Magicshine Monteer 8000S Galaxy V2.0 Remote review

Magicshine’s Monteer 8000S Galaxy is the reigning champion in our annual lights group test, with the V2.0 model I’m testing this year adding the software and hardware needed for the Bluetooth wireless remote control that’s now included.

That remote control (22g) is powered by a replaceable coin cell battery and has two buttons; one to change between the light’s modes (constant and flashing), the other to control brightness. The buttons light up green when pressed.

In total, there are 30 different modes with claimed run times starting at 32 hours for the 400-lumen setting and dropping to one hour 30 minutes for the 8,000-lumen max-power mode.

The rest of the light remains unchanged, however, still emitting 8,000 lumens from five Cree XHP-50 LEDs with 32-degree and 21-degree beam angles, packed into the same small and lightweight (145g) form factor. The single top-mounted button still doubles as a three-stage battery indicator.

An out-front Garmin-style mount is supplied that’s compatible with 31.8mm and 35mm bar clamps and weighs just 38g.

Also remaining unchanged is the MJ-6118 10,000mAh battery pack (400g) that can double up as a power bank and features a three-stage LED charge indicator. Connecting the battery to the head unit is a 107cm cable.

The light has an IP65 dust and waterproof rating.

Magicshine Monteer 8000S Galaxy V2.0 Remote performance

With an output that still remains unmatched, the Monteer 8000S Galaxy truly lights up the entire trail with total, confidence-inspiring power.

Crucially, that immense illumination is impressively spread out, with no bleached hotspot of light. Instead, the Monteer distributes its light evenly and broadly, far down the trail and out to the sides rather than focusing it directly in front of the light.

This even supply of light is thanks to the impressive beam pattern. It’s so broad and well controlled that exits of turns are almost as bright as the central focal point, and the breadth of the beam means the extreme peripheries of a trail are lit up like daytime.

The Monteer’s beam and power culminate in a night-riding experience that is as close to daytime as it can be: the gnarliest, most technical trails, even ones with sharp switchbacks, can be tackled with total confidence at high speed. Not a single lumen gets wasted with an overly focused beam, either.

The LED’s hue only adds to the experience. The yellow/white tint is easy to see with and makes colours on the trail pop, helping improve definition, clarity and context without creating the overly contrasting light-to-dark shadows that bluer and whiter lights can.

Adding a wireless remote to the package is a significant improvement. Outputs are now easier to toggle, and the secondary remote button swaps between high and lower power modes with one push, removing the need to cycle through all the Monteer’s settings.

It’s a shame the remote control’s buttons aren’t permanently backlit, instead only lighting up when they’re pushed. Depending on where it’s mounted, this makes locating them harder than it could be.

The Velcro strap’s two separate lengths make securing it to the bar tricky, too. To improve things, Magicshine could have supplied a single length that attaches to itself.

Being picky, including proper mode and battery life indicators would be the icing on the cake, but run times are long enough to eliminate battery anxiety, and it’s literally blindingly obvious when the Monteer is set to its highest output.

In our run time test, the Monteer 8000S Galaxy V2.0 Remote lasted for 1 hour 38 minutes on max power, slightly more than Magicshine’s claims. If that’s not long enough for you, dropping it down to 4,400 lumens doubles run time, and there’s still plenty of light on tap.

The mount’s secure Garmin-style twist-lock fitment makes removing the light quick and easy, and the Allen key bar clamp is a bit fiddly to attach but provides a movement-free base for the light.

The battery’s straps are easy to tension up to securely attach it to a frame, and its thin profile means it fits in smaller places bulkier batteries can’t. The cable is plenty long enough to mount the battery mid-ship, too.

Magicshine Monteer 8000S Galaxy V2.0 Remote bottom line

The Monteer 8000S’s few faults – a lack of mode or battery indicator, and now a tricky-to-secure remote – are totally redeemed by its immense power and incredible beam spread and colour.

Run times are as impressive as power, and the remote (despite its faults) is a great addition to the package. Undeniably, the Monteer retain its crown in this year’s test.

• Buy the Magicshine Monteer 8000s Galaxy V2.0