Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Light On! Dynolite Headlight Experience?

Has anyone tried out the Light On! Dynolight headlight yet? If so can you compare the real world light output and pattern to any of the German LED generator lights such as the IQ Cyo or other dynamo lights that are normally considered relatively bright?

Love to see some comparison photos of illumination levels and patterns if anyone has a link to some or can post them here.

Hard to compare based on specs as the Dynolite uses Lumens output while the IQ Cyo uses Lux light level at the brightest part of the beam.

^^
Hey, tatfiend, good idea starting a new thread on the DynoLight. (Hoping someone other than me would.) As you know, I'm using the DynoLight now and very happy with it, but you also know (I think) that I don't have any comparative experience. So, I'll be watching this thread, too. If I can manage a decent pic or two of the light pattern from my axle set-up, I'll post up. Thanks.

^^
Hey, tatfiend, good idea starting a new thread on the DynoLight. (Hoping someone other than me would.) As you know, I'm using the DynoLight now and very happy with it, but you also know (I think) that I don't have any comparative experience. So, I'll be watching this thread, too. If I can manage a decent pic or two of the light pattern from my axle set-up, I'll post up. Thanks.

Thanks to you too.:thumb: I figured the Dynolight was new enough so that a model specific thread would be more obvious than information buried in multiple threads.

Personally I would like to see both a shot of the illumination pattern against a vertical surface to show beam shape and a shot down a unlighted street or long driveway, with distance markers, to show useful illumination distance. Hard to judge from the single photo on the Dynolight web site. I really like the photos of road illumination that Peter White Cycles has on their web site as they allow direct comparisons between a number of dynamo headlights.

From a web search it appears that the Dynolight is only being sold factory direct so far. Too bad they do not have photos of some of their competition along with the Dynolight.

BTW I talked to the owner by phone yesterday and he indicated that the dynamo taillight will use 3 wide angle LEDs, the two outer ones aimed outward at 45 degrees from center. Claimed that each LED is about as bright as the primary LED used on the Superflash and that the light pattern will be visible over 180 degrees or so. Sounds impressive. They are going to offer a package deal, headlight and taillight, for a slightly reduced price from buying individually.

Light On! now has a dynamo taillight available. Per the web site it only works with their headlight. Extremely compact unit at about 1/2" high and 3/4" wide. It includes a standlight function too, like the headlight. Per a photo on the web site the taillight has a very wide light dispersion horizontally, close to 180 degrees. I ordered both yesterday so hope to see them next week.

Light On! now has a dynamo taillight available. Per the web site it only works with their headlight. Extremely compact unit at about 1/2" high and 3/4" wide. It includes a standlight function too, like the headlight. Per a photo on the web site the taillight has a very wide light dispersion horizontally, close to 180 degrees. I ordered both yesterday so hope to see them next week.

Excellent. Thanks for the news. I've got my order in for the taillight!

I got my Light On! Dynolight set mounted and tried out last night. It seems to put out plenty of light and the dark zone ahead of the front wheel is much shorter than my old B&M Lumotec IQ Cyo (not the R version). I need to get to an unlighted road to really see how it performs under worst case conditions though. My neighbor did comment about how bright the taillight appeared to be. I mounted it on a rear plate along with a mount for a Superflash battery taillight directly below so I have provision for both the dynamo and a battery taillight.

I made up my own handlebar mounting bracket for the light using the latest Cygolite headlight mounting bracket set. This provides a "hard" mount which does not allow the light to move like O ring type handlebar mounts do. The light can still be quickly removed and reinstalled without requiring aimpoint readjustment.

Making the mounting plate did require the ability to accurately drill and tap 4 holes in the piece of 3/8" aluminum plate that I used for the project.

From a different thread, but relevent to this one:


. . . (9.28.09) I really like the design of the DynoLight. It's solidly sturdy build is impressive. "Waterproof" says the minimalist (but clear) user manual. The light was delivered with everything needed to install with no fuss. I like the option of the axle mount. I found that having it mounted that low is fine for pavement (it really lit up those pieces of debris that my previous system just washed over), but on the trail (a multi-surface MUT), dips and rises came up sudden--i.e. for serious off-road use, if I don't know the trail, I would mount the light higher.

Disclaimer, I just started using the DynoLight today. I have never used a dyno system before or any lighting system much above ~100 lumens, so I am not a good person to give comparative data.

I started using the LightOn! taillight last week. Love it, too. I'm keeping my ol' VistaLite mounted below it ('cause I just like a red blinky on the back), but I'll tell ya, from where I sit looking back, I can't see the thing blinking--it's washed out by the LightOn! taillight. Veery happy.

Has anyone tried out the Light On! Dynolight headlight yet? If so can you compare the real world light output and pattern to any of the German LED generator lights such as the IQ Cyo or other dynamo lights that are normally considered relatively bright?


They definitely look nice:
http://lightonlights.com/
http://lightonlights.com/images/axlemountsmall.jpg http://lightonlights.com/images/tail_light_rack_small.jpg
plus they're local to me: Beavertown!

They're going to be showing at the Oregon Handmade Bike Show next weekend:
http://www.oregonbca.org/index.php/oregon-handmade-bicycle-show
so I'll see if I can get some comparisons.

In case some of you haven't already seen this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdgNUj4tcgc


Fair review, from my own experience with this LightOn! system. After 6 months of continuous use, I remain very happy with it.

BUMP

That time of year here in northern hem to talk lights. Brief update on my LightOn! dynolight and taillight after a year's (little less w/the taillight) on-all-the-time use: they're workin' just fine in combo with the SRAM iLight hub. Rebuilt the wheel recently with the hub laced to a Deep V rim (the ol' MA40 rim was cracking and the sidewalls pretty worn; time to chuck it). Anyway, I continue to be very happy with the set up (axle mount for front; rack mount for rear). Absolutely no issues.

same here, I wish the headlight beam was tighter and not as wide.

How well does it light up when traveling slowly (5-10mph)?

^
There are several places on my commute (an MUT) where I have to slow down to maneuver through crossing gates (in full on dark). I have no problem seeing stuff with this lamp. (Mine is mounted on the axle.) I don't use a bike computer anymore (I couldn't see it anyway), but experience tells me that the light's 100% (or close enough) before 10mph.