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.
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.
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.
@@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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
I only use my lights, when I cannot see. I found that as great as it is being able to defend myself. What's even better is not being noticed by wicked or stupid people in the first place. Especially those who pretend to be the victim when you fight back and physically make them leave you alone. Punks, drunks, hoodrats, pot heads and entitled people are always a possibility during my delivery job. Then there are the jaywalkers who walk in the road, like a movie, or cross when it's not their turn, or cross in the middle of the block, finally notice you're about to pass them, then freak out, move erratically, and cause a collision anyway, even when you're trying to avoid them. Both of these are why I am so relieved to be using an e-bike instead of the engine-kit bikes I was using. That motorcycle saying "Loud Pipes Saves Lives" is nonsense, because even with my old loud bicycle, even if I have my lights on, pedestrians would still not detect me. I had one made me crash, lie that I was speeding, when he literally jogged out into the road, without looking, I had no time to react, he just popped out between cars. I hope is arm is broken, the damn idiot. So I don't care anymore. I purposely try to be invisible, cops don't care if I ride dark, but will care if I violently defend myself & mine, and I'm always ready to sneak by, or shoulder check people, even though I have great brakes on my bike, and I am very great at using them. I have the skills & prudence of a motorcyclist, thats always improving. I would have brought or built a real motorcycle by now, if it wasnt for degenerates in NYC, which is why I isolate myself, and trust no one.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
@@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.
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.
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
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.
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.
@@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 ..
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
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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!
As far as I am concerned, the "you have to buy them" argument should be reversed. Buying an aftermarket light is trivial, and they are fairly cheap. If you want to have a dynamo light, you need a dynamo hub (which would certainly require some time and expertise to install unless you are buying the entire wheel), and if you want integrated dynamo lights, you might even have to look for a bike that has one specifically, limiting your choice. So, I'd say dynamo lights are significantly harder to get than the battery-powered ones.
You could of course get the parts and build your own dynamo hub wheel, but you wouldn't usually exchange the hub. Battery lights get stolen, a lot, so in the long run, it's really annoying and also not very cheap.
@@qvintuse.urvind7002 well, I just take off mine whenever I'm not riding. It's not a big deal for me. Looking for a dynamo hub/wheel/system would be, though. So, I'm perfectly fine with a rechargeable battery light.
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.
@@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.
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.
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.
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 - ! 😁
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.
I don't know why bicycle manufactures can't integrate lights into the frames. About eighty percent of other bikes I see at night have no lights at all. No, holding a cell phone up to your fat face does not constitute a bike light.
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.
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'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.
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.
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.
Sean, if you buy German dynamo bike lights, like Busch and Muller, or Dutch ones like Axa, they have inbuilt capacitors which give 5ish minutes of standlight light when you stop.
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.
@@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.
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
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 :)
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.
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.
I see a some big downsides to dynamos that weren't mentioned. When you are buying a high-quality bike that is a non-racing or non-mountain bike, there are very few options. I always have a list of features I must have, and a price range that must be met. I am currently in this position of shopping for a bike and there are literally only 2 or 3 bikes across all manufacturers that meet my requirements and those few bikes I either have to order from afar for extra expense or are on backorder; I currently have one on backorder. If I had added a dynamo to what I needed on my new bike I would have found exactly zero that met my requirements. Taking this into account, my only option is to add a dynamo and light aftermarket and this is a huge expense. Beyond this, where I live I would have to remove the light or have it almost assuredly stolen, even if it was bolted on. I started using those locks that go on the skewers, headset, and seat post after having my forks and handlebar stolen (I had taken my front wheel with me). Also, many people, especially those who commute by bike out of necessity rather than choice do not have the room or cannot afford to have several bikes, so the bike they use for commuting is also the one they use for sport and they might not want to have lights on their bike all the time. With all that said, I can see where a dynamo might be great. If you regularly ride at night on a nightly basis, if you have a dedicated bicycle for commuting, you can afford such an expensive upgrade to a bike or can find and afford a bike built with a dynamo that meets all your requirements. Also, you do not live in a place and/or never have to leave your bicycle somewhere that any extra part is likely to get stripped. I think most bicyclists do not fall into this narrow category.
