Magicshine 1400
 

http://www.thesingletrackstore.com/s...mk-150x150.jpg
Ye olde magicshine with two XPEs stuck on the sides and more sensible controls.

Specs quoted from geoman:

1,400 lumens (manufacturer rated) at highest setting
4 Lighting modes; Short Mode, Far Mode, High (all), and Stepless
Stepless programming. Choose from 5% to 100% power output using the Command Control Button
Lighted Command Control Button with 4 level LED battery level indicator and backlight: Green = 100% charge, Blue = 75% charge, Yellow = 50% charge, Red = 25% charge
250 hour run-time on lowest setting, between 2 and 3 hours on highest setting
~3 hours run-time on highest setting (conditions vary, run-times vary too)
SSCP7 and Cree XP-E LED's - durable, up to 50,000 hour lifespan. 3 LED emitters, total.
T6 aircraft aluminum enclosure - anodized
Battery: Li-ion (4) 18650 in a highly durable enclosure with Magicshine branded neoprene mounting cover - velcro attachments
Circuitry: Digital regulated li-ion
Cable: Approximately .75 meter in length - perfect for stowing the battery on the top bar, behind the seat, or in your jersey pocket or Camelback
Warranty: 90 days - manufacturer
Origin: China

Weights:
3 LED Lighthead, Command Control Button, all cabling: 226g
Four cell 18650 battery pack w/cover: 360g

http://www.thesingletrackstore.com/s...&product_id=67
http://www.geomangear.com/index.php?...roducts_id=161

Crap! Already time to upgrade? LOL

It would be nice if the two side light can be set as blink mode while the center remain as constant on with a little bit of sideway lumination. (if it is not yet implemented). I think that can draw more attention from car.

I got their email on that yesterday.
IMO they're missing the point. I don't want more lumens, I want the lumens more sensibly used. As far as I'm concerned, until they get a fairly powerful light with a PROPER ROAD BEAM PATTERN, they still have work to do.

Unfortunately they probably won't do this because they don't seem to be big into actually making custom optics; they're still just taking flashlight optics and machining an aluminum case around them.

Honestly, I have a MagicShine and though I'll use it until it dies, I've gone back to flashlights as my recommendation to others. MagicShine will have to get a light with a road beam pattern to shift me back.

I'm not really in the need for an even brighter head light, a 400 lumen MS tail light would do just nicely though.

What timing, I took my second ride with my Magicshine this morning, and found out they've already got something newer/better/fancier out. I haven't even needed to recharge the battery yet from use.

That's debatable. Personally I think the original light is absolutely bright enough already for road use. For trail riding, more might be nice, I don't know; never been trail riding.

how do the magicshine's compare to say, the triple led nightrider light...


i ask cause i just got one... and i love it... i know it was twice as much cash, but the beam pattern and lumens is really impressive...

From a quality standpoint the Niterider beats the Magicshine. The Magicshine is all about lumens vs pricepoint IMHO. Nice light, worth the $ but you'll have the Niterider long after the Magicshine is in the trash I'll bet.

That's what everyone says. And, I suppose it makes sense they'd say that - it helps one justify spending way too much on a mediocre product. I say that because I've had problems with my Niterider, but not with my Magicshine. Sure, I've had the Niterider longer, but I've ridden with it about as much as with my Magicshine. One time, I had to send my Niterider back for repair (they charged me $15 just to look at it, and that didn't include my cost, however minimal, to send it there). Now, I can't use the extension cable with my Niterider. Now that I have the Magicshine, and it works consistently, I wonder what I'm going to do with the NR.

Bottom line: my personal experience is that my Magicshine has been more reliable than my Niterider.

the only complain i have with my niterider is the plug that connects to the battery is uber sensitive...


but other than that no problems yet... i'm going to get a magicshine too... i don't feel like shelling out $250 for another light...

Waterproofing yet?

Have the prototype Magischine Tail Light in my hands... Should go to full scale production within two weeks and be ready for sale in April!

Keep an eye out.

Geo

and a quick comparison with the Dinotte tells us what?

Let's just say that we all agree the Dinotte is the "standard" for comparison of tail lights...

More later... We're still defining specifications for this light. But look for battery compatibility between Magicshines. "Y" cable anyone?

Geo

Is that a hint we could run a front and rear light off the same battery?

I had the trinewt for a while and any of my basic p7 flashlights outshined the trinewt.. The MS is at least 200 lumens brighter with a more useable beam pattern for bike riding.. After getting the MS light, sold the Trinewt on ebay..

The best part of the MS lights is the fact that the battery pack are 4-18650 cells which can be easily replaced with a little work and cost around 20-30.00.. You go with Niterider and your battery dies, you end up parting with 150.00 + for a new battery..

do you what the sell price on the tailiight is going to be and are the MS battery packs interchangeable.. Can I use the MS battery pack with the MS 1400??

Obviously I will get a little less runtime, but having an extra battery pack would be useful for the summer night riding..

I'll be happy to see this. In fact if the price is right, I'd like to buy two. I've been kind of thinking about buying a 400R but I'd rather have two lights mounted farther apart than one light with two heads mounted together.

I think it should have sound effects. Like in a movie, where the protagonist walks into a dark room and the bad guy turns on a giant bank of lights. Clank-whoosh!

Thanks for the info, I will be watching.

+1

They don't seem to be aware or care about commuters - the MS is bright no doubt. But it *is* annoying/glaring for people on the other end of the light. There's no need for this. This is why cars headlights are biased. I hope they listen to feedback here - this was my same complaint about the dinotte 200L.

I would not care to pay double the MS price right now if it could have an option for optics that were designed for on road use. That claimed 900 lumens could be much better used lighting up road surface instead of annoying oncoming cyclists/cars.

This is the concern I have regarding most high-powered lights when used for commuting, and beam shots posted on various websites can be deceiving.

In your experience, what light (available today) best fits what you describe, i.e., high-powered light with proper beam pattern for road/commuting, not glaring for people on the receiving end, and reasonably priced?

I haven't yet met a single one that had optics designed specifically for road use. The high powered lights seem to be all aimed at the MTB crowd, where such light spillage is not an issue. I would love to know if anyone *does* make an affordable light or an aftermarket optics drop-in that provides this very purpose. I unfortunately neither have the expertise or the time to come up with a comprehensive solution myself.

I just fix bikes for a living.

The trouble is the manufacturer should be listing lux along side lumens... this would give you a good idea of the light's beam pattern.

So, the MJ 900 is 900 lumens but produces 37 lux at the brightest spot in the beam. Something similar though far more expensive is the Lupine tesla 4, it produces 700 lumens and generates about 52 lux at the brightest spot.

Look at B&M lights, like the IQ Fly. Or anything sold in Germany - by law, bike lights in Germany are required to have proper beam cutoffs.