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Magicshine launches first Shimano Di2-compatible front light

Magicshine’s new Evo 1700SD works with Shimano’s Di2 digital gear systems to wirelessly allow riders to switch on and change front light functions without taking their hands off the brake hoods

Wireless bike light systems have been around for years, and even wireless gear shifting has been in existence for a fair while. But bike light innovator Magicshine has recently launched something truly innovative – with the all-new Evo 1700SD these twin wireless technologies have been seamlessly married, meaning you can now adjust your front light functions using your Di2 controls. 

The benefit of this - especially for road riders - is clear, particularly as we head into autumn with darker evenings and earlier nights. Without moving your hands from your bike’s controls, you can now switch your lights on, select high beam or low beam, adjust brightness and even switch on flash mode. 

> Buy the Magicshine EVO 1700SD from Magicshine for £79.99

Magicshine Evo 1700SD hero

There are other benefits, too. Your bike’s cockpit is free from clutter with any extra lighting controls unnecessary, and when you use the Evo 1700SD together with a Garmin and GoPro adapter, you can keep your handlebar clean.

But it’s the safety aspects of being able to adjust your lighting quickly and easily that are most obvious, not least the fact that you can have your light set to high beam and full power knowing that a simple press of a button will prevent on-coming drivers from being blinded. If you do need some extra power for unlit trails or paths though, Magcicshine have you covered with a whopping 1700 lumens possible on the light's highest beam setting. 

Set-up and use

So how does it all work? Set-up is super straightforward. All you have to do is turn on your Di2 system by clicking any buttons on the shifters. Then the 1700SD has to be put in paring mode by pressing the power button on the side until the blue ‘paring mode’ light starts blinking. Hold the Evo 1700SD within 30cm of the Di2 rear derailleur and when the blue light stays solid for three seconds, it’s been successfully pared with the Di2 set-up.

In default mode, the Evo 1700SD will use both the left and the right Di2 buttons on your brake hoods to activate different functions, although – to turn the light on and off – either left or right button can be pressed and held. 

Magicshine Evo 1700SD promo

Once the Evo 1700SD is on, clicking the left button toggles between brightness modes, while double-clicking on the left will change between high and low beam. If you want full lighting power – all 1700 lumens of it – a click on the right Di2 button will go from any setting to maximum brightness, while a double click on the right will instigate day or night flash mode.

And if you already have your Di2 buttons assigned to some other function, it’s not a problem: use Shimano’s E-TUBE app and define which buttons you want to activate the Evo 1700SD.

Other features

The Di2 integration is the obvious unique selling point of the Evo 1700SD, but quite aside from that innovative functionality, the Evo 1700SD has a jam-packed features and specification list.

Using a dual lens system, the Evo 1700SD provides a low beam with a distinct cut-off line, resulting in a glare-free experience for oncoming road users. Meanwhile, the high beam increases coverage and distance, enough for dark path, trails or fast riders.

Magicshine high beam : low beam

The Evo 1700SD is housed in an aluminium and plastic body that's capable of both dissipating heat and resisting the elements. In fact, the light body is rated IPX6 waterproof, meaning it’ll shrug off even the worst winter weather.

It’s not only the light body that’s hardy – the tough 4000mAh capacity battery is good for up to 11 hours of runtime, with a USB-C charging port making recharges straightforward. You can keep your eye on remaining charge with a simple and an easy-to-read power indicator on the light body itself: green means 100-21% of charge remaining, red means 20-11% and flashing red means 10-1%.

Full specification

  • Max output : 1700 lumens
  • Max runtime: 11 hours
  • Max throw: 205 metres
  • Light source: high-efficiency LED
  • Battery source: 4000mAh Battery
  • Charging time: 5 hours
  • Light body construction: aluminium and plastic
  • Waterproof rating: IPX6
  • Weight: 151g
  • Warranty: 2 years
  • Compatibility: Shimano Di2 wireless units: RD-R9250; RD-R8150; RD-R7150; RD-RX825
  • Light settings: customisable for different cycling scenarios through Magicshine App
  • Lens: TIR optical lens offering unique combination of up-close low beam and far-reaching high beam
  • Cut-off low beam, glare-free for oncoming road users
  • Lock function
  • Memory function
  • (Note: The Evo 1700SD is not compatible with Shimano e-bike systems STEPS) 
Magicshine Evo 1700SD riding

And there’s more…

The Evo 1700SD isn’t the only exciting launch coming from Magicshine this autumn. The lighting experts have a raft of new kit ready to shine, including the Seemee100AD rear light, the MK150 and the Evo1100, all being released in September. We also had a look at the brand’s exciting Allty 1200U and Seemee 50V2.0 combo in this video.

