jeisenbe

Does anyone use a Basta Pilot dynamo-powered LED headlight for their commute?

I was looking at these three bikes (Novara Transfer, Breezer Uptown, and Raleight Detour) and noticed they all have the same headlight, but I can't find any detailed review on the light.

Do you use one of these bikes on your commute? It would have to be this year's model (2010), or perhaps last year; I think the lights were different before.

I'm trying to decide between the Basta Pilot, Dlumotec Oval, and Lumotec Lyt for a dynamo powered LED headlight.

no1mad 

I found very little info on the light as well. A couple of reviews of the bike that mentions the light and a source to buy the light from that states it's output is 15 lux, but that's about it. Even did a search of youtube that came up empty.

ShinyBiker

I had an 09 novara fusion and it had a Basta light. I sold it so I don't have a model # or anything. The light was adequate; nothing spectacular. As you probably know, it only comes on when you're rolling. I know some other lights give you some light for a few seconds after you come to a stop. The light is meant more for cars to see you rather than to light up your path.

The light was a sort of fat "8" shape. The bottom of the light never came on and was only a reflector. Only to top part lit up when pedaling.

There were 3 switch positions for the light: 1 for off, 2 for on, and 3 for on. I could never figure out the difference between position 2 and 3.

Even though I'm sorta panning the light, generator lights are pretty awesome. It's cool to be able to power your light with pedal power.

jeisenbe

Some of the Basta Pilot models have a standlight (a capacitor provides power for a couple minutes after you stop rolling, for stoplights), but not the one on the 09 Fusion, I guess.

Did you notice the shape of the beam? Is it round, which forms and oval on the pavement, or does it have a bright cut-off at the horizon, like a car's low beams? Most of the brighter headlights have this feature, since European countries have regulations meant to prevent oncoming traffic from being blinded (but for weaker lights a round beam may be better); those regulations are also the reason that most of these lights have a built-in reflector, I've read.

Did you compare it to any battery-powered lights? Is it as bright as a 1 watt LED, or more like a 2 watt LED or 5 watt halogen?

ShinyBiker

I would say it was round with no bright cut off.

If I knew I was going out for a long ride at night, I would supplement it with a 2AA led flashlight that I affixed to the handlebars with rubber bands. Like I said, the basta light was pretty weak.

yoder

I also have an 09 Novara Fusion. When I know I am going to ride at night, I do usually supplement with a PlanetBike light 2W light. But the generator light is not terrible. I've ridden with just that light at night plenty of times. It's better than some small lights that people use, but it is not a "serious" light by any means. I would agree it is round beam and not cut off. It does go off when stopped as well, but the one on the Breezer doesn't. The light is actually a Halogen, so maybe they changed the light in 2010. On mine, and the 2009 Transfer and old Raleigh Detouy Deluxe, it's the Basta Pilot Halogen Dynamo Headlamp. There are "2 LEDs alongside the main bulb that add visibility without significantly raising power consumption" according to the description. There's an LED version that has a standlight feature, so that's probably what the newer ones have. So I and the previous poster may be talking about a different light.

jeisenbe

So it's a good "to-be-seen" light, probably a 1-watt LED, but probably not sufficient for riding on a dark path on a moonless night at any sort of high speed. Thanks.

jeisenbe

Yup, I think they are now all LEDs, because the price has come down. I wonder if the LED is a little brighter than the previous halogen version.

Well, the beam will still be round; the reflector appears unchanged, so it will be a "to-be-see" light, in all probability.