While looking for something completely different, I came across this:



That's a Cateye HL-EL320 G -- looks to be the same as the HL-EL320 available in the U.S., but with a lenticular lens that meets German headlight regulations, rather than the plain front lens on the U.S. model. It looks like there's also a "G" model of the HL-EL500.

Does anyone know of any reviews that compare the "G" models with the standard models of these lights? Beam patter photos, etc.?

I can't help you with all your questions, but just wanted to add for others looking for something different, peterwhitecycles website has photos of light beams from various German lights. You can also find some on the Busch & Muller website. I think it was bumm.de if I remember correctly. If you check amazon.com you'll find some wheels with dynamo hubs. I'm hot and horny for dynamo hubs. I want to build a light touring bike with a dynamo hub and it will likely be built with a Deore LX dynamo hub.

From what I read (forgot where), the light beam for lights in Germany are supposed to cut off at some point to aviod blinding drivers. I know Harriscyclery.com has some german dynamo lights. I'm contemplating getting the Busch & Muller Lumotec Lyt with 25 lux partly because it's less expensive.

I use several of the Busch and Muller lights. If I understand correctly they require a proper beam pattern. I currently use the Lumotec IQ Cyo, Lumotec IQ Fly, Lumotec Retro, and the Lumotec Round. The last two are halogen but still have a decent beam pattern, but cannot compare to the LED's for light output. I also have several of their tail lights. AFAIK I will never use anything but Busch and Muller lights on my bikes. Not only are they great lights I can order parts for them! I only buy the head lights and tail lights that have the stand light function, some of mine have the Senso feature that turns the lights on and off automatically, I like it, but don't have to have it.

Aaron

I've been using a Schmidt SON dynamo hub on my touring bike since the late '90s, using B&M lamps. But as good as they are, they're more than I want to spend on the bikes my kids ride to school.

A relatively inexpensive LED light with good output and a vehicular beam pattern would be a real improvement for lower price points than the B&M lights.

I am going to throw the money for the Lumotec IQ Fly light and the Dymotec 6 bottle dynamo from Peter White.

If I had put a little more thought into my build, I would have gotten a hub dynamo. Now I am in a position where a hub dynamo is not an option, unless someone knows where I can get a rear hub dynamo that will take a 8 speed cassette. (I have a front hub e assist motor)

I was considering the Magten lightset (I may still get one just to play with), However, I am not confident that it will work with my particular build. Also, the IQ Fly is supposed to put out 40 lux and I have seen the beam pattern on Peter White's site. The Magten light is only rated for 15 lux, and I have no idea what the beam pattern is like.

The Magten is cheaper, might be doable for a child's bike. The Magten is a always on light, kind of like a daytime running light. They are also supposed to meet the German standards.

What is relatively inexpensive? They have a new LED from B&M for ~$48usd. There are a few others out there that have decent pattern that run in the ~$30 range (Basta Sprint).

Aaron

I have a German-made light (Schmidt Edelux) hooked to my Alfine generator.

The headlight beam is, indeed, shaped — it is squared off at the top and the sides. Designed that way to avoid blinding drivers.

Blinding drivers ... with a generator light? Don't laugh. This sucker is bright.

It helps that the light wastes no lumens by spraying up in the trees. All the output is reflected in the right direction.

I ordered this light on faith — I'd never seen one in action — and was stunned by the output.

I read the Edelux is 80x lux. Do you find that light powerful enough to be riding it in the woods at night with no lighting at all?

Say $30, total cost. Haven't found any generator hubs that cheap yet, let alone hub+light.

Did you poke around the site from the first link? I bookmarked it- have to do some research, but he has Sanyo dynohubs for $40. He'll build it into whatever wheel you want, but has spec'd some budget friendly builds. Hub w/QR+wheel built up for $120 give or take. Looks like the cheapest build would be a dynowheel, with a halogen front and LED rear for $170.

I don't mind spending good money on my touring bike, but that's a totally different market than the Cateyes.

With a $40 hub, if I could get someone to pay me $10 to take the light, we'd be in the target price range, assuming I build the wheel myself.

Velo-Orange has their Novatec hubs on sale for $35.

If you want a decent LED about the lowest you are going to get for a head light and hub generator is going to be $60-75 range. Bottle generator will get you down another $10-15.

Longleaf Bicycles is a good place to buy B&M stuff from. I have met the owner and he is a great guy, very small shop. Less of a headache to deal with than Peter White, so I go to him for a lot of my odds and ends, doesn't hurt that he is 90 miles from me near the beach my wife likes to go to.

Aaron

I read on your website that you used to have a homemade 20W halogen setup. What made you stop using it?

I have a Schmidt dynohub with the Supernova E-3 headlight, and I couldn't be happier with my setup. I used to live in Maine and had the B&M halogen headlight - in cold weather I had problems with bulb life, and those bulbs were not cheap! I switched to the LED and got more light, and no issues with burning out the bulb.

I wish someone made a generator powered tail-light with a blinking mode. I have the Supernova 161-T which is real cute, but is not super bright and doesn't blink so I consider it mostly decoration. It is supplemented with a Dinotte battery powered tail-light - you can't miss that!

I can't speak to that particular light, but when I use two Ixon IQ lights (40 lux each) I can definitely ride through the forest at night. In fact, I will usually turn one of them down to its low setting (10 lux) and it is still plenty bright enough to keep the mountain lions away (so far) and allow me to see the road/trail clearly.

I read the Edelux is 80x lux. Do you find that light powerful enough to be riding it in the woods at night with no lighting at all?

I don't know what "lux" are. That 80 number gave me concern before I bought it, but not now — it is a beamer.

I've never taken it in the woods — this is on a commuter, not an MTB — but I don't think you'd be disappointed.

All of the generator lights are rare — I don't know anyone else who has one, of any kind, in my circle of riders — and that's too bad. It would be nice to give these a test drive.

That said, I am happy with mine.

Quality optics -- a 3W generator hub driving a well-made headlamp with good optics puts as much useful light on the road as a 20W halogen with a round beam pattern.

I replaced the 20W halogen with a Schmidt dynohub back in the late '90s. (Sort of wish I'd waited a little longer -- it's the first generation SON that has to be taken apart to change bearings.)

That's why I'm looking at non-generator LED lights.

I don't want to send the kids to school with an expensive light that's going to be stolen or damaged if I can get a $30 battery-powered CatEye or the like.

https://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/t...h-N3-II/Detail

I have one of these and it's a pretty decent seeing light.

Is the G model available in the USA? I did a quick Google search and all I could find were EU resources. Apparently Amazon carried it at some point but no longer. Gee imagine a well made light like that... no market in the US... gee.