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Will the EU ever be able to fix it? The change between summer and winter time is annoying for many people and will probably be with us cyclists for a while yet. The time of changeover in autumn is usually precarious, because then many people suddenly find themselves in the dark when they set off for work in the morning and/or evening.
It is therefore pleasing to see that the bicycle industry is working reliably and continuously on the subject of light. Once again this year, there are improvements to report in the fight against dark forces, at least from the bike industry.
MYBIKE has tested these bike lights
We were able to exclusively test the Supernova M99 DY Pro, the first dynamo-powered bicycle headlight with high beam, before its market launch. The development of this technology was not without its challenges, even for the experienced lighting professionals from Freiburg. Software bugs and supply difficulties with electronic components accompanied the development of this highly interesting piece of bicycle lighting technology right up to the end. The M99 DY Pro significantly expands the range of applications of the classic bicycle, whether for cyclists or commuters, touring cyclists and long-distance riders. High beam has long been a natural technology for e-bikers. Here is an interesting new front light from market leader Busch & Müller to discuss. Progress is also being made with battery-powered lights: More brightness, better illumination, smarter technology, more versatile and simpler mounting options can be found, for example, in products from B&M, Sigma, Lightskin and newcomer Lunivo.
News about rear bicycle lights
Viewed from behind, there are new things to discover when it comes to rear lights: New rear lights for e-bikes, dynamo operation or as quick-fit individual lights promise better visibility thanks to stronger, brighter LEDs, sophisticated reflection and amplification methods and, increasingly frequently, brake indicator lights. The red light LEDs switched on during deceleration are not considered to be direct brake lights as in a car. They are not linked to the braking system. Sensors determine whether the bike is travelling continuously or decelerating quickly, i.e. is being braked. The electronics then switch on more LEDs and keep them energised for a while.
In the test, many brake indicator lights were triggered too early by rough kerbs or bumps. And stay on for far too long: Many were still illuminated in brake mode long after the bike was back on the road. So there is still untapped potential. There are also differences in the longevity of battery-powered lights: whether a worn-out battery can be replaced and the light can be repaired or whether it has to be disposed of as electronic waste at a recycling centre is a decisive factor for many people. We enquired about the service life of the rechargeable batteries and asked the manufacturer where we received the information.
Lux and lumen for bicycle lighting
The industry is also not unanimous when it comes to brightness. Some manufacturers specify a lux value. However, this only indicates the brightest point within a given light field. The unit lumen, on the other hand, indicates the luminous flux emitted by the luminaire. However, this value is more complex to determine. But when it comes to light on the bike, it's quite simple: a lot helps a lot. And more is better.
Supernova M99 DY Pro: High beam from the dynamo
From Freiburg comes a revolutionary innovation: the M99 DY Pro is the first approved headlight for hub dynamos with daytime running light, low beam and high beam. MYBIKE was the first magazine to test the super light extensively.
The M99 DY Pro is a modest addition to Supernova's well-known M99 series, both technically and visually: At first glance, it can only be recognised as a dynamo light by its long cable. A suitable plug connects it to any standard hub dynamo with six volts and three watts. Up to around 20 km/h, the M99 DY works like a modern, but completely normal LED headlight. It casts a generous, homogeneously illuminated area of white light onto the road surface, with a clearly defined cut-off line at the top for glare protection. It is as bright as day right from the front wheel. As the output of hub dynamos increases with increasing engine speed and riding speed, the dipped beam becomes increasingly intense and brighter between around 10 and 30 km/h. Above this speed, the brightness increases only minimally. Above this speed, the brightness increases only minimally. The highlight, however, is that from around 20 km/h there is enough power to switch on the high beam. A glare-free dimmed green LED on the back of the housing indicates when there is enough power. Then all you have to do is press the handlebar button and the high beam floods the scene. Price: 325 euros >> available here.
Of course, as in car traffic, only out of town and when neither oncoming traffic nor pedestrians are in sight. And only if the cyclist is topographically and physically able to maintain a speed of over 25 to 30 km/h for longer. This can be achieved on a flat or slightly sloping route, but even more so on real downhill stretches with little traffic. For year-round commuters and touring cyclists, but also for sporty training cyclists in the winter months, this can be an attractive motivation to work on your personal top speed. With more light, obstacles can be recognised earlier and more clearly, so you can actually ride much faster at night without becoming a kamikaze pilot. The "high beam" command triggers further high-performance LEDs, with eleven of them lighting up together at the top. Carefully selected electronic components, the free-form reflector made up of 99 prisms and sophisticated software ensure that the little power that the legally limited hub dynamo is allowed to provide is turned into a finely structured flood of light.
