Bike lights: Is pedal-powered dynamo or rechargeable battery better for cycling?
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- Опубліковано 3 сер 2024
- There are, generally, two types of bike lights. In North America, where most bikes are built for speed rather than practicality, lights are often an aftermarket product, powered by rechargeable batteries and affixed to handlebars and seatposts. But there is another way, common elsewhere, to stay lit up while riding by integrating lights that are powered by the rider's pedal strokes through a dynamo.
Which type is best? In this video, I set out to answer that question.
0:00 Introduction
0:56 Aftermarket battery lights
2:56 Dynamo lights
5:20 Pros and cons of aftermarket battery lights
6:32 Pros and cons of dynamo lights
7:35 The winner
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You forgot to mention that dynamo hub lights are wayyyyyy more expensive but they last wayyyyyy longer
Especially the Son Nabendynamo made in Germany.
A dynamo hub wheel is not a lot more expensive than an ordinary wheel, and the lights are not really more expensive. There are of course some very expensive, just as there are very expensive battery lights too. The best option in my view is to get a bike with a hub dynamo from the start, so you don't need to get another wheel, since good wheels are usually (next to the frame) the most expensive parts.
Also they are heavier
They are NOT more expensive. If you get the SA XL-FDD with DRUM brakes, you get FREE brakes for 30,000 miles. FACT. ALL weather, any load and ZERO maintenance.
@@GordoGambler my experience with drum brakes is "thank you but NO!!!! thanks.
I think not having the lights be easily removable is an advantage. I've got my aftermarket lights stolen a couple of times, but never my built-in lights.
I always take the lights off with me, when I park my bike.
Either super easy to take off and you always take it off or super super hard to take off.
@@plantpowered269I do that too when I take my bike to work, I paid over 50 euros for a replacement halogen bulb for my cateye HL-500ii and had to wait for it to get to the USA from Germany so I don't want it getting taken while my bike is locked up to the flagpole outside.
Not only can you not rely on reflectors at night, in most jurisdictions it is illegal for you to ride at night without at least a front light. If you are riding at night, get a light for your safety and the safety of others.
E-bikes often come with (and should always come with) integrated lights. In my experience, they don't impact the battery life at all, as the battery for the motor has such a huge capacity.
Thanks for sharing this. Great points about ebikes. I may revisit this at some point in the future.
My issue with how E-bike integrated light is that they are not really modular or swappable. If we had a usb connection built into the bike frame that you could hook up any other light that has a usb connection this would be even more of a nice thing. Would allow you to either buy a e-bike without the lights, and yet buy some later that still with the connection can run off the e-bike battery, and the difference would be how much the price of the bike would be.
@@elricengquist9989 Not a bad idea. But some ebikes come with such good lighting, that there isn't a need to swap them out. My Serial 1 Mosh has insanely good lighting - tail and brake lights integrated in the rear frame, badge "be seen" lighting up front, and a super-bright wide angle headlight. I couldn't buy aftermarket lights as good as these.
@@1718bb True many have very good lights, but what happens if you have an issue with that integrated light. Having to either re-run wiring, or if the light breaks. There are pros and cons to both, with the idea of a usb hook up it is easier to swap to different lights, but also swap out a broken light, which a integrated light you might either have to send it in to be fixed professionally or splice in a new light.
@@elricengquist9989 One issue of a USB hookup would be the added failure point in terms of corrosion or wear. There is also the possibility of vibrations loosening the connection and someone being able to steal it easily. All those things can be designed around and addressed, of course. Still, sometimes the simplicity of an integrated light on the manufacturer's side is enough reason to go without removable lights. If you buy an ebike from one of the prominent brands, they'll typically cover any issue with the lights under warranty, but you do have to send them in for service at your local bike shop, as you said.
The other thing that may not be universal is that Dynamo lights are often designed with a much better beam pattern. Most aftermarket lights essentially shine everywhere, some are spotlights and others are flood lights, but they all tend to have a circular pattern. With dynamo lights, they are often designed to shine directly in front of you and no further. When sharing paths with pedestrians, the light is designed not to shine into their eyes.
I can think of a couple of advantages add-on lights have over dynamo lights: you can choose the amount of light output. You can also choose to have the light on steady, blinking or strobe if your light has that feature. Sometimes there's a low or high option, too.
Same goes for the taillight.
Also, if you have more than one bike you can have one set of lights that you just switch from one bike to another, whereas with dynamo you'd have to have a set on each bike.
They both have definite advantages and limitations.
This tends to be the case in a lot of cases, but I don't see why a built-in light couldn't have those options as well. They tend to be built so you can set it and forget it, but I can't see why they couldn't have options.
N+1 is an issue when it comes to lighting options. Main reason why I have not considered dynamo setups. Although, I generally use either 3 bikes for night rides....as far as commuting and/or running errands go.
In emergency (ie. Tire puncture) at night, you can use the after market as a 🔦 flashlight. Difficult on a "dynamo"
@@shirleyarias8356 These days, considering anybody has some sort of phone with a flashlight mode....
Strobe lights in dusk or night are especially annoying. If flashing light would be so great at night, all cars would have them. Instead only emergency and policy use them, for a reason.
At daylight flashing is OK, though. Some cyclists just don't know they are annoying other cyclists.
I've recently ordered a trek district with a dynamo hub! It's essentially the same bike as your priority, belt drive and all! Very excited for it to finally get here!
