Exposure Strada SB 1500 MK10 bicycle headlights flooded review plus comparison

Hello, today I'd like to share my two months experience with the Exposure Strada SB 1500 with you. This is a long video but it also packs a lot information that manufacture doesn't mention. I hope you enjoy and find this helpful...
UPDATE Dec-01-2022
It's been almost two years, and I was a little late with the update. I have been testing different lights.
One potential issue with the function/main button. It is becoming a little dodgy just like how the remote is at xxx of the video which requires a lot of pressure to activate/turn on and very inconsistent overall. I don't know when this has happened; I purchased the Exposure Six Pack several months after reviewing this light (ES Strada SB1500) and have been using the Six Pack for the most part.
Other than that the rest of everything else seems fine including the battery, light output, mount, etc..
I plan to do another brief update/follow up video about this light after I contact ES, which will be soon and will include the detail here after I hear from them.
I'm also testing the ES Six Pack to get the video out soon as well.
Stay tune for another update

[@kirstanroberts2520]

Perfect review!! Thank you :) I have this light and love it but I was seraching everywhere to find out which mode had the widest beam and you summed it all up nicley. So glad I found your video. I also have the smaller SIRIUS for shorter day rides when i start in the dark for a short time and it's briiliant too.

[@blackmo_or]

You absolute legend, heaps of information, thanks for taking the time to out it together!

[@organicbikepacking7312]

Thanks for the kind words. My pleasure👍🏻

[@motomoto898]

Brilliant! And thoroughly informative! Thank you 🙏🏾

[@organicbikepacking7312]

You’re welcome; happy riding✌️

[@seamusdelahunty1615]

The feckers put a 2 pin charger in my diablo light box.a fecking 2 pin charger?what am I supposed to plug that into?it's bloody dear enough,then the Irish govt puts 90e of a tariff on it.then exposure give me a 2 pin charger.ffs.gr8 light btw.

[@HopHeadScott]

Awesome review, thank you.

[@organicbikepacking7312]

Thanks for watching.

[@kevintainguyen5919]

Do you still recommend the Exposure Strada today? If not, what other lights do you recommend?

[@SundayShi]

I find the programmes are really confusing on this light.

[@MannBazza]

All the info you could possibly need. Great review. And your suggestion about a mode with the H setting from programs 1,2 & 3 is spot on 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@organicbikepacking7312]

Thank you.

[@joecondron2131]

I have the same light it's awesome, except for one thing. It's handlebar mounting only. You can't mount the light on the fork crown. Exposure don't make a fork crown mount. If you want a handlebar bag mounted on your handlebars, the light can't illuminate the road. It's one or the other.

[@organicbikepacking7312]

Thanks for mentioning; definitely my concern too when I tested one of my bikepacking/touring setups.

[@joecondron2131]

@@organicbikepacking7312 yes indeed, I found out the hard way after my Carradice Super C bar bag arrived... Useless now!

[@AlbaTech]

@@joecondron2131 You should have a look at the Shapeways 3D printing market. I picked up a fork crown GoPro mount for about £20. Used in conjunction with Exposure's own 3 prong 'action camera' cleat mount. It still might not be low enough to clear your particular bag but it works really well for me. Excellent video by the way.

[@Vicks7]

Joe, I purchased a Gino Light Mount from Paul Components which allows you to fork mount the Exposure Light although would prefer the light mounted closer in cockpit but using aerobars and bikepacking bags makes that more difficult.

[@jasonjeffery-endurance6071]

Thank you. The best and fullest review on this light I’ve seen 👍

[@organicbikepacking7312]

Great, hope that helps.

[@JitinMisra]

Did you ever consider outbound detour?

[@takuan650]

I would not touch 'Exposure' lights with a bargepole again. The on-off switch on the unit was faulty and unreliable. I used the remote switch instead. After about 2 years that switch failed permanently and made that light useless. Sending this crap back to England is too much of a bother from Australia. Waste of time and money. I use a Lezyne 1800i now. It is better than the 'Exposure', it's about half price and lasts a lot longer.

[@organicbikepacking7312]

That’s very disappointing. One thing about buying “expensive” products is when they break/manufacture defect, how easy it is to get them fixed or sorted out. The button on my light has been very dodgy and inconstant to operate since last year. I live in the US, so I just don’t bother with the warranty. I may just contact ES to see what the procedure is like for my follow up video. Thanks for sharing.