In the centre above the StVZO light range, the high beam builds up a second level that illuminates the road and the space above without a cut-off line far upwards and to the side. Low-hanging branches in the forest, the tunnel walls of a subway and even road signs are always clearly visible. The headlamp must of course be carefully aligned in order to maximise the beam range in both modes and to avoid dazzling in low beam mode. On our roller test bench, we were able to observe that the brightness increases continuously from 10 km/h to a maximum speed of 56 km/h in high beam mode. The high beam is of little benefit in urban areas. In complete darkness, however, it suddenly becomes as bright as day, something that no dynamo headlight has ever achieved before. For once, the same applies to light: A lot helps a lot.
3 questions for... Marcus Wallmeyer, owner of Supernova Designs
What do I do with high beam on the bike?
As the name suggests, high beam extends significantly further than low beam and is therefore helpful at higher speeds in order to have more reaction time. In addition, good high beam also illuminates the surroundings so that bends are better illuminated and signs can be recognised better and earlier.
Is the M99 DY also a benefit for touring and everyday riders?
The M99 DY is a great benefit for all cyclists who occasionally ride faster than 25 km/h on dark roads. Even on a slight incline, every cyclist rolls that fast.
What does a headlight need software for?
Software makes it possible to control switching processes in fractions of a second and, with increased complexity, it does not require more installation space but only more memory. Theoretically, all of this could also be realised with physical components. But then the headlamp would be significantly larger and more expensive.
Busch & Müller IQ-XL: Front light with high beam for pedelecs
High beam has long been standard on pedelecs: the new IQ-XL provides up to 300 lux low beam with eleven watts of power. On top of this, there is a high beam that cancels out the StVZO-compliant cut-off line of the driving light and widens the light cone upwards and to the side in an arc. Similar to Supernova's M99 DY, the illumination then extends significantly further ahead and is further enhanced at the sides. The main beam has 16 watts, but only up to 250 lux due to the larger surface area. The touch switch on the handlebars glows green or blue, depending on the light mode. The powerful IQ-XL should be carefully aligned to avoid glare. Price: 299 euros >> available here.
Busch & Müller Toplight Line Brex: Rear light with brake indicator for pedelecs
The Toplight Brex is designed for pedelecs: It is mounted on the pannier rack and emits light to the rear from two thick, red LEDs connected to a band of reflective lenses. The sensitive sensor system reacts to braking and intensifies the two light points. In the event of abrupt deceleration, an additional brightness level is used as an emergency braking level. The intensive brake light remains on for a few seconds. The electronics then switch back to normal mode. Price: 49.90 euros >> available here.
Busch & Müller Ixon Rock: rechargeable front light with handlebar clamp
The Ixon Rock delivers 100 lux at its brightest level. It lasts for at least 2.5 hours and then switches to lower levels to save battery power. A safe journey home is therefore always guaranteed. The light field of the clamp light is generous, wide and homogeneous. It can be compared with that of the top IQ-X dynamo headlamp. B&M promises 70 per cent capacity for the permanently installed battery after 1000 charging cycles. The guarantee is two years. But even after that, B&M explicitly promises to deal with polite enquiries to the quality assurance department in an accommodating manner. Price: 99.90 euros >> available here.
Trelock COB LS 655 Signal: Dynamo rear light
Above all, a rear light has to ensure optimum visibility in the dark, both from behind and from the side. Trelock's LS 655 does this in exemplary fashion: in daylight, the curved, slim housing is hardly noticeable and does not interfere with the rack either visually or physically. It complies with the law thanks to an additional red reflector supplied. In the dark, small, closely positioned LEDs, further enhanced by prismatic lenses, provide a powerful and intense light. It is impossible to miss from behind and the red light is also clearly visible from the side. A somewhat too sluggish deceleration sensor switches on a more intensive brake light, which also remains on for too long before switching off. Price: 29.90 euros >> available here.
Trelock COB LS 415 Signal: Dynamo rear light
With a similarly slim footprint and the same lighting technology as its brand colleague, the LS 415 is a modern mudguard rear light. Prismatic technology, parking light and a switched-on brake indicator light also bring bikes without pannier racks up to the standard of current lighting technology. However, the brake indicator with its intensified red light is still a long way from the level we are familiar with from cars. It does not clearly show the duration of a braking manoeuvre. Nevertheless, it draws the attention of following traffic to the cyclist in front. This is also welcome, as it increases safety. The Trelock rear lights are very favourably priced. This means that Trelock is particularly appealing to bicycle manufacturers as customers. Price: 24,90 Euro >> available here.
