PaulRivers

Noticed this on Amazon.com today -

Luxx70 Plus Steady Switch by AXA-Stenmen
Robot Check



If you're familiar with the Lumotec U, it's the Busch and Mueller front dynamo light that also has USB charging built into it. A few weeks ago, I saw someone here mentioned they bought something called a Luxx70 which does the same thing - dynamo light + usb charging. The Busch and Mueller version has a few drawbacks:
- Expensive - $247 from Peter White Cycles, and that's without shipping included
- Huge - it's a seriously huge light. A local bike shop where I live (Calhoun Cycle) carries them, and I was thinking of getting one, but I saw it in person - it's a big light. Looks ok on a fat tire cruiser, but out of place huge on a regular road bike (which is what I commute on).

The Luxx70 on amazon, on the other hand:
- $150 (free shipping)
- Appears to be normal sized (like a Cyo), though can't say for sure from the pic.

Both are rated at 70lux. According to the Luxx70's page it meets German lighting regulations (so a shaped beam with a cutoff), is waterproof, etc etc -
Luxx70 Plus*-*axa-stenman

Anyone else have any info on it?

northerntier

No, but the Luxos U has a limited-time boost to 90 lux, the cache battery, plus many other features. Also, it's $235 at Rivendell, free shipping. Mine arrives Friday.

Mine is going on a Surly LHT w/ 700x45 tires, so it shouldn't look too out of place.

01 CAt Man Do

Interesting, I'd like to see how the line up offered by AXA compares to the beam output/patterns offered by the B&M set-ups. While it might be nice to have a lot of extra features ( which is very tempting ), push come to shove, it's the output and beam pattern that are the prime issues. If the AXA's provide a decently wide beam pattern without distracting artifacts I could see the point in buying one ( even if slightly less output than the B&M's )

Any one with a link to a website that has beam shots of the AXA's?

fietsbob

NL based Axa is competing with German B&M so Im expecting they will keep leapfrogging over each other as time goes on ..


Home*-*axa-stenman

mstraus

Interesting. Would want to see a few more reviews before trying one. Can't find many reviews on it.

This one isn't so positive: Bicycle Touring: Review: Lighting systems: #195: "Axa Luxx 70 plus", posted by Darron Speck on Tue 10 Sep 2013 14:57 (US/Pacific)

Other sites seem more positive, but lack detailed reviews. Start rating of the reviews here seem more positive AXA Luxx 70 Plus Steady Auto front light offers at the cycling shop Rose Bikes UK

LuckySailor

The Luxos B is $169 plus shipping. The U isn't comparable as it has the addition of 90 Lux even though for short amounts of time. But, As far as cost goes, 2 tools I use are: 1) what is the frequency of replacement of this item? Is it going to be more than once or even twice? 2) Reputation/reviews. Then, to me it's an easy decision, that is why I own a Luxos U.

LuckySailor

Also, the cache battery is only on the Luxos U. While riding there are constant fluctuations in voltage, so having the cache battery included in the setup is a plus and money well spent in my opinion, as I do not have to buy a separate cache battery for charging, and when I am charging, I am charging all the time. Without the cache, when your speed drops below, lets say 10 km/h, you're not charging, and most likely going to get an error on your device. When you're up to speed again, most likely your device will understand that charging has resumed, but imagine going thru this over and over again. Too much wear and tear on the electronics IMO.

Size. Really? Who cares in this instance? Do you want to see, and be seen, or worry about a few millimeters? What are you comparing size to? IS it comparable in projection and beam width, and brightness? jusmy2cents. (nickle, we don't use pennies anymore in Canada.)

01 CAt Man Do

Sometimes you have to question reviews. Who would go on a tour with a lamp that only shone 3ft? Surly the guy must of tested the light before going on tour. According to the product description the AXA 70 plus is suppose to have a two stage illuminating system; first stage is for slow speed and illuminates only just in front of the bike. The second stage activates at faster speed and should be comparable to other dynamo lamps.

Yes, it doesn't have the cashe battery of the Luxos U but I don't consider that a deal breaker. Even the guy with the bad review said the usb output port on the AXA 70 worked very well. ( then again he was charging a battery ).

Now as for lamp size; I like small myself but with all other factors in perspective, size would be the least likely to affect my decision on, "what lamp to buy". ( unless of course the lamp is the size of a coffee mug...

