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Magicshine ALLTY 2000

6
£129.99

VERDICT:

6
10
Decent torch-style light with a powerful beam and an excellent mount
Powerful beam
Useful data screen
Removable battery
Solid mount
Limited run time in high beam
Beam pattern means a lot of light is wasted
Spot and flood beams too similar
Moving between the many modes can be time consuming
Weight: 
193g

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.

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The Magicshine ALLTY 2000 is a good-quality light with a wide range of power settings and some different beam patterns too. You get reliable run time data displayed on a screen and a solid mount into the bargain, but neither the beam pattern nor the removable Lithium-ion battery are without their issues.

> Buy this online here

As LEDs and batteries get more efficient, torch-style lights are increasingly dominating even at the high-lumen end of the market, and the ALLTY 2000 is one such beast. It's a compact torch design with a metal and plastic body, a single button and an LCD screen.

2020 Magicshine ALLTY 2000 - on bars.jpg

It feels well made, and comes with an excellent mount. It uses the Garmin quarter-turn standard, so the light fits on an out-front mount. In the box you get a bar mount that uses a band tightened by a 3mm allen bolt. Mounts vary in effectiveness, and although the Magicshine one is a faff first time around it's super-secure – something that can't always be said of the rubber straps common even on high-power lights.

2020 Magicshine ALLTY 2000 - bottom.jpg

Waterproofing is good: the USB port is well-protected on the underside of the light, and the rest of the unit is well-sealed. It's been unusually dry round here during testing, but the ALLTY 2000 survived 15 minutes in the shower with no obvious water ingress anywhere.

2020 Magicshine ALLTY 2000 - rear.jpg

The ALLTY 2000 combines three light sources. Two CREE XM-L2 LEDs pump out most of the lumens, while the daylight running light (DRL) above is a chip-on-board LED strip. You can run either LED alongside the strip, or both together, or just the DRL strip on its own.

The two main LEDs have a different throw: one has a dimpled lens cover for a 25° spread, and the other a clear lens for a narrower, 18° spread. Here's the flood...

Magicshine ALLTY2000 - spot LED

... and here's the spot:

Magicshine ALLTY2000 - flood LED

As you can see they are different, but not to the extent found on some other lights, for example the Ravemen PR1600  that's one of our current favourites. That light has a flattened beam pattern on one lens to reduce glare for oncoming traffic; both of the Magicshine's beams are round, so you end up throwing a fair bit of your light at the sky.

> Buyer’s Guide: The best 2019/2020 front lights for cycling

The upshot is that the ALLTY 2000 doesn't feel as powerful on full beam as the Ravemen's, even its lumen rating is higher (2,000 versus 1,600).

2020 Magicshine ALLTY 2000 - front.jpg

It's still very bright though: bright enough for riding at any speed on dark lanes. The quality of the beam is good and the DRL strip gives a bit of close illumination to augment the longer throw of the CREE LEDs. Magicshine says it's 'ideal for both road and mountain,' but in reality it's probably a better off-road beam than a road one.

> 17 best rear bike lights for 2020 — boost your day & night visibility

The design of the lens gives a bit of side illumination as well so you can see what your hands are doing, and other road users can see you at a junction.

2020 Magicshine ALLTY 2000 - compared with Cateye Volt 1700.jpg

The ALLTY 2000 isn't an especially big light, and capacity is 3,500mAh from the removable 7.2v battery pack. Compare that to the larger Cateye Volt 1700 which packs in 6,8000mAh for nearly twice the runtime. On full beam the Magicshine has enough juice to run for just over an hour; you can extend that by carrying a spare, although the battery on its own isn't currently available on the UK distributor's website.

It's worth noting that, although both the manufacturer's site and the box say the capacity is 7000mAh, it isn't – the battery label is correct.

2020 Magicshine ALLTY 2000 - battery.jpg

Work your way down through the modes and your run times increase, of course, all the way to 14.5 hours for just the 55-lumen DRL strip. If you're aiming to ride all night you'll be stretching the ALLTY 2000's limits on one charge – the DRL strip doesn't really give  enough light to ride by.

A single main beam on the lowest setting gives you about eight hours, which will see you through to dawn, but that's only 100 lumens of light which – on the spot beam – is just about enough for cautious night riding. The second-lowest setting on one LED – 250 lumens – is better for general night use, and that gives around five and a half hours.

2020 Magicshine ALLTY 2000 - top.jpg

The ALLTY 2000's screen is simple and functional: it shows battery charge as a percentage when you switch modes, and then switches to run time after a few seconds. I found the run time estimations reasonably accurate, and it's useful on a longer ride to know what's left in the tank over and above a simple green-amber-red button. Current mode is indicated by an icon at the top, although the power setting isn't, which is a shame.

The brighter modes are only really necessary when you're getting some speed on. A push of the button cycles through the brightness modes of whatever setting you're in, and a double click changes the setting in this sequence: Spot > Flood > Twin beam > Flashing > DRL.

