autism

I'm looking for an old style, dynamo bicycle lights, but the brightest possible one. Which would you recommend?
Thanks!

PaulRivers

I'm a little confused, are you specifically looking for an old-style dynamo light, or are you looking for a dynamo light?

It looks like you're in Montreal, so I'm not sure where to recommend. Here in the US it's usually the Peter White Cycles site. Calhoun Cycle has them to.

If you're looking for road riding, the brightest-but-cost effective light is the Lumotec Cyo Premium (the Premium part is important). I think it's the Schmidt Edelux that's slightly brighter, but it costs almost twice as much for 10% more light or something.

CharlieFree

I'm also interested in what's out there these days. I bought the B&M Luxos B last year and was quite happy with it all winter.

Now, since I've drunk the dynamo Kool-Aid, I want to add a dynamo light to my second bike. I was thinking of just getting another "B" but before I do that is there anything else that's better out more recently (those lights have been out at least a year and a half - an eon in technological terms!). Peter White's site doesn't appear to have been updated in a while.

fietsbob

Old style = Old.. Bottle dynamos which run around on the sidewall of the tire, and slip when the tire gets wet.

Functionally better is the dynamo as part of the front hub. German Schmidt costs more , Asian Shimano and such cost less.


the New LED lights from the NL & German Companies keep re designing their stuff to be brighter ..

Though the actual output from the Dynamo remains at 6v,3w.

PaulRivers

Yeah, the "Ixon IQ Premium" (the premium is the new version) seems to have a smoother beam pattern, better throw, is physically smaller, and is cheaper. The "Schmidt Edelux II" is the more expensive version that has a measly 10 more lumens (and maybe a better color temperature led) but for almost twice as much money. Both use the same beam pattern.

There was someone on the forum who had owned both and said he though the Ixon IQ Premium beam pattern was just more useful than the Luxos B. I only own the battery version of the Ixon IQ Premium (Busch and Mueller Ixon IQ Premium), but it's pretty awesome in it's wide but long throw beam. Wouldn't hurt it to be a hair brighter, though the way it is has been fine so far.

unterhausen

hard to believe that the Ixon IQ Premium has a more useful beam than the Luxos, but it certainly looks better on Peter White's website. I'm extremely happy with the Luxos beam, at anything more than climbing speed. At extended low speeds the luxos flashes a little too much for my taste. I probably should get a battery backup for rides featuring extended climbing at night.

autism

My bike is a old road bike and i'd like to keep the look classic, which installing on it a modern light will spoil the whole retro look.
I'd like a metallic classic dynamo light, no paint.

jimc101

The Son Edelux II fits your needs here, you can get it in may colors, including plain silver. For a cheaper option the B&M LUMOTEC Classic has a vintage look to it.

You haven't clarified how you are powering this? Dynamo hubs are the best option, but B&M do a bottle type which gets OK reviews, you would need to look for compatible tires if looking at the bottle option.

autism

The Son Edelux wouldn't look good because even the plain metallc one has that black plastic or paint on it. But the Lumotec Classic looks like what i need, thank you!

PaulRivers

You should just be aware that you're losing a very significant amount of light by prioritizing the look over the light. (Not that you shouldn't do it, I'm to lazy to ask about all your priorities, just that you should be aware).

The Lumotec Classic is 25 lux light. The Lumotec Cyo Premium is an 80 lux light. The Schmidt Edelux II is a 90 lux light.

I personally don't think anything with lower light output than the older Cyo (non-premium) is good enough for road riding at 60 lux - . I might be picky, but 25 lux is a serious shortage of light in my opinion.

Here's the Lumotec Lyt, a 25 Lux light -


This is the Schmidt Edelux II at 90 lux -


And both of these lights are going to look dimmer than their pics when you're riding anywhere with city lighting or ambient lighting. In other words, that's the brightest beam you'll ever see out of a 25 lux light.