January 11th, 2008 by 
Francois
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Lupine Betty 12 $1,185.00
| Light | Price | Claimed Lumens | Runtime | Battery Type | Light head weight | Battery Weight | Installed Weight | Lumens per gram | Lumens per dollar |
| Lupine Betty 12 | $1,185 | 1400 | 6hrs | Lithium Ion | 156g | 668g | 825g | 1.69 | 1.18 |
Light Meter charts and comparison table available here.
Description:
The Lupine Betty 12 features 7 leds in a relatively compact light head that weighs in at only 156 grams. It is very well built and it integrates cooling fins towards the rear of the light head. Mounting is done with a beefy rubber band.
The switch is external and is designed to be mounted close to the grips. The Betty 12 has a waterbottle style battery and the Betty 6 has a smaller battery in a soft case.
Light Head and Switch Close ups:
Mounting:
The Betty 12 can be mounted on the bar or on the helmet.
Light Meter Measurements:
On our ambient light meter tests, the Betty 12 measured a best-of-class 68 Lux. For comparison, the Light On Expedition measured 41 Lux and the Dinotte 600L measured 33 Lux.
Strengths:
- Ultra bright and clean beam pattern that throws a long way
- Great run time
- Configurable light levels
- Extremely high quality
Weaknesses:
- Cannot be aimed left to right easily
- External switch is not ideal as it takes up handlebar space and complicates mounting
- For the amount of light, the beam pattern could be wider. There is minimal halo that aids peripheral vision.
Bottom Line:
When it comes to Lupine, the only real issue is the price. It’s a great light and it demonstrates the top-level performance available in bike lighting today. The light is bright with good light color. The beam pattern has no hotspots and the throw of the light reaches very far.
We found some weaknesses mentioned above but the biggest issue is price and value. At $1200, one can get multiple lights from other vendors to get both bar and helmet lights that are very bright.
But if you want the single most powerful light out there that is compact and showcases what good engineering and good manufacturing can produce, the Betty 12 is a great option.
Beam Pattern Photos:
Betty, Betty
Beam Pattern rollover and side by side comparison page available here.
Value Rating:
3.5 out of 5 Stars
Overall Rating:
4.75 out of 5 Stars
Read or write reviews:
http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Lights/product_131753.shtml
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January 21st, 2008 at 4:08 pm
$1200 bucks ???????????? Are you f$#@!#$%in’ kidding me ??????
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Why not? it is a great lamp.
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:35 pm
I have been playing with a Wilma 6 for a few weeks and would happily spend 6-700$ on the Lupine System, but 1200$…I’m a total techi-gear head and still find that a bit obsurd.
January 22nd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
There are places to get the Betty 12 for less than $1200.
January 23rd, 2008 at 12:52 am
Now you can blind other cyclists, AND remortgage your house! What a sham. I bought a red LED bike light for 35 bucks and it’s MORE than adequate. This is marketed to yuppies who want to show off their wealth.
January 29th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Nick ,where can i find places to get betty 12 under 1200usd.
thanks
January 29th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Gustavo,
Try Mountain High Cyclery
sales@mtnhighcyclery.com or
larry@mtnhighcyclery.com
I bought a Betty 6 & Wilma 6 from Larry.
worth every penny
January 30th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
To Scott… You know it can be dimmed down to 1watt, right? Don’t hate on those that can afford quality products. You must ride a too…
January 31st, 2008 at 11:41 pm
It all depends on the type of riding you do. Technical north shore riding on a dark wet night, and a bright light like that is awesome. For commuting or road riding, it is definitely overkill, but it does have a dimmer as well.
February 1st, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Before i buy a betty from larry(1079 usd) i would like to ask anyone. Someone has a TRIAL TECH MR 16 LAMP?.
James thanks .
February 5th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
problem with the price? you would probably go to a porsche dealership looking for pontiac prices…these lights are dope and well worth the investment!
February 7th, 2008 at 8:42 am
love my betty12…
picks up Kangaroos early enough on my night rides…downhill single track at 55Kph++. My wallet hurts much less than the rocks (or ‘roos) in outback WA
February 7th, 2008 at 8:45 am
love my betty12…
picks up Kangaroos early enough on my hot (35C at 10pm) night rides … downhill single track at 55Kph++. My wallet hurts much less than the rocks (or ‘roos) in outback WA
February 27th, 2008 at 3:02 am
both Wilma and Betty are bulletproof quality lights with the betty providing enough punch for all situations - i mostly ride with Wilma but can attack a downhill course at night with both on the bike. If you can afford Lupine don’t hesitate !
March 15th, 2008 at 10:39 am
I love my betty 12 also,i just received it from LARRY,THANKS BRO,I am starting to learn how to program,but i can´t wait to use it.Mountain High Cyclery thanks again.
best wishes.
gustavo
colombia