Yea but priority Onyx is less expensive…
It’s funny because Trek District is essentially the same model as Diamant 247. Diamant is a German bike manufacturer that Trek bought a few years ago and their 247 is a very successful bike. It looks like in Europe Trek sells both the District and the 247, probably in North America it’s just Trek.
Same applies for quite a few commuter oriented bikes and ebikes by Trek.
@@rabomarc Seems that District has CDX drivetrain while 247 only CDN. With gear hub, 246 has got Alfine 11 while District - Alfine 8. Similar bikes but with certain differences.
I got the district 4 in the spring. So far it's been a good bike. My only issue has been some vibration in 4th gear that no one can seem to figure out.
@@barryziober6603 My Nexus8 has some springy feeling in 4th. I guess it's OK. Not all gears are equal there. I've read even Rohloff hub has some gears rougher/louder than others.
I've been commuting with USB rechargeable lights for more than a year without issue. Thanks for this great video as well as all your other great and informative bike related content. Much appreciated.
How often do you recharge them
You forgot to mention the advantages for chargeable lights of being able to take the light off the bike and use it as a flashlight and they can be even brighter than a car headlight. I think this makes a difference sometimes for people in cars wanting to pull out into my right of way.
Ability to use bike light as a flash light is especially useful when you have a flat where are no street lighting.
You can get "insanely" powerful dynamo bike lights. I need to be careful about my dynamo bike light not getting angled upards by accident as it can then blind other people in traffic.
And for flashlight needs I just use my smartphone.
That's what you can use your phone for. Those times where you run out of battery on the phone are rare. And a lot of bike lock keys come with tiny lights in them too.
@@C0deH0wler iPhone = 50 lumens. My bike headlight = 1250 lumens.
I use both of them
So disagree with the previous comment! Getting a hub dynamo installed was the single best upgrade to my bike. You do need a good light, but my B&L lights with standlight are perfect for my commute down dark country lanes. I highly recommend them for their reliability and convenience.
Love my dynamo lights as well.
I have the Son Nabendynamo hub with Edulux front light and Son rear light. It is good, but no where near as bright as my NightRider system.
Hub Dynamo + capaictor lights. That Solution is around a billion Times more convenient then Battery Lights. Battery Lights do really, REALLY suck. They gotta be charged. And you gotta have them on Hand. Both not allways the Case. Dynamo Lights STAY on the Bike. Year Round. And no matter how unexpected or whatever - when you need your bike lights, they are just there and will just work, when you need them.
The ONLY downside of this Combo is, that hub Dynamos are unfortunately pricy. But unlike tire rubbing Dynamos these don't suck and if you regulary ride when it's dark, they are EASILY worth it.
I grew up with the tyre-scratchind dynamo. Boy, that did make a difference on your effort!
But with the newer variants and LED you have more light for less effort, so YEAH dynamo!
I didn't knew about the capacitor lights though, that really cool stuff, because it takes away the only really bad point for dynamo powered lights that is left.
I wish I could find this Simpsons clip with sound:
ua-cam.com/video/9MAkl8tEsnA/v-deo.html
The two advantages that the "bottle rubbing the tire" dynamos still have is (1) when disconnected they have no drag at all and (2) they are waaaay cheaper. Cheap enough that you can justify having them installed as an emergency backup option to deal with dead batteries. Since I rarely plan on riding in the dark, I rarely remembered to charge lights either, so that factor actually turns out to be a big benefit for me.
I remember the dynamo as a kid. So much drag you could hardly pedal lol. And when you slowed down with the effort the light got so dim it was almost useless. And once it was held with super tension against the tire you could almost see the rubber rubbing off lol
ua-cam.com/video/i7kgzgcqe5s/v-deo.html
I use both. The dynamo hub for my primary lighting, and a battery powered one on my helmet to get the attention of drivers about to enter the roadway right in front of me, or left turn into me.
Another con of dynamo lights would be that they're hard to come by in the first place. You can put battery powered lights on any bike of any price range
Depending on where you live. In Europe bikes are often seen as a form of transportation, rather then a device that is only there for sports. Therefore many are built for regular Idiots like me who just wanna get around, unlike America where the Majority of "cylclists" wear Spandex over their obese middle aged bodies to show the world how little dignity an Individium can possibly have ^^
So while there are unfortunately many Bikes without lights aviable here. Every god damn car store, no matter if new or used bikes will have a Variety of Bikes that come with lights included. Because again, most here just wanna get around and have no intention to embarrass themselves :D
Your philosophy of making your bike pleasant to ride, and keeping it ready to ride has gotten me riding a lot more. Being able to unlock it and go really does remove a mental barrier that keeps you at home.
I don’t have a dynamo, but I do keep some small unobtrusive lights on my bike at all times now (besides charging). They are cheap enough that I don’t care if they get stolen, and I have more backups.
Great to hear. Whatever system gets you on the bike more is the best system.
I use dynamo lights on my everyday commuter. The other day I visited four different shops on the way home from work, removing battery lights each time to prevent theft would have been really annoying
There are battery powered ones (usually with AA batteries inside) that get mounted on the bike like dynamo lights, so they can't be removed easily.
Only downside there is charging the batteries. I wish they would add simple charging circuits and an USB port or something so you can just bring a powerbank to charge them every now and then, instead of having to open it up and remove the batteries to charge them. That would make it easier to top them off instead of having them die at some point due to lack of charging.
