Gojohnnygo.

I said 880 its new(2000 lumens they state), I just placed it back on the charger for its first time after trying it out for a few minutes off the back deck outside. Holy shizzits makes my Cygolite Triden-X light output look like a candle stick! I know its a cheap light but holy brightness in such a small package. Well except for the heavy ass battery and its ****ty ass run-times stated 2.3 hours on high. I'll have more on it when my ribcage heals up, just a little/big fall when running on the ice...anybody else running this light just wondering what your thoughts are about it.

socalrider

where did you buy it?

Burton

From whats claimed on the MagicShine site to be a 6,600mAh battery thats pretty dismal performance. Unfortunately the batteries are both the heaviest and most expensive parts of LED lighting systems. IMO People put too much emphesis on the LED and lumen part of things - which is actually the low cost part of the light.

no1mad 

Google search revealed it's available on Amazon for ~$200. Quite a few vids up on Youtube as well. The one I viewed was from bikeempowerment and they compared the MJ-880 to the MJ-870. Among other things, the 880 has a 41 or 42 inch cable and the 870 has a 26" one. Has 5 modes- 10, 25, 50, 75, and 100%. 10 and 100 can be accessed directly, then "scroll" for the other settings.

a1penguin

Magicshines are popular choices. But, beware. Buy from Geoman or Action LED Lights. Buy from a vendor who will give you a warranty. I think any XM-L light that claims more than 700 lumens is a total lie. Don't believe it. Personally, if you are going to spend $200, why not spend $259 and buy a quality, US made Dinotte XML-3? The light manufacturers have finally come around and are offering quality lights at a reasonable price. Check out the 2012 Lights Shootout at mtbr.com. Beamshots on road and trail for you to have a look.

Gojohnnygo.

Picked it up from magicshine USA for about 220 with a headband for running ect......yes I know about the run time issues as I stated but for an hour of running should work fine. I did look at the Dinotte X-ML 3 1000LM they don't have the headband option for it, they only have it for the 400L or Dinotte would be mine, I need the headband option.

The Magicshine with its Dual X-ML led is way brighter, then my Cygolite triden and dual cross pro working together at 1200LM. We shall see. Thanks for the replies.

magohn

The naysayers will diss Magicshine but my Mj-808E is incredible. I got it from DealExtreme for $79 delivered and I wont ride without it. Before I was using a Planet Bike 2W Blaze and I thought it was reasonable. I hooked up the 808E and holy moly its brighter than my trucks headlights. The PB Blaze isnt even in the same universe as the 808E. It only runs 2.5 hrs on bright , but I can see the road ahead if full light. Absolutely awesome and if it broke tomorrow Id order another right away.

Yes, its only 2.5 hours battery life but I have no business riding at night for more than 2.5 hrs anyways

Gojohnnygo.

Looks like I will be testing it tonight in a cold 34F degree rain on half a charge on my way to work at 2am for 9 miles we will see if it's waterproof. Thanks for the feed back everybody.

Jamesw2

Something to look at

https://www.lightjunction.com/MagicSh...cle-light.html

I got my Magic Shine from https://www.lightjunction.com/MagicSh...le-lights.html

https://www.lightjunction.com/MagicSh...cle-light.html

magohn

Better still with FREE shipping:

https://www.dealextreme.com/p/mj-808e...-4x18650-57100

acdronin

I'm running the 1000 spot and the 1600 flood, I've put it through all kinds of testing, light rain, heat, freezing temps, splash from the front wheel, they've been dropped once or twice, bike fell over once or twice, mild jumps, curbs, charged batteries and left them hooked up in the truck for two days then taken out and ridden for three hours. Had them for a few months now and I like them.

Pros:
Metal housings
The O ring clamps allow me to swivel the lights downward with oncoming people.
Comes with two different O rings for different size bars, also a helmet mount too.
Stupid Bright! these two are brighter than my 2007 Tacoma low beams. No way to outrun these lights, ever.
Colored lights on the backs give a good indication of existing battery life. (plus the 1000's back light illuminates the screen of my little Cat-eye computer)
The big 7 amp packs are the way to go, hands down.
The 1600 is a flood with pretty good peripheral light for curvy trails and the 1000 is a center weighted round beam spot, since i'm doing a lot of road, I think I'm gonna get another 1000 and take the 1600 off.
Cons:
The packs are heavy, for all you weigh-every-part-guys, get a headlamp you'll be happier, I've got my packs double velcroed to the underside of the top bar just aft of the neck stem.
Heat, the instructions say to not run the lamps on high unless you have moving air to cool them.
Battery life, well, since you can adjust them, I run the big 1600 on the 75 or 50% setting for the first third of the ride and leave it on high the rest of the way, typical ride is 2 1/2-3 hours and usually the 1600 is on red/blinking red (10%/less than10%) by the time I get back, the 1000 I can run for three hours on high and still only be on yellow when I'm done. Trust me, these are so damn bright, the 1600 on 75% and the 1000 on 60% is still brighter than most lights out there.

I went with Geoman.com, customer service was good, positive experience with them.
I paid $324 shipped for both of these, very expensive, but I think it's worth it. I will never need another lighting system ever.

