Absolutely. We never have to think about lights or charging. Lights are always on our bikes and they'll always work. Well, so long as we do.

Yeah, my wife bumped a tractor implement with her car and broke the headlight. After seeing how expensive a replacement would be, I suggested a rechargeable bicycle light, naming all their advantages.......I got the "look", and that was the end of that. :p

I've seen this argument before, and frankly, it doesn't seem to hold water.

OK, so you've decided to buy and own 8 different bicycles if it would take 8 wheels and lights to equip your fleet. Your money, your choice. No argument here.

But why do you have to get a dyno system for every bike in the stable? That doesn't make sense. If you wanted to spend money on dyno lights (which you don't seem to), you could buy one system for one mountain bike to commute with in the winter. I have two commute bikes, a primary and a backup, which both have dyno lights. The other bike doesn't, and I have a couple of small lights I can slap on it for a limited night ride.

If you decide to go for a night ride, you also have:

So slap one of those lights and batteries on the bike of your choice and take off. If one of them is charged, of course.

I must have missed something. Will your current inventory of battery lights stop working if you get a different light? Why can't you put one of the other battery lights on your wife's bike? Is there some reason you have to throw out all the old lights, batteries, and chargers if you buy one dyno light?

Wrong analogy. Motor vehicles come with lights and an electrical system to operate them, along with the extra power to generate the electricity without impacting the vehicle's power.

Bicycles usually don't. Lights are an add-on...and for good reason. I, personally, won't buy a bike with someone else's idea of a light system. I keep my bikes longer than most of my light systems because bicycle lighting is, and has been, in a state of flux. I'd hate to have a bike that would have been outfitted with the NiteHawk lights I had about 10 years ago. They were a first generation LED that were weak in the extreme. If they had been integrated into the bicycle, the bicycle would likely be useless now if I wanted better lighting.

I've seen the argument for generators and, frankly, I don't see it as holding water either.

I'll admit that there is an advantage to generator systems. They are convenient and they do have better lights...now.

But battery powered lights have their advantages as well. Personally, I feel that they have many more advantages than generator systems. They are more flexible, they are far cheaper for a similar light output. If the battery system is as expensive as a generator system, the light output is far greater. Battery lights...especially the cheap ones...are easier to upgrade as well. If you are paying $145 just for the head lamp, you aren't likely to get a new lamp every time the technology gets a higher output. But at $60 per headlamp like the old Magicshine (350 lumens), it's not that expensive to get the latest version which then cost $45 for a 600 lumen light. Thanks to the very cheap lights, jumping up to an 800 lumen light is only $40. I don't feel bad about ditching the old systems for that little money.

I would need a dyno system for every bike in the stable because I like to ride different bikes. I have a cyclocross bike that I use when the roads are mostly dry which is usually up until about December here in Denver. But I may want to ride one of my mountain bikes and take an off-road route home. Or I may use my other mountain bike equipped with studded tires if it is snowing and/or icy. Or I may want to take out the dual suspension mountain bike for a night ride in the summer. Or I might want to take my cruiser bike out for a summer night ride. Or I might want to take one of my go-fast bikes out for some extra mileage when I trying to beat my work nemesis at the end of the year. Or maybe I have 2 bikes at my daughters' houses that I may want to go ride at night when we go visit in the winter...Tucson and Albuquerque are lovely during fall and winter but not so much in June;)


But I already have battery powered lights. Why would I want to spend the money on a dyno equipped bike? If I decide to go for a night ride of any kind, I simple put 2 lights on my handlebars and one on my helmet. Since my batteries are always charged, I can just ride.

This does bring up the issue of charging. In a post above, you said that you ran batteries for 2 weeks and worried if it had enough charge to get you home. Why? I would never try to squeeze two weeks of riding out of a battery under any circumstances. I charge my batteries as soon as I get home. I have since the days of NiCd, NiMH and now with Li-ion batteries. Back in the days of NiCd, I would occasionally cycle my batteries to reduce the memory effect by using them in an RC truck...at least that's what I told my wife the truck was for;) But trying to squeeze the very last electron out of a battery is a recipe for being stuck in the dark.

I'm not entirely sure where you are going with this. Who said anything about the battery lights not working if I get a different light. I upgrade lights regularly and have batteries from different lights. As long as the plugs mate, the light works. And if the plug doesn't mate, I change the connector.

