[Closed] Why do mags seem reluctant to acknowledge the Magicshine?

Because they are never going to buy advertising?

Because they weren't sent one to test?

Because MBR is a pile of $hite.

So they only test what is sent to them.....??
That seems a bit half hearted.

I know for a fact the MBR test involved the tester calling all the distributors to ask for lights to test - some sent them, others didn't. I suspect part of the reason the Magicshine isn't tested is because it's not available to buy in the UK (I mean there isn't a distributor in the UK) - if all tests are done in a similar fashion i.e. the tester calls the UK distributor to ask for lights to test then it won't get shown.

The MBR test did have some nice lights in it and there were some that weren't sent - so although it sounds easy enough to get a shot of a range of lights, actually getting a large enough range can at times be difficult as the supplier may not send any or send what they think you want and not necessarily match the idea that you had in what to test.

Magicshine do now have a UK distributor don't they?

As Grum pointed out - MagicShine/DX whoever are hardly going to buy expensive advertising for their $80 light are they?

I'm always a little sceptical of magazine reviews having written for a motorcycle magazine in the past.

Often you compare things that are all the same but need to come up with some kind of winner so you have to be "creative".

Maybe if anyone one here has worked for an MTB mag they could enlighten us?

Having used loads of different lights recently I can't say I'd rather have one over another TBH. They all seem to work brilliantly compared to 4-5yrs ago. If I was buying one I'd buy a DX simply because it's SO much cheaper.

The answer has already been provided above.

The tester will call all the distributers/importers to ask for test samples. the ones that arrive in time/at all get tested, the ones that don't, don't. Simples.

How they rate them is an entirely different case however.

I had a poke at WMB over this, they never approached DX/Magicshine for a light and openly dismissed it as foreign rubbish based on no proper testing. Terrible really. They say they'll test it in a future issue.

Not sure the advertisers comments are fair- after all Trout doesn't advertise does he? And they got it right up a couple of major advertisers, the Nukeproof one got slagged again despite Hotlines being such a huge advertiser.

rockhopper70 - Member

"Magicshine do now have a UK distributor don't they?"

Not really, just some resellers.

http://magicshineuk.co.uk/

So does this count?? Looks legit enough to me.

i did write a review but it wasnt published.....

"fragile plastic bracket that falls apart when fitting on 3 sets out of 4 in our control batch of local riders , a battery that doesnt like getting wet. Good output if a bit unreliable- good light for getting a taste for night riding without spending a fortune"

😉

On the same topic though, Singletrack reviews a selection of very samey looking 'large capacity' MTB rucsacs, and missed out Wingnut?

I'd be interested to hear why they overlooked perhaps the only company that does a genuinely good rucsac for filly with kit. (I'd bet all the rucsacs in that test would clobber your helmet pretty quick on steep slopes if they were full to the brim...)

I have sent quite a lot of items to mags to review and MBR are generally the best at being impartial. Surf magazines are the worst for not reviewing things. They have a simple policy of not reviewing unless you have an advertising spend!

Speaking to Guy Kesteven (WMB), his biggest problem is getting the products to test, after all it depends upon distributors being on the ball and in good contact with the mags and often they aint so products dont get tested. Plus not everything can be tested.

I'd be interested to hear why they overlooked perhaps the only company that does a genuinely good rucsac for filly with kit. (I'd bet all the rucsacs in that test would clobber your helmet pretty quick on steep slopes if they were full to the brim...)

Again, maybe it's cos you can't really buy it anywhere?

I think they are simply afraid that a £50 light will show up how unnecessary it is to spend hundreds more, which would ruin the image they like to portray of MTB kit in general.

They don't want to embarras themselves or the [s]egos they massage[/s] big names, basically

grum - Member

I'd be interested to hear why they overlooked perhaps the only company that does a genuinely good rucsac for filly with kit. (I'd bet all the rucsacs in that test would clobber your helmet pretty quick on steep slopes if they were full to the brim...)

Again, maybe it's cos you can't really buy it anywhere?

I *think* that [b][url= http://www.spokeshirts.co.uk/home.php?cat=266 ]Spokeshirts[/url][/b] are now the distributors for Wingnut or at least have access to them...

Because cheap lights are shit (my personal experience of them)

Come back and leave a review in 12 months time when your bracket is loose and the battery lasts for 20 mins.

When lights are concerned, you really get what you pay for.

Dx user here for @ least 12 months ok had problems with the sealing on the battery but its been faultless and I ride @ least one night a week in all weathers.
Just ordered a helmet light if it lasts me 12 mths thats cool by me.

Mucho cheapeeeeness 😆

SpokesCycles:
Because cheap lights are shit (my personal experience of them)

Didn't see that coming.....

