Budget XML-T6 Lighting?

[HovR]

Sorry about yet another front light thread, guys! I thought I'd make a new thread, as I have some questions that the search function just couldn't answer. (Even after reading through the huuuge commuting lights thread!)

So I'm looking at upgrading my front lighting. It's currently a 5W torch, so it shouldn't be hard to get a significant improvement over it. Looking for something to light up the road, as opposed to be seen by - And also something I can take on/off fairly easily.

The upper cost limit I had in mind was around £40.

I was more specifically looking at these two options: Keygos KE-1 T6 torch or this Magic Shine clone.

So I have a few questions regarding both units.

Torch:
I've heard a few complaints of these changing modes when going over bumps. Have any other users experienced this, or is it a rare issue?

The torch takes 1 (extended to two) batteries compared to the clone's 4. This will obviously decrease run-time, but will it decrease brightness?

Magicshine Clone:
Is it a pain to take on/off once you have reached your destination? Obviously wouldn't want to leave it on the bike when locked up.

If anyone has any experience with either one, or both of these units in comparison, it'd be great to hear what you think about them - And if anyone has any better suggestions that would also be good.

 

[Peter88]

I have two magicshines on the front of my bike, the lights are easy to remove and put on ( i have the batteries in a small frame pannier ) but with the o rings they do move when on rough surfaces so i place them upside down.

 

[Wobblers]

Well, my Magicshine clone lasted a whole ten minutes. It wasn't able to take the full 8.4 V of a fully charged battery after I pulled it off the charger. (But a 6.3 V capacitor is so much cheaper than a 10 V capacitor.... I wonder what other corners were cut?) The separate battery bag makes things more awkward for a commuter light - a self contained light is definitely more convenient for commuting or utility cycling.

I've not heard of the torch manufacturer before, but "1300 lumens" is something of an exaggeration - a Cree XM-L will put out 1000 lumens at most. You might want to look at the Ultrafire WF-501B. I've got the Cree XP-G version of that and had no problems or mode switching caused by bumps. It puts out about 300 lumens (plenty for even reasonably fast descents). Decent 18650 batteries (2400 mAh Yezl batteries are good) last over two hours on full. There's an XM-L version - I've got it but not yet tested it: expect about 500 lumens and a shorter run time. But you could always carry spare batteries or run with two torches - a backup is always a good idea.

 

[cyberknight]

I have tried torches in the past and find they do change modes on bumps so just over a year ago i got my magicshine clone and it has worked perfectly ever since, plenty bright enough to ride at 20 mph + on unlit lanes .
The battery pack only adds a few more seconds when taking your lights off , by the time i have taken the other 3 lights i use anyway it does not add that much time

 

[Broadside]

I have a Magicshine MJ808 which is great.

I also bought the clone you linked to in Dec, I preferred the light spread but then it broke after 1 hour out on the road. There is an inductor wrapped around a ceramic insulator inside the head unit which snapped off so Deal Exteeme refunded my money. It is a heavy unsupported weight inside the head unit so i dont think i just had a bad unit i would expect them all to be prone to this if they expect solder to support the weight of the ceramic insulator.

The build quality on the battery connector is not as good either, I would not recommend buying one.

On the plus side a friend has one of the clones and he has no issues with it...

 

[HovR]

Thanks for the replies, guys. So it seems the Magicshine clones have a nasty habit of breaking, and the XML torches have a habit of changing modes automatically - I guess you get what you pay for!

I'm currently looking at these. I know they won't be as bright as an XML light, however the fact that there are two, and I can adjust the zoom, should compensate to a certain extent.

Anyone use these? Any issues?

 

[Cheradenine]

I can't see them being any different/better than the "5 watt" LED torch you already had, certainly not on 3xAAA battery's.

 

[MattHB]

Got 2 of the exact torches you mention. Neither change mode except when the batteries are going and they go into a low power mode. No bump issues

 

[HovR]

I can't see them being any different/better than the "5 watt" LED torch you already had, certainly not on 3xAAA battery's.

