Magicshine headlights

[mu2flyer]

I've been reading about Magicshine headlights.....great price point & sounds pretty good......Anyone have any experience?

[waynemyer]

I do not have any experience with them personally.  If you look on BikeForums.net, the overarching opinion seems to be one of a resoundingly positive note.  Magicshine drastically overestimates the output of their lights (what a surprise).  But even with that caveat, otherwise experienced riders seem to be very pleased with their purchases.  The general opinion among users seems to be that the Magicshine is one of the best values going right now.

[mu2flyer]

Yes I’ve read many of the articles and reviews and found mostly positive comments. I haven’t been able to find anything on ACA about Magicshine. One reviewer has used it for five months mountain bike racing with positive results. Should work well for touring..... Three hours run time on high might be a problem but I don’t see run times on other products much better....

[waynemyer]

Their charger is not a generic unit (such as mini-USB).  Wouldn't something like a dynohub and light be better suited to touring?  Even for randonneuring, where we often have drop bags, the dynohub is the way to fly. 

Sanyo makes a cartridge bearing dynohub for $40, available at Peter White Cycles.  The reviews are good, and it's difficult to find non-dyno hubs with cartridge bearings for that price.  Yes, your entry cost will be a bit higher, but your long term convenience will pay back in spades.

[rvklassen]

Their charger is not a generic unit (such as mini-USB).  Wouldn't something like a dynohub and light be better suited to touring?  Even for randonneuring, where we often have drop bags, the dynohub is the way to fly.  

Dynamo hubs are common for randonneuring because you are generally riding for hours into the night, or, for the longer ones, overnight.  That's lots of batteries to worry about or keep charged.  

For touring it's more common to avoid riding after dark, and keep a light for the times when the best of intentions don't work out.  A tail light for rainy weather.  A headlight for when you get caught out after dark.  For that you need perhaps an hour or two (you didn't mean to be out after dark - so what are the chances you'll be out more than an hour?), and something you can recharge - either rechargeable AA or USB.  I prefer rechargeable AA, so as to have interoperability with the GPS on batteries.  

The other feature that's nice to have in a headlight is ease of removal from the bars and flashlight functionality.  You might occasionally need a flashlight.

[DaveB]

Like the others, i have no personal experience with Magicshine but the reviews are generally positive.  There have been several reports of early battery failure but that seems to be the extent of it.  As noted, the actual light output is well below the claimed 900 lumens but it is more than enough for most uses.

[markusl]

I have two and have used them for mountain biking, including the 24 hours of Moab race, and general around town riding (running errands etc).  They're ok.  Plenty bright and the run time seems to be accurate.  You'll get more time on medium setting and that is probably bright enough is most cases.  The helmet mount works but is clumsy.  The handlebar mount can rattle a bit (no matter what size o-ring I use).  The batteries are a bit heavy.  But for $89, they're not bad.

If you want a light that runs on AA, you might consider dinotte http://www.dinottelighting.com/

I'm new to touring (planning a big one for next year) so I can't say I've used them for that.

[mu2flyer]

I purchased the commuter package which comes with the headlight, taillight, charger and associated cords. Geomangear sent it out very quickly just as they advertise. As far as I can tell both taillight and headlight come with handlebar style mounts only. Since I can’t mount to the handlebar I had to devise a method to install on the very front and back of my Surly racks. I have seen many mounting systems but nothing to install a handlebar style mount to a single threaded #10 screw receiver that the Surly racks have. So far I am impressed with the quality and function. Both lights are very bright making daytime riding safer as well. I’ll report back after I have used it for a while....

[DaveB]

Since I can’t mount to the handlebar I had to devise a method to install on the very front and back of my Surly racks. I have seen many mounting systems but nothing to install a handlebar style mount to a single threaded #10 screw receiver that the Surly racks have.

Could you use a short piece of 3/4" or 1" PVC pipe as a substitute "handlebar" and bolt it to the rack? 

I've made short seatpost substitutes that way to mount a tail light to my rear rack when the light only had a seatbost mounting band.

[mu2flyer]

Great minds think alike....Check out pix of magicshine install

http://s1119.photobucket.com/albums/k629/mu2flyer/Magicshine/?albumview=slideshow

[humunuku]

I've had mine for a month - more than enough light for road riding (like don't let the light shine at on coming drivers or they will be blinded).  Charges up fast and so I am very pleased...best light for the money. The strobe mode is great for the twilight hours too...

 I've mostly used it for night mountain biking, and it works great for that too.

go get one

[mu2flyer]

Geomangear has stopped selling Magicshine because of a battery safety problem. Not sure what the specific issue is... If yours is less that 90 days  old you can return it. They are working with the manufacturer to replace batteries. Go on Geomangear website for more info.

[matt_dog]

I got rid of my MS lights & picked up some of these.... Ay Up Lights

Saved a few $$'s to because they are on xmas special. I received them less than 24 hour after ordering!

[EnduroDoug]

There has been dozens and dozens of posts and conversations about the Magicshine lights on the listserve over at Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance. And also at MTBR.

I don't have any personal experience with them.

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/bbtcmembers/msearch?query=magicshine&charset=windows-1252