The Exposure Race MK18 isn’t a commuter light by name, but if you’re regularly riding in the dark – whether weaving through traffic, heading out into the lanes, or finishing long training rides under street lamps – it’s one of the best options you can strap to your bars. This is a light that goes well beyond the basics, pairing a huge battery with a wide, usable beam and a solid aluminium build that could probably survive being kicked down a gravel track.
It’s not the cheapest Exposure light by any means – and arguably overkill for a quick nip to the shops – but for anyone doing proper mileage in the dark, it hits a very sweet spot.
Exposure Race MK18; built for serious night-time riders
Exposure’s aesthetic rarely changes – machined aluminium, a single button on the back, and a rock-solid bracket that locks the light securely into place. The Exposure Race MK18 fits that mould exactly, but compared to lighter models like the Exposure Sirius or Joystick, the difference in size is immediately obvious. It’s a full-sized light that’s noticeably longer and heavier than either, and that’s because of what it’s built to do: offer much more runtime, much more brightness, and a beam you can trust when things get properly dark.
By contrast, the Sirius is smaller, lighter and cheaper – a great entry-level commuter light if your rides are mostly under street lights or well-trodden roads. The Race eclipses it not just in raw power but in the width and smoothness of the beam. The Sirius feels like a bright point source – good for visibility, but not illuminating much peripheral ground. The Race floods everything in front of you with a usable, even wash of light.
The Exposure Joystick is perhaps closer in intent to the Race than the Sirius – it’s popular with night-time trail riders and is often helmet-mounted due to its compact shape. But it lacks the runtime, beam throw and versatility of the Race. It’s great as a secondary light or for short blasts, but if you’re doing 90-minute commutes or back-to-back winter base rides, you’ll want the battery capacity of the Race every time.
A beam that’s bright, broad and not too brutal
At 2,800 lumens, the Exposure Race MK18 sits firmly in the “very bright” category, but what matters more than the lumen count is how that power is used. The Race uses two LEDs mounted side-by-side with a soft, gradual cutoff. Unlike some urban-focused lights that project a sharply defined box to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic, the Race uses a wider, more natural spread. That makes it far easier on your eyes during long rides – and means you can still see the edges of the road, the verge, and the potholes that lurk just outside the main beam.
This is where the Race really sets itself apart from cheaper options, including some of Exposure’s own smaller lights. The Exposure Joystick, while incredibly bright for its size, has a narrower, more focused beam that’s better for helmets or backup duty. The Race, on the other hand, feels like a proper main headlight.
On city streets, you’ll often want to step down to medium or low settings to avoid blinding other riders and drivers. That’s easy to do – a single, glove-friendly button cycles through pre-set modes. If you set it up right, you get three power levels (depending on the program loaded), and it’s all manual, which is what I preferred. Reflex+ mode does adjust brightness based on movement, but in real-world commuting, I didn’t find it particularly noticeable or essential.
Exposure Race MK18 has a long battery life with proper readout
One of the Race’s quiet superpowers is its battery information. On the rear is a small LCD screen that shows how much charge is left and how many hours of runtime you’ve got at the current setting. That’s genuinely useful – far better than relying on vague flashing lights or colour changes like you get with most cheaper units, and far more precise than the single red/green LED of the Joystick.
You can also see the readout even if the light is mounted upside-down, as the screen automatically inverts. It’s a nice touch, and one that helps you manage battery more sensibly if you’re switching between high and medium power depending on where you’re riding.
Charging is via Exposure’s own port rather than USB-C, which feels a little outdated in 2025. You’ll need to use the bundled charger, and while it’s robust and weather-resistant, it doesn’t charge especially quickly. Still, I was consistently getting over a week of mixed commuting (roughly 80 minutes of riding per day) without going near the bottom of the battery – and if you’re running the light on medium or flashing modes only, it’ll last for ages.
Is it too much for commuting?
That depends. If you’re never leaving well-lit streets, you don’t need this. The Exposure Sirius is a much better shout – lighter, cheaper, and totally sufficient for short rides. But if your commute dips into unlit paths, country lanes, parks, or poorly maintained roads, then the extra beam quality and runtime of the Race starts to make a lot more sense.
If you’re someone who trains year-round and wants a light that’ll also cover solo winter rides or long commutes at both ends of the day, the Race hits that perfect middle ground. It’s still compact enough to fit cleanly on your bars, especially if you’re running a GoPro-style under-mount setup, and rugged enough that you’ll never worry about it.
Verdict
The Exposure Race MK18 might seem excessive for a commuter light on paper, and in terms of raw lumens, it is. But in terms of practicality, battery life, build quality and beam pattern, it’s one of the most dependable night-riding options available. If you’ve been getting by with smaller lights like the Joystick or Sirius, and you want a step up in runtime, usability and sheer confidence in the dark, the Race is worth every penny.
It’s not sleek. It’s not cheap. But it is, realistically, the only front light most serious night riders will ever need.
