not the LEDs themselves within one batch, but the tiiiniest difference in placement within the reflector has a large effect
new LEDs do get better every year, and older ones do degrade veeery slowly with time and use
I think the Cyo Premiums got an upgrade from 70 to 80 lux recently too
My unit is definitely rated at 80 lux, but they’re probably counting some of the light coming out of the visibility LEDs. Those have to draw some relatively significant power, there’s four of them.
Should I divert from trying to ball on a iq x
Do not bail on iqx
You’ll be stoked on it
[quote=Bahamontes]Do not bail on iqx
You’ll be stoked on it[/quote]
Probably getting this light. Is Peter White the go-to place to buy if you live in the USA?
I’m likely going to be the only person that has ambivalent feelings about the IQ-X.
I’ve had it on my Rawland Stag for about a year now and there are some things I love about it but ultimately I think it doesn’t quite live up to the expectations I had for it. Looking at it in the line up it resides appropriately as far as cost. It has benefits over the IQ Cyo Premium series but in my experience it doesn’t even come close to matching the beam pattern of the Luxos lamps.
Things I like:
- Mounting is top notch and very flexible
- Aluminum enclosure looks great, seems durable and very compact in size.
- Button is much nicer than the IQ Cyo series
- Side view lights are kinda cute but not sure if they are effective.
- Long distance throw is pretty darn good for seeing things far away and straight ahead
- Fairly bright when operating at full speed in comparison to the IQ Cyo series
- Appears to be modular enough that pieces can be replaced to correct any asplosions (including lens)
Things I don’t like:
- The beam pattern is absolutely unacceptably narrow compared to the Luxos series. It’s very difficult to see around any turn. If you frequent dark, twisty trails or curvy roads you are going to be turning into darkness because the beam pattern is so concentrated in the center.
- Stand light is weak and barely visible. It doesn’t stand out in a crowded city environment. Difficult to set up the correct beam angle because it is so dim when stationary.
- Pronounced flickering at slower speeds. Much more than my original Cyo
- The mounting system, while smart and flexible (for installation), is also very flexible to road vibrations.
Never ever, not even once
Even if you’re getting it domestically buy it from one of his dealers, even at the shittiest LBS you’ll get better customer service and put less money in that asshole’s pocket. On the web there’s Boulder, Compass, Longleaf, Harris, Ben’s, etc. that actually have fucking online checkout systems.
Or get it for 30-50% cheaper from xxcycle or bike24
Fuck PW.
I’ve ordered things from Longleaf, Harris, Ben’s and Boulder with great success and never once had to deal with that fucking guy.
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/lighting/lumotec-hub.html
Never ever, not even once
[/quote]
QFFT
but the Luxos spread can suck when it’s blasting the fog line and parallel fences
and I don’t think any of them really prevent turning into darkness, need a flood or preferably a helmet light for that
man they really nailed this on the plain Cyo and Cyo Premium
the Luxos goes even longer and can be turnt up, at the cost of all the complication
all other dynamo headlights have weak standlights (though the Cyo T DRLs are extra conspicuous even if you can’t see the road by them)
Descents in late night pastoral/small town france on PBP were down cobbles and the Luxos was A+++++ with the wide beam
Well shit. I was trying to stay away from EU shops because I figured after shipping and all that shit it’d be more expensive.
Wow, was I ever wrong.
So fuck. What front light do you jerks like. Even though it’s likely been said many times
iq x
or luxos u
or iq cyo premium
ATMO Luxos U if you can afford it.
One caveat is that they’re ridiculously huge. Like some sort of Fallout-esque beam weapon.
I’ve never ridden with one though, and since my light is tucked under my front rack I never see the damn things anyways. But I think they look p. dumb on normie bikes.
yeah it’s a big black tennis ball
where the Cyo is a golf ball
[quote=kmcdon]Well shit. I was trying to stay away from EU shops because I figured after shipping and all that shit it’d be more expensive.
Wow, was I ever wrong.[/quote]
Not only that, but shipping time from Germany is often better than it is from shitheads like PW. I’ve never waited more than 10 days for my German orders to arrive, though some people have had their packages stuck at customs for a while.
[quote=emor]One caveat is that they’re ridiculously huge. Like some sort of Fallout-esque beam weapon.
I’ve never ridden with one though, and since my light is tucked under my front rack I never see the damn things anyways. But I think they look p. dumb on normie bikes.[/quote]
Yeah, if I were picking something for a rack-less road bike, there’s no way I’d go with a Luxos. It has a lot of features that seem intended for long-distance riding, rather than commuting, and it’s a little more fragile that lots of the alternatives, making it perfect to have tucked away on your special bespoke rack. If I ever get around to outfitting my road bike with a dynamo, it would involve a small, sleek light like the IQ-X.