Giant Doofus

I'm planning to replace the B&M Lumotec Classic (25 lux) that came with my bike with a B&M IQ Premium Cyo T Senso Plus (man, just the name of that thing gives me a headache!). I need to find an online retailer since there are no LBSs near me that sell them or anything close. I've found a few online sources, but wanted to see if anyone here has had good experiences with a particular site.

By the way, it's mainly the 80 lux, beam pattern, and standlight features I'm interested in. I don't really need the "Senso" or "T" parts (auto detection of darkness and daytime running lights). A simple on/off switch will do for me, so feel free to recommend retailers who carry the Cyo Premium without those features.

Thanks in advance.

no1mad 

Busch & Muller dynamo bicycle lights. AFAIK, he's the primary distributor for B&M in the US and all of the other shops order from him.

PaulRivers

I've had better experience with Harris Cyclery than I have Peter White:
Busch & Müller Lumotec IQ CYO Premium T Senso Plus - Harris Cyclery bicycle shop - West Newton, Massachusetts

Harris Cyclery lets you order online. And if I needed to ask questions or specify something, I could call them, talk to someone, and they were very reasonable.

Trying to order from Peter White is playing phone tag. You can't order online, then you call them, get the answering machine, later they call you back but if you can't answer they leave a message, so you have to call them again...

Harris Cyclery only sells the "senso" version, but they sell it for the same price Peter White sells the non-senso version, so your cost is the same.

kickstart

I just ordered a Cyo headlight, Topline tail light, and Sanyo wheel, from Calhoun,
Dynamo Hubs and Dynamo Lights

J.C. Koto

I imported a B&M IQ Cyo Premium Senso Plus (non-T version) and B&M Toplight Line BrakeTec [...] tail light (and an additional but unnecessary cable) from starbike.com in Germany for about $113 US total, including shipping. There was a manufacturing defect with the headlamp that took some time to resolve via email correspondence due to the business hours delay vis-a-vis US and Germany but eventually everything got settled.

Even though it was (IMO) significantly cheaper to import I don't necessarily recommend doing so since it's more difficult to resolve any problems that may arise but I definitely tip my hat to the good folks at starbike.com for really doing a good job at making everything right so, if one wants to import, I would recommend starbike.

As for the (non-T) headlamp, I love it! I was initially a bit concerned about the "Senso" function since I didn't know if it was mandatory or not. Luckily it's not: the lamp I got has a 3-position switch: totally off, totally on, and "Senso" mode that comes on when the ambient light level gets low enough. I usually just keep in on "Senso" unless I need to park the bike somewhere in public, then I turn it off to shut off the standlight so helpful people don't come up and say "Hey man, you left your light on.."

"Yeah buddy, thanks, it'll shut itself off though.."

Keep in mind that there is also an "R" version available that has an integrated retro-reflector which reduces the overall lux of the lamp. You almost certainly don't want one of these versions and need to be careful not to accidentally order one. There are also "N" versions that are supposedly specifically for hub dynamos but I think this is only for obsolete old stock.

Saving Hawaii

Cheapest option, even after shipping, is to order from Germany. I bought an Ixon IQ Premium from Bike Shop | Bike-Discount: Onlineshop mit Bestpreis-Garantie for $70 + $30 shipping (including the batteries and charger). It arrived at my home in California a week later. Try them and some of the other German web retailers like Bike24. None of these websites seem to have great English language versions but the prices can't be beat.

tsl

I get my B&M stuff from bike24.de. They've even handled warranty issues for me to my complete satisfaction.

Busch + Müller Lumotec IQ Cyo Premium Senso Plus 80 Lux LED Front Light 1752QSNDI

I know you said you didn't want the senso, but that's the model they sell in the 80 lux version. €46,13 works out to $58.44 plus €19.95 shipping to the USA is $83.71 which is much better than the $113 you know who wants before shipping.

acidfast7

bike24.de has excellent customer service (even in English).

bike-discount.de is usually about 5% cheaper but i can't comment on them.

Giant Doofus

Thanks everyone! This forum and the people here are wonderful.

By the way, I don't mind having the Senso function, I just meant that I wouldn't rule out a source that had the non-senso version since it isn't an important feature for me. The prices at bike24.de are great, so i'll start there.

acidfast7

Also, VAT should disappear (-19%) once you change the shipping location!

mikeybikes

+1 for Harris Cyclery. They're my go to for B&M lighting.

