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Upgrading Brompton Lighting?

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Old 01-01-13, 12:07 PM
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Upgrading Brompton Lighting?

I've ordered a Brompton M6R with the Shimano Hub Dynamo lighting system (couldn't afford the £320.00 SON system ). The Shimano system features a halogen front lamp. I'm wondering if I could upgrade to an LED front lamp and, if so, what the options are. Have any of you done this?
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Old 01-01-13, 12:30 PM
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I have the Shimano dynamo running a BM Lumotec (I believe it's halogen) on my M3L and it's plenty bright for my needs. Enough to see and be seen.

I'd test it first and see how well it suits your needs. And BTW, while the Son dynamo is nice, the Shimano is just fine IMHO.
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Old 01-01-13, 12:42 PM
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Halogen light bulbs tend to burn out, or so I've been told, whilst LED's keep shining for years.
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Old 01-01-13, 01:10 PM
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Not sure about Spain, but the 2.4W bulbs are $4 each here from Peter White (scroll down to bottom of page): https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/b&m-hl.asp

I realize this doesn't answer your original question, but if I have to replace a bulb every now and then, it's not a dealbreaker for me. If you do upgrade to LED, let us know how it works.
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Old 01-01-13, 01:24 PM
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You should be able to replace the Stock package of the halogen headlight with the same LED headlight
as the SON hub package uses , SJS will even ship the light with the same Wiring Brompton used,
as a spare part.

B&M Lyt is a low cost LED light , , to use as well.. rear light is already LED.

UK has another distributor so Planet bike lights have another name, there,
looks substantially identical ..
but they make a LED handlebar mounted light with a wire to the dynamo,
and recently added an inline plug, to make a wired light, that you can, easily, take off
and put in your pocket.
Light will be higher , on the handlebars.. [I have a Battery PB light on my M3L]

Then the rear light can be a battery light..


Yes Halogen bulbs , like other resistance fillament lights do have a life span,
ending with burn out opening the circuit like burning out a fuse.

Last edited by fietsbob; 01-01-13 at 01:29 PM.
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Old 01-01-13, 08:10 PM
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I use LED lights and have been replacing all of my old halogen ones, main reason is no more burned out bulbs. LED's have a 10,000+ hour lifespan. I figure I probably ride in the dark a 150 hours a year... On the Brompton I would use any of the B&M that fit, personal favorites are the Cyo and the Fly.

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Old 01-02-13, 12:43 AM
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Lots of good info here. Thanks to all of you.

Aaron, the Cyo looks nice. Once I take delivery of the bike, I'll see if it'll fit.
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Old 01-02-13, 05:16 AM
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Aren't Brompton switching to LEDs on their 2013 dynamo lighting system?
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