PaulRivers

Yeah, I pretty much blew off that review as valid myself when he claimed "I had to go through a few tunnels and it didn't even throw enough light to see 3 feet in front of me." (direct quote from the review). He was either lying, exagerrating, or there was something defective about his light.

Lol, I don't know man, I went to a local shop to buy the Luxos U for my bike. When I was holding in my hand, I balked at the fact that it was indeed the size of a coffee mug. It seemed like - in person - it was about 4 times larger than the Cyo.

But then I did an image search, and I find stuff like this where it doesn't look nearly that big -
https://www.flickr.com/photos/13469967@N02/8641424236/



So I'm not sure what the truth is about the size. So now I'm not sure what to think. I do know that I'm fine with the size of the Cyo, though. :-)

zacster

When I look at my Cyo premium I always think it is big, but then I see the beam and that too is big. It just doesn't look like a bike light when you ride, even with all the super bright lights you see on the road now.

unterhausen

the luxos is big, but I really don't care much. The light is amazing under most conditions. The only problem area is if you are slow climbing a mountain, then the flashing can be a bit much. Ironically, a light that isn't as bright still flashes but isn't as distracting

Mr IGH

Maybe he used an incorrect tailight. Or grounded one side of an AC input. Some of the headlights put out AC for the rear taillight (Phillips) some put out DC (SuperNova). If you mix there will be issues.

mstraus

Yes, I often take reviews with a grain of salt. My concern here isn't this bad review, as its not a very well written review and is either a big exaggeration, defective unit, or something.

My concern is really just the lack of detailed reviews, beam pattern photos, etc. Without more information I would personally be hesitant to get this light. Hopefully there will be some more reviews on it in the future. Maybe someone on BF wants to get one and test it out?

PaulRivers

Yeah, I definitely agree and would be curious as well...

01 CAt Man Do

Goodness! the Luxos is much bigger than I thought. I guess that explains the super wide beam pattern. The Cyo Premium I could deal with but the Luxos U is too big for my taste. All said this makes me more interested in the AXA line up ( because of the smaller size and USB set-up )

PaulRivers

Haha, the thing is though - the Cyo premium despite being the same size as the Cyo appears to have either the same, or a wider beam pattern (I assume here that the difference in brightness is just that one is in the winter and one in the summer) -

Luxos U -


Edelux II (same pattern as the Cyo premium) -


I feel like there's an obligatory joke about "size doesn't matter" here, lol...but yeah, that Luxos U is really big, like coffee mug big. We're not talking just a weight weenie size difference here. I think it would look fine on a fatter tired bike, but oddly out of place on any bike with a road tire. (Not that any of this is "end of the world" hysterics, but it's nice to ride something that I like how it looks)

PaulRivers

Poster "interested" posted this comparison from Germany that shows both B&M lights and AXA-Stenman -
BaslerBikes 3. Scheinwerfervergleich 2014 (März) - BaslerBikes - Wir leben Radfahren

The AXA-Stenmen Luxx70 is...

None of the lights are aimed right, but it gives the idea:

Luxx70 -


Older 60 lux Lumotec Cyo -


Luxos IQ2 -


Schmidt Edelux 2 -


Not sure how the Luxx70 was aimed up higher (the edelux shot is definitely aimed to far down), but it's an older Cyo level of lighting at best...

fietsbob

anyhow I thought I'd post this new thing here https://www.ortlieb.com/_pdf_en/ultimate6_proe.pdf

the Hub power from the USB converter goes into the Handlebar bag, bar mount, and it has contacts to the ones in the bag side of the deal .

the plastic on the top is already a touch screen pass thru from the Pro 6, the electrical connector is the upgrade.

mstraus

Based on the photos above, I would likely pass on the Luxx70. Maybe some future reviews will convince me otherwise. I guess when the time comes for me its either a B&M, or maybe that Edelux 2, which looks very good as well. My dynamo upgrade is likely delayed a bit anyway, till I have the spare funds.