Maybe it's because I'm young, but I can't stand the thought of ordering via phone, like I would have to through Peter White. Talking with vendors on the phone at work is bad enough.

noglider 

Never heard of Calhoun before. Very nice web site.

I've bought these lights from xxcycle.com in France.

fietsbob

Why Online ? I got my LBS to open an account with Peter White , at Wholesale . the retail cost is the same , but shipping is included.

Got A Shimano Dynohub-Brompton wheel from Calhoun it was on sale for $100.

PW website lists Bigger retailers that order enough product to meet the minimum for that listing , the LBS here, is below that buy level.


FWIW senso [ I got the Eyc T] means I dont even think about the light, it comes on if I need it

the day running light is the stand-light , so I have light to put the key in the front door lock.


NB the 80 Lux is only sold packaged with the rest..

https://www.bumm.de/uploads/tx_bummpr...rsicht_neu.jpg

You have to accept the 60 lux level to not get the added features.

Giant Doofus

That's good to know. I'll go with the Senso model.

TransitBiker

Are you going to get new wires, or just the new lamp?

- Andy

Giant Doofus

I was planning to use the existing wiring. My bike only has about 500 miles on it (it came with the headlight and taillight I currently have), so I'm assuming the wiring is still fine. Plus, the taillight wiring runs through the frame, so it will be a little bit of pain to replace when the time comes. If I can delay that pain by a few years, I'd like to!

If you see any problems with this plan, I'd be happy to hear about it.

fietsbob

You have the matching Spade connectors? have some sent with the light. if not.

OneLessFixie

I just installed one. I've only ridden it a couple of times on well-lit city streets around twilight, but I can tell you that people thought I was a car coming, or at least a motorcycle. And it really lights up the dark shadowy parts of the road, thus making it easier to avoid wheel-eating obstacles.

Good luck with that. I couldn't find a single shop around Seattle that sold them. In fact, I was told they couldn't even special order "those exotic European lights." And this was a shop listed on Peter White's site as an "authorized retailer" of said "exotic" lights. And then they wonder why people give up and order online instead.

I ordered mine directly from Peter White, and yes, he's the exclusive U.S. importer. Couple things I'll say about him: One, he's a bit of an old crank on the phone. If you call, he'll probably answer, but he's very abrupt, so I would say it's best to be brief and to the point at all times. Two, ol' Pete likes to charge for shipping. I mean, he really likes to charge for shipping.

That's easy, just turn the three-position switch to "T" and leave it there. Of course, the extra 1W of drag from the hub might mean the difference between first and third... oh wait, this isn't the roadie forum.

In my experience, you won't mind (m)any U.S. retailers that carry them. I gave up after checking about a dozen shops in the Seattle area, including ones that (1) were, again, "authorized resellers" per Peter White's site and (2) ones that supposedly cater to commuters, randonneurs and the like.

fietsbob

If they dont have them sitting there when you walk in, did you ask about turnaround time to actually call in an order that week ..?? eh?

OneLessFixie

Crap. I wish I would have too. Something is wrong when it's cheaper to ship from Germany than from New Hampshire, and their price is about half of what ol' Petey wants.

OneLessFixie

Re-read my post. They said they could not even special order them because they were "exotic" and "European." And this was supposedly an "authorized retailer"!

fietsbob

I get them sent to me, Via the LBS (I'm Part time, in the summer) in tiny Astoria .. PM and I can do business, we can talk, off the forum.

TransitBiker

Bope, seems fine!

To replace wires, simply untie the knots (most have knots to keep them from being pulled in accidentally) and tie a string to one end, pull it through till string is out the other end, then untie from old wires, then tie string onto new wire & pull through. To tie securely, simply notch the casing of the wire on both sides, otherwise it's lileky the string will come off. Some frames with internal wiring have guides that point the wire to the exit hole near the bottom bracket or seat tube.

You should check for and remove any corrosion every month or 2, to ensure a solid complete connection & avoid pushing current through an improperly connected wire. The hub dyno is always on when rotating, so keep that in mind.

- Andy

mikeybikes

My wife came into the garage when I was wiring up the tail light. The bike was in a stand. She spun the front wheel, commenting on something like, "that generator's gonna be nice." Gave me a nice tingly sensation in my fingers while I was holding both wires. I now disconnect the hub if I'm wiring

kickstart

Same location, same experience.

I've learned that if I want something special or unusual, on line retailers who specialize in what I need are the best option.

I really like Aaron's bike repair in White Center but even he doesn't handle everything.