You haven't mentioned it, but there are two major other factors: theft and breaking.
Here in the Netherlands you are required to have lights on your bike, but people often forget to bring their bike lights, so they will often steal battery powered lights that are left on bikes. That's not possible with the dynamo bike lights which, as you explained, are hard ro remove. That's a win for dynamo bike lights.
Breaking is also an important factor. Your bike will probably fall a couple of times or bumps into some things. The front light of a dynamo gets damaged very easily and is hard to replace. A battery light will break similarly as fast, but is far more easily to replace.
This is all still a major win for dynamo lights, but these are a couple of points that are also important
I was thinking the same thing about theft. I always end up walking around with the light in my pocket when I park downtown, since any bypasser could otherwise easily flip the release mechanism and nick it.
Considering where dynamo lights are usually mounted, they actually don't break as often as battery lights. That's my experience.
@@qvintuse.urvind7002 Never had a hub dynamo light breaking. I also want to note the possibility of having both. Gazelle at least can come with dynamo front, built in sturdy battery powered light in the back. It still annoys me that I have to occasionally check the batteries, but they last a long time.
everyone talking about the theft of the removable lights being stolen or broken , but having a bike with a dynamo hub would be a magnet for theives.. they see that and they will try to steal your nice bike just for the hub.. id rather have them steal my removable light than my bike ..
In Germany you have to have lights on your bike by law, in Autumn police often controls it in the morning or evening hours and it will cost you 20 to 35 Euro when you have no lights.
Bottle dynamos are still on a lot of new bikes (they are hell when it is raining), but hub dynamos are common. I love the hub dynamo on my city bike, for my single-speed I have battery powered lights. One thing that could be a con: it makes the bike a bit heavier that a battery powered.
It took ages before battery powered were allowed in Germany, and there are still strict rules (no blinking, and min / max of lumen). My lights have an indicator LED that shows me that it's time to load. But they won't bring me nonstop through the night.
One thing I really don't like about the "elastic lights": So many times I am blinded by oncoming bikes because the light is fixed on the handlebar in a "just wrap around" style. But this also happens from time to time with hub dynamo lights.
Agree on all points. And then there are "artists" riding with powerful front pointing light on helmet - hated by other cyclists and drivers.
Seconded.
And those helmet mounted headlight should be banned.
They are truly murder on bidirectional bicycle trails or multi-use paths.
@@weldonyoung1013 I came across one of those morons, a dark night in a beach town. He was headed towards me. The light was ALL I could see. No idea what he was riding or where his bike was going.
@@GordoGambler , hope the moron's light was not bright enough for you to see "tiny blue flashes around it". Because LED light can damage your retina due to their every small emitting size, clear lens & some with extreme output.
If you come across situation like that again, your still not going to identify them, because you'll need to look away to protect your retina (a good idea even if the lights not powerful enough to produce "tiny blue flashes") and/or come to a stop until the idiot passes.
Once again Germany proving they’re really good at doing stuff wrong.
I’ve always used battery lights until recently. I concur with the results in your test. I over the last year have acquired both a Priority Continuum Onyx and a proper Dutch bike which both have dynamo’s and built in lights. I find them very convenient and agree with the conclusions on those as well. I wish more people here would properly light their bikes, the lights are great even in the daylight to get the attention of drivers.
Been a cycle commuter for almost a year. Thanks for all your helpful info!
I purchased a bike with dynamo lights a year ago. I underestimated how wonderful and convenient they are. You never have to think about the time of day you are riding. Also, like daytime running lights on cars, they are always on, keeping you visible. Finally, riding in the winter months is really tough with battery operated lights as the cold temps kill the batteries quickly Dynamo lights, never an issue!
I have found that very hot summer temperatures make the batteries very hot and that must reduce their efficiency too.
Having lights that are visible from the sides are a great life saver.
Spoke lights! The circle pattern of the wheel really highlights the fact that you're a bike.
I found tires with reflective strip to be a great visibility feature for side view.
@@rabomarc passive reflectors only work when you are illuminated by the approaching vehicles lights. Which at times can be to late.
@@Vid-FX yes, I know. So using these can't be a replacement for active lights but an addition. However, I've found the reflective strips on the tires to be very effective.
Dynamo lights with capacitors do sound appealing.
Old-style dynamo lights are way worse than battery powered lights though - not having light when standing still is a huge issue and I'm very happy to have switched to batteries.
Trust me, hub Dynamos with capacitor lights. More expansive for sure, but SO MUCH better. Seriously, this combination will win over battery lights in terms of practicality and convenience EVERY SINGLE TIME, there isn't even a competition.
Unlike oldshool Dynamos, hub Dynamos don't slow you down at all, you can't notice them. Your lights still are on at the next crossing. And they will work and will be there, unlike battery lights.
At least I gotta go to work at 2AM. I have forogt to charge those god damn battery lights before - god damn. Dynamo Light: Just works. And sometimes it happens, that a night ride takes longer then expected. Battery lights run out - god damn. Dynamo Light: Just works. And Batter lights get stolen constantly. Therefore most People leave them at home, when they won't need them. But then unexpectedely, they were out longer then expected, it's dark, no lights, god damn. Or the lights got stolen - GOD DAMN. Why they get stolen? Because Humans are Assholes and those lights get off in a Second - bike light theft is not for profit. Dynamo Lights are fixed to the Bike. I can take them off with simple tools in 2 Minutes, but that's allready enough to stop 100% of bike light theft, lol.
