socalrider

The back of my light turned red about 15 minutes before complete shutdown.. I may be possible that they are using better cells with the more current MS lights which is yielding better runtime.. I was surprised at getting 3:32 runtime with mine..

I may do a medium mode runtime test this weekend..

tatfiend 

Mine arrived yesterday. Current mentioned configuration including the extension cable. The headlight cable on mine is 18" long and the battery pack cable is just a hair over 9". The extension cable is 40" so total available cable length is about 67". Lots of cable length for most mounting situations it appears.

akansaskid

Finally put one of mine on the bike tonight - what a royal PITA that was. Was trying to use the larger O-ring on a 31.8 bar. Try as I might, I couldn't get it to reach. First, I unscrewed the base so I could slip the O-ring into the front groove without the power cable interfering. Then I pulled until my finger(s) screamed to try to stretch the O-ring enough to reach the rear tab. Tried heating it, to no avail. Grabbed a small, smooth punch to have more leverage. Just about the point where I was ready to slip it on the rear tab, the O-ring broke.

Considering earlier (page 4) comments about how loose the O-ring mounting was, it makes me wonder if they started shipping smaller rings to tighten things up. I ended up threading a cable tie through the front tab and through the smaller O-Ring, then tightening the cable tie enough so that the O-ring would stretch to the rear tab and still keep the unit from slipping.

On the road, the light was much brighter than the Fenix L2D I took along. (Duh) But not as much as I exected looking at pictures posted here. On the "bright" side, there was more spill light than I imagined from the pics so I was pleased with the overall pattern.

I used the Fenix strobe at dusk, and then swtiched to the MS at dark. Once I knew both lighs would last until I got home, I used both. The Fenix did a nice job filling in the close foreground.

If the battery life in the cold (when I use lights the most) is what others have experienced, the light will be just about perfect!

socalrider

I have 31.8 bars on my roadie and had no problems with the larger O ring.. When attaching, try rotating the light upwards 90 degrees to attach O ring and once attached, rotate the light back down to the proper level.. I think I am used to this because the Trinewt I had required you to stretch the attachment a lot to hook on..

operator

This light reallllllllly needs a mount that lets you swivel it.

TwoHeadsBrewing

<drunk post>

Ok, so I went to a poker game tonight. It was 5 miles away, so it was a good time to test out the new MS light. Can't say how much I am pleased with it...very good lighting all the way. Mostly street light lit roads on my route, but there was a mile or so of complete darkness where this light really shines (like in a magical way!). Even after a few pints the ride home felt a LOT safer as I could actually see where I was going. For less than $100 shipped, this is a pretty damn good light.

BTW, why does it feel like I'm going 25mph in the dark and I'm only going 18?

</drunk post>

love2pedal.com

I have 31.8 bars and found this method is easy and works well for attaching the o-ring mount.

After attaching the first side of the o-ring to the lamp (under the cable), then set the lamp head on the top of the HB with the lense pointing slightly down.

Pull the loose end of the o-ring under the hb and up the back side of the bar-no stretching is necc. at this point. Hold it there with your thumb.

Then tilt the lamp head back to the loose end of the o-ring (that you are holding with your thumb) using the lamp head and bracket as your fulcrum and lever (instead of yanking on the o-ring). Then slip loose end of o-ring over hook on bracket

akansaskid

^^ Nice tip. I'm game. Anyone know how big the big O-ring is that I broke and threw away? :-)

rideon7

My MagicShine arrived last week and it was worth the wait! Very bright! Had no trouble getting it mounted on the bar, and I put the battery in a top tube bag (see photo) that I got from REI. Usually carry my digital camera there, but it's perfect for the battery.

The only odd thing I noticed about the light is the SOS mode flashes in 3 short, *4* long, and 3 short. The engineers threw in an extra dash! S-M-M-S? S-O-T-S? Wild!

