I just picked up a Busch and Muller Lumotec IQ Fly Plus dynamo powered headlight. It uses and LED to produce the light, and it is kind of unique or at least unusual in that it the LED shines back on the reflector and not forward like most lights.
It is INCREDIBLY bright. I would say it is similar to a 5W headlight. It is brighter than the Light and Motion Vega. The on/off switch is behind the lamp, easy enough to reach, it might difficult with gloves on.
It has a “stand light” which is a fancy way of saying it has a capacitor which it uses to keep the light lit up on low beam while stopped.
The light head has three clickable angle indents for aiming while riding, I click it down to lowest when off road to light up the trail, then to the middle setting while on the road to hit the cars.
I headed out for an hour long dirt road/single track ride on the way to work today. It was pitch dark when I started and this song lit up the trail. The standlight ability really helps out when you start going slow on a tricky uphill it stays at full light.
I’d have to say this light is way more efficient than the Shimano Nexus headlight that came on the castro valley. When I would go slow on a long uphill the Nexus light was very dim. Not so with this IQ Fly.
I was not able to use the mount that came with it without some tinkering. I imagine there is a better one I can buy, but I had to use a stack of chainrings spacers.
I also like the ing, not some huge blister pack or tons of padding, just some cardboard.
And just one more shot of the light:
I picked it up from Harris Cyclery for $92.00 plus shipping.
As a side note, I locked my bike up this morning and check out this incredibly “BOBish” bike at the rack, a Masi with an internally geared hub, leather brooks-like saddle, leather bar tape, toe straps…
My office is a regular utilitarian bike utopia. Although I have no idea who owns this bike, it just looks sweet.
Thanks for the review. Some reviews I’ve read made it seem like this is more a “be seen” than a “see” light.
I currently have a Lumotec Oval Plus on the Novara, but it doesn’t have a switch, and I like the fact the Fly is an LED, which means I don’t have to worry about the bulb burning out.
I bought a Lumotec IQ Fly Senso Plus, and a DToplight XS Plus with the coax wiring from Peter White a few weeks ago. I used it on my biking vacation on the Oregon Coast and it was awesome! I really like the standlight and Senso feature. I am amazed at how little rpm’s are needed to light it up and how when on Senso you don’t have to do anything, just ride! It is definately a “see” light, and has a good spread close in so others can see you-especially inattentive folks driving cages.