Magicshine's MJ880U IS a tough, easy-to-use twin-beamer, and is still the light to beat for all-round practicality and performance at an affordable price.
The small, twin-LED head unit hooks neatly and securely onto the bars via a rubber Y-strap, and it helmet-mounts fine if you're willing cough up an extra £6.50. The battery is bulky but it’s not much heavier than smaller-capacity units.
The long lead means you can sit it right down by the bottom bracket, where the weight is insignificant and it’s got nowhere to slide or rattle. The permanently attached rubber straps and hooks mean it stays in place too.
The twin LED gets a 10 percent power boost to keep it just ahead on output compared with similarly priced lights. There’s less of the obvious gap between centre beam and outer halo though, which makes it easier on the eyes in already confusing conditions.
The backlit two-way switch toggles up and down the four-level sequence rather than round in a circle, which is really useful on the trail. There’s ample battery life even for epic rides.
The rubber straps, hardshell battery and neat head unit have proved as tough as hell in over a year of almost constant hardcore hammer in soaking wet, sub-zero and seriously rocky conditions.
The whole system is guaranteed for 12 months, but we’ve not had an issue with any production Magicshine lights over several years of testing.
Magicshine MJ880U beamshot
This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.
