The batteries can be replaced on Urban headlights, but you have to send them back to Light & Motion. I have an Urban 500 that I've used for about 3 years, and the beam started "pulsing" this summer on all settings. I wrote to L&M about the problem, and they told me they would replace the battery and/or fix the problem for $45 plus shipping. They also offered to give me a 25% discount on any current models, so I opted to buy a new Urban 800, which cost me about $110 with the discount.

I'm keeping the old Urban 500 as a backup because it still works fine, despite the pulsing.

I really wish L&M had user-replaceable batteries like Lezyne and other brands. However, I still feel that Urban lights are superior to other models that I've compared for commuting purposes. They are very light weight, have decent run times, powerful enough for my needs, and are easy to mount as well as recharge.