unworthy1

This may not be exactly Classic & Vintage, but
given that I first learned of the "product" (more like an imaginary prototype) and the Kickstarter funding campaign right here in this forum
AND it really is "Vintage" after all the time that's elapsed...
I finally got the latest update (this one from the North American fulfillment contractor) saying that they will begin shipping the completed products to all us suckers, I mean Funders! in NA.
After so much water under so many bridges, I can only say:

A. Seeing is believing.

B. I'm prepared to be less than wowed by the final "production" product

Anybody get theirs, yet?
I'll update this thread with my results and pictures...if it ever happens...

Velocivixen

Clever Cycles in Portland, Oregon sells these. Not sure if they're in stock, but they've been selling for awhile.

Magnic Light complete set

unworthy1

those are a completely different product to the Copenhagen and a very interesting concept: moving metal to cause an eddy effect in a magnetic field.
Far more 'science' than the Copenhagens, (which just use magnets to hold them to ferrous frame or rack, and to switch on the light)...maybe a better product and a better Kickstarter experience, too...I can only hope so for the sake of those who funded it.
One thing to say for the Copenhagens: they will probably sell for much less than $250...if they ever get to market, that is.

mkeller234

Is this just the kickstarter way? I'm still holding my breath waiting for a dropout poster that was funded on that site.

Velocivixen

Oh hey, thanks for setting me straight. I was so eager to get you the info that I totally gave you the wrong thing. Oops. Now I'm eager to learn more about the one you were talking about. Hopefully it will be less than $250.

unworthy1

I'm no expert on the Kickstarter model, or public's pleasure/displeasure with it, but it certainly HAS been embraced by a lot of the public.
I have "invested" (I use the term loosely) in 2 bicycle-related Kickstarter efforts: one was just fine; this Copenhagen Light business has ranged from the ridiculous to the unbelievable.
I still have only seen a couple crude pictures of the final production lights, and the warning that at least one critical feature had to be "cost-reduced" away during development.
If they are ever actually in my hands I'll be amazed...and I'll review them for the forum (if anyone cares or not).

himespau 

I've been in two kickstarter projects that were successful, but those were more along the lines of completed items that they wanted to get a large pre-order in on. Got my stuff just about on time, but, as I said, there really wasn't the whole design phase that is going on for you.

mkeller234

Yeah, I am very interested in a review. I was really tempted to get in on that project but decided I would wait and buy them at retail price. Which feature was cost reduced?

Road Fan

Some reviews over in the Electronics Forum, but I'm going to leave the searching to you.

Bianchigirll 

These look interesting. Magnetic Bike Lights ? Copenhagen Parts

unworthy1

Yep, them is the lights^...guess they are already retailing them in EU for 30euros/pair.
The cost-reduced feature that I'm aware of is they were going to have a "steady" light mode as well as blinking for the front (at least) and in some countries that means they can't use the front light because only a steady white light is permitted. Not an issue for us in USA, but still would have liked the option. Apparently they will make it happen in their "gen 2" version, for EU...maybe elsewhere, too.
Smaller issues are the logo which was etched/engraved in the prototype, now screen-printed on, and the anodized finish has gone through a couple color and sheen iterations to wind up wherever it has wound up...some people fear it has a "golden hue" but who knows if it's the photo or their monitor (until they actually have the lights in hand).

unworthy1

Bumping this due to...NO NEWS...almost a month since the "North American Distributor" asked for updated shipping addresses, and claimed they were about to receive the product from Denmark (what part of China is that?) and start mailing them to us.
So...how many days for a shipment to sail from Denmark to someplace in North America...then for the USPS or UPS to get stuff from one side of the continent to the other?
30 days?
No...apparently more than that...way more than that.

Guess it's time to admit it...I've been duped.
All of us who funded this Kickstarter have been duped.
Stupid, stupid us.
People: beware of Kickstarter and the shysters that will dupe you there.

unworthy1

Bumping this again to give closure and a report on the FINAL OUTCOME after
2 years
4 months
and 27 days of waiting...
I received a hand labeled envelope with 4 postage stamps mailed from Andover MA that contained a printed-out note from "WILL" (the USA agent who did all the handwork or mailing these) asking for mercy, wrapped around a fairly nice looking red cardboard box with C p nh g n Parts and some line-art that promised Magnetic Lights inside!!!
The box also rattled ominously...I figured: "right, they finally mailed my "premium" and it's already broken...typical."
But no, the rattling was from 4 button cell batteries loose inside the box with the red-lens and clear-lens lights, tastefully displayed.
They contained 2-each dead batteries, so the USA distributor included 4 fresh button cells...but these lights are (sort of) hermetically sealed and had NO instructions on how to open the housing to exchange batteries...a "nice touch" and so very like these guys to neglect the obvious.
I went to the Kickstarter site where yours truly as well as dozens of North American backers had ranted railed and threatened nobody who was listening for YEARS now posted short updates to the tune of "finally just got mine in Texas" "Ditto in Brooklyn" "Lights just arrived in LA"...and somebody had included a quick how-to (twist a 1/8 turn of the plastic lens and pry off lens with fingernails) and the caution to watch out that you don't cut yourself on the razor sharp edges!!! Yeah, I noticed those edges, too...somebody never heard of burr removal.