I also think you have missed the point I've been trying to make about the flexibility of battery systems vs generator lights. I already have more than enough batteries and headlights for my bike and my wife's bike...we can't use my "normal" configuration of 2 lights on the bar and one on a helmet if we both go for a night ride but that's a minor issue. Why would I equip any of my bikes with a generator system at all?

I'm already committed to battery lights and don't see any advantage to generator lights that is great enough for me to switch over. For me, it would be a major downspec to switch. I'd be limited to one light on one bike for the cost of 3 or 4 lights that I can use on any bike I like so that I'm not limited to one bike. I have 8 bikes because I like to ride different bikes for different reasons.

I saw the fall beer and the Halloween candy on display at the grocery store when we were there over the weekend. Too bad that mean winter is about weeks away!

The point is dyno lights are always there and always work without any additional effort or routine. Simple.

One light is always there on one bike. It's not quite as simple if you want to use 2 different bikes...or 3...or 8. It gets complicated real fast.

It doesn't offer any back up if something goes wrong nor does it offer any ability to use it if you have to fix something on the bike. And it is always there. I don't always need a light nor do I want nor need to carry around a light all the time.

On the other hand, battery lights don't require a whole lot of additional effort. Certainly not as as you generator guys make it out to be.

I don't need all my bikes to be equipped the same. The three bikes that I use the most are also the bikes I am most likely to need lights on, so they have dynamo lights. One of them has an annoying sidewall dynamo, so it's really just an emergency system. I have battery powered lights for the bikes I prefer to keep lightweight. I move the lights between those bikes as needed. This approach lets me balance performance (which I perceive to be superior with dynamo lighting) and cost.

That's more in line with what I do, it doesn't have to be one or the other. My primary bikes have full dyno lighting, my vintage and play bikes have period or minimal lighting. I use a usb cygolite or cateye for their flash mode and as a backup.

One of the real benefits of a dyno system is when I forgot to charge my light or phone, I can just plug them in to charge while riding. Its also preferabl to carrying chargers and/or extra batteries for long, or multiple days.

I was set last year and still am for this coming darkness. Used the 750 lm for a ride finish last week.

Yes, lighting. I'm in the process of upgrading that right now. Still trying to find a good budget solution. My headlight is sufficient to see on my mostly well-lit commute, but I might need to upgrade it come winter. Right now, I'm trying to find 2 decent blinkies that take AAA / AA / 18650 to put on my panniers to use in addition to a steady rear light.

I timed this just right some how. My new battery pack arrived on Wednesday, and I too saw the beam on the pavement when riding home last night. The fall Performance advertisement was waiting for me in the mailbox when I got home too.

I have both dynamo lights and battery lights on my commuter. The dynamo provides "minimum legal lights" and the Magic Shine clone (MSC), with a defuser lens, provides enough light to see by.

Tuesday this was useful. I hadn't charged my MSC for about a week and it gave up on the way to work. I still had a minimum legal light, provided by the dynamo, so I wasn't too concerned. Sure, in comparison it was just a dim glow; but I am more concerned with a ticket for no lights. I also, generally, leave the dynamo light on, so it provides a bit of a daytime running light.

Like I mentioned in other threads, the dynamo light takes a block or two to turn on; but that isn't a big deal. Even with dead batteries, the MSC will light for that long. It works for me; however, if I had to get ride of one of them (which I don't) The MSC is the one I would keep.

Just want to point out that it taking time for a dynamo light to come on is not typical of dynamo lights - mine turn on the moment I start walking my bike down my apartment hallway. I've walked my bike home (other person had a flat and preferred to walk to shortish distance home instead of fixing it on the road) and my dynamo provided plenty of light to see by at walking speed just walking. Not advocating anyone change, just saying it's not typical of a modern dynamo light to need a block or two to turn on.

I'm just getting back on the bike after 30+ years away. Had no idea where to begin so I bought a Blackburn 2'FER white/red flasher for the front handlebar. I already had a blinking red LED clipped to my hat. If I get a serious front light I'll move the 2'FER to the rear.

I like being able to choose my own rechargeable NiMH our Eneloops so that will factor into whatever I chose for a more serious front light.

Used to put an ordinary bottle generator on the 1976 Motobecane Mirage for commutes, which were often at night, and took it off for long distance daylight rides (a couple of times a year). It felt a little sluggish, sure, but did the job.

If I get serious about biking again I'll look for a utility/commute bike with built in generator for my next bike.

You haven't got that fixed yet? That would drive me nuts.

