Which Magicshine should I buy? Or ?

[Don in Austin]

To be fair, I had minor problems with my on/off button. I have to push it quite hard, using mostly my thumbnail, to get the light to turn on, change modes, or turn off. It still works, but it is a minor, noticeable irritation. I'm not sure why this is as there is a mechanical button inside the cover that is pushed. If fact, you can take off the cover and see the button yourself. Perhaps you're not pushing the button hard enough? Take the cover off and see if you can get the switch to work... that's what I would do.

I had the same problem. I took the cover off and put about two drops of WD-40 into the contacts and a year later the button still responds every time.

Don in Austin

[ChrisO]

I know that this is an oldish thread, but since it's been revived and people are still talking about these lights and GeoManGear, I figure it on topic-ish to point out that unfortunately geomangear.com has gone out of buisness; apparently under the financial weight of the battery recall.
Here's what's left-
http://www.geomangear.com/index.html

[rekmeyata]

I know that this is an oldish thread, but since it's been revived and people are still talking about these lights and GeoManGear, I figure it on topic-ish to point out that unfortunately geomangear.com has gone out of buisness; apparently under the financial weight of the battery recall.
Here's what's left-
http://www.geomangear.com/index.html

It's sad whenever a company goes out of business, but I felt they needed to step up the game in customer service because my experience as well as others who had to deal with them for warranty issues was initially poor. I think after the recall they tried to step up their game, but by then the damage was done and the trust factor was almost all but gone.

There is another company with a similar design of the Magicshine called Gemini that supposedly has a better quality product but in my opinion the Magicshine and the Gemini are just Chinese clones of each other, which means the factory rated lumens will be about half of what they report as I experienced with a 1200 lumen MagicShine being beaten by my 480 lumen Cygolite Mitycross, and the quality will be suspect with hit and miss as to how good the one you buy will be.

[ItsJustMe]

From what I've heard, current MagicShine lights are way nicer than the older ones.

I would buy another to find out but my original MagicShine from whatever, 3? years ago is still running great, though I've replaced the extension cable three times now as it frays.

[rekmeyata]

From what I've heard, current MagicShine lights are way nicer than the older ones.
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I think they solved the battery problem with fires and explosions and what not going on. But my friend bought his MS this last winter, and it's the newest version of their 1200 lumen light, and that light was not as bright as a 480 lumen Cygolite Mitycross. So I think their lumen claims are way off and bogus. But nobody seems to mind as long as they pay less then $100.

I had their earlier verson and it failed inside the 3 month warranty period, I sent it back via UPS and never heard back from them after dozens of e-mails, nor received the light back. UPS wouldn't cover on the insurance side because they showed it received by Geoman. Geoman supposedly died around the time I sent the light back, but so what? I never heard anything from them anymore concerning the light. That's the last time I do business with some cheap Chinese imported generic light in a feeble attempt to save money.

[ItsJustMe]

I think they solved the battery problem with fires and explosions and what not going on. But my friend bought his MS this last winter, and it's the newest version of their 1200 lumen light, and that light was not as bright as a 480 lumen Cygolite Mitycross. So I think their lumen claims are way off and bogus. But nobody seems to mind as long as they pay less then $100.

Did anyone seriously ever FIRSTHAND experience "fire and explosion" problems? I don't remember seeing anyone on BF saying they experienced anything of the sort and there are plenty of MagicShine users here. People have had battery failures but I haven't heard of any fire and explosion firsthand stories, only friend-of-a-friend stories.

It's pretty well known that the lumen ratings are bogus; they typically will list the LED manufacturer's maximum possible brightness, which is never achieved. But most of us buy the light already knowing that. My original puts out about 450 lumens by actual measure and cost $80, less than that now.

[rekmeyata]

Did anyone seriously ever FIRSTHAND experience "fire and explosion" problems? I don't remember seeing anyone on BF saying they experienced anything of the sort and there are plenty of MagicShine users here. People have had battery failures but I haven't heard of any fire and explosion firsthand stories, only friend-of-a-friend stories.

It's pretty well known that the lumen ratings are bogus; they typically will list the LED manufacturer's maximum possible brightness, which is never achieved. But most of us buy the light already knowing that. My original puts out about 450 lumens by actual measure and cost $80, less than that now.

MagicShine/Geoman reported these howbeit rare fires, one fire burn down the house! That information was on their website and that's why they were encouraging people to return their lights for the recall due to the possibility of a major lawsuit.

How are you measuring your lumen output? I know probably all companies overrate the lumens just as all electronic companies way over rate their wattage output for stereo equipment.

[stringbreaker]

I'm still running mine after 3 seasons now. One with the original exploding battery which never did or didn't even over heat and now 2 seasons with the replacement battery I have two of the batteries and other than the fact the headlight show orange after about 45 minutes of riding even after a full charge of if I go to the lower light setting I really like the light. I've ridden in rain and cold here in the Pacific Northwest and never had a problem. I posted in another thread wondering if the battery packs offered on other sites that sell the "new" magicshine are compatable with the old original light. MJ 808 plus

[Editz]

You can get Magicshines from a more reliable source than eBay or Deal Extreme here:

http://www.action-led-lights.com/

Gemini gets good press, but why not consider a U.S. manufacturer like DiNotte or Jetlites?