It’s a spectacle. Cycling media, bike mechanics, gravel racers, roadies, MTB riders of all kinds and non-cyclists alike come together at Laguna Seca Raceway to ride bikes, talk bikes and look at bikes, in what could only be described as a festival atmosphere. Organised, and slightly chaotic. Is it a race? Is it a trade show? Is it both, or something else altogether?
We’ve been to Sea Otter several times over the years. And every time we arrive at the Monterey coast, it’s a bit overwhelming to see so many friends and new faces from across the globe descend on this sleepy little town for what has become the premier cycling industry gathering in the USA.
But this year felt different for several reasons. The Gloworm booth felt much more grown-up than years past. The modular format of our new event display allows us to finally tell the complete story of the Gloworm product line, brand and history. And with team members coming from the US, New Zealand and China, it feels like we are truly a complete part of the global flavour of the event.
The Rise of Avinox, and a New Gloworm Light System to Go With It
One thing that was hard to miss if you followed the event news: the DJI Avinox motor has officially arrived as the undisputed king of eMTB platforms. Last year’s buzz about the Avinox was no longer just hype. It has become a full-scale industry shift. Everywhere you looked, brands were revealing their new Avinox-powered eMTBs. More than 60 brands are reportedly speccing the motor on new or revised eMTB models going into the new season.
At times, it felt like if your brand wasn’t launching an Avinox-powered eMTB at Sea Otter, were you really even there?
And while we didn’t arrive with an Avinox-powered eMTB in tow, we did bring something new that quickly became one of the most talked-about integrations of the show: the Gloworm XSV-PD Light System (G2.1).
If you stopped by the Gloworm booth, you saw a Forbidden Bikes Druid right up front, adorned with an XSV-PD. Designed specifically for Avinox-powered eMTBs, the XSV-PD is the market’s first high-performance Light System powered directly from the Avinox USB port. 3600 Lumens, with all the features and benefits of the Gloworm ecosystem: wireless TX (BT) Remote Button, interchangeable optics, customisable runtime and output, and seamless compatibility across the entire Gloworm range.
But what really had people stopping in their tracks was what the XSV-PD represented for the future of eMTB integration. For years, riders have asked for the clean aesthetics of a fully integrated lighting system without sacrificing the runtime performance and output of an external battery Light System. The XSV-PD finally bridges that gap.
By utilising USB-C PD technology directly from the Avinox system, the XSV-PD delivers true high-output trail lighting without the need for an external Power Pack strapped to the frame. The result is a remarkably clean setup that looks and feels purpose-built for modern eMTBs: fewer cables, fewer charging routines, and less clutter on the bike.
And unlike many integrated e-bike Light Systems that prioritise convenience over real trail performance, the XSV-PD was engineered from the start as a performance-oriented night riding system. The 3600 Lumens output is paired with Gloworm’s interchangeable optics, so you can fine-tune beam shape and spread for everything from high-speed descending to tight technical singletrack.
The response from visitors to the Gloworm booth was immediate. Riders crowded around the Druid build asking the same questions: “Wait, this runs directly from the Avinox system?” and “When can I get one?”
The XSV-PD felt perfectly timed for the moment.
12V or 6V, We Have Got You Covered
The XSV-PD wasn’t the only new Light System we brought to Sea Otter. We also revealed another versatile e-bike integration: the Gloworm X2e Light System (G2.1).
Built on the proven X2 platform, the X2e is designed to be wired directly into 12V or 6V e-bike motors, including Bosch, Brose, TQ and Shimano. The X2e features intelligent input detection, automatically adapting to your bike’s voltage for optimal performance.
By drawing power directly from the bike, the X2e eliminates the need for external Power Packs while maintaining the compact footprint and proven beam quality the X2 platform is known for. The result is a streamlined setup that feels purpose-built from the moment you roll out.
At Sea Otter, the X2e quietly became one of those products that visitors to the Gloworm booth kept circling back to. Not because it was flashy, but because it solved a very real need in a neat and tidy way. As more riders look for fully integrated e-bike setups without sacrificing performance lighting, the X2e feels perfectly timed for where the market is heading.
Until Next Year
For Gloworm, Sea Otter 2026 wasn’t just another event weekend on the calendar. It felt like a milestone. The debut of the XSV-PD and the X2e represents more than two new Light Systems: it marks the next evolution of performance lighting for modern e-bikes. Cleaner integration, smarter power delivery, and the same uncompromising output and customisation Gloworm riders expect.
And if Sea Otter 2026 was any indication, we’re just getting started.