For more information about any of Magicshine’s lights, visit magicshine.com

Add new comment

17 comments

Avatar
Sriracha | 6 days ago
0 likes

For those of us without Di2, I understand from other reviews that there is also an included remote control button. But no mention in this sponsored article.

Avatar
Tom_77 replied to Sriracha | 6 days ago
1 like

Sriracha wrote:

For those of us without Di2, I understand from other reviews that there is also an included remote control button. But no mention in this sponsored article.

The non-Di2 version comes with a remote button and is £70, so save yourself a tenner and get that.

Raveman do a similar light, also £70. Decathlon have their own, which is £60.

I'm currently considering whether my AMPP 800 is good enough or if I should get something brighter.

Avatar
Oldfatgit | 6 days ago
1 like

For those of us still in the previous century, how does the light know you are not changing gear, rather than trying to change the light?

Avatar
quiff replied to Oldfatgit | 6 days ago
3 likes

Also in the last century. But I think the latest versions of Di2 have additional buttons on the hoods so you can control other functions as well as gears (assign one to cycle through your Garmin pages etc).  

Avatar
john_smith replied to quiff | 6 days ago
0 likes

I'd have thought it would be simpler just to use the switch on the light.

Avatar
quiff replied to john_smith | 6 days ago
0 likes

To cycle Garmin pages?

Avatar
Chris RideFar | 6 days ago
0 likes

Based on those Di2 model numbers, you need a 12-speed Di2 group for this to work, which is a shame.

Avatar
hawkinspeter | 1 week ago
3 likes

I don't know about anyone else, but I almost never muck around with light settings apart from just turning them on at the start of a ride and turning them off at the end. I'm not really seeing the advantage of being able to do that from the hoods.

Avatar
Secret_squirrel replied to hawkinspeter | 6 days ago
4 likes

Dip and main beam is the main USP IMO.

Avatar
Rendel Harris replied to hawkinspeter | 6 days ago
1 like

At this time of year when I might set out in the dark and arrive in daylight and vice versa I might change my light once from strobing in the daylight to solid once night falls, but that's one button pressed, don't really need it linked to Di2 to do that. For riders in the country however I can see the high beam/dipped beam feature being useful and courteous if it's as powerful as it seems to be from this review. What would really put me off buying this is the fact that it mounts on the GoPro adapter, meaning presumably one has to choose between lights and camera or find an alternative mounting point for one or the other.

Avatar
mark1a replied to Rendel Harris | 6 days ago
2 likes

Rendel Harris wrote:

...one has to choose between lights and camera or find an alternative mounting point for one or the other.

This works for mounting two items with the GoPro type fixing onto a single mount.

 

Avatar
Rendel Harris replied to mark1a | 6 days ago
0 likes

Interesting, I haven't seen one of those before, but surely not wide enough for a GoPro and a light of this size side-by-side?

Avatar
mark1a replied to Rendel Harris | 6 days ago
3 likes

Rendel Harris wrote:

Interesting, I haven't seen one of those before, but surely not wide enough for a GoPro and a light of this size side-by-side?

You're probably right, Magicshine show the dimensions of the Evo 1700SD at 42mm, which would not sit side by side with a standard format GoPro (or similar action camera). I've used this with a GoPro Session (smaller unit) and the Exposure Joystick, also quite narrow. All that said, there seems to be a limitless range of GoPro compatible adapters & fittings available, so I'm sure there's a wider version of this dual mount, or a short extension to offset one of the units lower down.

 

Avatar
philhubbard replied to hawkinspeter | 6 days ago
3 likes

I always find myself messing about with settings on group rides (high setting on the front and low when in the group) so this does actually seem like a useful feature (for me at least)

Avatar
Secret_squirrel | 1 week ago
0 likes

Looks like a good light.

Weird comment about it not being compatible with Steps.   Steps is just DI2 under the skin and the assignable button functionality is the same.  

It would be harder to exclude it than include it afaik.

The article also fails to mention that the Seemee100AD is a RADAR light, at a decent price of around £70.

Avatar
Steve K | 1 week ago
0 likes

Clearly this is a sponsored article so is bound to be, erm, glowing; and I don't have electronic gears so this is of no use to me.  But those caveats notwithstanding, this seems a good idea to me.

Avatar
joules1975 replied to Steve K | 1 week ago
3 likes

Sponsored article or not, I have that magicshine light in the (previous?) none Di2 version with velcro strapped remote, and it's brilliant!!

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