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There’s a special kind of freedom that comes from pedaling through the night. The hum of the tires on pavement, the rhythm of your breathing, and the world shrinking to the edge of your beam; it’s the essence of cycling stripped to focus and motion. For mountain bikers and road riders alike, a reliable light isn’t an accessory, it’s life insurance. When you’re flying down a trail or navigating the dark shoulder of a backroad, you need more than marketing promises. You need a beam that cuts through real darkness and a light that doesn’t leave you stranded.
Wuben’s new X1 Pro answers that call, blending the ruggedness of a high-end flashlight with the utility of a purpose-built bike light.
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Lights with Pedigree
If you’re not familiar with Wuben, here’s the short story: the company has been building lights since the 1980s. They began as an OEM manufacturer, producing components for other labels, but by the mid-2010s they pivoted to developing their own enthusiast line. Since then, they’ve earned a reputation for inventive design and serious performance.
Their lights span everything from simple everyday carry models to high-output workhorses. You’ll see hallmarks like USB-C charging, aluminum or titanium construction, IP-rated sealing against dust and water, and clever engineering touches such as magnetic bases and lockout switches. Wuben products often look futuristic but are rooted in practical design. The X1 Pro is a perfect example of that philosophy: industrial, powerful, and surprisingly versatile.
The Wuben X1 Pro
On first impression, the X1 Pro doesn’t look like a typical bike light. It’s shaped like a compact block of aluminum, more in line with a handheld floodlight than a torch. But that’s the beauty of it, it’s both. The X1 Pro ships with a detachable handlebar mount that locks solidly in place yet releases instantly when you need to take the light off the bike. Think of it as a flashlight that happens to mount to your handlebars.
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Inside, the specs are impressive. Two 4800 mAh batteries power the system, giving it the same total energy as 16 AA batteries or, if you prefer a modern comparison, roughly the same capacity as two iPhone batteries. Those cells feed a total of five LEDs: four create a broad flood pattern and one produces a tight, focused spot beam. You can run the groups independently or together depending on your needs.
On its highest “Turbo” setting, the X1 Pro pushes a staggering 13,000 lumens, enough to turn night into daylight for about two minutes before it thermally steps down to “High.” At High, you get 3,000 lumens with a throw of 377 meters and a runtime of about two hours. Medium mode delivers 1,000 lumens for roughly 5.5 hours, which is more than enough for most night rides. Split the beams, and you can extend that runtime even further; running either flood or spot alone at 500 lumens gives you a solid 11 hours of continuous use.
That kind of flexibility makes it ideal for cyclists who use the same light for commuting, trail riding, and backcountry adventures.
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Heat and Power
All that output generates heat, and Wuben tackled that with an on-board active cooling system. Yes, the X1 Pro actually has a built-in fan that regulates temperature to prevent overheating. It’s a clever solution that allows for sustained high output without cooking the electronics. Charging is handled internally through a USB-C port, meaning you don’t have to remove the batteries for recharging, but you can swap them if you want to keep the light running indefinitely.
The battery compartment locks shut for security, and the overall body is sealed to an IP65 rating, which protects against dust and heavy rain. It’s not designed for full submersion, mostly because of the fan venting system, but it will shrug off anything short of dropping it in a stream. At 242 grams, the light has enough heft to feel substantial without being unwieldy, striking a good balance for handlebar mounting or hand use.
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Available in black or white, the X1 Pro retails at $179, which puts it well below some dedicated cycling lights with half the power.
On the Trail
I took the X1 Pro on a six-mile mountain ride in the Adirondacks, tight singletrack, roots, switchbacks, and pitch-black forest. The versatility of the lighting modes became immediately clear. On climbs and slow descents, Eco mode, a mere ten lumens, was more than enough to illuminate the trail at a slow pace. That mode alone provides an astonishing 360 hours of runtime on a full charge. When the trail opened up and speed increased, I switched to Medium flood and spot combined, which painted the trail ahead in even, white light without glare or hotspotting.
The detachable rail mount was useful for moving the light from the bars to handheld mode at rest stops, but it’s also the one place where the design could use refinement. The mount itself struggled slightly with vibration during rough sections. It never came off, but I had to twist it back into position a few times after riding through rock and root gardens. For serious trail riders, a more robust handlebar clamp would be a worthwhile improvement.
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Similarly, while the machined aluminum body looks sleek and premium, it’s a bit slick when wet or dusty. A section of rubber overmold or stippled grip texture would help secure the light in hand for off-bike use. Those are small complaints, though, in the larger picture of what this tool offers.
Dual-Purpose Tool
That duality, the ability to go from a bar-mounted headlight to a powerful handheld, is what makes the X1 Pro special. Most bike lights lock you into one job. This one transitions seamlessly between bike, backpack, and workbench. It’s as at home lighting up a mountain switchback as it is helping you find a dropped bolt in the garage or changing a tire in the rain.
The massive internal battery pack means it doubles as a travel light for long rides or even overnight bikepacking. USB-C recharging from a portable power bank adds another layer of flexibility for riders who go off the grid. And because it’s built around quality aluminum and real electronics, not plastic gimmicks, the X1 Pro feels more like a professional tool than an accessory.
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Verdict
Wuben’s X1 Pro is not just another bike light, it’s a legitimate lighting system for riders who demand real power and flexibility. It excels on the road, performs admirably off it, and has the runtime to make long adventures possible. The active cooling fan, the dual-beam LED array, and the USB-C charging architecture all showcase how far flashlight engineering has come.
Sure, the mount could be sturdier and the body could use a touch more grip, but the fundamentals are rock solid. It’s a high-beam you can carry in your pocket, mount on your bars, or throw in your pack, confident it will deliver every time.
Whether you’re bombing down a forest trail at midnight or pedaling home from work under streetlights, the X1 Pro gives you something rare in the world of lighting gear: trust.
Pedal safe.
The post SKILLSET Tests The Wuben X1 Pro Bike Light appeared first on Athlon Outdoors Exclusive Firearm Updates, Reviews & News.