For your very special case (which I'm into also), you can have another type of dynamo light. Like the reelight brand does. You just strap magnets to the spokes, strap the "receiver" on the frame/fork, and here you go. Plus, they are less expensive as he hub dynamo lights. PS: I don't know anybody who commute by bike out of necessity. All the bicycle commuter I know, do enjoy it very much (I'm in Paris, BTW).
@Svetlana Trubacheva Interesting, I've never heard of such a device and it's not something that one could find in a bike shop here. I'm sure Paris is more like New York than the sprawling greater Los Angeles area that covers 100s of km in all directions without any particular center. It is generally accepted that you need a car to live here. I'm sure in Paris there are those who can't afford cars or don't own one for some other reason but also imagine that there is also a robust public transit system that doesn't exist here. Oh, there are a few trains and a lot of buses but the likelihood of finding one that goes from your home to your job or school on this big grid without multiple transfers is unlikely and each transfer requires quite a wait as the buses don't run so often. Generally where you want to go is a long way, and people without cars will often find a train or bus that goes most of the distance be it 50 km or whatever, and use a bicycle to get to and from this route to finish their journey, maybe 10 km or so on each end. Although I've been known to commute the entire distance that far in good weather, which fortunately we have plenty of here, especially in the winter, the summer is a little too hot. So yeah, there are people who cycle by necessity at least to save a tedious adventure on the limited public transit here, not to say they don't enjoy it most of us do.
There is no doubt that lights have improved dramatically in the last few years with LED lights. I think another essential is a fluro waist coat with luminous strips. People rarely hit what they see. Re plastic balls. Perhaps you could make it more sophisticated by grading the level of pros and cons by the colour of the balls😵😃
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.
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.
wef more weak ponts of a dinamo light: - it is lower power. - you cannot easily move light beam up or down to compensate for biking speed. When you are speeding you need light beam pointed further away, when you are going slow, you need it beaming closer. This usually means you probably end up having another (battery powered) light anyways. So, probably the best solution is having both kinds. Dinamo lights would provide peace of mind as you would always have a light, and battery light would add comfort and better experience.
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.
You was lightly biased toward dynamo lights dynamo light also does not provide so much light as battery powered. dynamo light is hard to install if you already have a bike. I would say both of them have advantages and disadvantages, best choice is to combine them. Also you could mention what is StVZO light, because that is most important aspect of lights in urban cycling.
I find my dynamo lights are actually too bright in some cases, so I don't agree with that point. But you are correct that they are difficult to install on an existing bike. And using both is a great option that I often do. I should have mentioned that in my video.
StVZO is the German "Straßenverkehrszulassungsordnung" (roughly: regulation of admission for public traffic), which regulates in (much!) detail which items may or may not be used on vehicles in Germany. For bike lights, this means that they must not include a blinking mode, must not exceed a certain illumination power, must have a battery level indicator, must include some sort of lens that focuses the beam within a certain angle and so on. The StVZO symbol on a bike light is only relevant if you intend to use it in Germany (and even there many cyclists prefer to use the non-StVZO variants ...).
After reading StVZO article, i do agree "cut-off feature" should be mandatory especially battery led light with high lumens that are sold toward urban / city riding. Led light either in bike or in car headlamp tends to really blind people compare to other light (e.g halogen, etc). But it is better to be applied in narrow scope ( medium-high intensity, urban).
@@Shifter_Cycling You might be true with that brightness. I just realized that i have experience only with my old bike, which had dynamo with edison bulb. Sometimes it was hard to bike on broken roads, because you had to pedal faster to see something, but if i pedal to fast it was hard to not hit some obstacle.
@@michab4083 I think it is also relevant if you use it anywhere else. I mean it is not mandatory to have it, but it is good for everybody coming towards you. Regarding blinking mod, I read some articles that for drivers is hard to estimate distance between car and cyclist. Moth effect and lastly it is really annoying if i have to watch too bright blinking light.
