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Magicshine TTA Out-Front Bike Mount

8
£29.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Useful and high-quality bracket that takes two devices at once, but could use a few more mounting types
Shapely and well carved
Secure
Good mounts for Garmin and GoPro
Only fits four types of device mount
Not cheap
Weight: 
66g

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 TTA Out-Front Bike Mount deals with more than just lights – it holds two devices at a time securely, and comes with an array of fittings for Garmins and GoPros. There are still popular devices out there that won't fit, though – it could really do with a wider selection of adaptors.

The main alloy mount is very well made, and that smooth curve gives enough offset to centre your lights/devices even against the widest stem. It fits 35mm bars as well as the usual 31.8mm, and there's a neat silicone shim for each diameter that protects your bar and damps out vibration. It's extremely secure and steady, even with heavy lights and batteries hanging off it.

> Buy this online here

The over/under design is very useful for decluttering bars, as it allows you to, say, mount a GPS as usual and hang a light or GoPro underneath, or swap the GoPro to the top and hang a battery underneath... or whatever combination suits you.

2020 Magicshine TTA Out-Front Bike Mount - top 2.jpg

It comes with two adaptor plates for all Magicshine lights that use the Garmin base – or, you know, for mounting Garmins – and a third one that mates Garmins to GoPro mounts.

> Read more road.cc reviews of computer/gadget mounts here

There's also a screw-in Garmin adaptor for Magicshine's smaller lights, a Cateye mount, a Polar mount, and a substantial flat plate (4x4.5cm) backed with 3M's unbelievably sticky double-sided tape. Stick that to a flat section of spare battery (or anything else) and it's going nowhere. Rain doesn't affect it either.

2020 Magicshine TTA Out-Front Bike Mount - extras.jpg

Each plate secures to the main mount via two stainless steel screws and these, like the plastics and the CNC machining of the alloy, feel high quality.

2020 Magicshine TTA Out-Front Bike Mount - top.jpg

If your device isn't on the list, though, it's not coming in. My Lezyne GPS was relegated to the stem for the duration of this test, for instance, as Magicshine doesn't make an X-Lock adaptor plate.

At £29.99, this is competitively priced. The Oxford CLIQR Out-Front Handlebar Mount is exactly the same price, for instance (and only holds CLIQR devices, which the TTA doesn't), while the Vel CNC Straight Bar Mount takes a GPS and a GoPro and is £32. But not very good.

> GPS cycle route planning made easy – how to plan and follow a bike route

Go for plastic instead of alloy and something like Bikehut's Outfront Combo Mount holds a Garmin and a GoPro for £10.

If the adaptors in the TTA Out-Front kit suit your devices, it's a great option – well made, effective, secure and pretty versatile. It's just a shame Magicshine doesn't produce a slightly wider variety of fitting options for it.

Verdict

Useful and high-quality bracket that takes two devices at once, but could use a few more mounting types

road.cc test report

Make and model: Magicshine TTA Out-Front Bike Mount

Size tested: One size

Tell us what the product 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 says: "Multi-purpose out-front style bike mount from Magicshine, a durable, lightweight bike mount compatible with a variety of devices."

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

Magicshine lists:

Multi-purpose out-front style bike mount from Magicshine, a durable, lightweight bike mount compatible with a variety of devices.

CNC aluminum alloy body, hardened, rigid, durable and light weight

2 Garmin quarter turn style bases top and bottom, bottom base angle adjustable

Gopro compatible

Compatible with all Magicshine lights with Garmin base (Allty 2000, Monteer 6500 etc.)

Including Garmin adapters for Magicshine 9 series bike lights(MJ-900, etc.), Monteer 1400, USB batteries and Cateye speedometers

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Everything is neatly made from quality materials.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

Spec is good for the price.

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

Very well – it's stable, useful and secure.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Ability to mount two devices.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

No mount for Lezyne computers.

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

It's pretty average. Only one mount we've reviewed is cheaper (by just £5), while two are £45+.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes (if I had a Garmin).

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes (if they had a Garmin as well).

Use this box to explain your overall score

This is a well made, secure mount with a good selection of mounts for a slightly limited number of device standards – omitting a mount for Lezyne computers seems a rather large oversight. That aside, it's a solid option that covers a lot of bases (pun intended) and is priced well. It's very good.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 48  Height: 183cm  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: Vitus Zenium SL VR Disc  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: general fitness riding, mtb,

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3 comments

Avatar
jimt | 3 years ago
0 likes

The other issue is that alltough light manufacturers have been offering go-pro style offerings for a while now they offer no way to change lense orientation so the nicley crafted beam pattern becomes useless. No joined up thinking on show here.

Otherwise the actual impimentation of the mount and its design looks good and a decent price!

Avatar
Kendalred | 3 years ago
0 likes

I've never understood the value of these - mounting the light like this means the button is now underneath the light, so switching modes will be a fiddly nightmare, plus you won't be able to see the battery indicator. It would be okay if there was a remote control included like Halfords do for their lights. 

I have a Magicshine Allty 1000, and that goes on the out-front Garmin mount, while the actual Garmin is relegated (or promoted) to the stem mount.

Avatar
Yorky-M | 3 years ago
0 likes

i run my iphone when touring  with a front light so this will be just the job. many thanks for the review

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