacements
•  LED bike lighting systems are compact and lightweight
•  LEDs allow for selectable light output levels or flashing modes

Due to these technology benefits, we recommend LED based bike lighting systems. There is a marked improvement in the current generation LED lights as compared to HID or other systems from years past.

Bang for the Buck

A handful of manufacturers are producing very good LED bike lighting systems, and Orrville Cycling & Fitness is able to supply you with any system you prefer. For this article, we surveyed the available lighting products in search of a high value system.

We narrowed the lighting system offerings down to two systems from US manufacturer Cygolite. These systems offer very good features and strong light output for the cost. The remainder of this article will discuss the Cygolite Milion 200 and the Cygolite MityCross 350 bike lighting systems.

The Milion 200 is an appropriate light for road riding and is at the lower price point light of the two at $129.99 MSRP. The Mitycross 350 is a trail capable light useable for off road riding or road riding and has a MSRP of $239.99. Both of these lights are Made in the USA.

Mitycross 350 (left) and Milion 200 (right).
Made in the USA by Cygolite.

Features

The Milion 200 is an all-in-one lighting system where the battery is contained in the light’s housing. The rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery pack is removable, which is important should you desire to carry a second battery for longer rides. The entire unit is a featherlight 130 grams, about ¼ of a pound. Thanks to the single high brightness LED, the Milion 200 is able to produce 200 lumens of light for 3 hours on high. A flashing mode is also available for daytime use. A low battery indicator turns on when approximately 30 minutes of light output are remaining. The Milion may be charged via a supplied USB cable plugged into a PC or the USB cable may be plugged into the supplied wall charger. Charge time is specified at 5 hours.

Items included with Cygolite Milion 200.

Cygolite Milion 200 size comparison.

The Mitycross 350 is a two piece system consisting of a light and remote mount Lithium-Ion battery pack. The dual LED weighs just 80 grams and the battery pack weighs 140 grams. This combination produces 350 lumens of light for 3.5 hours on high, 5 hours on medium or 17 hours on low. Special modes include flashing, SOS, and a low power “walking” mode.. A three stage battery level indicator is included on the Mitycross. The battery pack is plugged into the supplied wall charger. Charge time is listed at 4 hours.

Items included with Cygolite Mitycross 350.

Cygolite Mitycross 350 size comparison.

Both lights come with tool free handlebar and helmet mounts. This is a nice advantage compared to some other manufacturers that sell the helmet mount separately. The mounts are very solid, securely hold the lights, and are quick to install and remove. They are not prone to fatigue from use like the “rubber band” mounting system used by another manufacturer.

The supplied battery chargers for both lights are called “smart” chargers because they rapid charge the battery until 90% charge is reached and then reduce the charge level. This protects the batteries from damage due to overcharging if the charger is left connected to the battery longer than needed. Both the Milion and the Mitycross have green indicator lights to show charging is complete.

Model Comparison

Cygolite Mitycross 350 (left) and Cygolite Milion 200 (right).

Field Testing - on the road

How do these lights work on the road? To evaluate the performance of the Milion and Mitycross we strapped them to the handelbars and headed out on a nightime road ride.

The Milion’s high output setting is needed for use on the road at night. The low setting did not provide enough light for safe travel in the darkness but may be useful as a “to be seen” light prior to dark.

The light output is uniform, white light directed down the road. There is some spill of light to the sides but most of the output is delivered straight down the road where it is needed. This light is very usable and capable for road riding.

The Cygolite Milion 200 mounted on the bars.

A view of the Cygolite Milion 200 from the cockpit.

The Mitycross can be used on medium or high settings on the road at night. Like the Milion, the low setting did not provide enough light for safe travel in darkness. There is not a large difference between the light output of medium and high. It is preferable to run the light on medium in exchange for an extra 1.5 hours of battery life if a long ride is desired.

The light output of the Mitycross is also uniform and white but it spreads to the sides much more than the Milion. This is a result of Cygolite’s Crossfire technology: the two LEDs are aimed towards each other. The light output crosses producing spill to the left and right with a concentration of light in the center. It definitely works as the Mitycross lights up a large area with most of the usable light straight ahead. Trail riders will especially appreciate the wide light output of the Mitycross.

The Cygolite Mitycross 350 and battery pack mounted.

A view of the Cygolite Mitycross 350 from the cockpit.

Also worth noting, the handlebar mounts used on both systems is very secure. The lights held their position once locked onto the handlebars. If necessary to readjust the aim of the light, it is easy to do so with the tool free mounting clamp.

The wide velcro strap used to secure the battery pack of the Mitycross to the bars also served its purpose well: easy to put on, confidently holds the battery pack, and easy to remove.

Field Testing - night images

To illustrate the light output of the two lights, we set up the lights and a camera on a back road at night. A digital SLR was used on a tripod in manual mode with constant exposure settings to capture the images (2 sec shutter speed, F4.0, f=18mm, ISO 400). White balance was initially adusted to provide accurate color representation and held constant for all images.

The lights were mounted side by side at handlebar height and appropriately aimed down the road. The camera was positioned at the approximate height of rider's head while on the bike.

Click one of the following links to see the corresponding image swap with the picture below, the higher resolution pictures open in a new window. Keep in mind this is a rough guide for comparison. Your monitor settings, for example, affects the appearance of light output.

Conclusion

The Cygolite Milion 200 and Cygolite Mitycross 350 offer excellent performance for the price. Light output, run time and charge time, handlebar and helmet mounts, and system weight are strong features of these lights.

For many road riders the Milion 200 is a simple solution for low or no light riding. The all-in-one package is compact and easy to mount. At half the cost of the Mitycross, the Milion is an attractive system for road riding and provides sufficient light output for many road riders.

Trail riders, road riders that want more side to side illumination, and road riders that need longer run time should consider the Mitycross 350. The cost is greater than the Milion, but light output and coverage are gained for those extra dollars.

A final note, avid trail riders may consider purchasing both lights. The Mitycross could be handlebar mounted and the Milion helmet mounted to provide even more light for the trail. The Mitycross would flood the trail directly ahead while the Milion would illuminate wherever the rider has turned his/her head.

Hopefully this article has been enlightening… oh, that’s a horrible way to end an article on bike lights. :-)

Stop by the shop for your bike lighting needs!

- OC&F