I fucking hate Battery Lights. Seriously. To many bad and worse Situations with those GOD AWFULL things. They are the Definition of Inconvenience.
Back when I first started riding occasionally at night in the 1970s, battery powered incandescent bike lights were practically useless, throwing maybe 10 to 30 lumens, and a dynamo powered headlight was the way to go. Now? Battery powered LED bike lights can throw several hundred, even thousands of lumens. The difference is incredible. Battery powered LED bike lights are the way to go!
I mean your point is moot when you realize insanely bright LED dynamos also exist
I bought some pretty cheap LED lights from a big box store and they work great. Dynamo seems great if you want something cool but I don’t think I can justify that expense when something almost as good is much cheaper
People saying that dynamo lights are only to be seen clearly have never tried a quality dynamo light with good brightness and clean beam pattern.
I have a Herrmans H-black MR8 and absolutely love it. It's plenty to clearly see the road about 20m ahead. Of course it's more expensive than a standard battery-powered light, but no 15€ battery-powered light will offer such a nice beam pattern.
Got my first Dynamo set up on my Divinci Newton XP.. never looked back. I consider it daytime running lights for my bike - don’t ever need to think of them. Adds little to the rolling resistance. I still keep a couple USB powered lights for the really dark trails to provide more area light. You are paying a premium for the built in system. As a daily commuter I’ve never found much in the way of bike accessories to be cost prohibitive compared to even bus commuting.
First of all, thanks for your channel, I enjoy it quite a bit in the background while I am working, which also is why i don't click the 'like' button often enough as I should, sorry.
Somebody probably already said it, not gonna read all comments, but for me while dynamo light seems cool, i like to be able to clip the battery operated ones to my helmet so cars can see me over other cars. Can't imagine dynamo lights doing that, so that is another con for them. That is until most poeple upgrade from SUVs to semitruck sized vehicles, bigger is better, than we're all scrooed...
Thanks again!
I tried to have my local bicycle shop install Dynamo lights in my commuting bicycle. They were very negative about it and encouraged me to get the lithium battery rechargeable lights attached to the handlebars and my rear rack. Fantastic video thank you for the great work.
Thank you for this information. In our country, most are selling rechargeable lights well in fact, the power produced in pedalling is very efficient and sustainable + it is also environment-friendly.
You make a great case for the lights always being there and ready to go.
I live in a very urban area. Dynamo powered lights on a city bike is very convenient in super urban environments. Like you say - the convenience factor is immense, allowing being able to jump on the bike when it's dark outside and having the lights ready to go without having to remember to having charged your lights (or remember to have brought them with you in case you leave during the day and return in the dark).
I also have light sets for other bikes and they work amazingly well too for all the other bikes I own.
personally,
commuter bike: dynamo
fast bike: usb lights(I have to charge my garmin anyways)
I think the best move is to have both if you can! this helps them cover each others weaknesses
Saying that maybe you were a *touch* to harsh on battery powered lights
- In general I find that the battery powered lights are much brighter
- I don't think the forgetting your lights argument holds much weight if you just leave your lights on your bike (although some types are more susceptible to being stolen)
- They stay on when you are stopped. I know you mention that modern ones have small capacitors but the battery ones will stay on essentially forever
- The issue of them running out of battery is their biggest disadvantage but with modern LEDs requiring almost no power they will last an incredibly long time. and I don't think its too much to ask to either carry a spare AAA in your tool kit or to set a reminder in your phone to take them in to charge every 2 weeks
- The battery powered ones can be picked up VERY cheaply. now they wont be amazing but at least its something and they improve with cost very quickly. the dynamo's tend to be more expensive and are a bit more fiddly to instal, maybe even requiring a mechanic.
So I'd say overall its a much closer fight, but having both dynamo's and Battery on my swedish bike I can definitely say I'm in camp battery
I had a dynamo light on my bike when I lived in Japan. It was great because I always had lights when I returned home from work after dark. No worrying about batteries.
pro or con on... price? Dynamo one can be really expensive, battery can be really cheap. Also, the dynamo ones are much harder to install. Another pro to the battery is they double as a flashlight you can remove and use if you get off the bike. Con to the dynamo is most of them stop shortly after you stop. So might not be as safe in some situations.
Go for the other type of dynamo light, like reelight. They are cheaper, and some have capacitor that gives you a few minutes of light.
Another great video answering another big question I had, before I even had to ask it!
Thanks Tom!🍁
One more advantage for the add on lights. You can use them away from the bike. The headlights can pull double duty as a rechargeable flashlight.
I'm on the battery light team most of the time, small clipable red ones for helmet and saddle, decent elastic white one, plus a lesyne 800xl with gopro attachement that I rarely use for commuting. They all have around 8h-10h charge time and the "low battery" alert is longer than my usual commute.
Seeing how my commuter sits everywhere, get some shocks ... I avoid integration (it's a fixed from the same reason).
However I have a spare front wheel with a son hub for multiday rides and it sure is handy, powers a decent front light at night (use the battery one for decents only) and recharges a battery pack if needed.
Love your definition of sane and insane!
