Niterider Minewt usb vs Magicshine P7
 

I new to using bike lights so please be easy,,,, here is my thoughts/concerns,,,,

** I'm leaning towards to Minewt,,, it seems to me they have a quality product,, light and very easy to use,,, it is 110 lumens and I will not be riding in total darkness,, more in the mornings just before the sun comes out,,, so I just want some extra light,,,,,,, I can get a new one for around $75.00

** I sure the P7 will be brighter,, but I'm not sure the quality is where it needs to be,,,, from what I undertand I think the battery is bigger,,,,,,,,,

any thoughts,,, to push me off the fence,,,,,,,

thanks
glen

I use the MiNewt USB and love it. I commute in total dark in the morning and it lights up the trail very well. I have a winter commuter with 30 watt halogen lights and have been surprised that I'm thinking I will try the MiNewt as a replacement..

MiNewt (110 lumens) = Be Seen Light
Magicshine P7 (900 lumens claimed) = To See Light

If the purpose of the light is to ride on fairly well lit roads, MiNewt would be fine as a "Be Seen" light but if your route takes you through areas of total darkness then the P7 is your light.

I had a light that put out ~200 lumens; it wasn't safe riding at 20 mph through total darkness because it didn't have the throw required to see objects on the trail and have enough time to react to them. I now ride with a L & M HID (675 lumens) and have no issues at all.

However, even as a "Be Seen" light, IMO, the more light the better so I would go with the P7

T.J.

Can someone explain the virtue of a USB light? I just don't get it. Every USB port in my life has a 110V outlet within 6 feet or so. Do people have work setups where they have:

1. A computer with a USB port
2. No electrical outlets available (even the one used by the... computer)

Even if you are charging in a car or boat (ironic for a bike light), it would be nothing more than getting a charger with a wall wart and getting a 12V step up/down adapter for it. Or even buying an inverter.

I could see being able to just ride with the light and the usb cord and not having to carry a charger with you as an advantage for commuters. Ride to work, plug into usb port to recharge, work, ride home.

Simpiler than getting TWO chargers and less expensive.
Most peole have a spot at work or home with an available USB port. This way you can recharge it before you ride home from work etc.

For $14 you can buy a 2nd charger for the MS at GeoMan and keep it at work. That's what I did. Though honestly, with a 3 hour runtime, do you really NEED to charge it at work?

I just bought it because it was cheap, and in the winter sometimes I have to use the light both ways, and at -10*F or colder, the runtime might get significantly reduced.

I think worries about the quality of the MS are really not justified. Mine seems very good, and apart from a single report of a broken lens, I haven't heard of anyone having any trouble with a MagicShine. GeoMan reports that they haven't had any problems with them yet.

It appears to not be valid to go by quality reports from earlier units; the quality has improved a lot since then, but even then, people were just concerned, I don't recall anyone reporting actual problems, just worrying that the build quality might not be good enough.

Saves on the manufacturing cost as they don't need to include a charger.

I have the 2007 or 08 MiNewt X2, the MiNewt USB's bigger brother. I have to say that it just barely suffices for my wintertime commutes. It doesn't throw far enough in front of me when I'm hitting 20 or so. I'm looking at getting something bigger and brighter and putting the MiNewt on my helmet.

I posted a beamshot review with the Minewt X2 which is brighter than the USB version you are looking at and the MS. Look in the MS thread and find my link to MTBR. That will give you fairly good appximation of what things will look like.

If you're just trying to save money, get a Fenix L2D Premium. It only costs about $60 and puts out 180 lumens on highest setting. However, having using a Fenix for two years, I would recommend the Magicshine. I just got mine this week, and it totally blows away the Fenix, which puts out nearly twice lumens of the Minewt.

How are you planning to use the light? If commuting on regular roads, I can't imagine how you would damage the MS under normal usage. If commuting offroad, the Minewt might be more durable, but it also would probably be too dim.

The light comes with both a wall charger and a usb cord, so no real cost savings there. Or that is my understanding anyway, as I do not own one.

I use a MTE SSC P7. Tons of light for under $40

For people who have used P7 flashlights before getting a MS light, how does the beam pattern compare.. It sure looks like the MS beam is much tighter than most P7 flashlights and is the output comparable or just slightly brighter since it is using an external battery pack they can drive it at 2.8amps with no issues.

Dunno about MS, but with a P7 flashlight on high, I could see no difference in road illumination whether my Minewt was on or off. It was totally drown out by the P7 beam.

comparison shots: http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=554139

btw, where the heck do you buy a magicshine P7? i can't find them for sale anywhere online...

I think you forgot to include battery, charger, and mount?

Been using Fenix L2D with fishblock and rechargeable AA batteries for more than a year (with redundant helmet mounted cheapie PlanetBike barely be seen light that eats N cells). Had been considering an upgrade to a P7 flashlight when I found the integrated MS.

MS arrived today. I now understand the complaint of the long cable and the useless too fast blink mode. Light mounts well, but still working on mounting the battery pack to satisfaction.

oops,,, sorry it is just the magicshine 900,,,,,,,,, I guess I was doing a package 1 time offer,,,,,,,,

***** looks like I'm going to go with the niterider,,,,, minewt,,,,,, with 110 lumens,,, good quality it seems right for me,,,,,, I plan on riding after I take my son to the bus stop at 6:40am est,,,, I'l be riding on streets most with lights, etc,,,,,,,, I think it will do the job,,,,,,,,,

any other thoughts are welcome,,,,,,,

glen

yeah, you are correct, need to add $35 or so for a pair of 18650s, a charger and a mount. I like being able to take the light off and use it for camping, etc. If I was buying a bike specific light right now, I think I would put the Magicshine at the top of my list.

geomangear.com

No way would I ride with only 110 lumens anymore. This isn't the year 2000, there are better options available. I love my MS P7.