Light & Motion has introduced a new bicycle tail light called the “Vis 180″.  The name implies that the tai light provides 180 degree visibility by including side lights in addition to the rear, primarylight.  I purchased the Vis 180 and have used it for a few bicycle rides.

First impressions?

• This tail light is very bright.  I need to see how it compares to three top competitors – the Planet Bike SuperFlash, the Blackburn Mars 4.0 and Portland Design Work’s Radbot 1000.  I’ll try to do some visual tests, shoot some video, etc. to see what the perceived difference in brightness is for these lights.
• I absolutely love the tool-less mount – it makes it easy to quickly attach and detach the light from the frame and to easily fine-tune it’s position.
• I also absolutely love the multi-position mount which allows you to adjust the light’s angle to ensure that it is aiming squarely into driver’s eyes so they are more likely to see you.  Nothing’s worse than a bright tail light that is on your bicycle and pointed down at the ground instead of back towards the motorists you’re hoping will see you.
• I am also a huge fan that this light uses a rechargeable battery and is easily charged with a USB connector.
• The lack of any instructions, other than some basic information printed on the inside of the box, is disappointing.
• The price is steep – almost $100 on Amazon.com.  Ouch.  So I’m still pondering whether the positive qualities of this light will justify the expense.  So far, I’m on the fence and will see how the light performs over time.