I used to ride with dynamo lights when I was a kid back in the 80s. Roller on the tyre, so it buzzed and sapped your speed, and they turned off the moment you stopped moving. I used to think it'd be a good thing to put in a capacitor to maintain a bit of charge, but they were incandescent bulbs back then and it wouldn't have been enough.
Nice to see the technology has improved in the last 35 years!
I am going for dynamos on my utility and around town bike because I can just go…not going because I forgot to charge up my lights. And for about 90per cent plus of bikes in my area, dynamos and their specific lights are an aftermarket choice that involves maybe a new wheel. On my tour bike, I am going for a bottle dynamo that charges devices and a battery bank , that I move bike to bike.
I got a dynamo hub aftermarket for my commuter 5 years ago, after I got fed up with successive accessory lights failing due to water ingress/running out of power half way home on a very dark cycle lane. I went for the brightest dipped light I could, and a rear light with braking/stop light sensor. That thing is great I get a nice dipped beam for 10 m in front of the bike, a dipped clear cutoff also makes cars give way passing blind corners/parked cars because they think it's another car.
I think you should've mentioned that dynamo lights don't hold a candle when it comes to maximum power output of battery lights. If you need to commute after sunset through some dark areas, a hub dynamo light might not provide you with enough firepower to ride with any sort of confidence. Especially if you like keeping your pace brisk.
Greetings from the Netherlands. Just about all city and commuter bikes here are sold with lighting included, usually a hub dynamo that powers both front and back lights. It's also very common for the back light to have a capacitor so that it stays on for five minutes or so if you have to stop at a junction. This is not considered particularly 'high end', though a capacitor in the front light (less important for safety considerations) probably would be. My last bike also had an 'auto' setting so that the lights came on automatically when it got dark. I kept it on 'auto' all the time, so never had to think about lights at all.
In urban cycling stealing the attached light, in vcase you left it there, is way too easy. For me this is the biggest disadvantage. Still in a green city with lots of parks or woods the integrated lights are often very narrow and thus insufficient. Great video btw, I hope you will get more bicycle riders in the Americas :)
I have bikes set up with both and my dynohub bikes are clearly the winner. I've been doing night rides since 1971! Even back then the generator light was the better light system than the battery powered ones. Same with today's lights. One advantage not mentioned in the video about the dynohub, I can also use them to charge my electronic devices. I have also used the dynohub to charge my friends rechargeable lights when they forgot to charge them. My 3 bikes with dynohubs have close to 35,000 miles on them and never had any problems. I can't say the same with the battery powered lights.
I love dynamo lights....I forget that they are even there but they always light up my way ahead when I need them.
Great info, great running man reference, great video! 😂👍
I commuted with after market lights for a couple of years. By fall I was needing lights both to and from work so charging at the office was a must. Had to replace the headlight as the first one I bought was too weak and I was running ahead of my light. Rear light was a pain, depending upon where you located it, kicked my off a few ties mounting the bike. Dynamos seem like a great solution however you would have to re-spoke your front tire to accommodate one or buy a new bike. Also running wires can be a pain. That's how I see it.
I think for Trekking, touring and commuter bikes dynamo lights are just perfect. Also they are not only for the night they also increase visibility during the daytime. Also you can just the dynamo to power more electronics like a gps navigation.
How do lights increase visibily on a sunny day?
@@stuartperry8141 Non-natural lights and colors pop out to the eye more. There's a reason so much safety gear is neon - it doesn't easily blend in with the ambience and makes the wearer (and their vehicle) stand out. The red of a taillight and the white of a frontlight have a similar effect.
Consider also that even on a sunny day, you might need to deal with shifts in natural light, i.e. going from openly sunny to the shade and it's usually there where visibility, either by way of lights or safety clothing, is the most helpful in preventing accidents.
Lumens? Shouldn't that be a measure of lighting? My battery powered lights also act as traffic cameras to record any incidents or interactions. (What does that say about cycling in North America?)
Agreed, though I don't understand it well I believe Lux is a better measure then Lumens, but we're used to Lumens. It's hard to compare lights without this.
Lumens is the output at the source. Lux is the brightness of what's illuminated. It's important to get a front light that direct the light properly, such as in accordance with the German Strassenverkehrszulassungsordnung (StVZO).
@@qvintuse.urvind7002 the part that confuses me is the brightness of what's illuminated at what distance? Basically since we rarely have lights in North America that state the Lux, I find it hard to compare because it's not a scale we're familiar with. Like how I have no idea what the temperature is anytime I visit the USA. I am not familiar enough with StVZO standards but agree the proper beam pattern is important, it just seems like most StVZO lights available are not very bright, and I am often in conditions where I want brighter lights.
Having got fed up with battery pack powered lights with the battery becoming unusable eventually which requires the replacement of the entire lamp, I'm going back to a dynohub. Thus an initial expense, but from there on, free, no cost lighting - ! 😁
Hey my old School! great video Tom!
The induction lights are every bit as bright as those “disposable” ones you get for change at the supermarket (yes, I live in Europe) but they can be installed on your bike without changing your wheel or routing cables. Also, you can still get the old school bottle dynamos for pretty cheap and they work surprisingly well if installed properly. One pro of the hub dynamo setup is that it can be used to charge various gadgets - at the cost of a couple watts of course.
Personally I would say lights integrated into E-bikes are the best lights. But on a regular bike, I would say a dynamo. Can’t be bothered to mess around with batteries when dynamo lights are bright enough in lit areas. Unless you’re going somewhere unlit, dynamo is fine.
