Exposure Six Pack MK12 review

The latest Exposure Six Pack MK12 builds on the brand’s previous MK11 iteration by adding more lumens, boosting its output to 5,250, and increasing its beam’s width to “produce the perfect balance and spread”.

The Six Pack uses six XPL2 LEDs in its all-in-one form factor. With the battery, LEDs and computer power all packed into one unit, it’s not surprising it tips the scales at 406g.

On the rear of the light is a single mode-selection button, an LED display that provides run-time and battery charge information, and the Smart Port+ charging port that doubles up as a connector for rear lights and remote switches.

Also on the rear face of the light are charge and mode indicator LEDs that change colour.

This model is fitted with Reflex++ technology, where the light’s brightness is adjusted automatically depending on the terrain being ridden. It makes power adjustments thanks to data received from in-built accelerometers; the rougher the trail, the brighter the light shines.

In Reflex mode, the maximum 5,250 lumens can be emitted for brief spurts, but the light’s highest-rated constant output is 3,750 lumens.

It features 24 modes, spread across 10 programmes with three Reflex++ settings. The remaining programmes only have constant light outputs. Claimed run time in maximum is up to two hours on a single charge.

The supplied bar mount (24g) is both 31.8mm and 35mm-diameter compatible and clamps to the bar using a 4mm Allen key. The light attaches to the mount using a wedged quick-release system.

Exposure Six Pack MK12 performance

The Six Pack MK12’s power is incredible, with a seriously long throw down the trail and an impressive spread across it.

No lumen goes to waste, with almost the entirety of the trail dripping in light – there’s enough power to turn sections of track into daytime.

This vast power means there’s exceptional context on the trail, with nothing getting missed by the light’s all-illuminating beam.

In terms of beam shape, Exposure has delivered on its promise to broaden the Six Pack’s spread. It's now wide enough to light up the exits of sharp turns and switchbacks, helping you spot lines while cornering, and still provides plenty of context down technical, gnarly trails.

Being fussy, the widest part of the beam’s spread could be closer to the light’s source to further improve how much of the peripheries it lights up, making it even easier to spot lines on the exits of turns.

Further along the beam’s projection, the spread widens, which gives exceptional illumination of straighter sections of trail.

Along with the bright, central focal point that does an impeccable job of balancing outright power with usable, non-bleaching light, the cut-off to the sides of the beam is imperceptible, fading to dark rather than stopping abruptly.

The LEDs' hue is truly outstanding, making the trail come alive in vivid detail and clarity.

The beam’s colour is split into two parts; the close-up portion has a green/yellow tint, while the light projected further away has a blue/green hue.

Combining two different types of colour in the beam makes it natural-feeling and very easy to see, not causing any eye strain or fatigue even after prolonged periods of riding.

This mix of colours makes the trail pop, and the ground is lit perfectly in super-high-definition colour. It also means there’s no bleaching in even the most focused part of the light’s beam.

Its motion-sensing Reflex++ mode is truly incredible, reacting quickly to how much power the terrain demands by increasing brightness in an instant. Once stopped, the light emitted fades down slowly, allowing your eyes to adjust to the lower output.

It’s a seriously cool and refined feature, and means toggling modes during a ride, to either bump up luminosity or save battery, isn’t necessary.

Set to its highest constant output, the Six Pack MK12 lasted for 2 hours 4 minutes in the run time test, slightly longer than Exposure claims.

Despite the intuitive-feeling hands-off functionality of the Reflex++ modes, operating the light with its single button does require some studying of the instructions. Once committed to memory, however, it’s easier to use.

And again, in contrast, the LED mode and battery life indicators are easy to read even when on the move, plus the LED run time and battery life display is impossible to misinterpret.

The mount proved to be impressively stable – as it has done with all previous Exposure lights I've tested – and is easy to install on the bar. The quick-release pin makes removing the light speedy.

Although the mount’s clamping band is narrow, the size of the light unit means a reasonable amount of handlebar space is needed.

Exposure Six Pack MK12 bottom line

The Six Pack MK12’s beam pattern is a definite improvement over the MK11, now casting a wider spread of light down the trail.

This improvement is matched with all the premium features expected from a light with such a hefty asking price. The LED’s hue is beautiful, its Reflex++ mode is smooth to operate and requires no human intervention, while the light feels impressively high-quality.

Being very fussy, the beam’s spread could be wider closer to its source, but given all the other features the light has, it’s certainly not a deal breaker.