Dynamo Lights - Can We Compare Yet?

[LEE]

I ahve always loved my SON / Solidlights combination but I suspect Solidlights are now superseded to a meaningful degree.

Does anyone have practical, real-life, experience of the main LED Dynamo lights such that they can say which is the best for night-riding?

Peter White's site has a great Beam comparison but it omits Solidlights.BEAMS

Best 'bang for the buck' appears to be the B&M IQ Fly at about £55.

The EDeluxe is as hard to find as Rocking Horse S**t

The Supernova E3 looks really well made and competes with Solidlights at around £150.

All I can say is that my Solidlights are not focussed, this gives a very reassuring 'wash' of light across a wide area.  On dry nights it gives the impression of riding by VERY bright moonlight rather than through a black tunnel with a single bright spot on the road.

On wet nights that becomes their drawback, there is no bright spot and the wash of light is reflected off the road and lost.

Maybe the way to go is a supplementary B&M IXON Battery LED (£70) that I can switch on when I really need some additional, focussed, light.  The combination of Solidlights and an IXON may be perfect.

Any direct comparisons, comments?

[Andrew Br]

On the Skegness overnighter, I rode alongside Chris N for a while with my E3 blasting away. Chris was using Solidlights. After a while he turned them off and it didn't seem to make a great deal of difference to what I could see. My recollection is that the E3 threw its beam a lot further and there wasn't a lot of difference in the amount of sideways spread.

I've also got an Ixon IQ (same light unit as the IQ Fly) which I sometimes use to supplement the E3. I'm coming to the conclusion that the IQ doesn't bring anything useful to the party. Although the beam is very bright and well focussed, its lack of reach often means that I look at the centre of the bright spot rather than as far into the distance as the E3 illuminates. The IQ also leaves a dark patch immediately in front of the wheel- potholes can disappear at the last second !
If I hadn't seen the E3 though, I would be very happy with the IQ.

It would be good to see Solidlights update their design with brighter LEDs and a twin beam pattern- broad pool for near vision/slow speeds and a long throw spot for distance viewing at higher speeds.
Put on a "dip" switch, allow the 2 beams to adjust independently, have a flashing mode for the "high" beam and a 5 minute full power standlight (for beam adjustment or signpost lighting) and you'd have the perfect light (IMO).

[LEE]

Solidlights would need a lens to do that.

I suspect that brighter LEDs in a current Solidlights box would be very dazzling for oncoming drivers.  I don't usually have sympathy but I don't want to start a full-beam battle with a car.

Any replacement for my Solidlights must have a lens/reflector to make best use of the light.

I think it looks like a Supernova E3.  I don't really need a replacement until next March/April when there may well be a new LED available and some more competition.

[rogerzilla]

I can only compare the IQ Fly and the E3.

The IQ Fly is perfectly adequate, and better than any halogen option.  It has a carefully shaped beam, but leaves a bit of a dark patch near the bike if you aim it so the top of the beam reaches to the horizon.  The E3 is more penetrating, despite having a symmetrical beam which wastes more light upwards and probably dazzles drivers.  It's ideal for very fast riding.

In terms of value for money the IQ Fly wins easily, but I prefer the E3.  It's also upgradeable, has a high quality alloy housing (better heatsinking? longer LED life?) and looks much nicer.

[MercuryKev]

I'm coming to the conclusion that the IQ doesn't bring anything useful to the party.

I think that the IQ brings affordability to the party.  You can now get a dynohub and light, that is perfectly usable for solo noght riding, for the price of a solidlight.  Sure, there are better lights but not for £55.

[rogerzilla]

Admittedly I haven't used it yet but, based on weight and how freely the axle spins, the new Shimano DH-3N80 hub (about £50-60 from Europe, not available here) knocks a SON28 into a cocked hat for price and performance - and I say this as the user of two SONs.

One of these with an IQ Fly is better than anything on the market 12 months ago, all for £120.

[border-rider]

Admittedly I haven't used it yet but, based on weight and how freely the axle spins, the new Shimano DH-3N80 hub (about £50-60 from Europe, not available here) knocks a SON28 into a cocked hat for price and performance - and I say this as the user of two SONs.

weight may be an advantage - but since it's at the wheel centre it won't actually make very much difference.  I'll bet that electrically they're very similar. The "twiddle-axle" test will tell you mostly about the strengths of the magnet poles and not much at all about in-use rolling resistance.

I think you'd need actual numbers on efficiency to make any sort of value judgement.  you'll get better (ie some) manufacturers' support with the SON, but it'll be a lot dearer

[PH]

I’ve used both, though it was before the E3 upgraded to the present spec.  Even at that old spec I preferred the E3, the major difference then was the beam pattern rather than the brightness, the original E3 had a narrow beam.  The extra light from the newer LED went into widening that beam rather than reach, IMO since then the E3 has been a better light in every respect.  How much better?  Obviously subjective, but I can’t imagine anyone seeing the two side by side would choose the Solidlights.  On the other hand if I already had the Solidlights I wouldn’t consider it enough of an improvement to upgrade.