Hey, I hate the idea of paying £200 for a jumped up torch as much as anyone but when you can get a bodged up mess like the DX things or a Niterider Minewt for £130 with a proper battery, proper waterproofing, proper charger that doesn't set your kitchen on fire it's a no brainer.

Anything over £250 for bike lights is stupid though.

DX torch user here, along with half a dozen others my mates have bought after seeing mine in use. We've had no problems. Used as a torch also while camping & been dropped & clattered around.
Mine are alomost two years old now, cells still holding 1hr 10m charge on full.
Guess we're all just lucky.

On the same topic though, Singletrack reviews a selection of very samey looking 'large capacity' MTB rucsacs, and missed out Wingnut?

SpokesCycles

Because cheap lights are shit (my personal experience of them)

Say that to these lot....[url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/diy-700-lumen-batteries-inside-light ]DIY LIGHT[/url].. 😐

The older DX battery was susceptible to water ingress but the new one has a silicon or aluminum waterproof case. I use mine in conjunction with their new tailight off one battery. No problems and plenty bright enough for track stuff. No problems with fitting and stability either. I use it every day now to go to work and it just cannot be beaten for the money.

"SpokesCycles - Member

Hey, I hate the idea of paying £200 for a jumped up torch as much as anyone but when you can get a bodged up mess like the DX things or a Niterider Minewt for £130 with a proper battery, proper waterproofing, proper charger that doesn't set your kitchen on fire it's a no brainer."

Pretty compelling til you remember that's over twice the cost for about 1/4 the power 😕

My 2 DX torches have been flawless, more reliable than my mate's Minewt (faulty cable connector) and my other mate's Diablo (battery went dead).

I really didn't intend or want to start another DX/Magicshine review, just wondered why they are ignored. We have a insightful view from one member but even if they are sh!te, why ignore them in a test. Other lights on the MBR test reported teething problems and intermittent use.

rockhopper70 - Member

"I really didn't intend or want to start another DX/Magicshine review, just wondered why they are ignored. We have a insightful view from one member but even if they are sh!te, why ignore them in a test. Other lights on the MBR test reported teething problems and intermittent use. "

Yup- this annoyed me about the WMB review, they basically said in the foreword "Hong kong lights are unreliable and slow to deliver" but made no attempt to justify that. If you test a light and it's unreliable, you say so. If you don't test it, you say nothing.

For all the people here who are giving a big up for DX lights.

You are aware that recent figures showed, we the UK spent 240 billion with China, you know, buying china goods.
For the same period, china bought 100 billion from UK.

If that sort of thing continues, where is that going to leave the UK ?
Any of you DX light lovers aware of whats happening in the US ?.
Do you know that the US is now so skint, it can only buy from China, and as a result, US manufacturing is being wiped out.
Why do you think the US is making noises about China not appreciating its currency ?.

Nope !, can't be bothered about all that, you are to busy fixing your batteries and watching the charger hoping it isn't going to burn your house down.

Obviously the people here who like to buy cheap chinese lights have jobs that can not be taken away by a man in China, willing to work for <$2 a day, so you continue to buy while wearing the biggest set of blinkers you can manage.
One day though, all the jobs China can suck out of the UK will be gone, and then those who have been put out of work by China are going to offer to do your job for less. Or you are going to have to pay even higher taxes to help support all those people who have been put out of work, cos johnny england likes to buy cheap, he likes to buy chinese.

And as for people who like "mucho cheapness", ha, ha, thats really short sighted.

Spokeshirts makes me laugh. Imagine a light vendor, operating at the lower end of the market......posting a comment that lights over £250 can't be worth it. No conflict of interest there then
🙄
hilarious.

All you DX owners, you are all riding Tesco bikes, aren't you ?.
I mean, no one would fit a £50 light to their 2K mountain bike, would they...

Take a moment to look at the US economy, see how blindly buying and filling their boots with Chinese goods, has screwed them into a cocked hat.

Hope vision 4 here. British developed, British made.

Muppets

Im not sure, but I dont think spokeshirts and spokecycle are the same person?

Unfortunately captain_crash, £300 (or whatever a decent hope/uk light costs nowadays) is alot of money for some people. Maybe a third of their monthly pay packet. Hard to justify spending that on a light so you can ride your bike for one night during the week.

Muppet

the WMB test did mention the cheap Chinese lights but dismissed them, not because "they are crap" but because they hadn't been around long enough to judge their permanence in the marketplace eg. backup, warranty etc.

Whether that's the real reason, who knows.

Will someone confirm that Mr Crash is trolling? Please?

