When we set out to design the MB6, we didn’t start with a predetermined idea of whether it should have an integrated or separate battery. Instead, we worked backward from one fundamental question:
What design would provide the best possible night riding experience?
To us, success means a light that helps riders ride faster, feel safer, and have more fun. That became our guiding principle. From there, two key priorities emerged:
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The light should give riders the freedom to mount it on their helmet, handlebars, or both.
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It should deliver an optimal light output for both fast-flowing trails and technical terrain.
Is a Cabled Light an Outdated Approach?
Some riders see a separate battery with a cable and think it’s an outdated approach. After all, many bike lights today are self-contained, with no external cables. It’s a cleaner look, and there’s no wire to route or secure.
But while an integrated battery makes sense for lower-power lights, there’s a limit to how much can be done in a fully self-contained design. Once you go beyond about 2500 lumens, the battery and heat management requirements become significant. At that point, a wireless light either becomes too bulky and heavy—making it unusable for helmet mounting—or too limited in power and runtime for many riders.
Why 6000 Lumens? It’s About More Than Just Brightness
Through testing on the trails of southern Vancouver Island, we found that 6000 lumens was the ideal peak output for both high-speed riding and technical descents. But raw brightness alone doesn’t define good lighting—beam quality is just as important.
That’s why we designed the MB6 with a custom lens to properly illuminate the rider’s entire field of view. A well-balanced beam pattern improves peripheral vision and visual comfort, making it easier to track the trail and react to terrain changes.
Most wireless lights rely on narrow beams with bright hotspots, which create the illusion of brightness but only illuminate small sections of the trail at a time. This leads to visual discomfort and eye strain as the rider’s eyes constantly adjust between bright and dark areas. By spreading the light evenly, the MB6’s optical system ensures a more natural, comfortable riding experience.
Of course, a wider beam requires more lumens to maintain proper illumination. That’s another reason why we choose our lumen target—it’s not just about throwing light as far as possible but about delivering a usable, high-quality beam that enhances vision. And better vision means riding faster with more confidence, feeling safer in technical terrain, and having more fun on every ride.
The Advantages of a Separate Battery
By separating the battery from the light, the MB6 unlocked several advantages:
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Weight Distribution & Versatility – With the battery stored elsewhere (frame, pack, etc.), the light itself remains lightweight for helmet mounting.
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Extended Run Times – A larger battery means longer rides at full brightness, without the need for aggressive power management.
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Better Heat Management – High-output LEDs generate significant heat. A self-contained design has to balance brightness with thermal limitations, whereas the MB6’s separate battery allows for better cooling and sustained high output.
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Modular Power Options – Riders can carry a spare battery for long ride lengths, something integrated designs don’t usually allow. Also, a separate battery is easy to change, which is often not the case with an integrated light.
- Power Bank Functionality – Our battery is fantastic at charging devices like phones and powering other USB-C equipped devices.
Simpler Setup, Better Vision
Because the MB6 delivers such a wide, well-balanced beam, riders often find they only need one light—usually helmet-mounted—rather than the typical two-light setup required with wireless lights. This makes night riding simpler, with fewer mounts, fewer controls, and no need to balance two beams. We’ll dive deeper into this topic in a future post, but for many riders, one MB6 is all they need for best-in-class vision.
Designed for Performance, Not Compromise
Ultimately, our decision wasn’t about following trends—it was about creating a light that truly performs. The MB6 combines a 6000-lumen output, a custom optical system, and a separate battery to give riders the best possible vision without compromising versatility, weight, or runtime.
For us, great lighting isn’t just about seeing the trail—it’s about making night riding better. When your vision improves, you ride faster, feel safer, and have more fun. That’s why we built the MB6 the way we did.
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