Dynamo Lights

I've got a Lumotec IQ cyo T lamp. I tried to install it today but ran into a few problems.

The bracket fouls the headset in one position and the mudguard in another. I have tried adding some spacers between the brake and the fork crown, but with enough spacers the recessed nut isn't long to reach the brake stud. I tried a longer recessed nut but then I can't fit my daruma inside the fork crown.

Any body have any ideas how I can mount this light?

I've just taken the plunge into dynamo lights after a friend did the same a few weeks ago due to his commute being along dark unlit country lanes. He bought a 2nd hand ready built dynamo wheel on ebay for about £40 but then blew over £200 on a set of Supernova lights.

My plan was similar but I wanted to start with as low a budget as possible and still get half decent parts. I bought a brand new Model DN-3N71 on ebay from Merlin Cycles for £25 posted. Being a wheelbuilder I built myself a new front wheel onto a used but ok rim. Bike24 in Germany then provided me with a B & M Cyo (60 lux version) and a Toplight XS for 63 Euros (48 GBP) posted. My wheel is now 400g heavier than the previous one.

I've only used this set up twice but am very impressed with the result. The first was last Wednesday riding from Much Hadham in Hertfordshire to SE London. Dark country lanes lit up so well that you could see where you were going with no fear of batteries dying. The second time was yesterday on an audax ride (the main reason for going dynamo) where I knew I would be riding dark country lanes for 3-4 hours after sunset. Performed perfectly giving me the confidence to ride at normal speed. Coupled with the GPS I could see ahead to how the road would bend and the light showing me any bumps or potholes. More respect from cars too.

I thought I would upgrade when I had tested my current set up more thoroughly but even at this low budget I'm quite impressed with the result and may just stick with it for while and perhaps even do the same with my other bike.

The great thing about those headlight is that you don't appear like a cyclist, more like a motorcyclist on a budget low end motorcycle.

I do like being able to raise the light higher to see much further without blinding incoming road user, something I can't do with the main crop of battery powered light.

I've got a Lumotec IQ cyo T lamp. I tried to install it today but ran into a few problems.

The bracket fouls the headset in one position and the mudguard in another. I have tried adding some spacers between the brake and the fork crown, but with enough spacers the recessed nut isn't long to reach the brake stud. I tried a longer recessed nut but then I can't fit my daruma inside the fork crown.

Any body have any ideas how I can mount this light?

How did you get on? It's for these reasons that people like to mount onto bag racks, fork mounted bosses, even canti bosses (a fix I found to reuse a snapped bracket on my tourer recently).

@arup Aren't they a revation?! I'm on the hunt for a new Ambrosio Excellight so I can build a really top notch dyno wheel for my fixed Audax (Faudax) bike.Thinking of going for the Luxos U and the Toplight Senso (a sort of brake light!) powered by a Schmidt.

I am concerned that you may have just started me on an expensive fanaticism

SON built into a Excellight SSC is a great combo, I used one for ages (until the bike was stolen).

For anything that I won't race on I automatically Dynamo it these days- much practical, so lumens, very battery free, wow light!

I still think it's the best value package for everyday riding.

I'm gonna upgrade my SP Dynamo disc hubs to the Schmidt SON 28 hubs, the SP Dynamo emitted a high vibration when travelling above 25mph, whether the SON 28 on the other bike remain vibration-free at that speed.

I've ordered the new Edelux II to replaced the Supernova E3 on the other bike, currently my Edelux outperform the Supernova E3 which was a surprised, suppose it's very good marketing by Supernova claiming it's the "brightest dynamo light" out there.

My SP's have no (noticeable) vibration at any speed Ed- might be worth checking the bearings before firing the money-gun?

B&M Cyo.

For the budget, this is indeed the best one to go for, I was impressed that it have a similar pattern to the more expensive Edelux model;

Could be the difference between the carbon and steel fork.

I think I read somewhere (CTC headlight review) that B&M sell Schmidt the reflector for the Edelux (same as the Cyo) - hence the similarities in performance.

Which do you have that you're feeling the vibration on out of interest? (I mean, carbon or steel fork).

Yup, heard the same, biggest difference is that the Schmidt body is much better made than the Cyo.

What's a decent budget dynamo + light build? Really itching to get into this.

Steel disc fork, it's slightly noticeable but not a fault of the hubs, just that I'm used to the lack of it on the SON 28 (steel rims brake fork).

It's only when the light is engaged.

SP Dynamo with B&M Cyo.

on a budget a shimano dynamo is a better choice

@edscoble @sohi As much as I want the SP, I'll be buying trade off of work so it'll have to be a Shimano. I'm hoping this will be a stepping stone (Bike is nothing special) to better things as opposed to a be all end all system.

This one?

@chak in that cause, you should be able to get the DH-3N31 on trade for a lots less.

Awesome. Can't believe you can have that combo for under £50. Any reason to go for the XT or LX stuff? Doing some reading now on here Makes all my Rechargeable s look like toys!

Yep - better heat management so slightly better performance apparently.

Edelux II seemed to be much much wider than the Edelux I;

I still haven't managed to mount it to my satisfaction. I haven't got anywhere else to mount it. I have the bits to try and move the mudguard to an L bracket mount to free up space in the fork crown for a longer nut. Just need to find the time to fit it.

When I had all my gear mounted to another frame I was very happy with it and the Toplight senso.