Dynamo - What are you using for a light?

[Colorado.Michael]

If you have a dynamo setup...

What are you using for a light for touring and why?

I bought a Busch and Muller IQ-X used on ebay and it's failing right out of the gate. Feels like a faulty switch, but I did get enough performance out of it to know what to expect from it now. It's my first real headlamp of this magnitude, and I don't want to go backwards again on lighting. I am running a Shutter Precision Dynamo hub. I have a Sinewave revolution already installed, so I don't need a USB charger in the mix. So I am thinking another IQ-X or going with the Son Edelux II instead so I have something to compare it too. I also have the B&M tail light that pulsates when stopping. Regardless of the pulsating, I like how bright and big it is and let's people know I am there for sure. What I don't like about the IQ-X is there is a cache battery in the tail light that doesn't go out for the first couple of minutes that you stop. If you suddenly had to go stealth for any reason, it's not the most ideal get away vehicle metaphorically speaking. But the lights work nice when they do work for the most part.

Should I just do the Edelux instead? Seems to be the best selling headlight in that class, although I think that has to do more with them just naturally being sold with Son hubs as well and by default that is why they probably sell more naturally I am guessing.

Thoughts?

[John Nettles]

Check out Peter White Cycles excellent headlight pages.  I use a SON dynamo with a Edelux with no issues.  However, I rarely use it at night, more for day time riding in traffic and to charge my stuff.
Tailwinds, John
P.S. Like you I will be on tour for a couple of weeks beginning tomorrow in South Texas so this is my last post.

[Colorado.Michael]

Well then God's speed to you and I hope it's wonderful for you!

[Pat Lamb]

I've got a B&M IQ Premium Cyo on one bike, and a Schmidt Edelux (the original) on another.  They'll be starting their sixth and third winter commuting Real Soon Now (actually, I guess they already started...).  The Cyo replaced an older Cyo R because, well, it was brighter and newer!  After a year and a half of switching the lights on and off, I just leave them on now.  Drag is imperceptible, and it's one less thing to worry about.  I've had zero problems with any of the three headlights.

To be honest, I got them for riding brevets and commuting, which is now mostly commuting.  I'm usually in bed with the sun when touring.  They're still useful while touring to make sure a sudden shower doesn't catch me without lights for extra visibility -- as has happened when I didn't realize some batteries were going flat.

[RonK]

For an elegant solution that won't fall apart or leak, sell the Sinewave Revolution and get a Beacon instead.


https://www.sinewavecycles.com/products/sinewave-cycles-beacon

[Colorado.Michael]

If I remember correctly, those are more like flood lights and don't do well with dazzle cutoff. They are great for off road, but from what I read, they can be blinding to oncoming traffic if I remember correctly. I hate when people blind me with their lights coming at me, so I try to be conscious of it.

[Pat Lamb]

I'm slightly curious, if you have the Beacon.  Sinewave says it's weatherproof, with seals galore.  But the picture on their web site shows a naked USB connector.  Being the simple sort of thinker that I am, it would seem like a drop of rainwater bridging the USB connectors would short the whole thing out.  Does the weatherproofing really work?  For comparison, both my B&M and Son lights have survived and worked through multiple downpours.

[Colorado.Michael]

Not sure if weatherproofing really works in rain, I have been in dry climates. Sinewave and other articles claim its waterproof from getting inside and doing damage. I have been I dry climates. That's about to change as I am arriving on the west coast so I guess we will find out. I questioned its validity too, but from speaking to manufacturer directly, they told me not to worry about it.

If I was to sell off the sinewave, I would probably just get a Luxux U at that point so I get the light from B&M with a USB port in it.

I wish there was more distributors state side for this stuff and it wa ssd's more widely available. And yes, I am familiar with Peter White cycles but I would rather find what I need at cheaper prices as just about everything is a premium with Peter Whites stuff.

Cost is always a factor for me and I already have a S&P hub, so it doesn't have to be SON ultimately if I can get a good price on some lights. $300-400 for lights seems to be a bit obnoxious when my bike ed frame didn't cost much more than that.

[RonK]

My Sinewave Beacon was exposed to several days of torrential rain on the west coast of New Zealand, a region known for its very high rainfall. And that was with the auxiliary battery connected to the USB port.
Any light has to be aimed correctly. Even shaped beams can dazzle if they are too high. However it's pointless aiming dynamo lights too high, they are just not bright enough.
You may be different, but when touring I rarely ride at night. But I do run my lights during the day. The Beacon has a nice feature that prioritises charging over lighting  but still provides a very visible daytime running light.
And if my SP hub fails (a not so uncommon situation) I can power the Beacon from the auxiliary battery.

[Colorado.Michael]

"And if my SP hub fails (a not so uncommon situation)..."

Oh no. Gosh I hope not

[canalligators]

Planet Bike Blaze.  It’s ok, bright enough but it is not a cutoff light.  The stand light function will burn for three minutes, but not very brightly.  I wish it would go brighter for a shorter time.  Also its slide on base got loose in less than a year of regular use, so I put a band of inner tube around it to prevent rattling.

The price was reasonable, but next time I’ll get a B&M or other good cutoff light.

[gottobike]

Why a light? Not to be sacrilegious, but why not a USB port and power bank, like the Goal Zero Venture 30 or Guide 10 Plus? I find dynamo powered lights overly complex and expensive, and only useful at night from the bike. A power bank connected to a dynamo would capture energy whenever the wheels are turning and make it usable to charge just about any rechargeable headlamp, tail lamp, helmet light, camp light, navigation equipment, speaker, cell phone, tablet, etc.

[canalligators]

Why a light? ...

Because it's simpler, cheaper and does the job.  The charge-use system does more, but it's function that I don't use, commuting or on tour.  I don't take a lot of electronics along.

[Inge]

I use a Son on both my bikes - 'cause it is convenient not having to worry about keep lights charged. Besides that on 1 of my bikes it is connected to a forumslader so that it charges my devices as well.

[TCS]

FWIW on my light touring bike I'm driving a B&M IQ-X with a Sturmey-Archer Dynohub.  Pleased.