[@oils1976]

Such a solid review - well done! I have same light and agree with all of the key points you have made. However, I have an extension cable that works 100% fine - I have it fixed just below my right hood to allow toggling/dimming with my right thumb - such a cool feature! Agree that the Low in Program 1 is pretty much useless for anything bar walking pace. I would like to see Program 1 have 3 high modes too of varying output, also possibility of pushing more power through the spotlight for more penetration and less diffused light - on clear roads with little vegetation on the verges this would be great, esp. for descending at speed. Thanks for the review!

[@organicbikepacking7312]

Thank you for watching. I hope ES takes some of these points into consideration. Happy riding.

[@dickdastardly5534]

Great review, I will definitely go for a couple of exposure lights when I retire and have a bit more time to cycle, you cannot put a price on safety especially where I live with unlit roads and people driving with poor eyesight I also like to cycle forestry roads which can be gnarly in low light.

[@BeastmanG]

Very funny video. That Kona looks good, is that the AL 2021 entry level? I was contemplating Kona for a while but ended up going with a Rondo bike.

[@organicbikepacking7312]

Thanks, and glad you found this amusing. Congrats on your new bike btw. The green bike in the video is kona sutra Ltd steel 2018 (was meant to be my touring/bikepacking bike). Happy riding.

[@markhendry8339]

Thanks for taking the time to put together such an in-depth review, awesome work! Looks a great light

[@organicbikepacking7312]

I appreciate the good words; thank you.

[@plunder1956]

It is very difficult to convey the human experience of cycle lighting with a camera, because the human eye has wider dynamic gain range than a camera can display. I agree with you entirely about lighting the edges of your view ahead, I want as much detail of the area around me as I can get. My friend has had four different Exposure lightsover about 6 years and they all still work - they are tough. I also like the mounting brackets, which are mostly small, but rigid, I have only seen one of them fail. I live in the UK, where the monster 3 pin plug is our standard. But I wish Exposure had moved to USB-C simply for the ease of charging around the world.

[@organicbikepacking7312]

Thanks for the input. I definitely agree with the usb-c as I purchased another exposure (six pack) last year, and it only came with the 3 pin and not the additional usb at all.

[@chadwells7562]

I understand their decision to stick with the proprietary charger. The port was developed long before any widespread USB standard, and they’ve created many (expensive) accessories using it over the years. Changing to USB-C would instantly make those useless and piss off customers. USB also evolves to new standards every few years and wouldn’t be guaranteed not to change again after 5-6 years. Exposure products are premium and could easily last 15+ years with proper care

[@darrencripps]

Absolutely amazing review in terms of its depth and detail. You are winning at KZbin, kudos. More to the point it's helped me decide on the Strada and have a rough idea as to how best to use it in one visit. Thanks.

[@samsodavin1100]

Your pronunciation is so good 😊 Hopefully, I have this too XD

[@organicbikepacking7312]

Thanks sis😃 study hard and you will👍🏻

[@pgreenx]

Excellent review - I will tour long distances and want this light but the large and proprietary charge cable is a big negative for me

[@organicbikepacking7312]

Thank you. I agree, however the USB cable that came with it has been good so far. Mounting is a potential issue when touring. I'm using ortlieb ultimate 6 and no where to mount.

[@mc4130]

Great video, thanks. Coming into shorter daylight hrs here in the UK, so I picked myself up a Strada SB. This video is so much more informative than the instructions, thank you! Essentially, I’m only going to be using ‘high beam/low beam’, so programme 5. Will be interesting to see how the remote holds up.

[@organicbikepacking7312]

Thank you, glad you found this informative. Program 5 mainly on high mode is still my favorite.

[@josephgray8722]

Fantastic product review!

[@organicbikepacking7312]

thank you

[@angeloscots7930]

I've had my Strada for 5 years now and it's been flawless. I'm very happy with this product even though it's soo damn expensive. Your review is great - thank you!

[@organicbikepacking7312]

Thank you, glad to hear that this light is holding up for you. The battery accuracy has been impressive so far.

[@chadwells7562]

It’s hardly expensive given the quality and longevity. It illustrates better how poorly made and cheap most consumer products like mass market bike lights are

[@joker2100]

Does yours have the ACTIV technology? If not, why didn’t you choose it?

[@organicbikepacking7312]

I believe ACTIV came out about a year after I bought mine.

[@joker2100]

@@organicbikepacking7312 Gotcha

[@gurugamer8632]

Which light do you use for rear and helmet?

[@organicbikepacking7312]

garmin varia rear light

[@gurugamer8632]

@@organicbikepacking7312 OK have you heard about the Quad red light ? Heard it is most powerful rear light. Do you use lighting in the day?