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SEVEN DAY CYCLIST
CYCLING, BUT NOT USUALLY RACING
LATEST UPDATE: NOVEMBER 18th
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Magicshine SeeMee V2.0 50 Smart Tail Light
28g £23.99
The Magicshine SeeMee V2.0 50 Smart Tail Light is, well, just that. The fifty lumens top daylight mode sounds modest, but with lights that are there to get you seen rather than cast a lot of light, there can be much more than that. So, not judging a book by looking at the cover, I have used this light and been pleased with how well it has coped with my varied riding environments. Another Magicshine light that combines performance and nice price with aplomb.
Pros: long run times, speedy charging, punches above its weight, 260 degrees visibility, automatic kickdown function at 10% charge.
Cons: limited range of modes.
Spec
Aimed at the road, urban, and/or commuting cyclist, the Magicshine SeeMee V2.0 Smart Tail Light does not immediately stand out from the crowd. In the box are the light, two silicone 0-rings, and a USB charging cable.
Polycarbonate and ABS are well-known plastics, offering durability and good impact resistance. The slim body and lens are not intrusive and contain the 430mAh 3.7V and the COB LEDS. These latter generally offer a more intense light pattern than a single more powerful LED. There’s also the gubbins that allows the Smart Sync function that will detect siblings and sync into a common flash pattern – claimed to give your group greater presence. There’s also tech that allows you to sync you front light – if it has similar FTR capability – and, of course, a remote control.
The lens is designed to give 260 degrees of presence, with a visibility range of 1000m.
Overall, what looks like a pretty simple light contains a lot of punch and some pretty swanky tech.
Mount 3.5/5
Simplicity continues with the mounting system. You can’t get more basic than an O-ring, can you? Well maybe a simple clip onto a lighting loop on a set-pack. However, the O-rings should fit most seat-posts and the light should sit neatly on round seat-posts. Aero seat-posts I can’t comment on.
This has held firm over the tree-routes and setts of the canal towpath as well-as the pot-holes of the city centre. Perhaps, sometimes, simple is best. However, it does limit muntin options. I have managed to bodge it onto a seat-stay with a smaller O-ring from the spares box, and it has held onto the
Surly Ted Trailer with a bigger O-ring. However, its natural habitat is the seat post. Given that my bikes have limited exposure, I anticipated an issue or two. I need not have worried. Even with limited space, the light sits proud enough to comfortably overlap the seat-tube. It has also found a niche on a seat stay, although this doesn’t present the full face of the light to the rear, the angle upward does little to diminish real-life visibility.
Now, this could just be me, but I have found that the watch strap has made several stealthy bids for freedom. Fortunately, these have been when removing the light in daylight. Not wanting to spend too long firkling around the dark corner where my bike gets parked-up at work, I’ve dug a spare out of the odds bin and kept it ready to step into the breach.
Switch 3.5/5
The switch also operates as the charge indicator. A three second press allows you to glimpse the charge when the light is off. Green means more than 21% remains, with steady red indicating above 10%, and a red flash commencing when the light kicks down automatically for the last 10% in Eco mode.
Firm pushes are required to power on or off and to toggle. I’ve operated it in full-finger gloves, even managing to change the mode on the go. I have not managed to get it to power on when pocketed away from the bike. However, you can be sure of this with the lock function.
Charge and run times 4/5
I can confirm the two-hour charge from zilch to full via the laptop. However, best to charge before the charge hits the floor, so there’s little problem sneaking this past the eye of the authorities at work – if they make a fuss about such things.
Run times are very good and I’ve found them to be pretty much spot on, with odd variations of a few minutes here or there. Eco Flash gives a whacking great 30.5 (i.e. thirty and a half hours) hours with its 0-3-0-3-10 lumens pattern. The day flash at 50 lumens gives 10.5 hours; night flash 6-15 lumens, 7 hours; steady high 15 lumens, 3.7 hours; low steady, 6 lumens, 6.8 hours.
At this price point these are very competitive, especially as the intensity of the light allows relatively moderate numbers to offer much more than one would assume.
Modes and performance 4/5
So, the modes might be limited compared to some, but some people prefer simplicity and sensible modes to a bigger range and too much choice. The first thing to do, though, is to reiterate that the COB design, combined with the lens, offers a solid block of light – from directly behind or from the side. The fact is that lumens measure light cast, rather than how bright the source is. That’s really significant for rear lights.
