Another Convert To Magicshine

[G-Zero]

One evening last week I had some knacker of a driver approach the roundabout that I was already negotiating, from my left and it was obvious from his approach speed that he was totally oblivious to my presence. I chucked the brakes on and managed to inadvertently lock the rear wheel up, but slowed down enough so that he sailed across the bit of road where I would have been had I not braked.
It was a 30 mph limit and I don't think he was speeding, but that speed of impact would have hurt a bit.

This was despite my flashing strobe helmet light, flashing strobe bar light and steady bar light, as well as my tango f'ing bright dayglo orange jacket being lit up by oncoming headlights.

Too quick and too dark for me to get his number and too old/unfit for me to have caught up with him.

Anyway, I decided that night that self preservation is worth a few quid and after searching through tons of excellent 'light' advice on CC, duly ordered my upgrade.

Put a little detour in tonight to collect my Magicshine MJ-872 from the Royal Mail sorting office on the way home and boy is it bright !!!

Can't wait to get out and try it for real and if they don't see me now, then someone, somewhere is out to get me proper

 

[Mozzy]

Sorry to hear but glad you escaped all in one piece. Just one question if I may? Unless you were head on to the driver, what difference would it actually make? Shirley they can only see the side of you. Just thinking about teh way you explained the near miss. Not trying to burst any bubbles, just thinking out loud really.

Mozzy

 

[Edge705]

Its bright alright and performs well you will get 3-4 hour on the top setting but thats only needed for dark lanes you might need to improvise with the mount Ive made a tweak with some cable ties I'll post some pics if you like unless youve already got that sorted

 

[cyberknight]

Welcome to the light side !!!!

 

[HovR]

Just one question if I may? Unless you were head on to the driver, what difference would it actually make? Shirley they can only see the side of you. Just thinking about teh way you explained the near miss. Not trying to burst any bubbles, just thinking out loud really.

Mozzy

The reflective backing in these lights will offer some reflection to the sides for drivers to see, and if they miss that, you'd hope they would see the huge pool of light the MagicShines can put on the tarmac ahead of you, then look to see what was producing that light.

 

[Mozzy]

The reflective backing in these lights will offer some reflection to the sides for drivers to see, and if they miss that, you'd hope they would see the huge pool of light the MagicShines can put on the tarmac ahead of you, then look to see what was producing that light.

Ahhh, I forgot the pool of light. I need my tablets and a lay down

Mozzy

 

[G-Zero]

Sorry to hear but glad you escaped all in one piece. Just one question if I may? Unless you were head on to the driver, what difference would it actually make? Shirley they can only see the side of you. Just thinking about teh way you explained the near miss. Not trying to burst any bubbles, just thinking out loud really.

Mozzy

Mozzy, no probs with you thinking out loud, but other than the occasional late Saturday evening, I'm not too keen on being called Shirley

I do know it's sometimes difficult to paint an accurate picture with words.

I was probably pushing 15 - 18 mph over the roundabout and I could see the car approaching the R/A from my left at around 30 mph, but its entrance was still ahead of me. At that point the front of my bike and my lights will still have been visible to the driver if he checked to his right on the approach.
He should have started to brake, but when he didn't, it was obvious to me that we were going to occupy the same bit of tarmac in front of his "give way" markings and it was down to me to prevent the inevitable.

Hope that helps paint the picture, however my current lights are reasonably bright, but don't throw down much of a light pool ahead of me, which is why I've gone over to the bright side.

 

[G-Zero]

Its bright alright and performs well you will get 3-4 hour on the top setting but thats only needed for dark lanes you might need to improvise with the mount Ive made a tweak with some cable ties I'll post some pics if you like unless youve already got that sorted

I'm planning on giving the light a try out over the weekend, to get it set up before Monday's commute.

Thanks for the offer and I'll certainly let you know how I get on.

It might be worth posting your pics anyway for anyone searching in the future.

 

[The Jogger]

Are there similar lights from dealx only cheaper, don't want to fork out for the originals but will if I have to.

 

[MrJamie]

I bought the same light a few weeks ago (the cheapest i found by far was £89 from ebay - magicshine_direct) and love it. Unfortunately i already broke the plastic clip on the battery strap from overtightening it, but it doesnt make a huge difference to securing it, wouldnt mind buying another if i had any idea where from.

Its an awesome light, very bright but in a wider pool of light than most similar lights ive seen. Im a little bit concerned that its perhaps too bright for oncoming traffic, even when angled down because the light looks blinding from quite a wide angle in front, but it certainly gives you a very noticable presence on the roads. When drivers make that quick glance at junctions and roundabouts its really hard to miss you with the brightness of the light and the big pool of light on the floor, ive noticed a massive difference in drivers giving me space and being extra cautious about whats coming towards them!

Its also cool for riding through woods or countryside at night in total darkness with the road all lit up, you look behind you occasionally and its always a suprise that you literally cant see anything.

 

[G-Zero]

Those of you using this and similar lights, do you always disconnect the battery when putting them away for the night or do you just switch the light off and leave the green glow of the switch illuminated.

Nothing in the instructions to say if the glow uses much power, but I'm guessing that they're better disconnected.

 

[gaz]

It draws a little bit of power, i disconnect mine when i'm not using it.

 

[G-Zero]

It draws a little bit of power, i disconnect mine when i'm not using it.

That will do for me thanks

 

[MrJamie]

I was wondering a similar thing, I connected mine up on wednesday ready to put it on the bike and ended up not going out, so its been left connected with the green glow for 3 days and doesnt appear to have made much of a dent in the battery at all (down to 8.2v from 8.4v and the initial dropoff is always fast on li-ion batteries - i think it does that in about 5mins of use). I normally disconnect it, but have left it connected to see how it goes and i dont think it would make any noticable difference in 24hrs, but i prefer it disconnected both for power and because i still dont trust chinese electronics

 

[G-Zero]

Absolutely love this light !

Lowest setting on road amongst the traffic and higher setting for the short off road section.
I used it for an hour's worth of commute at each end of the day yesterday and an hour this morning, during which the 'tell tale' dropped to blue.

I might stick it on charge tonight, or leave it to see how long it will last.

Edge 705

In the light rain this morning, I noticed the light started to rotate slightly on the wet bars, so may be in need of that mounting fix of yours ;-

Quote.... "I'll post some pics if you like unless youve already got that sorted"

Yes please.