has anyone tried one of these yet ? looks like it would be good on the helmet . defiantly got a hot spot I'm thinking with one of Robs lenses it would be really good. http://bikeempowerment.com/Magicshine.html
Quick update: I took the MS XML out for the first time the other night, well it was more dusk than night and I only really needed it in the last 20 mins or so of the ride but first impressions are pretty good. At close range it doesn't seem a whole lot brighter than my updated AyUp (narrow helmet beam) but once you angle the light a bit further out it seems to have considerably more throw (ie. lights up stuff a greater distance away). I had it on the bars and didn't find it too spotty as the peripheral light around the centre spot is still pretty bright.
Trouble is that because it's brighter than they Ayup when the bars aren't pointing ahead due to curves in the trail, the AyUp helmet light seems insignificant. I guess the brighter light should be helmet mounted but AyUp still beat MS on their compact design, mounts and smaller battery for helmet mounting.
The light unit was warm but not hot at the end, similar to the AyUp (which was on my helmet).
Going to test it out in a 24 hour this weekend so should have some proper night lap reports after that.
p.s I can see a new MS light is out with several XLM lights at 1600 or 1800 lumens! Looks like a nice compact package so maybe that's the ideal helmet light... however a bit pricey at the moment compared to the XML (edit the new ones aren't XML and are twice the price of the MJ808E which I have... doesn't seem worth it at the moment but will watch the reviews with interest)
I really like the Foride. Extremely bright and still chugging along. I find that I run it one down from high most of the time because high washes out the road a bit. I also run a 700 lumen helmet light for redundancy.
My biggest complaint is that the light is pretty big compared to the MS lights. Not a huge issue though.
I used the MS on my helmet for one lap and then on the bars for two combined both times with AyUps. It's probably better off as a helmet simply because it's brighter than my AyUps and I feel the brighter light should be helmet mounted, it's also got better throw and I find that better on the helmet.
I got just almost exactly 3 hours out of the battery on 100% output but ran it totally dead doing that. The indicator switch went to blue within the first hour (on my helmet so can't say exactly when) then orange in the second hour sometime and was red for last 15-20 mins before the light cut out.
Charging from completely flat took maybe 4 (ish) hours, the charger and the battery stay cool while charging.
I went to Geomans site lastnight to pickup a P7 lighthead for my kid and "what did I see a XM-L looking" up at me" well it was a no brainer for 10 bucks more than the P7 of course I got the XM-L .
I've been waiting for Geoman to get these before I bought any more purely because of his customer service and coming thru with the recalled batteries.
I am pretty sure he has got rid of any first run bugs also,cause I asked him a while back and he said he wouldn't carry these until they had them dialed in.:thumbsup: http://www.geomangear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4_41&products_id=303
Not sure if you intend on using it as a helmet spot solely. The beam pattern is more focussed and has much sharper cutoff compared with its MJ-808 P7 brother.
Still, I would not hesitate to run 2 of these on the bars, each with RSchultz soft(flood) lenses if you already have something else for the lid. With the naked eye, the difference compared to P7 is obvious.
Given the choice I'd use the XMLs as a flood with Robs soft lens AND as a spot without. A step up from the regular MJ-808 for either application ceteris paribus.
EDIT
I wasn't able to find the water proof rating for the XML model on the site - do you know what it is?
Not sure if you intend on using it as a helmet spot solely. The beam pattern is more focussed and has much sharper cutoff compared with its MJ-808 P7 brother.
Still, I would not hesitate to run 2 of these on the bars, each with RSchultz soft(flood) lenses if you already have something else for the lid. With the naked eye, the difference compared to P7 is obvious.
Given the choice I'd use the XMLs as a flood with Robs soft lens AND as a spot without. A step up from the regular MJ-808 for either application ceteris paribus.
