What’s to be said? Great light, build quaility looks great, loads of output, though only had it just under 2 months so can’t comment on long term, though I doubt they’ll be any issues .
I got the helmet and handle bar mount, as I was going to mount it on my helmet originally, but considering the amount of times I’ve caught my DX P7 torch on branches I’m thinking of not bothering. As the rubber 2fish lockblock mount of the P7 has a lot of flexability in it, where-as the Toutie is a solid mount. Also I do believe you should have the bigger output light on the bars, suplimented by a helmet light to see round the corners.
I believe mine might have been a ‘pre-production’ model, so some of the following might have been ironed out on the ones now sold. The ‘minor’ downsides in my book are:
The handle bar mount screw isn’t in the greatest position to tighten, I had to use a ball ended allen key at an angle to get it tight.
I think the low is a bit too low (great for being seen on the road but not the greatest amount of light output for seeing by) but no doubt this is a driver(?) issue/limitation.
I wish the switch was a little easier to use, going up power is fine but coming down is a bit of a faff (holding for 3 seconds), especially if you on the road trying to be courteous to oncoming cars or even off-road when passing other on-coming mtb’s.
Output wise, as it’s an oblong shape the beam is quite difficult to compare with what I’ve used previously, as you get a very wide beam. Off-hand though the mid setting is as good as my magicshine unit but obviously a lot wider and I reckon is reach is better.
The high beam was initally a little disappointing, as you think that 700 -> 1200 would be a fantastically huge difference in output – it’s not as great as you may expect IMHO. That said once I got over this, it produces loads of light when on high, and I’d struggle to think that I could justify the need for a 7Up or Liberator. Though as I mention, I have a P7 torch or a Magicshine unit to use on my head to suppliment the going gets quick or twisty/technical.
I’m using my own battery that Smudge made for me a while back for my Lupine HID, so won’t comment on burn times, as (1) it won’t be useful and (2) I’ve yet to run it out, so don’t actually know how long it will last…
So, as a great enthusiast of the Magicshine unit, do I regret it? No, but I do have difficulty justifying it to friends, who use the MS units. As the price would have bought me several MS units and got the same output for probably less money. You have to understand though I love my Mini and don’t regret buying it, the MS units are just so damned cheap but the Mini is a better built, better all round output unit in my book.
I hope this is useful and hasn’t come across as too critical of a great light, as I want to be honest and not ’blow smoke up Troutie’s bottom’.