UPDATE: GeoManGear has stopped selling these a scant 2 weeks after I purchased mine. There are quality issues: http://www.geomangear.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4_41 . The internet tells me that the battery packs are cheap and can catch fire. Also apparently the Dinotte packs can be used to replace these while you wait for GeoManGear to source and ship out new battery packs. They ask you to stop using the lights now. Which is unfortunate, because it is so bright!
I have been using a NiteRider Enduro HID Lith for the last 2 or 3 years for mountain biking in the dark. When I upgraded from my NiteRider 15W I thought it was the most amazing light ever. And I like NiteRider products and support. I had to send the light head back once to them to be repaired after the switch broke.
But now I have run in to some other people on the trail whose lights put this to shame. And when I bought the HID it was close to $400. The new NiteRider LED lights are expensive, so are the new Light and Motion. Everyone on the interwebs recommends the GeoManGear Magicshine 900 PLUS. For $89 you get 900 lumens. Well why not try it at that price? With lighting tech getting so much better each year it is hard to drop that much money on a light knowing how outdated it will be next year.
So I took the plunge and ordered one for me and one for a friend. GeoManGear shipped that day, and it arrived shortly thereafter. Only problem is they only shipped one of the lights. But an email was answered that night and an additional light was shipped the next day. Thats cool.
First impression of the quality, well its not a NiteRider, the cables are much thinner than what is found on the NiteRider, the connectors though are very nice. Actually the only place it shows it’s cheaper pedigree is the cables and charger, otherwise the head unit itself is very nice looking.
The battery velcro’s on easily to your bike and does not move around while on singletrack.
It follows the new trend of attaching to your bars with rubber o-rings. It holds on as well as any o-ring. I still prefer the bolt on mount of the older lights, but that is just my preference.
It has a wall charger that takes about 4 hours. Although the photocopied manual warns about charging it outside of a fireproof safe. That is disconcerting….
There is an LED on the rear of the light indicating the battery life remaining.
Ok, that is all well and good you are saying, but what about the brightness. God damn it is bright!
So much brighter than my NiteRider. It really is crazy bright. I actually have been using my NiteRider on my helmet and the Magicshine on the bars. Its like you are riding in the day.
I would absolutely recommend this light to someone looking for a light.
You can purchase it directly from GeoManGear.
Long story short: I returned three recalled batteries nine months ago. Many email exchanges later I get TWO batteries in the mail. They tell me I should be happy with two. WTF? Over nine months, this has been the craziest customer service experience ever.
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