Help? Smart Lunar 35 Lux Vs Busch & Muller Ixon IQ

[semislickstick]

B&M at 40 lux (£60-£70) and Smart Lunar 35 Lux at (£25-£50)


Does anyone have experience of both? Or what the Smart beam pattern looks like?
I can imagine the B&M better (40 Lux) there are a fair few reviews and photos of it but I can't find much on the smart, sounds good.


Does the B&M have good side visability?



I have the tesco torch which is great apart from the limited use before it dims, mine noticeable dims in cold weather even with new batteries, (B&M do this?) Plus the lack of side visibility.

I need to get a good reliable winter light, good for unlit roads and being seem side on. That doesn't cost more than £60 and rather it be a approved bike light.

 

[DrSquirrel]

LED brightness dims with heat hence why on high end LEDs heat dissipation is important yet/and batteries are affected by cold weather - if your light doesn't have a voltage regulator (direct drive) the light will dim with "cold batteries", this is sign of a light made without a regulator hence cheaply.


If you want an approved light, you need to be willing to get a rubbish light for a silly price - better option is to get the cheapest "approved" light and use it as a flasher/backup along side a brighter more modern light. If you want cheap look at any Cree/SSC etc torch with 200+ Lumen min (less than a tenner without batteries).

If you want side on use 2 and point them slightly outwards - any light going to your sides is light lost in front - if you use the light to see (Country lanes etc) this is a problem, if its simply "to be seen" (city, under lights) then its not so bad.



I hark on about it... but for £50 you could have the P7 Magicshine.

Mount a small light/torch on your helmet for side visibility and look directly at cars from side roads etc...

 

[Wobblers]

I've not used the Smart but I used to have the Ixon IQ... until it broke (boo!).

The Ixon IQ has a very nice beam shape, plenty of light even for dark country lanes at 20 mph and side visibility is reasonable, though not fantastic. Run times are also very good. Sadly, one day I didn't click it into its bracket properly with the result that it ended up bouncing down the road. It worked for a while after that but now refuses to turn on. I've also heard from other people that the hinge for the battery compartment is a bit weak and prone to breaking. In summary - nice light but too fragile.

The issue with your lights dimming in cold weather is most likely down to the batteries as LEDs are more efficient when cold. I use low self discharge batteries such as Uniross Hybrios or Sanyo Eneloops which cope much better with the cold than standard batteries. In fact, eneloops seem to be fine even in sub-zero temperatures.

 

[RedBike]

I tried the Busch & Müller IQ Cyo a few weeks ago. I think it's effectively the Dynamo version of the B&M you're looking at.

The reflector/ beam pattern on this light is completely different to most other lights. It's got a rearward facing LED and a mirror reflects the light in a large triangle/rectangle on the road. There are a few advantages / Disadvantages to this.

Advantages.
There's no bright central spot then a series of halo rings like most other lights.
You don't need to point the light down to avoid dazzling motorists.
The lights focused to be brightest at the furthest point away from you not straight infront of the bike.

Disadvantages.
It doesn't illumate anything around the bike / you can't see low branches or whats happening to the side of you. It feels like you're riding down this narrow corridor of light


Like you I was worried about the side visability of the B&M, However I have recently found this...

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJMOeG2V1rE&feature=related

 

[RedBike]

There's another comparison here

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wII42vvquPg&feature=related

 

[Wooliferkins]

I have been using the Ixon for the past three winters it is far superior to the Smart IMHO. The Smart is bright but doesn't give you as good a light pattern as the B&M (I sell them both) With the Ixon on the bars there is a block of very well illuminated road pretty much the width of a normal carriageway (9' 6" as I remember) I have a rural commute varying from 6 to 16 miles with some main road. If I lived in a city with lots of street lighting the Smart would be fine. I cant comment on battery life comparisons as we just gave the Smart a blast in the unlit car park to compare. On full whack I get about 5 hours, I only ride on the lower setting when the batteries are nearly flat and they wont support full beam all the way home.

 

[mcshroom]

I ride a mainly unlit commute with a Smart Lunar 35. I agree the beam is a bit focussed, and I am trying out a helmet light to cover for that but in most cases I can ride reasonably comfortably with it as long as the batteries are new. I've found that 7dayshop 2900mAh rechargables are too wide for the holder and get stuck, needing pliers to get them out again.

I have also looked at the Ixon and it looks a good light with a more spread pattern. Another light that rather blew my light away on the FNRttC last week was the Magicshine here

 

[semislickstick]

Thank you all for your answers.

I've bought some Sanyo Eneloops to tide me over, there is a slightly newer updated version which has more recharge cycles and a lower operating temp of -20C! (the old one only go down to -10C!) They work perfectly and fit the tesco torch. I didn't know low temp was one of there features.

Amazon had the new ones (HR-3UTGA) for about £7 for 4AA.

 

[carcharodon]

I had the same problem as mcshroom fitting NiMh's in my Smart Lunars...
Found some GP brand 2500 mAh NiMh's at Radiospares for a reasonable price. Ansmann 2500 mAh's fit Smart Lunars too. I notice higher spec AA batteries are worth it for these lights.

 

[goody]

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/LISMLU60/smart-lunar-60-lux-front-light

 

[biggs682]

have a look at this thread Review of Basecamp cycle lamp model bc-403

i have a smart and yes it has a good light but not really bright enough by itself

 

[BalkanExpress]

If you are looking for a AA battery powered light then the IQ premium (80 lux rather than the 40 of the standard) which you can get from Germany with batteries and charger for around 50 quid https://www.bike24.de/1.php?content=8;product=67793;menu=1400,1410,1411 or under 40 for just the light, would be my choice.

If you wanted something USB rechargeable the Smart 700 fits the bill, it's a Smart light but properly bright

But of course remember to point it down as it does not have a cutoff like the BandM