Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Magicshine MJ-906 light set

6
£119.94

VERDICT:

6
10
Okay budget off road light but lacks performance of more expensive competitors
Weight: 
476g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

The Magicshine MJ-906 boasts an output of 5,000 lumens which is pretty impressive for its £119.94 price and with pretty decent burn times it's one to be considered if you want a full light set on a budget.

Magicshine intends the MJ-906 for off-road use so to be fair this is how we'll be reviewing it. Think of it as an accessory to all of those gravel and adventure bikes we've been testing lately. I did use it on the road in its lower output settings but the majority of the testing took place off-road on gravel tracks and on the trails in the woods.

The MJ-906 is a full light set, you get a front, a rear and a wireless remote control which is actually pretty cool.

Magicshine MJ-906 5000 lumens bike light 2016 model - front light.jpg

Let's start with the front.

Five thousand lumen! That's what Magicshine are claiming for the five LED's output. I'm guessing each is supposed to put out a thousand and they've just multiplied things.

Looking at our light beam comparison engine though you'll see that when measured the actual output is slightly less than the Niterider Pro 2800 with, yep you've guessed it, a claimed output of 2800 lumen.

Okay, so we've already halved the brightness but that is still one hell of a lot of light firing around. Unfortunately the MJ-906 doesn't put all those photons to very good use.

Brightness isn't the be all and end all and we've tested many lights with much lower output than this that use reflectors and lenses to really do something with the light that is being generated by the LEDs. The MJ-906 lacks that, it just puts out a blob of light with no focus which really becomes irritating especially when things become technical. There doesn't seem to be any light where you really need it.

Changing modes doesn't help as you are just throwing more random light out there.

Magicshine MJ-906 5000 lumens bike light 2016 model - rear.jpg

The rear has some issues too. The main problem is that the clamp doesn't take into account the angle of the seatpost. LED's can be very bright but unlike incandescent bulbs they're only really effective when they are pointing directly at those that need to see them. Many others like Exposure, Hope or SeeSense have angled brackets that aim the light horizontally.

Both of the lights have plenty of modes. The front has five: 5,000 lumen (2 hours run time), 3,750 lumen (3hours), 2,500 lumen (5hours), 1,000 lumen (10hours) and a flashing mode that lasts for 7 hours.

My pet hate with any front light is having to pass through flashing while scrolling through the modes, but this is exactly what you have to do here. If you are in the lowest output and need to go to the highest for a steep technical downhill, for a fraction of a second everything you can see is like a '90s rave.

The rear has various options from solid through various flashing modes, and they can all be controlled by the included wireless remote control.

Magicshine MJ-906 5000 lumens bike light 2016 model - remote.jpg

I strapped the remote around the hood of the gear shifter so I never needed to move my hands to change the light setting. You get two buttons, the larger for the front light with smaller for the rear and it's brilliant. More lights should come with these remotes as it makes changing the setup so easy.

Battery life was a bit sporadic and I never achieved the full burn times quoted. I got close, say 10% less but sometimes it was further away than that. It didn't do confidence a whole lot of good if you couldn't trust the light for its exact time of departure so I really stayed on the side of caution.

Magicshine MJ-906 5000 lumens bike light 2016 model - battery.jpg

There are some things to praise though on the MJ-906. Its resistance to the elements is impressive. Plenty of my test rides took place on cold, wet and muddy gravel tracks without issue.

And value is really on its side. For all of its faults the MJ-906 is quite cheap for its output and battery life compared to its opposition. Things like the rear light and remote switch are added extras too. The quality of the beam pattern leaves quite a bit to be desired but if your budget is tight there is still a lot to like here.

Verdict

Okay budget off road light but lacks performance of more expensive competitors

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Magicshine MJ-906 5000 lumens bike light 2016 model

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the light set is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

"With a maximum output of 5000 lumens from the 5 ultra bright cree XM-L2 LEDs the MJ-906 bike light produces a 20 degree wide angle beam designed specifically for off road, mtb and trail riding. There are 5 power modes so you don't have to blind your friends if you don't want to! But of course you have the power there for when you do! Includes remote button and rear light too."

The Magicshine is a pretty decent light for the money although it doesn't live up to its output promise.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the light set?

5 x CREE XM-L2 LED's

luminous flux: 5000 lumens

LED lifespan: 50,000 hours

shell material: Aluminum alloy and plastic

Switch: two top click switch and wireless remote control

working modes: 100%, 75%, 50%, 20% flashing

6 x 18650 li-ion battery (7.4V 7.8Ah)

run time 2.2 hours @ 100% output

charging time 5 hours

battery life span 500 cycles

Waterproof grade IPX4

Size L56xW43xH50mm

Rate the front light for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the rear light for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the light set for design and ease of use. How simple were the lights to use?
 