Maybe the way to go is a supplementary B&M IXON Battery LED (£70) that I can switch on when I really need some additional, focussed, light.  The combination of Solidlights and an IXON may be perfect.

Any direct comparisons, comments?

I think supplementing your Solidlights with a battery LED would be a better option than the E3.  The IXON wouldn’t be my choice, it’s focused into a wide even beam.  I’d have thought something with a narrower, further reaching beam would complement better and also be more effective in the rain.  Something like a Dinotte or a Fenix torch.

Peter White's site has a great Beam comparison but it omits Solidlights.BEAMS

That's fair enough for a comparison, just don't expect any of the lights to look like they do to the camera.  To my eyes the E3s have never looked that good and the E6s look better.

[border-rider]

I really don't get on with narrow, focussed beams except in town where there is already ambient light.

I love the Solidlight's undefined splodge of light on rural lanes, and I agree that an LED update would improve it. 

[innesh]

Having just done an overnight group 200km, I had the opportunity to ride side by side with Solidlight and IQ Fly lights - IQ wins easily to my eyes, and it's amazing value.  It illuminates a wet road in a way that Solidlights can't.

Having said that, I was the cheapskate of the group with a cheapo Blackburn Voyager battery light, but it gave a good light for solo riding.  I already have an old SON, but might be getting an IQ Fly to use with it.

[fin]

I recently purchased an IQ Fly N (with a SON built into a wheel for a tad over £200) and used the combination for the first time overnight on the Down to Longtown Nocturne 200 Permanent.

This was my first foray into really bright lights having used various combinations of Never Readies, Basic Cateye 500 (latterly an EL530) , a 6W sidewall dynamo and Halogen bulb and a 6W/10W lamp combo on an ultra-heavy rechargeable.  I don't think I'll go back to batteries, certainly not on audaxes lasting long hours in the dark.

The IQ Fly beam is fairly narrow compared with some of the others that were on display last night, but not so that I couldn't pick out edge of beam objects.  Most impressive was the length of its throw.  It chucks out 40 lux  - an average family living room lighting level is about 50 lux (ref Wikipedia).   which allowed me to comfortably cycle over 45 kph downhill for about 6km.  I was able to choose the line I wanted in advance and there were no "oh sh*t" moments.  OK I do have a mental image of this particular descent, but don't know it that well and have never ridden it in the dark.

I could see the dark spot at the bottom of the beam that others have referred to, but it didn't prevent me from riding the way I would in daylight.  Personally I prefer a more focussed beam long range beam rather than having a short to medium length one with lots of peripheral light.

At normal riding speeds, I was not aware of any drag caused by the SON.

In my opinion the money was well spent.

[Greenbank]

First off, I'm perfectly happy with my Solidlights and I'll keep using them until they are beyond repair. I must be one of those people that prefers a wash of light rather than a focused spot. I don't have any problem with them on wet roads either, maybe it's my dodgy eyesight and the fact I wear glasses so I'm used to less than perfect vision.

I've also got an IQ Fly, which has been fitted to the geared Audax bike, but I haven't done any geared Audaxes since fitting it but I have been round the park a few times. I was also very impressed with Scottlington's B&M Ixon IQ (the battery powered version of the IQ Fly) on the DIY 600.

I'd definitely agree that Solidlights have been surpassed and they now look very expensive compared with the IQ Fly. The IQ is brighter and the optics do more with the available light in a way I still like (i.e. it has no obvious focused spot).

Knowing all of this, what would I do now?

If I was purchasing a single new lighting setup for Audaxing it'd be a dynohub (Shimano, SON if I have spare cash) and an IQ Fly.

The next "upgrade" would be a Ixon IQ for rides where I need to cover only a few hours of darkness (winter 200s, summer 300s) and to act as an emergency spare to the IQ Fly.

Street-sign/map/GPS/repair/cycle-computer illumination from a cheapo headtorch. Hands free use and always points in the right direction. Simple and effective.

LEL is a special case as I'm planning on doing less than 10 hours night riding. That's just 3 sets of batteries for an Ixon IQ. No point dragging a dynohub along for 100 hours just to use it for 10. I'll probably mount a pair of Ixons on a space grip so that I've got a backup.

[LEE]

Good info, keep it coming.

Greenbank, have you had the opportunity to compare a Supernova E3 with the IQ?

I find the actual manufacturing quality of the E3 very tempting.

[Tiger]

I am doing a fiar bit of lonely night rides this year on remote lanes. For me that is where the light really becomes important as theer is nothing darker than a wooded hill on a small lane at 0230 am. spooky.
I find the SON/Solidlights combo ideal - I am a fan of the big area coverage and can't feel any drag at all from it after its worn in.  Youi can se the critters way ahead whihc is reassuring. I don't want a beam because that makes teh bits outsied the beam even darker and anything could lurk there and jump out.
I did notice some brighter lights on a recent Fnrttc but they were battery and thats not an option on the recumbent - need a tiny lightweight unit up front and no ballast on the boom.
I use a bright focussed long beam headlight too for looking round corners  - and deathraying cars that leave their beams on. I can switch that off so in fact even if solidliaghts upgraded I woudln't want that in their light.
I know they cost a bit but I simply like them.