None of the "Cons" you talked about where the fault of the light. Yes I've had my 1600 lumen headlight go out on me. But I always carry a spare battery. As far as the rest of my rechargeable lights go, just keep track of how long you use them. As for my battery powered blinking lights, I just carry extra AA and AAA batteries. Oh, and those built in lights on your bike, more then likely upped the price of that bike. Plus, if something happens to the lights or the dynamo, that can be a pain to fix or replace quickly. And even though the new dynamo hubs do add much resistance, they do add some. Oh, how bright is your front light, in Lumen's or candle power?
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.
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 :)
A con with the hub dynamos if more moving parts, if your hub goes out you can't just plug it in a charge it. You are in the dark until you remove the hub and repair or replace it. Ok no more Negative Nancy for me today ;)
hub dynamo's are the way to go, but saying they "never die" is wrong. The way these things are manufactured, if you do enough rough riding you'll be breaking out the soldering iron to fix it in no time.
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.
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.
Hi Tom, I think you have waaay too many brightly-colored plastic balls in that bag, especially since your answer was a foregone conclusion. I like the idea of having bicycle lights powered by a dynamo hub, but they were quite expensive the last time I checked them out. I'm sure they haven't gotten any cheaper, in the years since. The big changes have come in the high quality of the batteries and lights that are available, now - much, much better than what was available a few decades back. Another big concern that comes with having things left on an unattended bike is theft and vandalism. Aftermarket lights are usually easy to remove and bring along in a carry-all bag, then reapply to the bike, later.
Is there any hybrid solution on the market where you can charge a battery from a dynamo and then run a light from the battery? I'm an ebike user with integrated lights, but I worry about when my battery dies and but I can still pedal and I have no lights. This kind of system would also be handy to charge a phone while out.
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.
Having to buy a battery light isn't a downside...if anything it's a upside because you actually get to choose... Let's also talk that you can put battery lights on any bike but not all bikes come with hub dynamos And let's be real the fact you gave and took away a ball for it being people powered was kinda dumb...cause that means you believe that the cool factor of knowing its you powering the light is also equal to the resistance in speed you get with the dynamos. I love your content I just...find this a bad way of saying one thing is better than another in your opinion.
Safest bike light is those red and blue strobe light that makes idiots on the road slow down or trouble making hoodlums that hide away when you're coming in from the distance thinking you're the police.
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.
Another fast note. I don't consider lighting up to be a pro for any lights. It is literally what they are meant to do so it's all I expect them to do. It's not a pro if they do what they are supposed to do but definitely a con if they don't.
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.
Technically it's a magneto, but everyone calls them dynamos anyway so don't sweat it lol. (Magnetos produce alternating current, which is what all the bicycle devices do; dynamos produce direct current, which bicycle devices don't.)
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.
Worth mentioning dynamos are expensive compared to LED lights. Also worth noting is that battery powered lights do not perform well in extreme cold weather
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.
Hub dynamo average $130, cheapest found $75 lights, spokes and rim not included. Cat eye light set $60 complete. No contest in my opinion. I never remove my lights at home so can't forget. Both mine warn me long before I'll be left in the dark. I control if they are on or off. Bright enough to avoid potholes at 25 mph. No resistance in the day when I don't need lights. No proprietary special order parts. If they hadn't invented bright LEDs and lipo batteries I'd be completely for these dynamo hubs but instead I'm the guy shaking my head and sticking to my glorified flashlights.
My old bike didn’t come with Dynamo lights, so I bought an aluminum one for my handlebars. It’s VERY bright, and the power button changes from blue to red when the battery reaches 20%, so I’m never blind-sided by a dead battery at an inconvenient time. The new vine I just bought has Dynamo lights, but I might keep the aluminum one as a backup, just in case. I get off work at 10PM, so I’m might not be a terrible idea for me to keep a backup.
Easy. Dynamo all the way. I wouldn't put a battery powered light on my car, so why would I do it on my bike? It seemed expensive putting a SON Hub Dynamo and Supernova hub lights on, but my gawd they are awesome. I never have to think about it. They just work beautifully. And I notice ZERO extra pedalling power required.
