PaulRivers

Just noticed this today -

https://www.bikerumor.com/2010/05/19/...new-seca-1400/

https://www.bikeradar.com/news/articl...mmuters-25802/

Same weight and runtime as the 900. $700.

The article says they've improved the beam pattern "The new Seca 1400 will also have an improved beam pattern from its all new bi-conic reflector, which L&M says delivers a broader spot and clean even fill light, tailored for confidence at speed."

I own a 900 - there's definitely no need for a "brighter" light, but I would definitely welcome a light that's has a broader patter up ahead, and although I've used it only for road biking so far, suspect I'd like a little more light to the sides for those twisty 90 degree turn trails we have in Minnesota (I'm not kidding - they're really like that!).

Being that I just bought the 900, I wonder what I should do with it. Hmm. My one disappointment is that there's no talk of being able to have more control over light output like the Niterider 1200. And I'm not necessarily surprised, but I keep hoping someone will come out with a light where you can turn on and off an actual cutoff, so I can use it riding on trails without hitting oncoming pedestrians in the face with the light, but turn it off for mountain biking and such.

socalrider

Gone are the days where I will spend 400.00+ for a bike light.. There are so many options with the Magicshine lights that these lights need to come down in price for me to spend some $$$..

colleen c

Agreed! $700? Yes the theory of "see and be seen" seem to work for me and my MS light. At $700 that a little out of reach for me. Honestly speaking, I probably would have grin it and bear it if that was the only light out in the market, but for now at that price and the economy the only thing I see is a big bill. If it was in the $300-$400 range, that would be a different matter.

PaulRivers

You know, I totally hear what you're saying. If I wasn't in the position of having extra cash the blow on the best possible light (I'm not saying it *is*, it isn't even out yet, I'm just saying I'll be spending money hoping to get the best possible light) it's kind of ridiculous.

It's worth it to me to spend more money than the Magicshine, on something that's -

1. Durable and well made - I haven't heard the best things about the durability of the Magicshine. Mostly cables fraying. Usually it's pointed out (validly) that if it lasts half as long as another light, you can simply buy a 2nd one and you're still coming out way ahead financially.

2. Has a nicely shaped beam with even light distribution on the ground. On my dynamo hub bike I have a Lumotec Cyo, a highly shaped beam that puts out an even amount of light over the entire road - it's really great. I need somewhat more light off to the sides, though, and a little more light in general, but it's limited by the power put out by the dynamo hub. I've also had several Dinotte lights. A 200L which has been decent. A 600L which I found super disappointing - it didn't really go further down the road than the 200L, and it's super bright beam in front of the bike made it difficult to see outside the limited area it lit up. I've also used 2 Dinotte 400L's, which once I played around with the different lenses was a pretty decent light. If money was tight I would have stayed with it, but I did find myself wanting something that lit up farther down the road as well as better off the the sides. I'm probably be picky, but hey, it's my money LOL.

I've also had a Seca 900, which I did like more than my Dinotte 400L combination (also cost more). If I was going straight, it was nearly the perfect light. First light I've had that still completely 100% lit up the road in front of me (well, to the extent that a handlebar light could at it's height I think) - and continued to do so regardless of car headlights. I actually ran it on medium a lot of the time when I wasn't encountering much traffic. First light I've had which didn't make me cringe to see off to the sides because of it's more-even beam pattern.

It was a really solid light. It's main drawback was that I still wanted a little more punch down the road for big downhills, and if I wasn't going straight it wasn't quite wide enough to light up a curvy road, I felt like if I wanted to go all-out I would need a helmet light. This was all for road riding. I'm definitely picky - some people thought I was nuts for wanting for throw than the Dinotte 600L gave me, LOL. But it sounds like the new light was designed to be wider and have more throw - sweet. That just leaves having a "cutoff" for MUP riding (that you could turn on and off), and more control over the exact amount of light output on my list of wants. Well - and who doesn't endlessly want more battery life? :-D

* 3. Waterproof - I took this off, it seems like in the last month or two they've started selling a waterproof version of the battery for the Magicshine, the rest of the light has apparently been ok with water.

I would agree with what you're saying, though - seems like with the $90 Magicshine, it would be worth it to have those advantages for like $300 to $400, but $700 seems kinda ridiculous in comparison.

I'm still kinda excited, though. :-D If other people can spend thousands of dollars shaving some grams from their wheelset, spending a few extra hundred dollars on a premium light may be slightly frivolous, but sounds rewarding anyways. :-) Plus - it looks like the cost of the other Seca lights like the 900 will drop, and that's pretty cool.

colleen c

Yeah I came on kinda hard, must have been the price sticker shock that got me. .