[andrew_s]

The EDeluxe is as hard to find as Rocking Horse S**t

SCHMIDT Edeleux  : £97.00 : PARTS & ACCESSORIES : Lights - Dynamo Lighting - Spa Cycles, Harrogate - The touring cyclists specialist.

[Greenbank]

Greenbank, have you had the opportunity to compare a Supernova E3 with the IQ?

No, never knowingly seen one on an Audax, but I'll look out for one now that it's coming towards winter and shorter days.

[LEE]

The EDeluxe is as hard to find as Rocking Horse S**t

SCHMIDT Edeleux  : £97.00 : PARTS & ACCESSORIES : Lights - Dynamo Lighting - Spa Cycles, Harrogate - The touring cyclists specialist.

Oo err !

I thought they'd be more than that

[the cormorant]

Not sure if this helps but here goes anyway....

A friend of mine went to the recent Eurobike trade show in Friedrichshafen and was interested in the Edeleux. He was told that this light had sold out in Germany and there would be no more stock 'til mid-February.

The Schmidt representative advised him to buy the IQ Fly in the meantime and, if he still needed additional lighting power, to buy the Edeleux when it became available.

[Cudzoziemiec]

I really don't get on with narrow, focussed beams except in town where there is already ambient light.

Me too. My complaint about every light I've ever used has not been "not bright enough" but "too short range" but "I don't feel I can see the verges". Now, though, I've taken to riding around town with no lights at all and I find it's fine! (It's ok, everyone does that here - I've never even seen a bicycle light for sale, let alone used, here.)

[LEE]

I really don't get on with narrow, focussed beams except in town where there is already ambient light.

Me too. My complaint about every light I've ever used has not been "not bright enough" but "too short range" but "I don't feel I can see the verges". Now, though, I've taken to riding around town with no lights at all and I find it's fine! (It's ok, everyone does that here - I've never even seen a bicycle light for sale, let alone used, here.)

If you tried that where I ride in rural Hampshire you would wake up in a ditch/hospital (if you woke up).

I really do need lights

[vorsprung]

Add the Inoled to your list of lights

It is available in the UK from IanH for approx 80 quid ( I think )

I used one for PBP and other rides last year.  Gives a good beam

Other lights I've used are a battery dinotte  and a axa basta halogen powered by a schmidt hub.
The Dinotte is an early model, 5W, "splurgey" light everywhere lighting the hedge etc not quite enough light thrown forwards for fast descents,  The Axa basta gave a good beam at speed but not wide enought for cornering. 

The Inoled does nearly as much light as the dinotte and the focus is just a bit wider than the Axa basta.
These type of LED generator lights seem to give about the same brightness at any speed over 10 mph.  The Inoled is pretty good at any speed plus it has a standlight

[andrew_s]

The EDeluxe is as hard to find as Rocking Horse S**t

SCHMIDT Edeleux  : £97.00 : PARTS & ACCESSORIES : Lights - Dynamo Lighting - Spa Cycles, Harrogate - The touring cyclists specialist.

Oo err !

I thought they'd be more than that

So did I. I also thought they were basic on/off, but it's got the full auto-sensor gubbins in it.
I've now got one in my hands. I'll take it for a ride later and report back.

Does anyone have any ideas about taking beam shots? I don't have a set of rollers, and don't propose to buy any specially, so I'll probably have to have the DSLR in one hand, steer with the other, and try to take the photo by a marker in the road.

[PH]

Does anyone have any ideas about taking beam shots? I don't have a set of rollers, and don't propose to buy any specially, so I'll probably have to have the DSLR in one hand, steer with the other, and try to take the photo by a marker in the road.

There's some detail of how Peter White takes his here

[andrew_s]

Does anyone have any ideas about taking beam shots? I don't have a set of rollers, and don't propose to buy any specially, so I'll probably have to have the DSLR in one hand, steer with the other, and try to take the photo by a marker in the road.

Well, that didn't work very well. Exposures of 1/10, f3.5 at ISO1600 weren't quite enough, so I ended up with assorted blurry splodges, and the solidlights shots didn't seem to show at all (at least on the back of the camera).  The camera will need to be tripod mounted and the bike stationary with the front wheel spinning, so I don't think it will happen.

Otherwise, pretty much as expected. The beam on the road is a lot brighter than the solidlight, and fills the full width of the road. There's less spill, so there's more of steering into the darkness on slow tight corners. The better lit road makes spotting gravel and minor potholes much easier. There's good light with no flickering down to 4kph at least (though I didn't wait for the standlight to expire before trying it).

[iakobski]

What is the colour like?