MTB Winter Lights?

[Matt106]

As the dark nights are slowly upon us I'm looking for some cheap lights for when I'm out on my MTB in the evening.

My budget is pretty tight, I'd like to spend £50 so probably looking at some HK specials! Can anyone recommend any lights for this price?

I've got a LED Lenser P7 that I could use however I'd prefer bike specific.

[Matt106]

MadDad said:

If you can stretch to £100 I cannot recommend this one highly enough, it has 4 brightness settings and gives a long and broad spread of light;

http://www.magicshineuk.co.uk/products/Front-Bike-...

However if you cannot go the extra £50 then this is also a decent light for the money, a high/low setting and flashing (although IMHO the flashing is too bright to use on the road);

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ssc-p7-3-mode-900-lum...

Personally I use the top one on the bars the light up the trail directly in front of me, and the bottom one on my skid lid to light up the tail 50/60 yds ahead.

The magic shine light looks really good, I may have to up my budget I think! Also good that it's UK stock, thanks.

[Matt106]

I presume a lot of copies are kicking about on the internet but would it be worth investing the Magicshine - http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ha-iii-ssc-p7-c-sxo-3... over the non branded ones that are £20-£30 cheaper?

Edited by Matt106 on Tuesday 18th September 13:56

[Matt106]

I'd love to spend the money on the 872 kit however I don't think it'll get used enough. I might pop out every other week for a quick hour around the local footpaths so it could be over kill.

[Matt106]

Watchman said:

Magicshine for a little over 17 quid.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bike-Bicycle-HeadLight-C...

Don't be fooled by the fact that it isn't branded. It's the real deal (I've got two).

Edited by Watchman on Tuesday 18th September 18:06

What's the battery life like? Seems like it could be worth a punt for that price!

[Matt106]

Watchman said:

I actually bought my two a year or so back, and paid a bit more than this (about £25 all-in). I can't recall if I paid import duty or not - I think not because I've had to pay it recently for something else, on-line, and I didn't recall having to go through that process before.

Might be worth asking if the seller can list it as a gift - I have a distant memory that this gets around the requirement to pay import duty.

I'm not sure they get away with sending as gift anymore as it'll void the insurance on the parcel.

I've ordered a couple of items from HK before and not been charged any import fees.

Edited by Matt106 on Wednesday 19th September 11:12

[Matt106]

I've just put an order in, I hate playing the waiting game when ordering from overseas!

[Matt106]

Mine turned up whilst on holiday, very impressed for the money. The beam is narrow very similar to my lenser p7 on full throw. It came with a UK plug adaptor and arrived in under 2 weeks, I'll take it for a test ride tomorrow night .

[Matt106]

I've not plugged mine in to charge yet, I think I'll wear some wellies when I attempt it!

On a postive note, I used the light over the weekend when walking the dog and it performed very well for £17!

[Matt106]

TonyHetherington said:

Are you guys talking about the eBay light the Watchman recommended? I ordered mine on 26th September but still not received - just wondering how long yours took to come through? I got a shipping note on the 27th September, so it's on it's way to me!

Went out last night, 6 of us (road bikes) - everyone had trillion lumen lights, I had (near enough) nothing. I need this light to come

Mine turned up within two weeks, not sure on the exact time as I was on holiday and the neighbours intercepted the parcel!

[Matt106]

I ordered on 20/09 and it arrived aprox 03/10, it's worth the wait!

[Matt106]

Fartomatic5000 said:

These lights are phenomenal - my new hobby is night riding!
I have two on the front, one with a beam widener lens from ebay, PLUS a bright dynamo powered lamp too.
On the back there is one dynamo light, one 0.5Watt thing, and one magicshine 818.

CAN YOU SEE ME NOW?
Yes, they can. Vehicle drivers don't pull out in front of me when I'm approaching, (of course I make sure the lights are not blinding anyone they are pointing maybe 5 meters ahead at the road).
There is absolutely no excuse for anyone not seeing me, my lights are brighter than some cars.
Off road they are great too, as I can angle them up a bit to light up the hedgerows and further down the path.
Just need to sort out some warmer clothes now the evenings are getting cooler.

Which wide angle lens did you buy? Any loss of light from it?

[Matt106]

For anyone wanting a wide lens I've found a UK seller, I've got one on order - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wide-Angle-Lens-for-Magi...

They also do a quality looking handlebar mount.

[Matt106]

I fitted my wide angle lens as per my previous post and all seems fine. I've still not used the light on my bike however a quick shine over the road lit up the neighbours living room with ease

[Matt106]

The mounts can be picked up cheap, I'm yet to try mine out on my bike . The other half used it recently faffing about with the horses on the head mount and she now wants one!

[Matt106]

matts4 said:

I think it s default action when you first open it isn't it?!

I blinded the dog and myself, it's a must for testing any new light

Edited by Matt106 on Thursday 8th November 13:48

[Matt106]

996 sps said:

Just put my Hope Vision R4 on my handlebars ready for tonight, last years Chinese torches back in the box.

Boo! I hope you get blinded by a £17 Chinese light on your ride

[Matt106]

TonyHetherington said:

I'm getting on well with my Chinese MagicShine (the 1200 I think it is).

Just ordered the rear red with splitter (to add to my existing catseye rear - one flashing one static I intend), ordered the swivel mount (as my handlebars don't allow it to mount quite properly) and also ordered the slightly wider beam lens.

Have yout got a link for the rear? I'm really not sure which one to order.