Wow Chromagftw you and I think alike I already have Robs soft lens and another XM-L and I am planning on trying exactly what you proposed, I am also going to try a wide lens spot combo also to compare. I will keep you informed :thumbsup:
last night Geomans statement above about seeing stop signs a mile down road came true no sh*t I could not believe my eyes I kept seeing this flash way in the distance and sure enough it was my light reflecting off a stop sign close to a mile away.
Anyone know if the mode sequences on the Geoman XM-L model is different from the D/X
version?? I've been thinking of getting one of these for a while now. D/X is cheaper but GM has the good battery. For me the issue is mode sequence. I like the mode sequence that GM is advertising. If the DX is the same I just might op for the DX version ( as I have other good batteries )
The one I have now Deal extremes or CEPs has 3 mode High, Low, Strobe, PITA, I like Geomans sequence better,
I have been talking to Geoman about this light since it came out and he did not like the original so he had them change a few things until they got it right, I will compare the two lights when I get Geomans and let you know , XM-Ls are the future of lights to come you just have to control all that heat and power consumption, it was 80 degrees last night when I started my ride so I had to keep it on low until I got really moving having a medium setting will be nice. I cannot wait to try 2 on the bars with the different lenses :thumbsup:
He also has it lighthead only option I think these are going to go fast http://www.geomangear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4_41&products_id=305
Well I got to take out Geomans new version and compare it to CEPs Bike Impowerments or shall I say Deal extremes version, they have made noticeable improvements besides modes:thumbsup:
Like Colleen said Deal extremes has a neutral tint to it, Geomans Is more white,
The most noticeable is the intense hot spot ring on Deal extremes has been softened and made wider on the Geomans version:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: its a more useful pattern:thumbsup: and would be acceptable for the handle bars. I would use the deal extremes only on my head because the hot spot was so intense and spotty.
I don't know how they made these changes everything including the Leds look the same visually but I like them:thumbsup:
I'm sure you lose a little throw by toning down the hotpot but its not noticeable and well worth it, there is no way you can outrun these lights anyway
Well I got to take out Geomans new version and compare it to CEPs Bike Impowerments or shall I say Deal extremes version, they have made noticeable improvements besides modes:thumbsup:
Like Colleen said Deal extremes has a neutral tint to it, Geomans Is more white, The most noticeable is the intense hot spot ring on Deal extremes has been softened and made wider on the Geomans version:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: its a more useful pattern:thumbsup: and would be acceptable for the handle bars. I would use the deal extremes only on my head because the hot spot was so intense and spotty.
I don't know how they made these changes everything including the Leds look the same visually but I like them:thumbsup:
I'm sure you lose a little throw by toning down the hotpot but its not noticeable and well worth it, there is no way you can outrun these lights anyway
Oh NO! :cryin:...but I wanted the intense hot spot! :madman: For me it's like the "rock, paper, scissors" thing. Better mode pattern trumps cost but beam pattern trumps modes. I'll cross my fingers and hope the beam pattern is still what I want for the helmet. If not I might be able to switch out reflectors with my C-8 torch if the reflectors are the same diameter/length.
I am thinking of building my own mini battery for helmet mounting. I will use either a 2 x 18650 cell holder or like you go with a lite-weight polymer pack ( something like this )
Is that the same connector as the Magicshine. Can't tell but it looks like it.
No that is a typical BatterySpace two prong connector. If I used this battery I would purchase some extra MagicShine type connectors and convert the battery over to the MS type plug. ( or just make a two plug converter extension. ) What ever makes the most sense depending on what charger I want to use.
:thumbsup: Thanks Rakuman. The beam pattern looks pretty much the same. I think the difference is that the GM version is just brighter so more residual light around the hot spot. Regardless I think the GM version wins!
I think you are right looking at the pics Geos is brighter with more residual spill which in turn the further out its pointed the wider the spill seems. I will try to get some longer distance pics soon.