On dark country lanes, the high steady mode gives clear presence at around 200 metres, but becomes unmissable at 150 metres or so. OK, it can be seen from further afield, but that is not really the point. In the brighter lights of traffic, the presence remains strong, with clear presence at 125 metres or so. Anecdotally, motorists said that even with car lights all around, they knew I was there at 100 metres.
Similar results were achieved by the low steady – although I am not sure how 6 lumens manage this – with around 25 metres less in terms of distances.
The flash modes are very sensible, with the day flash doing as well as some more powerful single LEDs. Not that it matches something like the Ravemen TR300, but you would not expect it to at this price point. I’ll admit to not sticking to the day; heavy city centre traffic saw it employed as a blinkie alongside my dynamo light or a Ravemen rear light. To be honest, I felt it might be a little fierce, but no-one shouted abuse and drivers kept their distance.
Night flash, 6-15 lumens, does not really sound very powerful, but the theme of packing a hefty punch continues. Easily visible in traffic – where I tend to employ a flash – it has been credited with clear presence at 75 metres, although it can be seen from further away. In heavier traffic it holds its own, anecdotally, at fifty or so metres. With a seven-hour run time, it may well get you through a summer Audax ride, as an auxiliary light.
The memory function light up the same mode after powering-off the light.
I’ve come to like this light, both in its own right and paired up with either a B&M dynamo rear light or a second light, such as the Ravemen TR300, used in a different mode. There’s no doubt that the Magicshine SeeMee 50 holds its own amongst the city lights and gives plenty of presence at safe distances on unlit lanes. As such, you could use it whatever type of cycling you are doing, especially if you are teamed up with other users of suitable Magicshine lights. Solo commuting, night-time training with the club, and all things in between. This is further enhanced if you go for a Magicshine FTR-capable front light and a remote control.
Care and durability 3.5/5
IPX6 is plenty. After all this is likely to be protected by your saddle. In any case, IPX6 makes for protection against ingress form heavy rain, spray, almost anything short of immersion. It has faced all these, except immersion, on my autumn jaunts and commutes. No sign of any harm.
The materials are pretty tough, but I have tried not to drop it! It is worth ensuring that the charging port is protected securely by its rubber bung. It holds in place securely, but occasionally I have accidentally dislodged it when fumbling around in my pockets when away from the bike.
Value 4/5
The rear light market is incredibly competitive. This is especially the case in that mid-power bracket. Keeping in mind that raw lumens might not be the best measure of a rear light, the Magicshine SeeMee 50 V2.0 offers a lot to all kinds of cyclists. In particular, it has added value if you ride with people with some other Magicshine lights or run FTR-enabled Magicshine front lights yourself. That makes them a little awkward to compare to others.
I’m not going to say more than that there are some powerful Ravemen lights out there – some may say a little more powerful than is necessary. Equally, there are lights, such as ones from SeeSense and other sensored lights, that have braking functions. Then there are hi-tech Exposure lights, such as the Exposure Boost-R and ReAkt rear light. Well, you ain’t going to get that for £23.99.
The Topeak Redlite 80 has similar run times – even longer in some cases – and a much higher output in terms of lumens. It also has some very frugal modes. However, you’ll pay a tenner more.
There are plenty of other comparators, too. It can’t compete with Lelumia the Beast’s output or flexible mounting options. However, if you don’t feel that visibility at 500 metres is really necessary and tend to mount your rear light on the seat-post, you may prefer the longer run times of the SeeMee 50 V2.0.
The Ravemen TR50 is more expensive, but offers a lot of nice features, including mounting options. Whilst its sibling, the TR100, adds a little more oomph, too.
Summary
The Magicshine SeeMee 50 V2.0 is a very good general purpose rear light offering more ambitious riders longer run times and sensible modes. Pair it up with suitable siblings and you can get a lot more form it. It mya not be the brightest, but how bright do you really need to be? It is, however, well thought-out and will serve the all-nighter as well as the daily driver.
Verdict: 3.75/5 Natty little light with lots to like at a decent price.
Steve Dyster
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 2024
