With 8000 verified lumens, the Magicshine Monteer 8000S is one of the brightest bike headlamps available on the market. The 5-LED headlamp is perfect for turning night into day whether you’re riding in the mountains, or on urban or country roads. While the original 8000s isn’t short on power, the headlight lacked a wireless remote for helmet mounting or more convenient control. Magicshine has addressed that issue with an updated version of the Monteer 8000S that adds a long awaited wireless remote. Retailing for $419.99 the 8000S V2 is only $20 more than the previous version and incorporates a two-button wireless bluetooth remote. Unfortunately, the remote is not backward compatible, so if you already own an 8000S you won’t be able to take advantage of it.
The Magicshine 8000S V2 combines the ridiculous 8000 lumen output with a two button wireless remote that allows for helmet mounting and more direct control over the headlight.
| Retail Price | $419.99 |
| Rating | 9.5/10 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 144 (headlamp) /422 (battery) /34 (mount) |
| Likes | + Ridiculously bright + USB Type-C charging + Wireless remote has a two button interface |
| Dislikes | – No DRLs – Lacks a runtime display screen – Wireless remote is not backward compatible |
| Where to Buy (US) | Magicshine 15% OFF coupon code: “TheSweetCyclists” |
UNBOXING
The Magicshine Monteer 8000S V2.0 is securely packed in a sleek black cardboard box with Magicshine’s distinctive black and orange graphics on it. Inside the box you’ll find:
- Monteer 8000S V2.0 headlamp
- Wireless remote + CR 2032 battery
- MJ-6118 7.2V 10.0Ah battery pack w/ Velcro straps
- Out front mount w/ handlebar rubber pads
- USB-C to USB charging cable
- Instruction manual
One thing that we noticed with the 8000S V2.0 is that Magicshine included a yellow protective film over the headlamp lens. Although we suspect the film may start melting with extended use of the headlamp, the yellow color has an interesting effect.
MOUNTING
Consistent with Magicshine’s other lights, the Monteer 8000S uses the Garmin style quarter turn mount directly molded into the bottom of the headlamp. This is one of our favorite features of Magicshine lights as the Garmin style mount is very common and allows you to use the light on your existing mounts instead of having to purchase proprietary mounts. The included out-front mount is similar to the Magicshine TTA mount but stubbier and has a satisfying click when attaching the Monteer 8000S V2. It’s a single sided mount but appears to have the screw holes on the bottom side so you could likely turn it into a dual-sided mount with a compatible puck. The Monteer 8000S can also be mounted upside down as the lens is not directional and there is no beam cutoff.
With the lightweight design of the wireless remote, Magicshine has opted for a simple velcro strap mount. It’s fairly thin but long enough to wrap around most handlebars to provide quick access to the controls. We would have preferred to see something a bit more durable as the hooks and loops in the velcro capture mud or dirt. Also, while the wireless remote makes the 8000S V2.0 ideal for helmet mounting, you may want to consider purchasing an extension cable as the wired battery pack cable may be too short for some setups.
FIT & FINISH
Design wise, the Magicshine Monteer 8000S V2.0 is identical to the Monteer 8000S we’ve previously reviewed. We’d recommend reading our original review for a more thorough overview of the design and usability. At a glance, it’s an intimidating headlight with a five LED setup with three Cree XHP 50.2 on the top row and two XM-L2 on the bottom. The top three LEDs act as a flood light with a wider beam angle and larger reflectors while the bottom two have a more focused beam. The Monteer 8000S V2.0 has the same metal body with a simple one-button interface on top with the battery wire extending out the bottom rear of the headlamp. Especially in the full 8000 lumen mode, the headlamp generates a lot of heat which is why Magicshine has Integrated fins into the metal housing for heat dissipation.
USABILITY
The main feature of the Monteer 8000S V2.0 is the included wireless remote. It’s a simple plastic remote with two backlit rubber buttons. The top button has a circle cutout while the bottom has a square cutout that is reminiscent of the Sony Playstation controllers. Each button has two different actions depending whether you do a single or double press.
The actions for the top “circle” button are:
- Single press – cycle through the four output intensities (eco to high)
- Double press – activate the flash mode
The actions for the bottom “square” button are:
- Single press – activate the full 8000 lumen hybrid mode
- Double press – cycle through the different output modes (flood LEDs, spot LEDs or hybrid)
When the Monteer 8000S V2.0 is first turned on the light will flash green as it syncs with the remote. After that you can use either the remote or the single button on top of the Monteer 8000S to control the light. With the wireless remote, the 8000S can easily be helmet mounted now as you don’t have to fumble with the top mounted single button to change the modes. The other advantage of the remote is that it adds a two button interface. With the 15 output modes of the Monteer 8000S, having a two button interface greatly improves the usability of the headlamp. Most importantly, you don’t have to cycle through flash mode to change the output intensity and you can always access the full 8000 lumen mode with a single button press. It’s very similar to the Moon Sport Boost mode and comes in very handy when doing fast descents or entering dark tunnels.
LIGHT OUTPUT
We’d recommend reading our original review for a full overview of the light output as the 8000S V2.0 has the same output and run-times. Riding with the 8000S on the helmet is quite different than on the handlebar as we did with the Magicshine ultimate light combo (8000S + 3500S combo). With the 8000S on the helmet it’s easier to see around corners thanks to the higher power of the light. The wireless remote also makes it far more convenient to adjust the output on the fly without having to fumble with the button top of the headlight.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Magicshine Monteer 8000S V2.0 to be a welcome improvement to the already impressive 8000S headlamp. The 8000 lumen output is more than any rider needs as it turns nighttime into day with a wide and even beam. With the wireless remote, the 8000S can now be easily helmet mounted without having to fumble with the single top mounted button. We are happy to see a two-button interface on the remote as it greatly simplifies using the Monteer 8000S and improves the usability as you don’t have to cycle through flash mode to change the intensity and can access the full 8000 lumen output and makes the $20 premium Magicshine charges for the remote equipped 8000S V2 is well worth the cost. The remote is unfortunately not backward compatible so current owners of an 8000S can’t take advantage of the remote. That said, if you’re looking for the ultimate mountain biking or road cycling headlamp with the convenience of a remote, the 8000S V2.0 should be on top of your list.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Magicshine. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.