8/10
Rate the front light for the design and usability of the clamping system
 
8/10
Rate the rear light for the design and usability of the clamping system
 
6/10

The rear needs an angled clamp, like a wedge or something to offset the seatpost angle so that it shines directly back.

Rate the front light for waterproofing. How did it stand up to the elements?
 
9/10
Rate the front light for waterproofing. How did it stand up to the elements?
 
9/10
Rate the front light for battery life. How long did it last? How long did it take to recharge?
 
7/10
Rate the rear light for battery life. How long did it last? How long did it take to recharge?
 
7/10
Rate the front light for performance:
 
6/10
Rate the rear light for performance:
 
6/10
Rate the front light for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the rear light for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the front light for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the rear light for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the light set for value:
 
6/10

Tell us how the lights performed overall when used for their designed purpose

It may be bright but it doesn't use that output to its advantage.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the lights

The wireless remote

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the lights

Poor light definition

Did you enjoy using the lights? No

Would you consider buying the lights? No

Would you recommend the lights to a friend? No

Use this box to explain your score

The Magicshine to me pretty much justifies everything that is wrong with the bike lighting world, just chucking more and more power and lumens out doesn't make a good usable light in the real world. I'd rather go for less output and more impact, you do pay for that though so the Magicshine does have price on its side.

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 38  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: Kinesis Aithien

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

Add new comment

6 comments

Avatar
muffies | 6 years ago
0 likes

I dont think its very clear but this light is made for MTBs.

Precisely: For MTB at NIGHT in the FOREST where you WANT a wide, powerful beam (which WILL blind everyone in front of you: but there's no one at night in the forest!)

 

This is a terrible idea to run this light on road bike on the road. It's DANGEROUS and very disrespectful.

Avatar
leelang229 | 7 years ago
1 like

Since when was £120 "budget"?  I have bought bikes cheaper than that.

 

Avatar
ktache | 7 years ago
0 likes

The Hope Distict+ rear bracket enables the light to be angled any way you want.  It is a masterpeice of engineering with a price to match.  Hope do advise to angle the light slightly downwards and I have followed this advice, there are 130 lumens of car rear light LEDs in there.

 

Avatar
Ush replied to ktache | 7 years ago
0 likes
ktache wrote:

The Hope Distict+ rear bracket enables the light to be angled any way you want.  It is a masterpeice of engineering with a price to match.  Hope do advise to angle the light slightly downwards and I have followed this advice, there are 130 lumens of car rear light LEDs in there.

 

Makes we wonder... am I better off with a dimmer light angled straight up towards motorists at some useful distance (that distance can be debated separately), or a really bright light pointing down at the road?

 

MagicShine continue to produce good lights at a good price.  What they're selling is consistency in experience... I have no doubt that some El Cheapo are as good... but I am also certain that I do not want to order 5 sets at 20 quid each in order to find one that is OK.    With MagicShine there's a reputable company selling a reviewed product.. so I know exactly what I'm getting and at what price.

Avatar
rogermerriman replied to Ush | 7 years ago
1 like
Ush wrote:
ktache wrote:

The Hope Distict+ rear bracket enables the light to be angled any way you want.  It is a masterpeice of engineering with a price to match.  Hope do advise to angle the light slightly downwards and I have followed this advice, there are 130 lumens of car rear light LEDs in there.

 

Makes we wonder... am I better off with a dimmer light angled straight up towards motorists at some useful distance (that distance can be debated separately), or a really bright light pointing down at the road?

 

MagicShine continue to produce good lights at a good price.  What they're selling is consistency in experience... I have no doubt that some El Cheapo are as good... but I am also certain that I do not want to order 5 sets at 20 quid each in order to find one that is OK.    With MagicShine there's a reputable company selling a reviewed product.. so I know exactly what I'm getting and at what price.

 

plus something that has marked and tested, ie shouldn't burn your house down!

 

very happy with my MS858 though my wifes MS900 which uses 1 of the same emiter and body style, and beam it looks like, seems to have worse lense, it has neither the throw or width of the beam.

Avatar
Team EPO | 7 years ago
0 likes

Do wonder if MagicShine are caught between the big boy exposure lights and the cheap lights off Amazon £26!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/10000lumen-7xcree-Bicycle-Headlight-Battery/dp/...

Latest Comments