Had that generator/light on my paper route bike…. worked EVERY morning at 5am. Thanks for the smile
srekar-trebor on
From the past? Up untill a few years ago my Daily had one of these.
youtellmebob on
I’m presuming these are still sold on many bikes on Europe, unless they’ve switched over to hub dynamos. Even had a high end version, that spun easier, and had different rollers depending on weather.
Symon_liberal on
Modern dynamo is amazing, no resistance and makes more power. But i do remember two years ago owning an old german bike (back in germany) which had a dynamo like that, the front lamp was halogen if im correct so it didnt flicker at low speed, but instead the light got less or more brighter depending on speed. IT was a Kettler if i remember correctly, a 40 year old one from old Federal republic. It also had those cool gear lever on the frame instead of handlebar.
lubbockin on
ye olde dinah moe.
Shirkaday on
I am 42 and had one. Am I an old timer?
Barkinsons on
I ended up installing one of those again (a bit modernized) after getting fed up with cheap ass batteries always failing me. The new systems have a capacitor that keeps the light running when you stop.
Metalpen22 on
Installed this in 2020 for a week. Then removed it forever. now i use the rotor generator.
worker_bee_drone on
I had a Union brand which had a halogen bulb that you were not supposed to touch with your bare fingers. Used that for over a decade on my Univega Grand Tourismo, which I still have.
Ob1s_dark_side on
Yeah
BestInteraction1669 on
For only 50 watts or extra resistance you had a light that barely out-shone a lit match
bluegrassgrump on
I remember them, but I only had a Western Auto 26” bike and not enough allowance to afford anything else.
Had one a long time ago then got a modern German one from Sheldon Brown around 2000. That unfortunately got destroyed when I was hit by a drunk driver.
Prigorec-Medjimurec on
Had one when I was a kid. I am in my early 30s.
tw0tonet on
Has one on my Le Tour when I had a paper route in the early 80s.
BGMcGee on
Hell yeah! Bike light generator. I hated it and got rid of mine very quickly
CTPlayboy on
Yes. Made noise and sucked watts.
Mysterious_Doctor722 on
I can hear it…
Grandday4itlike on
Yeah the trick was to adjust the tension so it just barely touched your tyre and didn’t slow you down or wear out the tyre too quickly! I remember the noise and how it got higher in pitch as I sped up
InsertBluescreenHere on
lol i have one of tyhese on an old schwinn my uncle had. rode the heck outa that bike – had the mechanical cable speedometer as well. thought for funzies it was getting dusk id try riding with it on. This has a regular bulb headlight and taillight. Holy hell alot more work than id imagine they would be. Did work and shine rather nicely though.
id bet a modern version and LED lamps would be miles easier.
Potential_Aardvark59 on
My parents had his and hers 1953 Raleigh Sports, with headlights and taillights powered by that generator. I rode my dad’s bike all through my teens.
Flakarter on
Yes, and I can still hear the noise it would make! And I think my legs are still tired from how much it would slow down my bike.
tupac_shakur0783 on
I was born in the mid 80’s but from the stories I’ve heard from my father, this is a dynamo.
Kiku911 on
Few friends were just talking about how these could be implemented to extend the range of e-bikes à la regenerative braking in a car.
PuzzleheadedTap9635 on
I’ve not seen one of those. I saw the pic and thought it was a speedometer.
iwasoldonce on
I had a custom bike built one time and had a tab brazed to the front fork to accommodate one of those bad boys!
MathHugger on
I would love to have one that controls my speed on long gravel descents. I get tired of riding the brakes. In theory, this could do it
stickman393 on
Those things are potentially (heh) worth their weight in gold after the tech civilization crashes. Hoard them.
BigManWithABigBeard on
I have a Motobecane from the early 80’s that I got for 90 euro a few months ago that still has one that works!
bingerfang57 on
Do not reach down while you are riding and use your hand to push this into the rim! Your foot feels much better in the spokes.
stumo on
Lol, yes. Turn on the light and suddenly you’re peddling up a cliff.
EqualMagnitude on
I had one and it is especially not fun when the mount screws loosen and the generator jams into the wheel spokes causing you to endo over the handlebars.