The ortlieb bag is interesting, I assume a phone/GPS in the clear pouch could be plugged in? Nice option to keep something charged and visible, but not sure I would want to ride with a handlebar bag ALL the time.

just4tehhalibut

I had an older version of the USB-recharging AXA light rated to 50 Lux, I don't know about this 'enough light to see 3 feet in front of me' but the acute drop in light when going from normal speeds to down to walking pace was really annoying. The Luxos U has better sidelighting and in fact is designed for the sidelighting to brighten (thanks to the cache) when your speed drops below 21kmh, such as when going through a corner. The USB connector for the AXA was in the mounting stalk whereas the Luxos had it in a remote that reached up to the handlebars. The AXA mount also meant that you had to use their whole light unit as is whereas the Luxos allowed the head unit to be mounted via a variety of aftermarket mounting brackets, this allowed it to fit a wider variety of bikes and brake systems. And the internal wiring between the head unit and USB in the stalk was shoddy on the AXA, bare wires crossed over each other and eventually shorted out. My first Luxos also failed but was replaced under warranty promptly, this was a fault with the cache battery and I've seen no other complaints on the 'net with the same symptoms, certainly no shoddy wiring either. The replacement Luxos is superbe.

The Luxos U was a far better light out on the country roads than the AXA, the other features that run off the cache really sold it for me and the USB was just a bonus. My AXA light is still sitting in the repair box from two yeats ago, it lasted only two months and I'm on no hurry to repair it now that I've got the Luxos U. I noticed that AXA's 70 came out just after the Luxos U, in competition, but it looks just the same build as my failed AXA light.

PaulRivers

Thanks for commenting on your experience owning one!

byrd48

I just got my Luxx 70 Plus today! I paid $84 for it by ordering it from Amazon.de in Germany. It did take about a month to arrive though.
I don't have it hooked up to the bike yet though, that will be a challenge. I have cantilever brakes with a fork mounted cable hanger. Several mounts come with the Luxx, but none of them will fit on the bolt going through the fork crown because there is not enough room between the crown and the hanger. I think that in the end, I'm going to need a mount that goes under the cable hanger, under the yoke, then turns up in the front, like reflectors are often mounted on with mountain bikes. I saw a mount like that for the B&M lights, but I'm not sure if it will fit the AXA. Depending on how long it takes to get it hooked up, I'll come back with a review. It's my first dyno light, so I don't have experience with the others for comparison,

kiltedcelt

byrd48 - I'll be interested to read your review/impressions of the Luxx70 Plus as I just purchased one myself. I'm going to be setting up all dynamo lighting on my new Bacchetta Giro 20 and I'll be using the AXA HR sidewall dynamo along with the aforementioned Luxx70 Plus headlight and a Riff taillight. I also purchased mine from a German seller and paid slightly more than half the prices of what U.S. Amazon sellers were charging. The price on the dynamo was far cheaper than any other outlet I could find online. I think the dynamo was about $19 and the Riff was about $10. The Luxx 70 was I think $84?

byrd48

I've had a chance to play with it, and I guess I could say I'm somewhat disappointed. I have cantilever brakes on my bike, and a fork mounted cable hanger to boot, so to be fair, my setup is more complicated, and the included hardware would not work as is. So I dug through the parts bin and found a reflector mount and bought a stainless steel bolt, nut, and lock washers and mounted it as shown in the photo.
The beam pattern is a little strange to me. I guess it's fine, but it does not seem to be an even beam, it appears to have bright spots in some areas and darker in others.
But the biggest issue is keeping positioned. After adjusting it and tightening the bolts as much as I feel comfortable, a medium size bump will make the unit pivot and point down. It's just too top heavy. I think the problem lies in the section where the usb port is. If the usb port were not positioned in the connecting section, it would not need two pivot points and would not need to be so tall.
The usb rubber cover is hinged on the bottom, which means you open the flap downward, which seems to be a bad idea if it were raining.
Also, the switch on the back of the light operates up and down. Up is usb charging and down is light. Although it has not happened yet, I could envision a scenario where the switch is up, and you hit a bump, and it comes down, and in the daytime, you probably would not notice.
I did charge my phone with the gps running and it seemed to charge about 8% for 30 minutes of riding, so that seems fine.
But the bottom line is that I'm going to have to fabricate some sort of mount to keep the light in a fixed position and not fall down over moderate to big bumps in the road.

PaulRivers

It's interesting to hear another negative opinion on the beam pattern - based on the beam shots from above I'm sadly not surprised though... :-(