new lights

lights

Thanks for all the input guys I have been riding at night for many years and my last "new" set of lights is a niterider digital. I have used handlebar mounted and helmet mounted and I love the helmet mount. Im going to go with a Princeton tec helmet mount to start with and if it works as good as people say im going to add the handle bar mount. I like the fact that they are a local company (NJ) too as I have a small business myself. Ill let you all know what I think of it. Happy trails to all and if anyone ever wants to do allaire or hartshorne at night they are in my neck of the woods so let me know. Greg tgacll@optonline.net
 
Glad to see you are using a local company. I've heard great things about there lights. Word of caution --- Both of the parks that you are speaking about are illegal to ride in at night.
 
one piece crank said:
I picked-up a Magicshine in August. They claim 900 lumens, which is probably overstated, but I've personally ridden next to a Stella 200L and the Magicshine blew it away. It only cost $84, shipped.

I was looking for a light early in the Summer, and everyone's experience was pushing me way over-budget. I respect quality products, but this light has ticked all the right buttons. So far it's rock solid, has decent run time,and a nice pattern. If my fall riding keeps-up I'll probably pick-up a second light and do the bar+helmet thing.

Tom P.
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I second Magic Shine, this light is bright. I got Princeton Tec Switchback 3 a couple of weeks ago. It is a very bright light and I will be using it on my helmet.

Then 2 days ago I got Magic Shine. It is more of the flood light then Princeton Tec. I will use it as my bar light. This light is $86.00 and is much brighter than anything else for the money.
 
I think all the county parks are closed come dusk, but we haven't had any major problem as of yet. I hope the park police and regular cops have better things to do than worry about a few bikers riding at night.
 
At Clayton, Hartshorne, & Allaire the rangers show up at the parking areas at dusk and will give out tickets to riders. If ride you must kill the lights before you reach the trailhead & don't park in the main lots.
 
I'm taking a chance on the cheapo Magicshine lights...Just bought 2 and a helmet mount. Normally I'd go with the more mainstream product from an established manufacturer, but from the reviews I've read on mtbr it seems like a pretty good option and cheap. Yes they're big and dorky looking but so am I🙂
Back ordered at the moment but they should be shipping in a couple weeks.
 
Just an update on the lights situation. I had an older niterider digital headtrip and It sucked, so I bought the princeton tec switchback 2 for the bars after reading good reviews well I am very disappointed in this light. After comparing it to my riding mates lights I looked like i had a mag light strapped to my bars. The light made for a very dangerous ride through tight twisty singletrack at speed last night. I guess I will have to go for the wallet and get one of the high zoot lights. The p tec was a let down to say the least.
 
Look for a Light & Motion ARC on eBay.
There's a pre-owned one there now for a good price.
If you need more light than the ARC supplies, there's really something wrong with you!
I run only one on my bars and it's like daylight on the trails.
Lenny
 
If you're a performance member and you wait until one of their 20% sales, you can get the stella 700 for $450 and I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
 
doofus said:
Look for a Light & Motion ARC on eBay.
There's a pre-owned one there now for a good price.
If you need more light than the ARC supplies, there's really something wrong with you!
I run only one on my bars and it's like daylight on the trails.
Lenny
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HID lights are a dying breed. Go LED. My halogen light is getting long in the tooth and isnt lasting the distance of my typical road rides during the winter. I'm eyeing the Stella 300 or the Secca 700.
 
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I rode with one on the bars and one on the helmet the last time i went out...

If you have the coin do it, I don't think its necessary though.
 
I just ordered a Magicshine for a friend from Dealxtreme - $79 with free shipping. I'll do a test (to make sure it's working 😀) before I let him have it. For that price it's hard to go wrong unless it dies right out of the box.

Tim
 
Magicshine...pretty sure that geomangear.com specs a better build of these lights.
Same light as the one on DX, but better quality control on the parts and assembly of the electrical components. Price is a little more.
 
M3Tim said:
I just ordered a Magicshine for a friend from Dealxtreme - $79 with free shipping. I'll do a test (to make sure it's working 😀) before I let him have it. For that price it's hard to go wrong unless it dies right out of the box.

Tim
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Good, I want to see this thing.

geomangear.com has great customer service. I'd go with him/them.
 
GLawn said:
Just an update on the lights situation. I had an older niterider digital headtrip and It sucked, so I bought the princeton tec switchback 2 for the bars after reading good reviews well I am very disappointed in this light.
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Just to clarrify, what model year was that P-Tec light? I sampled a SB3 last year and frankly, it was crap. Not impressively bright and the battery was a brick (weight and shape 🙄). Apparently, the switchback 1, 2, and 3 was given a serious upgrade for '09.

Our four-man teams were using them at the 24HoA. Norm provided a pretty thorough review here:
http://www.mtbnj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13044

Given this new info, they are worth consideration at least.
 
Wobbegong said:
I'm eyeing the Stella 300
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i pulled the trigger on the stella 300. now I will have that on the bars and the 200L on my helmet. I figured this was a good investment since 9 of 12 rides in October have either been completely dark or 3/4's dark \.
 
stb222 said:
i pulled the trigger on the stella 300. now I will have that on the bars and the 200L on my helmet. I figured this was a good investment since 9 of 12 rides in October have either been completely dark or 3/4's dark \.
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Kev, this is the exact set up I am looking to do. I already have the 200, please let me(us) know how it works out. Thanks
 
walter said:
Kev, this is the exact set up I am looking to do. I already have the 200, please let me(us) know how it works out. Thanks
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I'm sure this will work out fine. IMO, I recommend everyone do what Kev did. Get an adequate but budget minded first light. Decide if you will actual use it enough to make it worthwhile. If so, then go bonkers and get a better light. Put the brighter one on the bars.

You get the best performance with two lights. Bright and wide on the bars as the primary light source. A second light, maybe smaller and lighter, for the helmet. The helmet unit doesn't need to be a super-bright. It is playing second fiddle to the light on the bars. It is just great to be able to look around, away from the handlebar light and see what you want.

FYI, I raced the 24HoA with a Stella on my bars and a lesser model on my head. No issues. When my current stuff STBs (pun intended 😀) I will be looking to replace them with L&M stuff. A Secca/Stella combo would turn night into day. :getsome:
 
sixseven said:
Magicshine...pretty sure that geomangear.com specs a better build of these lights.
Same light as the one on DX, but better quality control on the parts and assembly of the electrical components. Price is a little more.
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Just wondering how they do this? It seems like they can't be modifying a standard product for just a few dollars more. :hmmm: Hopefully the Geoman comments were just fed back to the supplier and all the units are better now😉

I was happy with the LED flashlights that I got from DX so we'll see.

Tim
 
I remember reading somewhere (either Geoman's website or a forum) that Geoman does both: he feeds back comments/improvements to the factory and also does some of his own QC. I gathered that DX is just a middleman but Geoman opens up / tests the magicshines and makes sure they're up to snuff. Who knows? I ordered one because the price can't be beat and I figure I'm a winner if a get a year out of it. Any more and that's gravy. Have not received it yet. Will post up a review after receipt and usage.
 
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