Not so much an either/or - IMO it's a good idea to have both. If you're regularly riding at night or commuting, decent battery lights are a must - particularly on unlit roads/paths where you need to see, as well as be seen. Dynamo lights are great to have as a backup "be seen" light, in case your batteries are flat/uncharged or your lights get broken, forgotten or stolen - but I'd always use battery/rechargeable lights in addition.
As I recall, the old rim dynamo lights were also sold as aftermarket accessories. Hub dynamos seem to be the way to go, especially come as a part of the bike. Nothing extra to buy.
got to say i have just got a cube travel with front wheel dynamo and the lights are fantastic the front light is bright and lights up the road really well.even walking with the bike they are visible
Loved to see that Calgary is green today (if you filmed it today!). We are supposed to have our first snow but lucky us, didn't have it today!
Hub dynamos all the way. Make sure you get one that powers both the front and rear lights, as some hubs can only power front lights while others can even charge your USB devices too. As for hard to remove, I would see that as an advantage, as they're less likely to get stolen, so put that ball back in the basket now. 😀
I love the same bike you have, I also have this Priority Continuum Onyx. I love my bike. It’s very good commuter so far reliable..
You have convinced me to get a in built light bike.
I hope you enjoy it.
1 quick plus about the battery lights is most people have battery banks for their devices now adays and you can run/charge your lights from anywhere. In fact one of my storage bags I got for my bike came with a built in battery bank.
Quality rechargeable and dedicated bike light in front with 1 spare battery, backup (small amd light) headlamp on helmet and at least 2 tail lights, both very good quality.
Both front and tail lights iluminate under the bike too!
One of the reasons why Ebikes are so handy, built in lights.
hey i'm reading "just ride" by your recommendation and so far i'm loving it. i've just read the chapter about being chased by dogs and while i don't ditch all the options given in the books, im my 30 years of cycling i've found that unless the dog is charging at you and not the bike or your moving legs like happens most of the times, the best course of action is to just stop pedaling. dogs simply stop paying attention to it. they just leave. try it by yourself (maybe around smaller dogs first lol). i love your vids!! greetings from argentina.
ps: vid shows up as 'hidden'
This is great dog advice. I hope to never have to try it, but if I'm being chased by a dog again I will remember this tip!
I have never been chased by a dog on my bike! Ah no, oen time, probably a very young and definitely very small one. Just one size above Chi... however that one is written ;)
Certainly a lot less often than dogs trying to sniff you while you walk.
The last big dog that chased me, I yelled Go Home!!! LOL. It then pulled off and hit the brakes while whimpering his disappointment. This was on a gravel farm road I think, so couldn't out run it.
The time I was bit on my leg it was a short leg collie. It was on a porch in the city, with the lady. It just decided to charge me. I lifted my right leg, but it zoomed arounded to my left leg. I yelled it bit me, so she came over and then gave me $20 or 40.
I don't have a dynamo bike myself but my friends do. Old Raleigh Bikes from the seventies. I always have two bike ready to ride, my primary and my back up bike. I use USB rechargeable lights for each, I have enough to have a set on the bike, (white for front and red for rear and blue just for kicks.) and a set on the charger. My head lights are removable and the best thing about that is you always have a flash light with you. If you have a break down like a dropped chain you can take it off and use it for aiding repair.
On my primary bike I have two headlight mounts set apart on my bars like dual headlights and rubber band mounted blinkers. I get them all on and blinking I look like the Disney Electric Light Parade. One night I had the red and blue lights going looking like a cop and I rode by some kids parked in a closed area of Golden Gate Park and one said as I rode by I heard one kid say ''Geeze, I thought that was a cop!''
In Germany are only some aftermarket lights legal because many lights are dazzle other cyclists or cars.
Also check that the light is shining to the ground not into other cars or on eyes of people.
Nice one Tom👍
I really like my Schmidt hub dynamos. I actually have three powering the headlights for three bicycles. These are expensive hubs but they will last a lifetime. The great advantage with the hub dynamo is that you never have to think about the lights, it is just there when you need it.
Whos lifetime? Pretty bold statement for such a recent product.
For years I used the Night Rider light. Powerful enough to remain charged for 8 hours, or for 4 hours on high beam. Cars actually turned their highbeams down when I flashed my highbeams on. The battery was a bit large and it was a challenge to remove the entire set up to prevent theft. My current bike came with the Son Nabendynamo system. I didn't want it because I still have my NightRider, but due to a miscommunication (or possibly a way to clean out what little was left in my pockets) my bike came with one. I use my bike off-road quite a bit and was concerned with the hub's strength. So far no problem. While not near as bright as the Night Rider, it is good enough. I am getting to like it. I especially like the position of the rear light, that is, bolted onto the rear bike rack. My Night Rider straps onto the seat tube and is blocked when I carry a load.
I travel on dark streets at times and have yet to see a dynamo light that puts out the number of lumens I require.
This is an interesting point. I've never felt this with my dynamo lights. Are there street lights on your route or are you talking about a completely light-free road?
I use an Olight RN1500 for this reason. On low it gets some crazy run time, 20 hours?, and outputs more light an a dyno. Also I turn it up to the sun scorching setting and see through time and space itself.
That's strange because with LEDs it can't be that you don't get enough electricity (as is proven by the fact that battery lights exist at all).