Well.. My current light claims 5 watt, and also runs off 3xAAA's, so in reality it is probably a lot less. The problem with the current light is, despite that fact that it isn't as bright as I would want, that it is fairly unfocused - Something that this would fix (especially with there being two, I could use one on flood, and one on throw, to get a better coverage of the road.)

And the fact that it comes with extension tubes makes it easy to upgrade to 18650's.

I would prefer a higher power torch, but so far 50%+ of people have said they change modes with bumps, which I don't particularly want - especially since they would be fitted on a steel road frame which isn't so forgiving bump-wise.

@McWobble: Another user on here recently bought the WF-502B, which seems to be a very similar unit, and they have reported mode changing. I'm not sure if this bike specific, or why some people get this, and others don't.

 

[marshmella]

I bought one of the magicshine clones in November, the only real problem so far is the connection plugs between the battery and light unit, its a very loose sloppy fit.

 

[HovR]

Got 2 of the exact torches you mention. Neither change mode except when the batteries are going and they go into a low power mode. No bump issues

Do you mean you have these two torches, or both these, and the Keygos mentioned in the original post? I would be very grateful if you could post some images of these light(s) in action in a darkish open area, so I could get an idea of the light spread.

 

[Bigsharn]

I use this, it's relatively high-powered, but I can see where I'm going on an unlit road with it (with some minor squinting)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREE-XML-...isure_Cycling_Bike_Lights&hash=item336fca5e21
Mine came in a pack with a double battery charger, 2x rechargable 18650 batteries and a bike mount for £40, so it might be worth bearing that in mind if price is an object

 

[MattHB]

Do you mean you have these two torches, or both these, and the Keygos mentioned in the original post? I would be very grateful if you could post some images of these light(s) in action in a darkish open area, so I could get an idea of the light spread.

I have 2 of the keygos. Photos of lights are almost impossible to correctly calibrate as the camera will auto adjust settings throwing off the result. All I can tell you is that with just one of these you would have NO worries!! Im forever getting moaned at if Im on full beam! In actual fact I ride on part power most of the time unless Im going down woody trails.

2 of them is just totally ridiculous and are about as good as my motorbike lights. for the money you just totally cant go wrong.

 

[HovR]

I have 2 of the keygos. Photos of lights are almost impossible to correctly calibrate as the camera will auto adjust settings throwing off the result. All I can tell you is that with just one of these you would have NO worries!! Im forever getting moaned at if Im on full beam! In actual fact I ride on part power most of the time unless Im going down woody trails.

2 of them is just totally ridiculous and are about as good as my motorbike lights. for the money you just totally cant go wrong.

Thanks for that! I'm definitely tempted now, as I hadn't heard anything bad specifically about the Keygos - And the fact that you have been using them on trails without issues gives me some confidence. Arjimlad seems to have been able to return/get a replacement for his faulty Ultrafire to the same seller without issue, so I suppose if anything does go wrong, it should be easy enough to get it it fixed.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed.

 

[amaferanga]

I've got the Magicshine clone in the OP and it's a great light once you've sorted a couple of things. Firstly the mount - the O-rings on this and most Magicshine type lights are rubbish. But you can with a little bit of bodging fix the light to an Electron mount like this - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/...le&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_name=UnitedKingdom

The mount just needs a little bit filing (there's a guide on how to do it somewhere, but I can't remember where). With this mount you can tighten it so that it won't move at all, or do what I do and have it loose enough that it doesn't move with bumps in the road, but you can still point it up or down slightly depending where exactly you want it.

Secondly, the beam shape as the light comes is terrible and virtually unusable IMO with a tiny bright spot and a diffuse halo. But by replacing the smooth reflector with an orange peel reflector (I had one from a previous Magicshine) and the stock lens with a diffuser lens like this - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wide-Angle-Lens-4-MagicShine-Gemini-Lupine-Bike-Light-/280752532003 - you get a superb beam spread.

Total cost is still only around £40 and I'd definitely recommend this set-up.