Hermes1

Looking to upgrade my currently insufficient head light and was reading some threads from a few years ago on this forum. I understand there were some problems, specifically batteries and a vendor for them has gone out of business. I am curious has anything changed, have the issues been resolved in the eyes of those who have purchased within say the last two years? They appear to offer what I am looking for as does a couple Niterider lights I have looked at.

I need good lighting for early morning commutes which is mixed lighting conditions from well lit streetlights found on major streets, poorly lit, if lit at all secondary streets to canal riding with no lights.

Thanks

ModeratedUser

I don't know the latest about MagicShine but I was around when they had that debacle with some batteries going bad on users. To tell you the truth, I give props for them doing that right thing and taking care of their customers. They sent out replacement batteries to their customers that were quite good batteries at the time. The batteries were made from Germany. What I and the people I had a group buy with had was extra batteries to work with. You were suppose to "dispose" of the original batteries and just use the replacements, but no one did that. I haven't pulled mine off the shelf to see if they still work, but I ran into one of riders in the group buy and he just happen to be still using his light and battery! That alone is good sign for me what this system could do. Yeah they weren't "top of the line", but you also weren't paying "top of the line" prices.

MagicShine did a commendable job resolving the battery issue for their customers. They could have easily done some slimy scum sucking stun like just rolling over and playing dead. Then slyly taken all their money away. That is what 9 out 10 American businesses would have done!

Just by coincidence I am also currently using a Niterider light. It's a Niterider Lumina 700. It's been preforming quite nicely. It also has gotten pretty good reviews on the mtbr 2015 light shootout.

Hermes1

Thank you for the reply, good to hear they were standing behind their product with regard to the battery issue. I am pressed for time to get better light for some rides coming up soon and so I went ahead and ordered a Niterider (1200) since I have had a good experience and familiar with them.

no motor?

Geomangear stood behind the batteries, not Magicshine.

ItsJustMe

My GeoManGear battery was good but died in about the same amount of time that my junk Chinese ones did. At about 3 years they're all only lasting one ride instead of one week.

I just bought a new battery to try out. It's branded "Bright Eyes" - since you're asking about full lights and not just batteries, here's theirs.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X90ZYJ0

It comes with the diffusion lens that I like. Likely to be a good light for $50. Comes with a tail light that I would probably just throw away unless it's better than it looks.

rumrunn6

my original magicshine is still kicking butt. we had that battery recall / replaced but it's been reliable for I don't know how long

kaos joe

As nomotor pointed out, it was the now defunct GeoMan Gear that made good on the original batteries.
Mine is still working. The replacement battery has somewhat diminished capacity but still sufficient for my purposes. The switch on the light is getting a bit balky and I don't know if it's on the way out or not.
I'm undecided as to what I'm going to do if the battery or the light craps out. I heard (after buying it) that the MagicShine was an unauthorized ripoff of a German made unit, but I don't know if that is true. I take a dim view of such things and would probably pony up for some other light rather than support a pirate manufacturer, even if it costs more. But now we are veering into other waters.

rumrunn6

my switch is getting glitchy too but still works. tried the Chinese copycat light but it is not as well made. I guess that's my backup, if it comes to that

Staypuft1652

The original Magicshine 808 was somewhat of a clone of the Lupine Tesla.

ItsJustMe

Most cheap LiIon packs on the market are junk. My recommendation is to buy this empty case for $15:

https://amazon.com/dp/B01JU7AS0A

and buy four good Panasonic unprotected cells to go in it. Total cost is going to be $45 or so but you'll wind up with a good pack that's actually waterproof.

10 Wheels

I have four of these.

Never run one down

https://www.fasttech.com/products/1420/10004539/4115601

rumrunn6

weird I revived this thread boasting how well my light was holding up. now it won't charge. charger light blinks red then goes green. but it doesn't have a charge. it's dead. so, 10 wheels ... those $16 batteries are good & connector works with OEM Magicshine light & extension wires?

10 Wheels

They work Great, I have four of them.

Use them on Five T-6 lights as well on Three Dinotte lights.

rumrunn6

thanks. ordered one from that dealer. new to that dealer, wut else are they good for?

no motor?

The switch on my P7 900 lumen Magicshine did that too, but about 5 years ago. I switched to a XML version I got from a dealer that uses a metal mount that's worked great since then after trying a couple of clones that didn't work. I've accumulated a couple of spare battery packs as well as some other lights since then too and haven't worried about not having enough light to make it home for a long time.

rumrunn6

wish the clone had the same connector. would have saved me buying another battery

Staypuft1652

They should all have pretty much the same connector. Even the screw together ones work ok.

noglider 

Many folks here have mentioned that there are MagicShine clones available very cheap from Amazon and various Chinese websites. Some have made the point that the cheap clones are a better value, because you can replace three for the price of one. This might be a good way to look at it. I recently saw one somewhere for $14. And given that it's hard to know if you're getting something genuine, you might as well save money.

Well, it's one approach. It's not mine. I like different types of lights, but if this light is for you, consider the cheap ones.

Those battery solutions from @ItsJustMe and @10 Wheels seem worth consideration.

10 Wheels

I just got a T-6 for $5 from e-bay. Now run 5 of them.

Most of my T-6 were $12 w battery and charger. They still run good w new batteries.

The weak point on the cheap battery's is the connectors.

They all seem to be a different size. Which makes for a poor connection

rumrunn6

this vendor sucks. wanted $16 for shipping then 4 days later wanted another $35 in addition to that for shipping. so a $16 battery would have cost me $85

10 Wheels

There Shipping is FREE.

I have bought lights and battery's from them. All FREE Shipping

Where are you?

rumrunn6

Massachusetts. guess they didn't get the memo

10 Wheels

Link on the battery page States Free Shipping.

rumrunn6

1/15 I upgraded my shipping for $19.99 to get it quicker then 1/20 was told "We feel sorry to tell you that the actual shipping costs for your package is US$35.46 more than the amount you paid to us. As our UPSX shipping carrier request us to pack the batteries with special box and shipping cost is calculated based on the size of your parcel, then you need to pay extra postage"

10 Wheels

Get the Free Shipping and Wait.

Their shipping is not all that Slow.