@@Shifter_Cycling inconsistently lit. One dedicated trail I use has lots of curves through wooded areas. I use a light on the handlebars and one on my helmet to increase my peripheral vision. I'm not against dynamo lights but detachable and rechargeable ones fit my individual needs better.
I use a 950 Boost on the 400 setting, and and the brightest part of my dynamo light is brighter, and the dynamo light provides a much wider beam, where as the 950 boost provides a narrow beam. On the 800 or 950 setting it would be brighter, but have to be charged every couple days at 800 and every day at 950.
Very informative video.
I rarely ride after dark except for a local group ride during the summer. I use aftermarket battery powered lights for those.
love your videos! just installed a dynamo onto my bike last month. one thing i notice is that your videos' intro music often stays quite loud once you transition to you talking. do you think you could dim it sooner/faster? thanks and love the content 👍👍👍
A dynamo with a capacitor wins, but make sure it is like that! [otherwise battery]
The capacitor is a huge addition.
@@Shifter_Cycling No. It is not an addition.. It is required. Otherwise you also need a battery light for when you are stopped.
Where I live you legally required to have: front and rear reflectors, atleast 1 reflector on each wheel, headlight that is visible at atleast 100ft and a read light in the rear visible at atleast 50ft.
extra cost may not be worth for many riders but it's nice to have Dynamo. 3w Dynamo light on my District 4 is bright enough to see and be seen and don't ever have to worry about running out of battery if I forget to charge it or have to run longer for some cases.
There is another type - Solar powered lights (such as from Rydon). These can complement dynamo lights (which have to be fitted low near the wheel). Solar powered lights can be fitted anywhere including your handlebars like add-on rechargeable lights. The difference is that they recharge whilst you ride in daylight and therefore are another option for having lights that are always there and work, and they have multiple modes such as low, high and flash.
Such a logical idea although I've not seem them here 👍🇦🇺
Good summary, thank you, a great consideration when looking to buy a new commuter bike. For those with bikes already, Amazon has headlight/Taillight combos that work well for $29, night riding is intimidating at first, but with good lights, year round biking is great!
Idk, going that cheap isn't a good idea. If one isn't going to be night commuting that much, maybe. Quality lights from known manufacturers is a better bet. My Cygolite Pace 135 from 2009 still works as intended. Takes and holds a charge and the switch works. Something to consider.
Thanks for the tip! I love night riding. It's a totally different experience.
@@kevinfeeney5309 totally agree, I have used my Amazon lights for two years now, I use during the day as well as through the Winter, no issues, for anyone not sure and looking to try night commuting, it's a quick and affordable option to get you going...by all means I expect to upgrade, but so far, all good 😉
@@dailybikingcommute1132 nice... which ones would you suggest to those wanting to commute or ride at night but don't want to spend the kind of money (like I did.... $140 for 135 lumens in 2009 money)... I have their Dash Pro 600 for errands. I think I paid around $50? Then I bought their Metro 700 for non-errand night rides around $60. Debating on updating to their Ranger 1400 for $90.
Another thing to look out for is ultra high lumen output claims for $20....lol i personally don't trust those claims.
@@kevinfeeney5309 I bought Wastou bike lights, 1200 lumens, looks like the price is now $36 (Canadian)
I like the idea of having a hub dynamo and lights screwed firmly on the bike, so one could just forget about them and use them whenever needed. But what altough makes me using only aftermarket lights is the fact, that they work with full power from the very first moment I switch them on or if it comes to low speed or even full stop for whatever reason (riding a mountainbike this happens quite often).
There are hub dynamo lights with both capacitor and battery charging, albeit more expensive than the regular ones.
I like my Electra Townie Go eBike which has built-in lights powered by the eBike battery - plus I ride with lights on day and night 😎
I 2 lights. A fixed one for normal use at night on roads and an illegal, concerning regulations for bike lights, extremely bright for tracks apart from road lights. It's the best of both worlds.
A fixed one always works, no hazzle charging it or need to carry it around, and an extremely bright one when I need additional illumination.
I use the same configuration. And the illegal one is very useful when some cars forget to turn off their high beams.
Cool, video😊! and nice trick for getting comments!
As a bike rider year round, I have gone through a lot of lights, head lights and tail lights. However, with the introduction of LED lights things have gotten brighter :) For a head light I use the Bright Eyes Fully Waterproof 1600 Lumen Rechargeable Mountain, Road Bike Headlight, with a maximum light out put of 1600 Lumans, it uses a external rechargeable battery, so I carry two batteries. As for tail lights Any of the LED blinking tail lights are good. Cateye Omni 5 is one of my favorites. But its battery powered, but lasts up to 120 hours on two batteries, I think AA, might be AAA. So lights are important. Too many accidents involving cars and bikes, happen after dark. Stay safe and wear a helmet. P.S. Unless the Dynamo light has a small capacitor, your light goes out when you stop. And they can slow you down. P.P.S. Yes, I've used a Hub dynamo and the kind that ride on the tire. Lights where never bright enough fo rme.
With a little extra cost and effort, you could use your dynamo hub to charge your toys (cell phone, nav, battery lights,...) and still light your bike when you need it.