I have a subtle scar on my chin from that adventure in unplanned aerial acrobatics.
elessar007 on
I still see these every now and then on bikes locked up at library bike racks. When they worked, They always seemed so dim even compared to the cheapest battery operated light. For all the premature deaths given to tires, I hope they are bright enough to alert motorists.
40 Comments
The tire ruiner!
Had that generator/light on my paper route bike…. worked EVERY morning at 5am. Thanks for the smile
From the past? Up untill a few years ago my Daily had one of these.
I’m presuming these are still sold on many bikes on Europe, unless they’ve switched over to hub dynamos. Even had a high end version, that spun easier, and had different rollers depending on weather.
Modern dynamo is amazing, no resistance and makes more power. But i do remember two years ago owning an old german bike (back in germany) which had a dynamo like that, the front lamp was halogen if im correct so it didnt flicker at low speed, but instead the light got less or more brighter depending on speed. IT was a Kettler if i remember correctly, a 40 year old one from old Federal republic. It also had those cool gear lever on the frame instead of handlebar.
ye olde dinah moe.
I am 42 and had one. Am I an old timer?
I ended up installing one of those again (a bit modernized) after getting fed up with cheap ass batteries always failing me. The new systems have a capacitor that keeps the light running when you stop.
Installed this in 2020 for a week. Then removed it forever. now i use the rotor generator.
I had a Union brand which had a halogen bulb that you were not supposed to touch with your bare fingers. Used that for over a decade on my Univega Grand Tourismo, which I still have.
Yeah
For only 50 watts or extra resistance you had a light that barely out-shone a lit match
I remember them, but I only had a Western Auto 26” bike and not enough allowance to afford anything else.
My Dad’s 3 speed Raleigh had one!
They slowed the F out of your bike
Simpsons totally showed that once
https://preview.redd.it/hx41bz2vnw0g1.jpeg?width=3676&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4e3f053b3a2fc4b69ebf0038c5e1583fbb322be4
47 and what in the world is that?
Come on! Pedal faster, it’s not bright enough!
The non- light generator
Had one a long time ago then got a modern German one from Sheldon Brown around 2000. That unfortunately got destroyed when I was hit by a drunk driver.
Had one when I was a kid. I am in my early 30s.
Has one on my Le Tour when I had a paper route in the early 80s.
Hell yeah! Bike light generator. I hated it and got rid of mine very quickly
Yes. Made noise and sucked watts.
I can hear it…
Yeah the trick was to adjust the tension so it just barely touched your tyre and didn’t slow you down or wear out the tyre too quickly! I remember the noise and how it got higher in pitch as I sped up
lol i have one of tyhese on an old schwinn my uncle had. rode the heck outa that bike – had the mechanical cable speedometer as well. thought for funzies it was getting dusk id try riding with it on. This has a regular bulb headlight and taillight. Holy hell alot more work than id imagine they would be. Did work and shine rather nicely though.
id bet a modern version and LED lamps would be miles easier.
My parents had his and hers 1953 Raleigh Sports, with headlights and taillights powered by that generator. I rode my dad’s bike all through my teens.
Yes, and I can still hear the noise it would make! And I think my legs are still tired from how much it would slow down my bike.
I was born in the mid 80’s but from the stories I’ve heard from my father, this is a dynamo.
Few friends were just talking about how these could be implemented to extend the range of e-bikes à la regenerative braking in a car.
I’ve not seen one of those. I saw the pic and thought it was a speedometer.
I had a custom bike built one time and had a tab brazed to the front fork to accommodate one of those bad boys!
I would love to have one that controls my speed on long gravel descents. I get tired of riding the brakes. In theory, this could do it
Those things are potentially (heh) worth their weight in gold after the tech civilization crashes. Hoard them.
I have a Motobecane from the early 80’s that I got for 90 euro a few months ago that still has one that works!
Do not reach down while you are riding and use your hand to push this into the rim! Your foot feels much better in the spokes.
Lol, yes. Turn on the light and suddenly you’re peddling up a cliff.
I had one and it is especially not fun when the mount screws loosen and the generator jams into the wheel spokes causing you to endo over the handlebars.
I have a subtle scar on my chin from that adventure in unplanned aerial acrobatics.
I still see these every now and then on bikes locked up at library bike racks. When they worked, They always seemed so dim even compared to the cheapest battery operated light. For all the premature deaths given to tires, I hope they are bright enough to alert motorists.
Dynamite dynamo!