Magicshine's Monteer 8000S V2 takes the excellent battery life and huge output of the original light but adds a remote control. While a simple addition, this ups the ease of use and, importantly, increases the overall adjustability of the light making it one of the best mountain bike light options right now. It doesn’t penetrate quite as well as the very best lights on the market however and the remote isn’t without its faults.
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Magicshine Monteer 8000s Galaxy V2 - Technical details
For all intents and purposes, the Magicshine Monteer 8000S Galaxy V2 is the very same light as we tested back in 2021 but it gets a remote and an increased range of adjustability.
A cool feature is that this light is effectively split into two, with a flood light outputting a maximum of 4,800 lumens and a spotlight, kicking out up to 3,200 lumens. This is achieved through the employ of five CREE XHIP 50.2 LEDs and when they’re all in use, an output of 8,000 lumens is achieved, making the Monteer 8000S one of the highest output bar-mounted lights available.
The star of the show is the new 2.4G remote that accompanies the light and comes with a five-meter range (perfect if you're running 10-meter wide bars) and it turns red when the battery is at 20% and flashes at 5%.
As for run times, Magicshine predicts full beam to be able to run for 2.5 hours, which can be extended up to a huge 32 hours when run at 10% power, half beam mode.
The Monteer 8000S V2 then claims a 315m maximum bean distance with a 25000CD beam intensity. The light is combined with an external 10,000mAh battery that can also become a power bank if needed, using a USB-C fast charging and discharging connection. In terms of waterproofing it's got an IPX 5 rating.
In the pack is an aluminium Garmin mount that can fit either 31.8 or 35mm bars. Altogether, this weighs in at 589g, excluding the remote.
Magicshine Monteer 8000S Galaxy V2 - Performance
So the big difference with the Monteer 8000S V2 is that it comes with a wireless handlebar-mounted remote. With this, Magicshine has set up the 2.5G remote to take full advantage and adjustability of the floodlight/spotlight or top/bottom split, setting it firmly apart from its non-remote sibling.
Starting off with the button with the circle on, this scrolls through four output settings, and double-clicking it scrolls through continuous and flash modes. Holding down the square button adjusts which, or how many LEDs you’re using. So you can set it so just the bottom two (spot) is emitting light or just the top three (flood) - or even both.
Giving the square button a single click shifts the light into its most powerful mode where it blasts the full might of those 8,000 lumens. Give it one more and it’ll revert to the previous setting. This alone is a fantastic feature as it takes away the need to scroll through all of the output options before and after a descent.
All of the adjustments allow the user to shape the beam to their needs with the lower portion offering a comparatively narrow beam and the upper three widening it. Of course, this also allows the user to squeeze out the most battery life they can, ideal if you're into marathon rides.
When each bulb is at full output, the light emitted is very widely shaped, covering almost every inch of a trail. It’s a very even and smooth beam, too. The Monteer 8000S V2 has a very respectable reach but because the beam is so wide, it doesn’t throw its light as far down the trail as effectively, or efficiently as the Exposure Sixpack, for example. Unlike the Sixpack, it doesn’t rely on clever reflectors to chuck its light ahead, instead (while there are reflectors and light sculpting features built-in) this light leans heavily on its mighty lumen count to hammer throw its light down the trail.
However, that’s no bad thing as it combines a vast flood of light that penetrates respectfully deep into the trail ahead. So really, this is a very well-rounded light.
Considering the Monteer 8000S’s big lumen count, the battery life on this thing is massively impressive. Not that it’s an appropriate thing to do but I’ve been able to run this light at full power for well over an hour without hesitation. That’s left me with a good chunk of battery power left to play with, too.
The light isn’t without its niggles; the main one being in the stability of the remote. It’s rubber backed which is great for keeping the remote from damaging your bar, but it’s pretty slippery. I’ve had to set mine up so it leans on my brake reservoir in order for it to stay put when clicking the buttons. It works but it’s far from ideal.
The remote’s Velcro strap also needs a rethink because it’s not the easiest thing to install onto a handlebar, especially tight enough to stop it from rotating under pressure.
Magicshine Monteer 8000S Galaxy V2 - Verdict
Despite coming in at £20 more than the original Monteer 8000s, the V2 is still fairly competitive when it comes to pricing and the added adjustability of the remote makes it a no-brainer decision.
Compared to the USE Exposure Sixpack MK12 SYNC MK4 and you’re getting a wider beam that doesn’t penetrate quite as well, with a longer battery life. The Sixpack costs £495 but it does offer app connectivity and a range of programs that’ll appeal to many. It’s also a one-piece light and it’s built beautifully.
There’s also the Gloworm XSV light set that costs £330 and it comes with some cool features such as app connectivity and a two-hour run time at full power but the reality is, there aren’t any other lights on the market that come close to the Monteer 8000S V2’s lumen output.
If you’re looking for a huge lumen count and a very useful range of adjustability at the flick of a switch, the Magicshine Monteer 8000S V2 should be at the very top of your list. It boasts a wide but far-reaching beam that any night rider will find impressive. However, its remote needs some refinement.
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