I ride my Priority Turi at least 3days a week when I’m not stuck in the office covering for my office manager. I’m so happy to NOT have to worry about greasing a chain and being a nearly silent rider. It would have been nice if I knew about the hub mounted option before I bought the Turi…
My electric bike uses the main for lighting power. I use the main power after longer rides to get up hills near my house. (A 50 year pause in bike riding makes one "weak".)
When I bought my bike there were battery powered lights already mounted (AA front, AAA back) (Riding your bike in the dark without lights is a traffic violation here in Sweden). A problem I had with the light was that the front light shook so much that the batteries momentarily lost contact when going over bumps, creating arcing that after a while wore out the contacts. I have now switched to the type of lights that have little magnets on the spokes. Main issue I have with those is that whenever I stop at a stoplight only my back light keeps running when standing still.
Integrated lithium with usb charging is the way to go nowadays if you don't use a hub gear.
@@Jacksparrow4986 if I have to take things off and on my bike I will never have bike lights when I need them...
@@ericdruid absolutely.
It may be miniscule, but I can feel the drag of the dynamo with light on. That, combined with the built-in inefficiency of a gearbox, is a bit discouraging. If you forget to unplug the wire when removing the front wheel, you need to wait for a replacement part. I consider a dynamo to be a meager fall back solution in case you forget to charge the lights you already have.
Speaking of a dirty chain, could I request a video on chain maintenance? I’m 2000km on my bike and I haven’t even begun to understand what I need and what to do hahaha please and thank you :)
Your dynamism is infectious.
Apparently some dynamos can be used to charge power banks and stuff and let you charge your phone, but the bike I have that came with dynamos only powers a front light. That particular model has the downside of not providing light when you are stationary, which could potentially make you less visible and safe when stopped either for traffic lights or just because you're taking a break. Ultimately, it's probably not the biggest deal, however, and I think even that version is great for a commuter bike. I'm personally a bit curious about the ones that can power other devices as well, but I've yet to actually try to purchase any. The battery powered light that I use on my road bike is definitely a lot brighter when set to its maximum and has the benefit of doubling as a power bank for my phone if needed, but it takes up handlebar space which makes it a bit inconvenient. Actually, not taking up handlebar space is another potential benefit of some dynamo bike setups.
Still gave a thumbs up, but aftermarket lights are brighter and less expensive. You probably paid a markup for the bike for the dynamo. Dynamo wiring also can wear out. Not likely to but a possibility. I would guess that even with a dynamo you carry extra lights anyway. Love all your videos. Thank you shifter!!!
Since dynamos are obligatory in Germany, I've got a hub dynamo on my bike for 15+ years now. At some point, I simply stopped turning it off,since it's nearly no extra effort while riding and even at daytime you're much more visible, especially in tunnels or on rainy days.
Since getting an even older bike as a supplementary, which had no hub dynamo, I noticed riding nearly always without light on daytime and even forgetting lighting at nighttime. Worst case was some days ago, when I rode home on an unlighted street and my battery powered light just said "I'm empty now, you don't need to see anything".
For me, the big CON for dyno lights is that they are far less bright than my battery-powered lights. I really like to melt pavement with my lights. Dyno lights just do not get there.
If I were commuting in a city, a dyno might make sense. With street lights, one's front light is less critical for seeing; it is more about being seen.
Good points. My need is about being seen on urban roads. There may be other needs out there.
Great video as always!
There's a lot of critique and alternative opinions in the comments, but I think it comes down to the type of bike you own, riding you do and, most importantly, what kind of dynamo's, lights and batteries we're talking about.
There are absolute cheap crap AA/AAA powered battery lights, that make you visible and are ok for rear lights, but can't illuminate your path up front if you cycle any faster than 13-15 km/h. And absolutely gorgeous USB rechargeable in-built battery lights with 1500lm output capability, though even in the middle of the night cycling outside the city at 30km/h I end up using the lowest 300lm, rarely 700lm setting.
Dynamo's tend to be more expensive and often less bright, but I've seen some BLINDING BRIGHT dynamo lights (probably using newer LEDs), and those don't need a lot of power. I think those could be a viable option even for high-speed road cycling or gravel/MTB riding.
Sure, aftermarket dynamo installation with wiring is a hassle, but I would love to see road bikes being sold with front dynamo wheel, that would power both bright front newer LED light and rear light, and both lights would have light pattern selection.
At the time I'm using battery-powered removable LED lights and sometimes removing and installing them annoys me, though it takes like 15s and I never forget them as I carry them in a helmet, which I always wear during cycling.
As for commuter/city bikes, that you rarely ride faster than 20km/h - I think dynamo-powered lights, even older and cheaper ones, are absolutely great and should be the default.
I buy a really powerful 'AA-battery' powered LED flashlight from some store (Canadian Tire, Walmart), and then I buy 2 small diameter hose clamps (found in the plumbing section of Canadian tire). I put one hose clamp around the flashlight, and a second one around the handlebars, and I inter-connect the two hose clamps (they fit together at 90-degre angles to each other, making it the perfect mount). I then tighten the clamps once the light is in the right direction.
I had a bike with a hub dynamo. The lights weren't very bright. At some point the cable to the rear light broke which wasn't fixable.
For my new bike I have rechargeable removable lights. They're very bright and very easy to replace. You do have to remember to turn them on but that hasn't been a problem so far.
The fact that they work even before you start pedaling is nice too if you're struggling to extricate your bike in the dark.
So my take on it is that hub dynamo's are nice, until they break, and then they're useless.