Even the vintage incandescent "Schwinn approved" Union dyno light on my continental will provide just enough light to not trip on something if walking the bike. The B&M cyo powered by a Sanyo rim dymo on my world tourist illuminates as soon as the wheel moves, and is to full output at a little more than a brisk walk.

No, I haven't bothered. The reality is that when it is dark i turn on the regular light (the Magic Shine Clone). Once that light is on I cant even see the dynamo lights output.

The reality is that it adds nothing. I have to look down at it to even see if it is on (it is mounted above the fender). It is so dim that if there is much light out I have to put my hand in front of it and look at my palm to see if it is on. As I often describe it, it is a minimum legal light.

Some time soon I will take pictures of the two lights on the road so you can see the difference. The trouble is that dynamo lights are hard to get good pictures of.

You paid good money for your bike, and REI stands behind their products. The light is a low end unit, but from your description it isn't functioning or putting out as it should, and that's just wrong. I would want what I paid for.

Edit,
The OE B&M light that came with my Gazelle was the same output as the light on your Gotham. They are indeed minimum output lights that won't compare to a MS clone in any way, but it should provide enough light to ride 10 - 15 mph in the dark.

With all due respect, even with an intro level cheap minimum dynamo light - it sounds like your front light is simply defective. The long startup time and low light output - I suspect - are not a result of being a cheap minimum level dynamo light, but instead the result of something being defective. Maybe the electronics in the light have a short or something in them, maybe the dynamo has a physical problem and it's not putting out much power, etc.

Taking a block to turn on sounds like it doesn't even meet any minimum legal specs, sounds like it's defective and not getting the power it usually would. Even for a cheap, minimum spec light.

and could you point out where you bought them? if amazon, maybe an url pointing to them?
I haven't done much night commuting and am interested in a good setup...

Yes, defective is my guess, too. It sounds like the light is powered by the capacitor rather than the input voltage. When I start my bike at low speed, the light flickers for reasons I hope are obvious and I don't have the energy to explain.

For those considering going the flashlight route. For the past few years I've been going with the TerraLux Lightstar 300. $29 at Amazon. This with a two fish lock block to mount it with. And some good rechargeable batteries. And you've got yourself a good inexpensive (under $75 with charger) light. Excellent commuting light. Handles any weather thrown its way. I change the batteries after the third day. I've had Fenix's that suddenly quit after a few months. Same with Romisen. I had a romisen for four years before I replaced it with another one that lasted me one month. Never again. I've had the Terralux for two years and have had no issues. I have another one as a spare in the house. Rugged and well built. Made in the USA too.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...SR160,160_.jpg

I've used Amazon and eBay. Magicshine lighting systems are really bright, but you have to make certain that that you have room to mount the light head and switch assembly. I've modified a water bottle to hold the battery - into the downtube cage or below-downtube cage (tourer).

Sending you links won't help. You have to decide where you will mount, how you will recharge, and your budget. For me, the flashlight with rechargeable battery route doesn't sound attractive. I'd much prefer a Lumina 650 or 700 with the helmet mount, plus another one for the handlebar. Battery is internal, package is water tight already. Micro USB charger, available at work or at home, compatible with smart phone chargers I already have. All of that.

The MagicShine triple head is really versatile, but it's not for everyone. I like it. You need to buy backup battery packs if you plan to ride more than a couple of hours at full power, though. So, there's a weight penalty. They velcro to the frame, so storing/carrying isn't a proble.

Anyway, I'd recommend that you design your own lighting system to meet your own needs. There are no shortcuts to doing this right.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/567/2...cba3eec8_z.jpg
12186336_10153775154254455_3019055079591632797_o by Darth Lefty, on Flickr

I do the opposite. I angle the dyno-powered light to see, since the optics are better in the lens than in my battery powered light.

I just moved my flashing headlight to my helmet from my handlebar so it could be seen over parked cars. I felt like I was having cars pull out from driveways and side streets a lot more when the light was mounted on my handlebar. Now that it is up high, drivers see me a lot better.

My dyno-powered light was the weakest in the B&M product line for its year. Somebody tried to argue in favor of replacing that light with a more powerful B&M, but I liked the idea of having two lights instead of one - the weaker light for "see me" duty, and the stronger one on my helmet - it has a flash mode too.

There's one section of the Mt. Vernon Trail that gets dark as hell at night - really glad to have the two lights when I'm riding through it.

The nights are getting shorter it won't be long
Won't be long til summer comes
Now that the boys are here again

Wow! There's a guy I hadn't heard of in a long time. Thanks for sharing!

It's about that time again.....