It's kinda nice that they offer these lights because it pave the way for future design of lights. It just too bad that it comes with a cost for the time being and eventually and hopefully the price do goes down. I'm a kind of person who actually like lights myself. Lords only know how many different flaslight (not bicycle light). I bought in my lifetime for trial and error. At one time I even thought about buying a HID flashlight. If you do get one, it will be nice to see a sample of the light in comparison with others brand

PaulRivers

haha, well no doubt there - I bought my commuter bike new from a bike shop - a Specialized Sequoia road bike with Sora/Tiagra. I got it on deep discount because it was 2 years old, cost me $600 (plus tax), original $850 I think. Some of my friends said "THAT's the cost of your don't-worry-about-it-getting-stolen bike???" (Yeah I totally lock it well and stuff, but I think I'd have a heart attack if my full carbon bike got stolen and I had to replace it, ya know? :-)).

But this light costs more than one of my bikes...it's definitely pricey, no doubt.

I'll try to post my review / comparison if I end up buying one. :-) I'm just happy that at least a single company is putting some thought into the beam pattern on a higher powered battery light. Pretty cool, even if it is notably expensive - hopefully in the future costs will come down, like you said.

kuan

At some point there has to be a cutoff where more lumens out of one unit doesn't make much of a difference anymore. If I had 1400 lumens I'd prefer it maybe 600 on the handlebars and 800 on the helmet. Something like that. Yeah.

PaulRivers

Yeah, but what if the 1400 lumens lit up so much area that you didn't even need a helmet light? Wouldn't it be nicer to have it on the bars and not have 2 separate lights?

I know I find a helmet light a bit of a PITA - looking behind you on a street *will* usually blind the car behind you as you point the helmet light in the persons face (I guess I'm thinking stopped at an intersection). Not a fan of putting more weight on my helmet, or having the cord run down into my jersey pocket (it's annoying when I get off the bike). Don't like having a 2nd battery and everything. And though in some ways it doesn't seem like it makes sense, I don't like the feeling with a helmet light like I *have* to be facing the direction I'm going in order to be able to see that way - in other words, I can't look off to the side.

This is a genuine question - would there be an advantage to having a helmet light if the bar light covered everything?

I have a Seca 900, and there's absolutely no reason for it to be brighter than it already is. It already lights up the road than when I'm riding the bike trail next to a road and a car comes along, their headlights don't even effect what I can see. That wasn't the case with the Seca 700 which I also tried, or some of my other lights. But my hope is that the additional lumens will go towards covering a larger area with the beam - according the articles, the new light is supposed to be wider and go farther down the road.

kuan

Absolutely on both counts. I have an exposure light MaxxD and it does have a very nice spill, but it still doesn't do great on twisty trails.

You gotta be careful what you post here you know, this being the Magicshine forum and all.

colleen c

I can think of two reasons. One is having a backup light. In this case with Light and Motion, the quality is much better and you may not need a backup light.

The second reason is the luxery of having a light you can aim with when needed. I used to run a P7 on my helmet before I took it off because of the weight. When I did had it on my helmet, it save my butt more than once. I was riding along side a SUV sharing the road where there were no car parked along the right side. Apparently my light was drown out by his headlight and he thought he has passed me and cleared me from his side. The SUV had a broken missing right side mirror which I should have known better as this was a hint. The SUV started to drift into me as we were close to the intersection and he wanted to turn right. I quickly pointed my P7 into his window while braking. The driver turn his head and saw a flood of light in his interior and swing back into his lane.

The other advantage of having an extra helmet light is for dummies at stop sign while I am on the main street with no stop sign at the intersection. Their are a few driver who just insist on being ahead of a bicyclist and they will cut through the stop sign right in front of you as you are half way through the intersection after they identify you as a cyclist. A quick flash with the helmet light at them sometime can prevent that.

I'm not sure though does this outweigh the fact that I also accidently blinded drivers and people when I didn't meant to do that. So it's good and bad and depends on what your situation calls for.

PaulRivers

hahahahaha! :-D

I found a thread about lights in the mtbr.com forum (I think they have their own lights subforum like here), and someone wrote something like 'this has basically become the Magicshine, or people who have a lot of extra money to blow' forum".

PaulRivers

I don't know what to write now, as I totally agree with what you said. I hadn't thought of those points, they don't always apply to me personally with the routes I take, but they're good points.

I'd still prefer to be able to ride totally without a helmet light, wearing one only if necessary. :-D Obviously this isn't the most economical solution, though, lol.

P.S. I also have a Dinotte 140L tail light, on the unlikely chance that my headlight broke I could actually use it as a headlight. :-D :-D (I also have a AA rear blinky on the back as well)

socalrider

I personally use a very small helmet light, more for being seen than seeing.. That is what my lights on the bars are for.. When you direct a helmet light at a car, it should be bright enough to get there attentions but not so powerful to blind them...

This is what I use, a very small Romisen Q5 light that is adjustable from flood to throw.. I usually run it right in the middle.. 3 ounces in weight with battery..

https://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/t...6-II-Q5/Detail