Will someone confirm that Mr Crash is trolling? Please?

Confirmed by rather simple economic views

Captain_Crash - Member
Hope vision 4 here. British developed, British made.

Well, it says the case was machined in the UK - are the battery/charger circuitry/LEDS made here?

I buy British when I can, but 6 times the price for something which does the same job is just too much.

I wonder if Captain Cock drives a British made car, keeps his food fresh in a British fridge. Is your bike runing any Shimano kit ETC ETC ETC ETC ETC ETC ETC ETC ETC M U P P E T !!

Bet hes a frickin civil servant as well and rides a single speed. 😐

All you DX owners, you are all riding Tesco bikes, aren't you ?.
I mean, no one would fit a £50 light to their 2K mountain bike, would they...

Point missed.

I use a DX because it's as good or better than most £300 lights. For the money it's a no brainer to me. Mor people with £75 supermarket bikes that actually bother with lights will be using something that cots about £5 which is 1/15th of the cost of the bike. 15 x 50 = £750, so your comparison is way out fella for a start! I spec my bikes with bargains in general. They're nice bikes, but I'm sparing and clever with the money I spend on them. Same with my lights.....
If I could get a £75 bike that worked as well as the one I have, yes, I'd get one....

CC posts a lot on light threads.

Captain_Crash - Member
For all the people here who are giving a big up for DX lights.

You are aware that recent figures showed, we the UK spent 240 billion with China, you know, buying china goods.
For the same period, china bought 100 billion from UK.

If that sort of thing continues, where is that going to leave the UK ?
Any of you DX light lovers aware of whats happening in the US ?.
Do you know that the US is now so skint, it can only buy from China, and as a result, US manufacturing is being wiped out.
Why do you think the US is making noises about China not appreciating its currency ?.

Nope !, can't be bothered about all that, you are to busy fixing your batteries and watching the charger hoping it isn't going to burn your house down.

Obviously the people here who like to buy cheap chinese lights have jobs that can not be taken away by a man in China, willing to work for <$2 a day, so you continue to buy while wearing the biggest set of blinkers you can manage.
One day though, all the jobs China can suck out of the UK will be gone, and then those who have been put out of work by China are going to offer to do your job for less. Or you are going to have to pay even higher taxes to help support all those people who have been put out of work, cos johnny england likes to buy cheap, he likes to buy chinese.

And as for people who like "mucho cheapness", ha, ha, thats really short sighted.

Spokeshirts makes me laugh. Imagine a light vendor, operating at the lower end of the market......posting a comment that lights over £250 can't be worth it. No conflict of interest there then

hilarious.

All you DX owners, you are all riding Tesco bikes, aren't you ?.
I mean, no one would fit a £50 light to their 2K mountain bike, would they...

Take a moment to look at the US economy, see how blindly buying and filling their boots with Chinese goods, has screwed them into a cocked hat.

Hope vision 4 here. British developed, British made.

Muppets

Ohhh get her!

sweepy:

Im not sure, but I dont think spokeshirts and spokecycle are the same person?

Oh don't go bringing facts like that into the equation.

Anything over £250 for bike lights is stupid though.

Well - my lights get daily use every week of the year, regardless of weather and decent visibility and reliability are worth every penny. Yes, I could get cheap DX etc but there are enough horror stories about failures that I don't want to risk it. Agreed, spending nearly £300 on the latest Trout is a lot of money but if the alternative is more money in my pocket and a 15 mile walk to the station in the pitch black and rain at 4am with 0 visibility because the thing breaks down it's a no-brainer.

That said I spent more on my Maxx-D and whilst it was sorted eventually it went through a couple of failures (mainly runtime related so I always had 'some' light to commute by)...

I buy my bikes secondhand, always shop round for a bargain as I'm on a budget and don't have loads of cash to spend on my bike.
£50 for a magicshine is a better bargain than buying a secondhand UK light as At least I get a new battery etc.
And I work in a UK manufacturing company, we can't compete with the Chinese market on price but we can differentiate on service, so customers who want steel cheap go to China and those who want it on a short lead time and next day delivery come to us.
Simple economics really. Something for everyone.

[i]Anything over £250 for bike lights is stupid though.[/i]

+1 (I think that's how you do it)

Wouldn't touch a Magicshine though, cos I don't need lights that bright and I need to trust what I have got.

My DX has been reliable.

Both my Exposures packed up. The third time my Enduro packed up I sent it back and told them to keep it and got a refund
We've had problems with L&M as well. Had to get the whole thing replaced

My lumicycle HID was fine, but at 2 years old I sold it for £125 and bought a DX, which is just as good light wise, and smaller and lighter.......