Dynamo Lighting Advice

bikerbill
bikerbill Posts: 269
edited October 2007 in Workshop
What to go for really. I commuter down unlit country lanes and could do with a decent front light setup, more to see than be seen. I would prefer a Shimano hub due to pricing, but what light to buy? Any recommendations on a complete setup?

Cheers,

Bill

Comments

  • piedwagtail91
    piedwagtail91 Posts: 781
    there's a new shimano hub due out soon. http://cycle.shimano-eu.com/publish/con ... world.html theres also a new busch and muller front light ,the lumotec iq fly, giving out 40 lux which is more than twice as much as the current dlumotec led oval. http://www.bumm.de/index-e.html select catalogue front lights then the iq fly.
  • paul_smith_srcc
    paul_smith_srcc Posts: 247
    Most of the branded lights will give sufficient illumination to allow you to see where you are going, even those lamps aimed more at commuting which have an led backup with q wide beam spread like the BM OvalPlus (make sure you get the switched version if using a hub dynamo of course)

    Alternatively some lamps like the E6 by Schmidt have a more focused beam with emphasis more on to see as apposed to be seen with. These are still often used by commuters who ride mainly on well lit roads, for the vice versa theory applies to the lamps designed more to be seen with; they also make excellent commute lamps.

    Some of the new Led lamps are also proving popular, from both BM and the likes of Solidlight; although I note that the traditional halogen bulbs are still the first choice of many

    Paul_Smith
    www.bikeplus.co.uk

    bikerbill wrote:
    What to go for really. I commuter down unlit country lanes and could do with a decent front light setup, more to see than be seen. I would prefer a Shimano hub due to pricing, but what light to buy? Any recommendations on a complete setup?

    Cheers,

    Bill
    My personal cycling blog
  • JWSurrey
    JWSurrey Posts: 1,173
    I'm running the battery version of the Solidlights - It's very good - The Dynamo version uses the same LEDs, - although it has 2 of the 3 LEDs.
    Theysupport from the vendor is pretty good too.
    I'd hazard a guess that it's kicking out over 100 lumens at max. voltage! The site has a favourable comparison against a 10W halogen overvolted at 12V.

    www.solidlights.com

    Hi Paul - Good to see you're still lurking!
  • bikerbill
    bikerbill Posts: 269
    Thanks for the replies, much appreciated.

    As a complete and utter coincidence, when I rolled into work this morning I spotted a solidlights/shimano hub set up on somebody else's bike, so he's going to give me a demo in the morning. He is more than pleased with his setup.

    Bill
  • rdaviesb
    rdaviesb Posts: 566
    Another vote for Solidlights. I've got mine paired to the SON dynamo and the output is fantastic. So good in fact, I'm getting another set made up for the tandem.
  • alan_sherman
    alan_sherman Posts: 1,157
    Any more reasonable suggestions for a dynamo setup? My bike is worth nothing so £200 on a dynamo setup seems a bit OTT!

    I would like to avoid charging batteries and use in an urban, well lit environment.
  • mercurykev
    mercurykev Posts: 264
    I managed to make up my hub dynamo set up for under £70.

    I got the hub from ebay for about £20. Bought a rim from ebay for £10. Spokes about £10. LED headlight with standlight from SJSC for about £25.

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