The new Magicshine Seemee 100 AD is one of the first hybrid bike taillight radars we’ve seen in the market that replaces detection range for a compact form factor. What makes this a hybrid bike radar taillight is that it does not transmit radar data to GPS computers, instead, it only switches the taillight to a high-visibility flash mode to notify cars of your presence. It’s a clever idea that results in a much smaller radar taillight and allows Magicshine to optimize visibility with their clever LED lighting designs. The Magicshine Seemee 100AD retails for a competitive $54.99 and features a bright 100 lumen output. There is a 25 meter detection range for the 100AD as well as Magicshine’s FTR LightSync control which allows the taillight and a compatible headlight to be controlled via the same wireless remote.
The Magicshine Seemee 100AD is a clever hybrid taillight radar that alerts vehicles of your presence by switching to a high visibility flash.
| Retail Price | $54.99 |
| Rating | 9.3 / 10 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 40 (taillight), 13 (mount) |
| Likes | + Compact form factor that is half the size of traditional bike radars + High visibility flash when vehicles are detected + Clever hybrid taillight radar concept |
| Dislikes | – It is easy to confuse power and radar buttons with each other – Flash pattern can drain battery in heavy traffic as it stays on as long as there is a vehicle detected |
| Where to Buy (US) | Magicshine 15% OFF coupon code: “TheSweetCyclists” |
UNBOXING
The Magicshine Seemee 100AD comes in a bright black and orange cardboard box with a glossy graphic of the 100AD on the front. Specs and features are printed along the sides and back. Inside the box you’ll find:
- Seemee 100AD taillight
- Seatpost mount
- Saddle rail mount + 2x optional zip ties
- USB-C charging cable
- User manual
Note, to take advantage of the FTR LightControl you’ll need a compatible Magicshine light along with a wireless remote.
MOUNTING
The Magicshine Seemee 100AD shares the same miniaturized Garmin quarter turn mount as the Seemee 150, 180, 200, 300 taillights and other Magicshine products. It uses the same protruding tab design as standard Garmin mounts that rotate in place into a corresponding slot on the mount but it’s much smaller to fit within the body of the taillight. It’s a great mounting design that’s easy to install and quick to remove which is why this style mount is so common. Magicshine includes their standard plastic and rubber strap seat post mount we’ve seen with their other products. It’s a lightweight mount with two hooks that sits nearly flush against the seat post. There is an angled rubber pad on the mount that accounts for the angle of the seat post and helps ensure the taillight is parallel to the ground. Additionally, Magicshine includes their plastic saddle rail mount that clips into place onto bike saddle rails.
FIT & FINISH
Visually, the Seemee 100AD has a compact rectangular profile with a protruding clear lens. The taillight has a dual LED lens at the top and a flat radar surface that is surrounded by a COB LED ring. While most bike radar taillights have a 125 meter detection range, the Seemee 100AD is significantly shorter at only 25 meters which is why the radar surface is quite a bit smaller. The Seemee 100AD is also one of the happiest lights we’ve seen as it has a smiley face with the top two LEDs being the eyes, the center rings on the radar surface being the nose and the three curves at the bottom being the mouth. As with Magicshine’s other taillights this has an Altezza style design which features a clear lens that illuminates red when the light is on.
The Seemee 100AD is quite small with its measurements being only 57 mm x 36 mm x 25 mm with a thin plastic base. Branding is limited to a Magicshine logo on the top and the model name printed on the left side. There are two buttons on the taillight with a power button on one side and a separate radar button on the other. On the back you’ll find the miniaturized Garmin quarter turn mount that is shared with many Magicshine lights and a USB-C port hidden at the center.
The Magicshine Seemee collection has been known for their affordability and unique lens designs and the Seemee 100AD is no exception. With this taillight, Magicshine has combined elements from the Seemee 200 and 300 and re-arranged them to accommodate the radar surface. At the top of the Seemee 100AD there are two focused LEDs with dimpled reflectors, these provide long distance visibility. One of the coolest features of the taillight is the U-shaped COB LED ring along the bottom which surrounds the radar surface. There are small grooves cut along the edge which reflect the light and ensure it’s visible from any angle. With the Seemee 100AD on, the light is visible from any angle as well as long distances thanks to the focused LEDs.
USER INTERFACE
As far as the user interface, there are two buttons on the Seemee 100 AD with one button on each side of the light. Both buttons are illuminated with attractive LEDs to reflect their state and have a nice raised rubber design that has a great tactile feel. The left button is the power button which can be pressed while the taillight is off to check the battery status with green, and red color indicators. Note, due to the smaller size of the buttons you finger obscures the LED while you interact with the buttons. Holding the power button turns the light on and off while a short press with the light on toggles through the five available modes. There is an additional lockout function which can be activated by holding the power button for a few seconds which ensures the taillight is not accidentally turned on while in a bag or being stored.
Magicshine also lets you turn the radar functionality on or off with the right side button. When the radar mode is on, the Seemee 100AD automatically switches the taillight to a detection flash mode when a vehicle is detected. This can reduce the runtimes so Magicshine lets you toggle the radar on or off by pressing the button. With the radar on, the button has a blue light indicator which makes it easy to visually identify the current mode. Note, every time you turn the light on the radar mode is enabled so you have to turn it off every time if you do not want it. The buttons look nearly identical visually so we found that it was easy to confuse the two. We wish Magicshine had used more distinctive button shapes or coloring to differentiate them.
LIGHT OUTPUT
Magicshine programs the Seemee 100AD with five output modes that includes two constant modes and three flash modes. The two constant modes are a 12 lumen low with 7 hr runtime and a 30 lumen high with 3.5 hr runtime. There is also a night flash that switches between 12 and 30 lumen with a 6.5 hr runtime. For daytime riding there is a full power 0 to 100 lumen flash and 9 hr runtime that’s visible from long distance. The longest run time is the eco flash that alternates between 0 / 6 / 0 / 6 / 20 lumen with a 18 hr runtime. There is also a high visibility flash mode that is activated when a vehicle is detected that switches between 30 and 100 lumen.
With the multi-element LED design, the Seemee 100AD has great visibility at any distance. The two focused LEDs are visible from a long distance while the COB ring with the reflective edges provide a nice glow. We found the daytime flash mode to be perfect for daytime riding with a strong flash that keeps you visible. The built-in radar is also sensitive and quickly switches to the alert flash mode and then switches back to the previous mode. One curious feature or potential bug is that the vehicle alert mode stays active as long as there is a vehicle instead of timing out. That means the light stays in the alert mode while riding in busy traffic for an extended period of time and can run down the battery.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Magicshine Seemee 100AD to be a clever hybrid radar bike taillight. Magicshine has incorporated a small radar surface to achieve a 25 meter detection range that is used to automatically switch to a high visibility flash mode. While the Seemee 100AD doesn’t transmit data to GPS computers about the cars, the automatic flash mode is a helpful safety feature that ensures you are visible. As with all Magicshine lights, the Seemee 100AD has a bright and well designed multi-LED lens that combines highly focused LEDs with attractive COB LEDs. We were impressed with the output and think this type of hybrid radar design is quite clever. The only negatives with the taillight is that the two buttons can be confusing and that the high visibility flash mode can drain the battery in dense traffic. That said, the Magicshine Seemee 100AD has bright output and a well designed hybrid radar taillight functionality that helps you stay visible on the road.
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.
Please check my math. At closing speed of 60 mph the car will travel 88 feet in one second. The Seemee has a range of 82 feet.
Then there is the eye-brain-brake or steer reaction-and the time distance for the car to make the change or impact. Change this to closing speed 30 mph and there is about 1 second before impact.