Lupine SL MiniMax AF front light review

Lupine’s €548 SL MiniMax AF is the German manufacturer’s newest front light, offering a 2,400-lumen output from its diminutive 90g head unit.

It’s powered by a 6,900mAh 251g battery, but bigger 10,000mAh and smaller 5,000mAh options are available.

As one of the few StVZO-approved mountain bike lights, the MiniMax is suitable for both on- and off-road use without dazzling oncoming road or trail users.

Three LED bulbs, fixed to the top of the CNC-machined 6061-T6 aluminium head unit, shine onto three reflectors to generate the beam pattern.

A single button on the underside of the head unit functions as the mode controller, plus there’s a battery indicator.

The bar-mounted Bluetooth 16g remote, dubbed ‘Peppi’, is the light’s main controller, using two buttons to switch between modes and functions.

Lupine’s Light Control 3.0 smartphone app enables owners to customise the light’s output modes and control it while they’re on the move. It also provides run-time data and battery percentages.

Lupine is developing Garmin integration and it told me this functionality will be ready before this winter.

Long and short presses of the remote control’s small button are used to customise output, switching between the three modes (Eco 1, Eco 2 and Factory).

The factory setting features three modes: high, low and daytime running.

Built into the head unit is a light sensor that automatically switches between day and night modes. In day mode, the light’s output can be changed between low and daytime-running beams. In night mode, the three previously mentioned outputs are accessible.

Attaching to the bars using an out-front style mount, the head unit is positioned centrally over the stem. There are dedicated 31.8mm and 35mm models, both with the same tool-free design.

The battery pack – with curved profiling to help sit on frame tubes better – uses a Velcro strap (two different lengths are supplied) to fix to the frame.

An LED battery life indicator, activated by a button on the pack, is accompanied by audible beeps.

All-in, this MiniMax test sample weighed 384g.

Lupine SL MiniMax AF performance

Bolting the MiniMax AF’s mount to the bars is easy thanks to its dedicated bar-diameter clamps not needing any shims to fit different diameters.

The tool-free design speeds things up further and provides a steadfast mount.

Mounting to the clamp using a one-sided bolt, the head unit remains in place over rough terrain, its light weight not overriding the rubber washer that provides friction between the mount and light.

Its angle can be adjusted without unscrewing the bolt, which is useful for trail-side adjustments.

Thanks to its out-front design, small size and narrow bar clamp (8mm), the MiniMax AF leaves plenty of space on your bars for other accessories, and it can fit comfortably around the screens found on electric bikes.

The remote proved quick and easy to pair with the light, and its rubberised clamp means it stays put during operation.

Likewise, the battery’s Velcro strap can be tensioned enough to keep the lightweight battery in place, even on very rough descents.

On the trail

With an impressive beam spread, the MiniMax AF illuminates plenty to the sides of the trail, improving spatial context and confidence, and helping you ride faster.

It’s the same story on switchbacks; the beam is wide enough to comfortably spot lines at the exits of turns on all but the tightest angles.

The side-to-side cut-off is gradual, with a nearly imperceptible fade to darkness improving the beam’s broad spread.

It has a good balance of power between throw, spread and spot directly in front of the rider.

Power feels greater than Lupine’s 2,400-lumen claims, generating enough light for the fastest or most technical descents.

There are no hotspots or bleached-out colours. Instead, the greeny/white hue makes vegetation pop, and means it’s very easy on the eyes.

Despite the light's long reach on flat trails, add undulations or deep, curving berms into the mix and the beam’s StVZO-approved pattern, designed to prevent dazzling oncomers, significantly limits performance.

Vertical cut-off is sharp and the beam angles towards the ground from just above the head unit’s upper surface, not scattering a single lumen of light above its prescribed shape.

On gradient changes or in the apex of bermed turns, the tightly controlled illumination plunges portions of the trail into total darkness.

This is particularly unnerving on high-speed sections when you want to be spotting your next line, rather than wishing for more illumination.

Riders who frequent shallower gradient trails or typically spend their time riding bridleways or doubletracks might not find its beam pattern an issue, however.

The MiniMax’s packaging is sleek, giving a truly premium feel.

Its functionality is easy to understand and retain after just a cursory glance at the instructions.

How long does the Lupine SL MiniMax AF’s battery last?

Set to its highest 2,400-lumen output, the Lupine SL MiniMax AF’s battery lasts for 2.33 hours, longer than the brand claims.

However, after 40 minutes of continuous illumination during the run-time test, the light switched from full to half beam, indicating thermal throttling.

While thermal throttling wasn’t an issue on the trail, bench test conditions (17°C with a cooling fan, water mister and ice packs) proved to be too challenging for the MiniMax to remain in its constant high-output mode.

This could explain the longer than claimed battery life, given the light spent some of its time in a lower-output mode during the test.

Lupine SL MiniMax AF bottom line

Befitting its hefty price tag, the MiniMax’s design and construction exude quality.

Out on the trails, there’s no lack of power or beam spread. However, the sharply defined upward beam cut-off – while great for not dazzling oncoming people, riders or vehicles on roads – is limiting on mountain bike trails with changes in gradients or large berms.

Many will appreciate its sleek design and light weight, but as a dedicated light for riding all types of trail, it’s pretty limited.