I have gotten into the habit of swiveling the lights down with oncoming people, folks get pissed, but I look at it this way, I'm a Clydesdale and with 35 pounds of bike, it's better I see you from a distance because if I hit you or your Fido at 20mph, either you or your dog is going to get really hurt, plus I don't want to get hit by a car.
I enjoy being a member of the Stupid Effin Bright-Ass Light Club!

Burton

You consider 300g for a 7Ah battery HEAVY? Either the specs are wrong and it weighs more than that or you don't know a good thing when you see it. If that really does weigh only 300g it should be in the positive list!

AndreyT

As far as the quality of workmanship is concerned, today's MagicShine models hit the absolute top limit. It is simply not technically possible to make a better light. The most important thing about these lights is probably the fact that they define the price point determined solely by technical merit of the light itself, with no "panache" component built into the price. Every time you see a light which is more expensive than the comparable MagicShine (comparable by functional characteristics), it immediately means that the price of that light includes the "Bob in the marketing department said so" and "I have boat payments" padding. So, whenever someone tells you that you can buy "US made quality Dinotte light for $50 more", you can rest assured that Dinotte quality will be the same at best with those $50 bucks paid for noting more a flashier lettering on the casing.

Burton

I would think that's hard to know that for sure without buying a dozen of everything on the market and dissecting them all to check for build quality and consistancy.

Quality tends to be a relative thing too. There seems to be a competition to make things as light as possible so the consumer is ending up with smaller, lighter batteries which trade weight for run-tine, and lighter housings which trade weight for thermal effeciency so consumers can't actually use those high powered lights on HIGH all the time either.
I guess most people are happy with the trade-offs. I'm the odd guy that isn't.

socalrider

Bought one of the from action, it is a new lense and have to say it makes the magicshine a little better.. worth the 6.00..

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wide-Angle-L...item415e27aa23

Richard Cranium

Just like Planet Bike - Magic Shine products have inadvertently set a "comparable price point test" to all competing manufactures.

You have to be a real bicycle-lighting connoisseur to realize where and how you would need additional bicycle light performance.

The only singular drawback of Magic Shine lights is their "flood-type" beam which results in a lack of throw when compared to conventional torches.

Again, however - the MS is still satisfactory for all but the certain high-speed situations requiring distant illumination.

My new found respect for the dangers of wild life on roads during night riding has left me with the idea that if you need 100 meters of throw during a descent, you're probably going too fast for conditions. Rocky Raccoon will second my opinion. (he walked away from our "meeting" - I did not)

acdronin

This is my first foray into this level of lighting and I have two packs strapped to my ride, if these are comparatively light, then I will not complain.

The lamps are made in China and the batteries are made in the US, I have always been a skeptic of Chinese made quality but so far they have taken all the abuse I have dished out.

Ditto on the flood, to me it seems most suited to lower speed trail riding. I like the torch one though, can't outrun it on flat land. I'm going to buy another 1000 torch and line them up for side by side beams, the angle of the beams covers pretty decent peripheral.
If you need more throw than what dual 1000's can give, you have a death wish. Besides, wildlife has a nasty habit of doing exactly the opposite of what you would like them to do when you roar down the trail and blind them!

Gojohnnygo.

Having problems with the charger but I'm getting good customer service from Magic Shine USA just need to send it back for a new one. I just might buy a new one for 21 dollars total and skip the hassle of waiting weeks for a replacement.

socalrider

action led sells a charger for 8.00

https://www.action-led-lights.com/col...cement-charger

Gojohnnygo.

Thanks socalrider I have been out of the lighting loop for some time now

colleen c

Just a little bit of info. The hood on the power Jack of the 880 battery and lighthead are oval shape. From picture I have seen, older lighthead like the MJ808 with the rounded connector can be fitted into the 880 battery pack, this should include the older 808 chargers. However you cannot fit older battery pack to the 880 lighthead without some mod to the power connector. You may want to email action led to be sure that the list charger will work for the 880 power connector.

socalrider

colleen

is the connector on the 880 smaller.. I just received an extra battery pack bought via ebay from an HK seller and the connector on the battery is too small to fit any of my MS charger or lightheads?

colleen c

AFAIK reading posting of the 880, the connector size should be the same as the old charger and light head. The size should be 2.1mm x 5.5mm. I don't believe it is the next larger size 2.5mm x 5.5mm. The only difference was said to be the water proof hood sleeve shape.

Jim at Action Led did a good post with pictures showing the plug difference and one picture show the old connector fitted into the new 880 battery see post # 68 and 74.

https://forums.mtbr.com/lights-night-...-752414-3.html

I suspect the hood might be stopping the plug from fitting into the 880 connector. Unless the Ebay battery has a 2.5mm x 5.5mm connector body, but I highly doubt that because your 880 lighthead will not be able plug into the Ebay battery also. Then again, there is a remote possibility that Magicshine changed the design of the 880 plug recently.

Gojohnnygo.

Just talked to Jim at Action yes the charger will work, he will let me upgrade to the faster charger for the same price.


Thanks

Mansram01

Hope it's worth it! I just ordered it. I could use a wider beam especially on descents. Thanks for the tip!