I was looking for a replacement for my BTWIN FL920 front light which did an exceptionally great job for 3+ years and is still alive and kicking. The reason for a replacement was mainly the need for better lumens and a better power backup, that's it, nothing more fancy. Magicshine RN 1200 turned out to be the perfect candidate for my requirements in terms of technical specs and of course budget.
The Aluminum housing speaks loudly of a 'good build' and of course, the 1200 Lumens of full power is the major upgrade for me compared to my previously available 280 Lumens.
Mounting was a simple job. There are multiple straps available to fit all standard handlebars. The generic quarter-turn Garmin-style mount is good, but the grip could be a bit better in my view. The light fits much better, very firmly on my Wahoo bike computer mount.
Mounting position could be a bit tricky if you have multiple devices on the handlebar. The RN 1200 needs to sit as center on the handlebar as possible to get a good beam in front while being used as a headlight. In that case, you need to move the other device at least 2 inches away in order to mount/dismount devices freely.
Another good spec is the USB C connector instead of the USB A micro. A full charge was achieved in 2.5 hours with a 3A power adapter. The 4000 mAh battery capacity is more than sufficient for my kind of usage. As per specifications, it must last 7 hours on FLASH 1 mode, but I got over 9 hours on a single charge, which is pretty impressive. There are 2 'Flash modes' and 3 'Always on modes' with Low (300), Mid (600), and High (1200) options. Mid-mode is sufficient for most late-evening rides. The power switch on top of the device with a green backlit LED responds well to single and double taps for switching between modes.
It is an IPX7 Waterproof grade device. That's huge, cause it means that it can survive after being submerged in up to 3 feet of water, but for me, the device surviving the crazy monsoon weather is more than sufficient.
You can also use the RN 1200 as a power bank with a USB C > C cable. But more than that the interesting part (which is not advertised) is that you can use an external power bank with a USB C > C cable to charge the RN 1200 light while it is in use. A huge 'plus' for bike touring and late-night rides.
For me, this is a good upgrade delivering both 'To see' and 'To be seen' purposes. Surely recommended for its build quality, powerful beam intensity, super battery capacity, fast charging, and power bank charging features.
Oh! BOTS. Thanks for delivering this on time. 😉👍