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Serfas teased us last year with the True 250 light. It was interesting but not quite bright enough for anything but commuting. Well, this year, they doubled the output with the True 500. Now it is bright enough for light trail riding and two or three of these on the bike can get real fun on the trail.

Beam pattern is good as it has a spot and a nice wide halo around it.The case and switch ergonomics seem excellent as there is a positive click when activating the switch. There's three light modes and a flashing mode to scroll through before the light shuts off. Another way to shut the light off is be depressing the switch for about 2 seconds.

One thing we noticed with this light is it stayed cooler than competition during our bench test in front of the fan. That means that it has excellent heat dissipation qualities and it will not only protect the circuits better but it will also stay brighter longer under hot or non-moving conditions.

Specifications:
  • Price: $150.00
  • Claimed Lumens: 500 Lumens
  • Light Head Weight: 112 grams
  • Installed Weight: 150 grams
  • Run Time: 2.25 Hours
  • Measured MTBR Lux: 43 Lux
  • Measured Lumens: 480 Lumens
Mounting:

Handlebar mounting is done with a quick release mount that works quite well once snug. It can be aimed left to right. The quick release lever is non-intuitive at first though as it seems to be reversed. Mounting on different diameter bast is a bit tricky as two pins have to be aligned in the right holes to get the proper bracket size.

Related Links
Mtbr Lights Shootout Main Page »
2012 Bike Lights Shootout »
Backyard Beam Pattern Comparisons »
Trail Beam Pattern Comparisons »
Light Meter Measurements »
Mtbr Lights Reviews »
Mtbr Lights Forum »

MTBR Light Meter Measurements:

This graph shows the output of the Serfas True 500 over the whole battery cycle. The graph shows the light at actual sustained lumens of 350. The great thing is the light level is maintained throughout the whole charge of the battery. That means that the rider will get as much light in the last 5 minutes as the first 5 minutes.



MTBR Light Meter Measurements:

This light measured 43 lux on our ambient light measurement facility. This is pretty much in line with its 500 lumen claims. For comparison, the first Magicshine MJ-808 measured at 40 lux. Its biggest competition at this pricepoint is the Niterider Minewt 600 at 50 Mtbr Lux and the Light and Motion Urban 500 at 53 Mtbr lux.

Light Meter Charts and Comparison Table »

Strengths:
  • Excellent light output and beam pattern
  • Good switch action and logic
  • Light stays cool even at high power and some airflow
  • Excellent flashlight
  • Great value at $150
  • Battery is replaceable even on the trail if one has a spare.
  • Bar and helmet mount are included
Weaknesses:
  • Not as bright as the Light and Motion Urban 500 or the Niterider Minewt 600 at the same price points.
Bottom Line:

The True 500 is a true contender in the commuter and self-contained categories of bike lights for 2012

Beam Pattern Photos:



Backyard Beam Pattern Comparison Page »



Trail Beam Pattern Comparison Page »

Value Rating:

5 out of 5 Stars

Overall Rating:

4.75 out of 5 Stars

Related Links
Mtbr Lights Shootout Main Page »
2012 Bike Lights Shootout »
Backyard Beam Pattern Comparisons »
Trail Beam Pattern Comparisons »
Light Meter Measurements »
Mtbr Lights Reviews »
Mtbr Lights Forum »