Lightskin U2: LED front light for pedelecs for fixed mounting
The Korean manufacturer Lightskin and its German partner Schindelhauer are extremely proud of "the world's smallest bicycle front light that exceeds the requirements of the StVZO". In other words, the cute aluminium housing contains an LED with a lens that produces wide road illumination and the required cut-off line and is StVZO-compliant. The design with good heat dissipation should guarantee a long service life. The mini housing and weight allow bike manufacturers to creatively integrate the light into their bike design. Price: 99.90 euros.
Lightskin H2B: Handlebars with integrated front light based on U2
The Lightskin handlebars contain the same electronics that power the U2. So small, battery-operated and USB-charged, the LED in the H2B provides sufficient riding and position light in urban environments and is StVZO-compliant. The only unusual thing is that you now have to occasionally connect your handlebars to the charger: The measured light duration (brightest of two levels) is relatively short. The handlebars are available in various shapes and two colours. It must be aligned in the stem so that the light remains glare-free. The handlebar ends can be shortened if necessary. Price: 99 euros.
Lightskin S311: Seatpost with 5 integrated LEDs
Schindelhauer has been installing the smart seat post in its stylish city bikes for years. In the recently revised version of the S311, the eye-catching rear light is controlled by the second LED from above. All five, or for energy savers, only the top three LEDs can be selected in continuous light. The support is available in three diameters and two lengths. The USB charging socket is located in the lower half of the seat clamp, which is unfortunately awkward to reach. For a lower seat height, the two lower LEDs can be lowered into the seat tube. Price: 69 euros >> available here.
Sigma front and rear light set: Aura 100
Practical: The Aura 100 front light and the Blaze Link rear light can optionally be linked together wirelessly. Both lights then switch on or off together when the button on the front light is pressed. The charge status of both batteries can also be read off there in four stages. The front light offers four unclassified brightness levels, but a maximum of 100 lux at the brightest point. The light cone is well cut, relatively homogeneous and reaches far ahead with a clear cut-off line. It is somewhat narrow at the sides, but can still be used as a driving light even in complete darkness. Price: 109.95 Euro >> available here.
Bright together
The rear light is attached to the seat post with a rubber ring. It can also be switched on individually. With a long press of the button, it connects to the front light and can then be operated synchronised from there. With an intense LED, the Blaze ensures good visibility to the rear. When braking, two additional LEDs in a mirror look switch on and clearly outshine the rear light. However, the brake indicator sometimes switches on during load changes and slight braking and remains on for a good six or seven seconds after the start of braking if you are already travelling on. The deceleration sensor reacts imprecisely. However, the Blaze light definitely provides improved visibility.
Lunivo Lynx R Safety: rear light with ground circuit
The Lunivo "Safety" rear light aims to offer significantly more safety: In addition to the bright, highly visible five-LED rear light, a more powerful single LED is directed diagonally downwards. It projects a halo, a two-metre circle of light, onto the ground to indicate: Cyclists need space! This doesn't quite work, as the circle is interrupted by the shadows of the rear frame, rear wheel, mudguards and pannier rack. Nevertheless, it does attract increased attention as an unusually large amount of red light shines visibly downwards. The light is also clearly visible from the side. Unfortunately, the battery only has a service life of 500 charging cycles and is not replaceable. Price: 22.95 Euro >> available here.
Lunivo Lynx F70: front light with 15, 35, 70 lux
With bright white light and a well-controlled light field, the range of the free-form LED light is very good. The strongest of the three barely distinguishable light levels is comfortably sufficient for riding in deep darkness. As with the Sigma Aura, the field width is relatively narrow. This can easily create a tunnel effect in complete darkness, as the eyes receive hardly any information from the side. According to the manufacturer, 500 battery charging cycles unfortunately promise only a short service life. The four-stage charge indicator and good lateral visibility are practical plus points. Price: 44.95 euros >> available here.
Lunivo Lynx R Brake: Rear light with brake indicator
When travelling, a single, relatively small LED shines to the rear. Although the light source is bright, it is comparatively discreet and small in diameter. When the brakes are applied, a braking sensor activates four additional LEDs arranged in the neighbourhood, which produce a mighty bright red light ruckus. Unfortunately, the additional illumination caused by braking also lasts longer than the braking process itself. This can also confuse subsequent traffic, as the message of this additional brightness cannot be clearly assigned. The manufacturer also gives the service life of the permanently installed battery as a meagre 500 charging cycles. Price: 22.95 euros >> available here.
* MYBIKE measured value: Light duration at the highest brightness level