The 1 pro of battery lights, you forgot to mention... is they are way brighter than dynamo lights, which trumps all the dynamo's pros. Being able to see 60 - 80 feet in front of you, gives you a lot more reaction time... vs... the measly 10 - 15 feet of dim light a dynamo light gives. All the other cons of battery lights can be negated by mounting 2 head lights on your bars, & use 1 at a time. With a battery life of 6 hours each... that gives you 12 hours of BRIGHT light... & if you really need more, you can get an extention bar/battery pack, that will recharge both lights on the go, giving you 24 hours of BRIGHT light. When at home, just drag an extention power strip to your bike & recharge your lights attached to the bike... no forgetting your lights. Or... get a usb connector for your dynamo, & use it to recharge 1 light on the go, while using the other, or recharge your lights while riding in the day time.
Front Wheel hub Dynamo paired with capacitor Lights. This is by FAR the best lighting Solution and will beat rechargeable lights in pretty much any real life Situation. Rechargeable Lights suck. I have to ride to work at 2AM. Hence it's dark. I have forgotten to recharge those stupid lights before, everyone has. I don't have to explain why it's bad to have empty bike lights at 2AM.... Also: They are detacheable. Ths is neccessary to be able to charge them. This is bad however for theft. If you leave them on, chances are high they get stolen. This has two side effects, leading to the same event. First, you did ride with lights, someone stole them. You'll be riding home in darkness. Second, you haven't brought the lights with you, because it would be still daylight when you ride home and you didn't wanna carr around the lights. But then it took longer then expected and now your riding home in darkness. Dynamo Lights are fixed to the bike. They can only be stolen by using Tools. And nobody does that, because those Lamps are worth nothing. Hub Dynamo with capacitor Lights tough.... Your lights are still on on every crossing. You NEVER have to think about your lights. They are there, whenever you need them, day or night, summer or winter, rain or sunshine. You didn't think you'd be needing lights on your way home? Just turn them on, there you go! Dynamos that rub against the Tire are bad tough. They'll cost you a lot of speed. Front Hub Dynamos on the other hand are way more expansive - but you won't be able to tell it's even there.
I use modern permanently mounted LEDs with a top end AXA HR Traction tire dynamo. People don't realize that tire dynamos got very efficient fifteen years ago and only cost $20 and can power any modern lamp. Also, flashing lights should be illegal everywhere. You're not an ambulance.
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!
some modern hubdynos (a shimano i have) have bearings that cant be adjusted much and are basically scrap after that happens.my 1962 raleigh superbe with a hubdyno still as good as new, leds have replaced the bulbs, good for another 60 years!
Uh nope not sold I'm good with my bike lights. For the domino lights I think> What happens when your at a stop light and a car coming right up you and your lights are out because your out of juice ? Good things are....................................you won't forget them................you don't have to charge them.........that's I have to say about those light's. For the traditional bike lghts I think> O man you have to charge them ? O no what a nightmare ! You have to remember to take them with you ? Uh keep them on your bike ? If you can charge them while on your bike that's even better ! They stay on till you turn them off or you forget to charge them ? Remember to take them off when you leave to your destination. They are more brighter They have different settings. And you can put them anywhere including your backpack. Ride safe everyone use your dam lights and wear your dam helmet !
Removable lights being removable is actually a downside (and a dynamo light not being removable a pro). Because you just don’t remove your light. Even if they aren‘t mandated by law in canada, why accept a risk for not having light and being unsafe or immobile? Removable means they can be stolen (a lot more easily). So you either risk that or have to attatch, remove and take them with you every time. So annoying! Even if that‘s easy to do, it‘s even more easy to not having to do it.
Other pros and cons not included. You listed the cost of buying rechargeable lights as a con. But built in dynamo lights also cost money which is built into to purchase price. I leave my rechargeable lights permanently on my bike (never been stolen) which negates the con or having to remember them. Additional dynamo cons: When stuck at the traffic lights the dynamo lights run out of power after a couple of minutes Dynamo system is expensive to fix Rechargeable lights also have a flashing function option that dynamo lights don't offer. Flashing lights massively increase your visibility around motorists. IMO the introduction of LED rechargeable lights was a game changer. I prefer rechargeable lights for overall performance and safety. Having to recharge them after every six night time commutes is easy.
This isn't the Tour de Frants. We're riding the bike in order to get some exercise, right? A little extra effort due to powering the dynamo is not a con. If I wanted to put less effort into riding my bike, I could hire someone else to ride it for me, right?
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!!!