CrankyFranky

I's a good thing that all the international bodies have retired Morse code, then! Mine does it too, but I don't care. I give the MS a 9 out of 10. Love being finally able to see!

dougmc

Morse code is hardly retired. It's a niche thing now, granted, but it's still used, and I do believe that the higher level radio licenses (I'm not talking about ham radio -- I'm talking about the commercial ones) still require some proficiency in it.

Still, if they got it wrong -- dit dit dit dah dah dah dah dit dit dit -- that would be pretty funny. Not that I understand the purpose of a SOS mode in the first place on a bike light. I'd prefer a faster flash mode, or just get rid of that mode entirely myself.

rideon7

Seems to me I also remember the announcement a few years back that Morse Code was no longer required for, say, maritime communications. Just another statement that anyone having that knowledge is also officially less required than before. Still know how to ride a bicycle, though.

fiataccompli

I'm waiting for a light that has a CB radio built in!

beatlebee 

I received my light last week, it is excellent.

RapidRobert

I agree with you about flashing headlights. There is little to justify them. Just because LEDs are easy to flash doesn't mean it's appropriate for a bike headlight. Flashing headlights are only the result of those marketing LEDs wanting to put another "feature" on the box. The SOS flashing is just an unnecessary marketing tool. The fact they got it wrong just demonstrates how little they care about it.

fiataccompli

I disagree about flashing. I think a flash is useful for the purpose of being seen...at least that's been my experience when driving a car & interacting with cyclists. That said, I usually use flashlights (MS should come today) that don't strobe/blink and in any situation where I would actually be using the light (ie, when it's actually dark), the blinking would drive me crazy. I'm fine with incorrect syntax for SOS for the record.

RapidRobert

I understand your thought that flashing headlights will get drivers' attention. I suggest it works that way too good. Flashing white headlights demand drivers' attention, selfishly taking it away from everything else in their field of view. That makes a distracted driver, which is unsafe for everyone else on the road at the time, including cyclists who happen to be in the lane with them then.

Flashing white lights, especially very bright white lights like the Magicshine, should be reserved for emergency vehicles only. That's obviously my opinion.

fiataccompli

I agree there. I think the very small, Knog/Frog/??? type lights I see, predominantly aimed clearly downward do the task appropriately catching my eye as a driver while not diverting my attention (or blinding me) inappropriately. Sorry, I didn't clarify that & in truth my comments are off-topic anyway.

RapidRobert

The very powerful LEDs, like that in the Magicshine, being put into the bike headlight application change many things about it, especially at a price point that puts them in many many hands. Beliefs that drivers really don't see cyclists and that bike lights are too dim to cause temporary blindness are rapidly being made obsolete. Again, my opinion.

fiataccompli

I noticed a few weeks ago while using my Taskforce flashlight riding at night that my bike got the attention of divers...or, rather, as I approached intersections, I was clearly getting the same sort of regard as I would riding my motorcycle. In other words, the fact there was a pretty bright light (not shining in anyone's eyes!) visibly caused the driver to make notice & respond accordingly.

Hey, when will we start having fog light sets for bikes? this could get high tech & crazy...fast

SlimAgainSoon

Flashing lights mean "bicycle." That's one reason to put a blinkie out front.

Not saying a 600-lumen eye-crusher, but something.

Something red blinking away out back -- it telegraphs to drivers what you are.

That's a good thing.

RapidRobert

Blinking red on the taillight I totally support! Flashing lights in front has always meant "emergency" untill LED bike headlight marketers started adding it as a "feature". This Magicshine headlight, as good and bright as it is, certainly doesn't need to strobe to be seen by drivers.

TwoHeadsBrewing

Oh dude, that's not for being seen...that's for the breakdance session on social bike ride night!

bmclaughlin807

That's it. I'm ordering a second MagicShine and I'm going to start wearing my helmet.

The second MagicShine will always be on 'Seizure Mode' and will be mounted solidly on my helmet.

ItsJustMe

I only use flashing fronts in the daylight. The Magicshine I would only use in adverse conditions, like heavy fog or rain where I wouldn't be confident that drivers could see the light and recognize it as a moving vehicle without the strobe.