Dynamo LED front lights

[ed]

Has anyone tried the Busch & Mueller and/ or the Basta Pilot dynamo LED headlamps? How do they compare with traditional Halogen? Are they worth the extra cost? Are there any other brands to consider? Any advice will be appreciated.

[Bob H]

I have a B&M 2 watt D Lumotec powered by a Shimano hub dynamo. The best a brightest front light I’ve ever used. I previously had a 3 watt halogen powered by a bottle dynamo plus two 2 watt krypton nicad battery lamps; the B&M set up far exceeds that performance.

Superb lighting, go for it!

[jb]

Seconded

It is quite top heavy though so get a good solid bracket (not the pressed steel ones) to fix it to the frame to stop vibration.

[donkeebrain]

I have the B&M D'Lumotec Sensor light.

I have never had a hub dynamo powered light before, but it is the best performing part of my bike.

Powered by a Sturmey Archer dynohub, it really pushes out light. The standlight feature activates very shortly after only a few metres pedalling to give a useful spread of light.

The sensor function works great too.

Add to that the fact that the front reflector is built in, and it's one very useful bit of kit.

Oh! and the LED is warranted for 100,000 hours use!

Only downside was the price. I went to Germany and got it AND a rear B&M light for 10 Quid less than the only UK retailer I could find.

www.bike24.com About 4 Quid P&P from Germany and arrived in a couple of days...

www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;product=3152;group=92;page=1;ID=2750b78ef729a01f7c81cd8d5e851d09 Is what I bought... Even better Pound/Euro rate now...

Highly recommended.

[Woodbridge Pete]

I considered the B&M and the Schmidt LED front lights, but went for the Solidlights lamp to go with the Schmidt hub.

Very pleased. Was able to ride at night at a pace I would go during the daytime on dark country roads (that night I had a tale wind and averaged over 25mph). No problem seeing everything; plus cars tended to pull over or slow down once seeing the light.

[AHB]

I have the Basta Piliot standlight and the B&M DTopal.

The DTopal seems brighter (and the Pilot has an odd heavy bracket, which I didt use as was fixed to a folder.)

Now I would buy the newer B&M D Oval, which has the standlight driving the main LED, which I prefer. It is nicer looking and slightly cheaper than the Topal.

[julk]

I can also recommend the Solidlights 1203d powered by a Schmidt dynohub. The amount of light and its spread works well on unlit roads and tracks, even at slower speeds.

[ed]

Thanks to all for advice. I notice that the German bike24 website has a basic B&M Oval dynamo LED for €39.90, about £27. I don't need a switch or standlight, and the only other difference from the more expensive Topal seems to be styling. I think I'll go for the Oval, but does anyone know if the Oval is optically identical to the Topal ?

[AHB]

The Oval may be very very very very slighty brighter I think:--

see the Busch and Muller website --- (type "Busch and Muller" AND Home into google)

It has an English version

[ed]

I've just ordered the B&M LED Oval from Bike24 Germany, €39.90 + €5.95 post (bikeplusUK are selling it at £44.90 + £3.50 post. I'm saving about 35% !).
I'll submit my road test comments next week after using it for a while.
Thanks again for all the advice.

[andrew_s]

The Topal is very difficult to mount anywhere except at the fork crown, with a bolt where calipers would go.

[KEELIEDW]

I've now been using the new B&M LED dynamo headlamp (base "Oval" model, no standlight) for a couple of weeks. It's possibly not quite as good at long range as the best halogen lamps, but is better at middle & near distances. Low-speed performance is exceptional, crawling uphill in a 20inch gear it still floods the road with light. Awareness among oncoming drivers is noticeably greater. Quite expensive, but a significant step forward for confident night riding, and of course no bulb failures.

[KEELIEDW]

PS: I forgot to mention that the "Bike24" shop in Germany also stocks a B&M LED rear carrier fitting dynamo light with standlight, the "Toplight Flat Plus", at €12.90, about £8.70. It weighs just 65 grams! This light seems more powerful even than the Hella RL980, which was the best dynamo rear light I'd come across up to now.

[abradleyInf]

I noticed the B&M Flatlight and looked it up on the B&M website:

The instructions dont mention it being K~ compliant ,
similarly for the stylised DToplight XS.

Is this an oversight or are B&M joining in other manufacturers lack of interest?

[abradleyInf]

But the website blurb itself says the FLatplus has German approval,.

NB they have a dynamo powered battery charger called Ride and Charge, for the Ixon (4 AA cells), but possibly a 4AA battey pack could be used on its own/