Lights!

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I know it's out of season now but my main set is due an upgrade.

Anyone tried these from planet x? Other recommendations would be appreciated

https://planetx.co.uk/products/plazma-supalux-1600-lumen-front-bike-light-1?variant=53572034691418


 
Posted : 31/03/2026 9:00 am
 a11y
Posts: 3902
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Camera!

 

Can't advise on those Planet X lights. 1600 lumens is OK if you're riding solo but you'll surely be outgunned by the next person with an Exposure or similar if riding in a group.


 
Posted : 31/03/2026 9:10 am
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That's one of the classic Magicshines, 872 I think. Assuming it's all still the same inside and hasn't been cheekily downgraded or whatever but reviews suggest it's the same. I'd be suspicious of the battery pack, at this price you do sometimes get crappy cells.

I loved mine tbf, they were the first lights I ever had that I wasn't just chasing the dot but had an actual full field of view. Bright enough to still throw well but it fills in the surrounds so much better, I used one on helmet and one on bars. (conventional wisdom was that they were a bar light but I really think that with 2 you got enough throw to be absolutely fine- you couldn't illuminate the moon is all)

And they were surprisingly well made. Like, Hope did an almost identical light at the time with the same leds and overall design and they basically all broke at the cable, these were much more durable. Mine both died the same way with a blown led, but with a lot of use on them- I think probably they ran slightly too hot. The rubber band brackets are never the best, IIRC I added a little bit of grippy tape to the bars and that was good enough, but the mount it fits with a screw so that makes stuff like swapping mounts easy

Run time was a little weak on 4 cells, they were always a "remember to turn it down as soon as you're done descending" light, I got a 6-cell pack for mine that let me use full power more. I used them for at least a couple of night enduro races and one night dh 🙂

They'll be massively outgunned now, it is a 15 year old light. But they're just the right side of that 15 years- if they were like 2 years older you'd be in crappy spotlight era, these were pretty much at the point in time where lights more or less got good and where the lumen wars settled down into making better beams instead of trying to be bright enough or being laser beams.

For £25- again assuming it's the same as it used to be- it's fantastic value tbf. Would you be better with a more modern light? Maybe. I've no intention of doing any night riding in future or I'd be tempted to buy 2 right now. I'd probably budget for one upgraded battery pack


 
Posted : 31/03/2026 4:07 pm
Posts: 1137
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I am (or was in winter) happily using two AliExpress USB rechargeable lights.

This on the bars on a Quad Lock style mount...
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007242881941.html

...and the 2000 lumen version of this on my lid on a Velcro GoPro style mount
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005201367829.html

They're better than my old Magic Shine MJ-880 with it's stupidly large battery, and either one is also fine bar mounted on it's own if you're not riding fast through the woods.

 


 
Posted : 31/03/2026 4:45 pm