Hey Rakuman, thanks for sharing beam shots. Cree has done an amazing job developing the XM-L led, it's unbelievably powerful, the throw on that Magicshine XM-L is awesome. :thumbsup:
Geoman,
I just got my Geoman MS XM-L light head tonight and yes this is one bright little light. I can't wait to try it out on the trails. Now I know I only ordered the light head but it would of been nice if that order had included a couple O-rings or at least just one. Without an O-ring you have no way to use it.
Hey Cat, we generally include a set of o'rings with each lighthead, they must have been omitted accidently, email your order number to geoman@geomangear.com and we'll send a set out to you. Thanks
Chromagftw This ones for you,,
This should be good real good:thumbsup: If its not to late I will try to take some beam shots tonight after my ride:thumbsup: if this works I going to have to get another for the helmet, tonight I will have to be satisfied with P7 up top.:thumbsup:
OK took her for a spin tonight and was a little disappointing the clear lens worked as it should like a p7 on steriods NICE!:thumbsup: but the Robs Soft lens loses way to much intensity further than 25 feet.. oh well time to try some more different lenses. going to try a wide lens and I'm going to sandblast a few different patterns in some lenses I want a good flood any suggestions?
Robs soft lens by itself
Soft lens and clear spot combined
Thanks a ton Rakuman for running that test setup! :thumbsup:
I'm sorry to hear Robs soft lens didnt work out as well as we had wanted with the XML, but I have to believe it is still better than the MS900 P7 with that exact lens... I might be wrong however as I am unable to do a side by side comparison.
Well I got my first ride tonight under my belt with the MS 808E on the helmet. I was very impressed with the beam pattern. Yeah, I could still wish for more throw in certain situations but for most of the stuff I ride it's almost perfect. To be more precise if you're riding trails that weave, are wide with lots of hard turns that have boo-koo hidden obstacles....This is the light you want on your helmet. Now for an all-out-no-holds-bar downhill run with lots of straightaways you could wish for a little more throw ( however I've yet to test it in that kind of situation. Maybe later this week if the rain stays away )
So far my only complaint is that it doesn't have memory. If you turn it off while on low, when you turn it back on it comes on in high. Still, It has 3 usable modes with a circular pattern ( H-M-L-H-M-L....) that I absolutely love. I can deal with the lack of memory. Besides most of these lights don't have memory anyway. Lastly, it looks like it works real well with the DiNotte helmet mount and is easy to adjust on the fly. The only thing left to do is to try to buy a battery that I can helmet mount as well.
Ok Ive been playing DIY tonight and Rob might not like this but I hacked up one of his lenses to see what if we get rid of all this plastic will it improve the intensity and throw judge for yourself
Robs lens on first test I had this one before he started adding a reflector to them, I had cut off the tabs so they would fit in a stock MS reflector then I fire polished after taking this picture
Robs lens after I cut it on a band saw and fire polished tonight
Stock Robs lens with tabs off
Thin cut modification
I would like to see a even thinner version and maybe clearer if possible Rob if you are listening think you maybe can make some of these up :thumbsup:
I'm not suggesting people start hacking up Robs lenses
Ok Ive been playing DIY tonight and Rob might not like this but I hacked up one of his lenses to see what if we get rid of all this plastic will it improve the intensity and throw judge for yourself
I would like to see a even thinner version and maybe clearer if possible Rob if you are listening think you maybe can make some of these up :thumbsup:
I'm not suggesting people start hacking up Robs lenses
Definitely a noticeable improvement in intensity, throw and spill wise. Such a lens offering without the cone base would also work great in larger light heads as the BD Stryker.
I'd be very interested in several of these for sure.
With a thin cut version (if uniformly thin from center through outer circumference) there might (?) be in issue with the lens rattling between the light head's main body and front screw on housing. I'm pretty sure a double instead of a single o-ring could fix this though.
Znomit, not too sure about the durability and heat dissipation capacity of those light head bodies - based on pics alone it looks like cheap plastic...
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