Magicshine lights dx

[PJ79LIZARD]

I want to get some decent lights sorted for the winter, read threads about the magicshine lights. Had a look on dealextreme website but there are about 4 or 5 similar lights, I plan to be riding on lit uburan roads and also unlit country lanes, I know alot use the MJ-808 model, is this the best? Is this waterproof? Any help
Would be appreciated, cheers.

 

[cyberknight]

I think they are all very similar , some have better sealed batteries than others .If like me you want to make sure it is water proof you could go for this model which has the sealed battery with an charge indicator as well.I used mine all last winter with no problems and i checked it yesterday and it is still holding its charge ready for the darker commutes.

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/mj-808-ha-iii-ssc-p7-c-sxo-3-mode-900-lumen-led-bike-light-set-44459

 

[rusky]

Just noticed that they now have a UK warehouse

 

[PJ79LIZARD]

Yeah that's what's got me interested, I was unsure of ordering from china, but I guess I was being over cautious, plenty of people have ordered them. Waterproof is necessary as I commute whatever the weather. so The one cyberknight said looks like a good option.

 

[girovago]

I want to get some decent lights sorted for the winter, read threads about the magicshine lights. Had a look on dealextreme website but there are about 4 or 5 similar lights, I plan to be riding on lit uburan roads and also unlit country lanes, I know alot use the MJ-808 model, is this the best? Is this waterproof? Any help
Would be appreciated, cheers.

I bought the Magicshine MJ-816 (http://tinyurl.com/3jcwb6g ) from a UK seller on ebay for £78.99 several months ago(not the one in that link). It has a pair of outer lenses for a wide spread of light and a central larger lens for throwing a beam directly forward. It's waterproof, as is the sealed battery with in-built LCD charge level indicator. The outer beams alone will render you highly visible (even in bright daylight) and will be all you'd need on a lit road. For the country roads use just the central beam, or all three if you want to light up the hedgerows as well. Battery life on outers alone is over 10 hours. I haven't tested constant full beam but expect it to be around 3-4 hours.

It has a couple of neat features too: the switch is a rubberised thumb button which you mount wherever's easiest to reach on the bars, and it's illuminated too, where green = full and as it depletes it goes through blue, orange, red and finally flashing red to warn you what level you're at. Secondly, any of the chosen beam configurations can be varied infinitely between 100% and 1% power just by holding down the power button until the desired light level is reached. It remembers this setting after switch-off and won't change until you use the power button to adjust it again.

I thoroughly recommend it, along with the MJ-818 rear LED (£25ish, light only). You can run both from the same battery with a Y-splitter cable, usually supplied when buying the rear.

 

[Hacienda71]

I have the same one as CK and it is fine. There is a review on youtube where the dip the head unit into a swimming pool to show that it is waterproof. Wouldn't do it with mine but it has certainly performed well over the last year.

 

[twowheelsgood]

Yeah that's what's got me interested, I was unsure of ordering from china, but I guess I was being over cautious, plenty of people have ordered them. Waterproof is necessary as I commute whatever the weather. so The one cyberknight said looks like a good option.

Bought mine through dealextreme and paid with paypal. I've had nothing but positive experience with them. Free shipping worldwide too.

 

[DrSquirrel]

The 808, being the most well known - is a clone of the Lupine Tesla.

But there is now, a clone of the clone... DX sell it, its P7 based, same battery pack, same format and it costs £30. There are even alternative LED versions other than the P7 which are slightly more efficent. XML-T6 etc.



Sometimes the downside with these cheap lights and torches is the finishing isn't always that great. You really need to pop them open and check the solder joints, threads and thermal grease. So you have to be ready to sort out any issues yourself, but its certainly not hard.

I would never trust one of these on their own, but then again I wouldn't trust a big branded light either. A warranty does nothing for you on the side of the road.

Remember that when not moving these get very hot on the outside - being hot on the outside is good as it shows there is a good thermal path from the LED to the body, thus its being cooled.


As with the 808 above, also look at SKUs 82507-82510 and 82734.


Magicshine also have a 872 and 870 which are 4 and 3 LED lights and "1600" and "1200" lumens - £97 for the top one from china.

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/mj-872...te-led-bike-light-with-battery-pack-set-80953
and
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/mj-870...te-led-bike-light-with-battery-pack-set-80954


Yes 1600 and 1200 lumens are unlikely, and so is 900. But its a rough comparison between lights.




Like some others I also have the 818 rear light, which is lovely - if not a bit overkill

 

[PJ79LIZARD]

Does the 818 come with a splitter cable enabling you to run the rear and front from the same battery, or do you have to buy that y splitter cable separately?

 

[DrSquirrel]

You can buy it with its own battery, or on its own.

The "kits" on ebay tend to sell the light + y splitter cable.

There are lots of variations.

 

[PJ79LIZARD]

I've seen a quick release handlebar mount fitted to some lights, can these be bought separate instead of using the o rubber rings?

 

[gaz]

I've seen a quick release handlebar mount fitted to some lights, can these be bought separate instead of using the o rubber rings?

People made them. You have to buy that q/r system and then screw it on.

 

[cyberknight]

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=6091

I used the micro version , took the head off and screwed it into the bottom of the MS after taking the bit that you attach the rubber ring off , the screw fits in the hole nicely.

 

[PJ79LIZARD]

Thanks for that ck!

 

[fossyant]

Just pressed the "Buy button" on the newer MS-808E with the Cree XM-L LED. DX sent me a $5 voucher, added in £33 sat on my paypal account from my Wiggle refund, end cost was £10. £42 total cost ain't bad.

Was looking at the copies for $45, but the connectors are 2.5mm, not 2.1mm as on the MS lights, and I've got 2 spare batteries. The cheaper lights don't have the battery indicator button.

Anyway, I'll chuck this on the MTB.