There's plenty of disappointing details, and YES I have nothing better to do than a blow-by-blow critique of these (to come) so stand by for boredom...if you dare.

Short answer: save your money, buy something else.

rhm

I love happy endings.

Chombi

Don't worry,.......... In due course it will be copied by some Chinese based company/factory,.....and it will most likely work better and have no burrs.....

jyl

I don't get what is, or was supposed to be, special about these. Looks like a standard blinky with a magnet to stick it to a bike frame.

CliffordK

It looks like the lights are on E-Bay from Thailand for less than one can buy them from the manufacturer.

Does it say where the lights are made on the ones from Denmark?

It looks like an interesting light, but I have to wonder how they deal with the vast array of tubing sizes and angles.

Chombi

The concave portion at the back of the light which makes it look seamless against the seat tube that makes it different.....

loky1179

Thanks for the update! I won't be getting one of these, but it gives me some great ideas on what to do with a bunch of super strong hard drive magnets I just happen to have!

unworthy1

yeah: they are really nothing special, just some 2-LED battery-powered lights with a magnet in the housing so they will stick to ("most") steel tubes at ("mainly") the correct angle...you hope...but there's no black magic at all. They have a common pressure switch that is NOT sealed against water intrusion and they had promised both blinking and steady-light for the front (clear lens) light but had to "cost reduce" the final goods to "blinking only". This is a major "failure" or as the kids would say "FAIL" since there are many countries that will not allow a front light that blinks.
I wonder if Denmark is one of those.
No matter: these are made cheaply by a cheap Chinese contractor who probably realized they were dealing with idiots and took them to the cleaners.
The miracle is that they finally delivered SOMEthing at all.
As for the "seamless" effect on a steel tubed bike: I would urge anybody with paint they care about to smooth the edges before they mount these or that paint will get scratched.
I have to say the 2 LEDs are not quite as weak as a pathetic birthday candle but just by a hair...and the front (clear lens) seems to be brighter than the rear (red) tho I am sure it's nothing but the difference of the tinted plastic they are weakly blinking thru.
The housing has a cheesy "champagne" anodizing and a weird distorted tampo-pad-printed logo that are both departures from the much better looking PROTOTYPES that are featured in the company's promo shots...not to mention the completely different switch that is shown and was described as being magnetically activated (it is NOT) and shown to be completely sealed against the elements (it is NOT).
So...there are some disappointed backers. BUT we finally have something in our hands after 2+ years of bogus flim-flam.

gaucho777 

What's that saying...two crummy lights in hand is better than a dropout poster in the bush? Or something like that.

unworthy1

^exactly, that's the saying they taught US in nursery school, anyway!

I thought "the artist" had finally delivered the dropout posters, isn't that so?

If he has then we have double-closure, which has to be a good omen for the Chinese New Year (Gung Ho Fat Boy...I mean Gung Hay Fat Choy, of course, of course)

crank_addict

No longer do I buy into all the fancy packaging on tail lamps, although the magnet and style do look pretty good. What do others use and in keeping with a vintage look?

I've used the many low cost offerings from fleabay and big box stores. They work but the switches start to hang-up, the plastic mounts get brittle or easily snap if bumped when parked. - especially when the temperature drops. I even hide mount them under the saddle as they look ugly.

This is another with failed switch-


Lately I've been buying from Ace Hardware a type of small LED flashlights. Cost is $4.00. Uses the typical pair of CR3032 batts. Bullitt shaped and all machined aluminum, (no plastic or tin). Sealed switch, o-ring sealed, available in various color anodized. Paint them to color match if you wish. A must however is to paint the inside lens with a red (Testors metallic red model paint works excellent - 2 coats). While there, pick up a one inch aluminum band clamp. Mount wherever you like.
No blinky but have been robust and absolutely no issues in the rain.

Not the best solution but a tough beater light and no big deal if bumped on a bike rack. I sometimes lean the bike right on the light. Funny too as typically in a college town or campus, little things like accessories tend to get ripped off and it becomes a nuisance to constantly remove or re-install. So for that bike I screwed the clamp on and mar the Allen socket head. Makes it a bit of a challenge for the would be thieves with their handy wrenches.

This is the third bike now that I'm using this style flashlight.

RoadTire 

seedsbelize 

I recently converted to dynamo hub lighting and will never go back. I could have bought a high quality setup for each bike with all the money I wasted on those battery powered "solutions". Do they appear to be classic, or vintage? No, but that has never been a concern of mine. I'm a pure function over form guy.