Originally Posted by
ItsJustMe
Except those same laws restrict maximum brightness. I've tried some German lights, and though the beam pattern is nice, they're not bright enough for my rides. For the few days I used them before returning them, I had to ride the brakes all the way down the hills with rough road that are on my route. With cheap eBay lights (600 or so lumens) I can bomb them full speed.
I use a circular pattern light, but it's very spotty, then fix a beam widening lens on it. The result is a moderate cutoff when I aim it properly, and a ton of light on the road.
I live in a rural area so I know people I see driving on the road, and I've asked a few of them later if my light bothered them, and nobody was bothered.
The EU laws don't restrict maximum output, just output above of a specific focal plain. The new B&M IQ-X dyno light is about the equivalent of better 500 lumen battery lights, and matches the usable light of my 1200 lumen battery light at 150' and beyond.
Now that the new EU standards allow battery lights, I suspect we will see significantly brighter battery lights that function like true headlights.
I too desire bicycle lights that can stand with other vehicle lights on the road, I'm just not willing to do that at the expense of others ability to see the road. Fortunately with a combined output equivalent of 1700 lumen between the IQ-X, and Specialized flux expert I have all the light I could possibly need for any condition, and do it responsibly.