It gets weaker, then it flickers briefly and bang - you're in the middle of the forest without any light. The nightrider's worst nightmare is a flat battery. If you don't want to traipse home on foot - and are often out and about on your bike in winter - you should consider a hub dynamo wheel with a suitable light. Current hub dynamos have nothing to do with the whining and rattling side rotors on Dutch bikes. They are quiet, low-maintenance and effective. There is virtually no friction because the dynamo rotates on its own axis on soft bearings. The light is also not stolen. Only the unavoidable tangle of cables is not for the design-conscious.
But even the almost 1.5 metre cable of the "E3 Triple" from Supernova can be laid reasonably neatly with cable ties. Once the dynamo wheel, headlight and rear light are fitted, you're ready to go. On the trail, the "E3" proves to be a great light. The light output is very good and the dynamo delivers decent power at just under 12 kilometres per hour. And even when stopped at traffic lights, the Supernova continues to shine. Thanks to a capacitor, the rear light and one LED in the headlight remain active. Top! Incidentally, the "E3" lamp can be operated with any dynamo with an output of three watts and six volts. (e.g. Shimano "DH-3D71").
After an extensive test run on the night trails around Munich, we got a first impression of the Supernova system. (See video). This resulted in the following ratings:
Advantages:
No battery required
continuous power as long as the dynamo is running
high light output
parking light function
excellent workmanship
easy mounting
ideal for 24-hour races
Disadvantages:
only handlebar mounting, therefore not optimal illumination on very narrow, winding trails
Light cone minimally too punctiform
relatively expensive
Conclusion
The Supernova system is ideal for bikers who are permanently dependent on light. Whether on the way to work, at 24-hour races or on the evening training lap, the system never needs a power socket and also shines extremely brightly. Unfortunately, there is no getting around a complete conversion (including front wheel and disc brakes) and the illumination in narrow, winding trails is not optimal due to the handlebar mounting. Nevertheless, an extremely high-quality light for long-distance bikers. You can take a closer look at the illumination in the test video.
BIKE verdict: VERY GOOD
More models in BIKE 1/09:
Hub dynamo systems:
Sigma/Shimano >Vario/DH-3D71
Supernova
Battery systems STVZO compliant:
B&M >Ixon IQ Speed
Cateye >HL-EL 610 RC
Inoled >Extreme
Trelock >HIblinderS-29
Battery systems suitable for trail and helmet:
Cateye >Double Shot Pro
Lupine >Tesla 4
Niteflux >Photon max
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