Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Magic Shine light is becoming unreliable, need fixing advice or new light options...

Hello everyone,

I purchased a magic shine light with the 2 out rigger smaller LEDs in October of 2010. Since then I have had to contact the distributer once because the main LED was dimmer than when I originally got it (maybe one of the LEDs went bad?) They sent me a new one under warranty, but now there seems to be a short as the main LED light now won't always come on and will flicker when I ride.

At first I though that I was too rough on the system, but after the second light started to not work well, I am now thinking that the entire system is inexpensive for a reason.

I commute 30 miles a day from city into the country and back into the city. I have my light mounted at the end of my aero bars and this is a great location for my next mount, but I am a little afraid that the vibration might be a problem. I am not kind to my bike and thus want a light that will stand up to rough road riding, including the mounting system (not mountain trail riding, but constant hard asphalt and concrete vibration). I have aero bars on drop handles so not a lot of top bar space, but can mount under the aero bars on where they come together.

I use to have an old magic shine 900 that worked very well however I gave it away.

I am looking for suggestion about a light that has a battery pack (want to get at least 2.5 hours from a charge as this is the maximum of how long I am on the road), and while I have been using LED lights I am not married to them. I want to spend at most $350 (not including shipping), but really want something to last at least 2 years. I don't use it during the summer.

What do people think about night rider pro700, the stella 400d, or the Dinotte 800?

Thanks

Steve

P.S. if you have any suggestion for fixing a shorting out magic shine 1400 main LED please let me know.

It may be that particular model. I have an original MS 900 light, and I ride 8 miles daily of gravel road, quite rough, and no problems yet.

Personally I'd take it apart and look for bad wiring, but I'm relatively good with electronics. But even if you're not, what the heck, if you're ready to just throw it away anyway, it's a learning experience, what do you have to lose by tearing it apart? If you find an obvious bad connection or frayed wire, you'll probably be able to find someone to fix it for you for really cheap.

If looking for a name brand, I'd probably go with Dinotte. I've had their stuff before and it seems like good value for money in the name brand lights arena.

Now is a good time to buy lights as some stores are putting them on sale with spring approaching. I recently got a L&M Stella 300, which is working out well altho not as bright as the Magicshine. I posted a review in another thread here.

Have you considered getting a dynamo instead? I commute 36 miles RT 3 days a week, and have recently changed from a magicshine to a hub dynamo.

I paid approximately $100 for a dynamo wheel and another $100 for a B&M IQ cyo light. Not having to recharge batteries or worry about them running out is great, particularly in the middle of winter.

Thanks for all the ideas. I had forgot about dynamo lights. I use to run them a while ago, but not lately. Maybe it would be worth looking into again.

The magic shine that I use to have was an old 900 with 5 settings. This was a good light. I think the newer stuff is less well made/poor quality and thus why I have been having trouble.

...I am looking for suggestion about a light that has a battery pack (want to get at least 2.5 hours from a charge as this is the maximum of how long I am on the road), and while I have been using LED lights I am not married to them. I want to spend at most $350 (not including shipping), but really want something to last at least 2 years. I don't use it during the summer.

What do people think about night rider pro700, the stella 400d, or the Dinotte 800?...

I wouldn't take a nite rider if it was given to me. I had a Digital Evolution that was a money pit (bench fees to fix problems).

Consider the Baja Designs Strykr (http://www.bajadesigns.com/2009/articles/strykr/). You can get one for ~$200 if you send in an old light as a trade in (it doesn't need to be working, but has to be a bike light). You can see more over at MTBR in their lighting forum.

I suggest Dinotte...Been using their stuff for years. Works great and lasts a long time. Customer service is phenomenal.

My brother bought one of the Baja Strykers while on sale. He really likes it.

I guess I've been raving about my MagicShines too much because me and the missus were in Performance Bike the other day and as we were leaving I mentioned to her that they were closing out NiteRider LED (not HID) light for $584.00. She asked if that was its lumen output. Its lumen output is about half that. FWIW. Make mine MagicShine.

H