Which lights for hub dynamo

[Gilk]

Getting a wheel built with a sp hub dynamo,what LED lights work well with hub dynamos? Any ideas, as serching the internet has left me confused.

[gaz]

Not my specialist chosen subject. A little more detail will help others to guide you.

Budget?

Typical purpose (e.g. urban commute / unlit country lanes / unlit towpaths)?

Front / Rear / Both?

[Brucey]

B&M Cyo 60 or Cyo 80 are a good starting point for a good front light.

There are reasons for choosing something different to those but if they suit you well enough you won't go too far wrong with either of them.

cheers

[deryck]

I found this website really useful - has photos of the beams at night too.
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/lightingsystems.htm

[seph]

The cyo is a great light. Recommended. Before I had one of those I had a Lumotec IQ fly. 40 lux as opposed to the 60 or more of the cyo. Still enough for the lanes in the dark, it's on my commuter now. I only mention it because there's one here viewtopic.php?f=32&t=105107 for a tenner.

[Vantage]

Mine's about a year and a half old. Best front light I've ever had and there have been a few.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lumotec-Bicycle ... B00FZXGFQU

My better half said my Topline Plus is one of the brightest rear lights she's ever seen from the drivers seat. That one's maybe a year old.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Busch-M%C3%BCll ... 73Z0KPANMY

Neither light has given me any trouble whatsoever. I struggle to believe there are better lights out there.

[andrew_s]

Getting a wheel built with a sp hub dynamo,what LED lights work well with hub dynamos? Any ideas, as serching the internet has left me confused.

Confusion isn't helped by the multitude of versions that B+M make.
The various models have a selection of the following features...
N - a switch, not needed for sidewall dynamos
R - a reflector embossed on part of the lens (a front reflector is a legal requirement in Germany, so this avoids the need for a separate reflector).
Plus (or +) - stays lit for 5 minutes or so after you stop, for traffic lights etc - a "standlight"
Senso - a light sensor that turns the light on automatically when it starts to get dark
T - daytime running lights (generally separate LEDs rather than the main light)

I'd reckon a switch and plus/standlight are pretty much necessary, and senso is very handy

The B+M model sequence, from basic to bling, is...
Lyt, Avy, Eyc, Cyo, Cyo Premium, Luxos, IQ-X.
There's also the IQ Fly & Fly premium, pretty much the same as the Cyo, but in a periscope style housing.
The premium version of the Cyo & Fly put out about twice the light of the non-premium, but mostly use it to light a wider area rather than the same area more brightly. The older non-premium version also doesn't light the area immediately in front of your wheel well, unless you've got the "R" version with the embossed reflector to scatter light into it (at some cost to the main beam brightness)
When comparing brightness, note that lux is the number for how brightly the road is lit, and that you've got to have maybe 50% extra lux before you would notice the extra without direct back and forth comparisons.

Any of them will be OK in street lighting, and Eyc upwards in dark country lanes (though even the Lyt would be better than old-style bulb lights). The time you want all the light you can get is where there's no street lighting and it's raining. Wet roads look very much darker the dry or merely damp roads.

I'd recommend, budget permitting, Brucey's Cyo 80 (the premium version).
I actually use the SON Edelux II, which is pretty much the same light in a bombproof and watertight housing, at considerable extra cost. The IQ-X is B+M's equivalent shiny light, but it's not been available for long enough for any meaningful feedback.

For a rear light, I'd recommend the B+M Toplight Line for putting on a rear rack, or the Secula for mudguard fitting (different version for seatpost/seatstay)

[andrew_s]

My better half said my Topline Plus is one of the brightest rear lights she's ever seen from the drivers seat. That one's maybe a year old.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Busch-M%C3%BCll ... 73Z0KPANMY

Note that that link is for the battery version (despite the picture).

[rualexander]

Axa are a quality alternative brand to the much promoted B&M,
http://www.axasecurity.com/bike-securit ... ts/lights/

[PH]

They all work well, as someone who for years used dynamo lights before LEDs I'm still often amazed at just how good all the modern lights are.
You do to an extent get what you pay for, more in terms of build quality than brightness, though there are differences there. If you're the sort of person who likes the latest, then the B&Ms are economical enough to upgrade every few years. If you like to buy quality and want it to last many years, the SON Edelux or Supernova might be better for you. I've had my Supernova 8 years and my SON 5 and hope to keep them many more. I doubt you'll find many people have kept their B&M lights that long (Though there will be some)

[interestedcp]

I doubt you'll find many people have kept their B&M lights that long (Though there will be some)

I think my oldest B&M dynamo light still in use is from 2004. It is a halogen "Oval" light which I donated to a friend some years ago, and it is still in regular use. A very good "be seen" light to this day.
My oldest B&M light I still use is my 1.gen IQ Cyo "Sport" (60 Lux) from autumn 2008 when it was released, and it has been used daily ever since. It is on my commuter bike and I have no plans for replacing it with a newer model since it still works well for my present commuter needs.

[pete75]

Many tests of lights front and rear https://swhs.home.xs4all.nl/fiets/tests ... ex_en.html . If you use USB charged devices it's worth getting a front light which will charge them like the Axa Luxx 70 plus or B&M Luxus U.

[[XAP]Bob]

I have a couple of Lyt lights, and they do a good job in town.

Possibly would want more if I was time trialling along a canal at night though.

[pete75]

Possibly would want more if I was time trialling along a canal at night though.

Didn't know you could get these with lights lol

[old_windbag]

If you use USB charged devices it's worth getting a front light which will charge them like the Axa Luxx 70 plus or B&M Luxus U.

I agree, and if you don't want the extra electronics the B+M Cyo Premium( 80 lux, no reflector ) is excellent. A nice wide beam and long throw all for around £45 at rosebikes and other german sellers. B+M are also doing 100 lux lights now but they may or may not yet be available. I think the 80 lux works very well indeed and thats from riding pitch black rural roads on moonless nights, plenty of light ahead. The peter white website is pretty good as linked earlier. Also the light flux diagram B+M have on their site is pretty accurate to real life too in beam shape and intensity.

Modern dynamo lights really are a revelation and they tend to make best use of the light they produce, rather than throw it up to the clouds.

Link to new 100 lux lights:- http://www.bumm.de/produkte/dynamo-scheinwerfer/lumotec-iq-x.html