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The modes cycle dimmest to brightest, which is what you want (fewer presses for more light when you need it), but you need to be a bit careful when you're changing up: tap the button too quickly and you'll switch modes instead, and from twin beam that dumps you into flashing – exactly what you don't want going into a fast descent in the dark. It's quite a lot of clicks to get back to twin beam from there, too.

It's not the worst interface I've used on a light, but neither is it the most intuitive; given the sheer volume of modes it's a light that would benefit from some kind of editing functionality, to let you choose the ones you're going to use.

> Bike lights: 10 insider facts you need to know before you buy

At £129.99 the ALLTY 2000 is going head-to-head with a road.cc favourite, the Ravemen PR1600. That light gets a more road-oriented beam pattern, longer run times and a wireless remote; it comes out on top in a straight fight. The Magicshine is a decent light, and a bit more compact... plus I've already seen it discounted online to around £80, and at that sort of price it's good value. However, although the ALLTY 2000 is certainly bright enough, the beam pattern isn't particularly well-suited to road riding and, at full RRP, it feels overpriced for the spec.

Verdict

Decent torch-style light with a powerful beam and an excellent mount

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Magicshine ALLTY 2000

Size tested: 2,000 lumens

Tell us what the light 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?

Magicshine's 2nd bike headlight with built in DRL (Daytime Running Light.) Ideal for both road and mountain with its highly adjustable brightness and flash modes at 200 - 2000 lumens.

Two front CREE XM-L2 V60 LEDs have slightly different roles, one has grated lens with a 25 degree beam spread while the other clear lens has an angle of 18 degrees. Each capable of 1000 lumens of actual output. Powered by 2x 18650 3500mAh cells into a Magicshine proprietary cartridge style battery pack. It is enough to power full beams, full brightness for up to one hour, 2 hours on single LED at 100%, and up to 14.5 hours on just the DRL.

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

Maximum 2000 lumens light output

*Innovative OLED screen

*Dural beam angle (near and far)

*Independent daytime running light (DRL)

*Enhanced two high efficiency CREE LED

*General Garmin mount with adjustable straps

*Removable battery pack with 7000mAh super capacity

*High quality aluminum alloy housing

*Waterproof rate to IPX5

*Mode memory feature

Rate the light for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Very nicely made.

Rate the light for design and ease of use. How simple was the light to use?
 
7/10

It's straightforward enough, but not the most intuitive.

Rate the light for the design and usability of the clamping system/s
 
10/10

One of the best mounts I've used on a bike light.

Rate the light for waterproofing. How did it stand up to the elements?
 
9/10

No issues during testing.

Rate the light for battery life. How long did it last? How long did it take to recharge?
 
6/10

It's okay. One hour on full beam isn't all that useful, but there are plenty of other modes.

Rate the light for performance:
 
6/10

It's a decent light; maybe more suited to off-road use.

Rate the light for durability:
 
9/10

Well constructed with an excellent mount.

Rate the light for weight:
 
7/10

Compact and pretty lightweight.

Rate the light for value:
 
4/10

Doesn't really stack up against its direct competitors at full RRP.

Tell us how the light performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Pretty well: it's bright, has a secure mount and is fairly easy to use.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the light

The mount is a highlight, the beam's decent, and the removable battery means you can extend the life.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the light

The two beams are too similar and neither is particularly road-focused.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It's fairly expensive for what it is. The Ravemen PR1600 (same RRP) is just as bright and runs for longer, and also includes a wireless remote.

Did you enjoy using the light? It's decent rather than great.

Would you consider buying the light? Not at full RRP.

Would you recommend the light to a friend? Not over the Ravemen PR1600.

Use this box to explain your overall score

It's a decent light, this: well-made with a powerful beam. Magicshine needs to work on a more road-oriented beam, or at least use the fact it has two LEDs to make one better for road use. At £129.99 it's easily eclipsed by the Ravemen PR1600, which is still the light to beat at this price.

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 47  Height: 189cm  Weight: 94kg

I usually ride: whatever I'm testing...  My best bike is: Kinesis Tripster ATR, Merida Scultura, Dward Design fixed

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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4 comments

Avatar
peted76 | 3 years ago
0 likes

Disappointing, from what looks a very attractive and decent sized light with a preferred mounting option... I'll stick with my trusty Ravman PR1200 for a bit yet I reckon. 

Avatar
Welsh boy | 3 years ago
0 likes

I had one of their cheaper lights and the mount was fine to start with but soon got VERY sloppy and loose, I ended up having to use an old Garmin mount, not the end of the world but if I had paid the sort of money that they are asking for this model I would not have been impressed.

Avatar
Sriracha | 3 years ago
0 likes

Are the spot and flood pictures swapped? The spot illuminates more of the grass and the foreground than the flood.

Avatar
dave atkinson replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
1 like

yeah i think they are, i'll swap them. further proof that they're not different enough  4

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