So I finally got my new wheels completed so I can finally have a dynamo on my daily/bikepacking bike. I will be mounting whatever light I get to the middle of my front rack. Both the Kasai Trail beam and The B&M IQ-XS have gotten good reviews from internet friends but I’ve had little real world experience with them. I currently have a Supernova E3 on my cargo bike and have been disappointed by how dim it is. What’s your thoughts and/or recommendations, Cheers!
by Blakeyardigan93
17 Comments
SON Edelux. Great lighting, great quality
I have a B&M IQ-X and a Son Edelux and both are great. I see online that Kasai lights get returned for breaking.
I’m really happy with my K-lite system. The front light is 1,000 lumens and great on and off road, the rear flasher uses next to no power, so little that most powerbanks will shut off because the draw is not enough to keep them on. this and I keep my Wahoo at 100% all day. The light mounts are all 3D printed and work with GoPro mounts so lots of options for mounting.
I am very happy with the iQXS. The ambient light sensor works flawlessly and it already begins to light at very low power levels from my low resistance 3W SP hub. The lens design with the mirror gives it a very useful field ov view without blinding oncoming traffic.
If you need more objective tests, try translating those from German, cause the company is from and those are widly popular over here.
I have the second pic one you are showing. Love it but other day went on some very very narrow single track where branble and stuff was snagging and it messed up the connection. Was suprised to find it’s just a plastic mount we no screw to asjust. Will need to be gluing or something to make it tight again. Take that as you wish.
I was disappointed with my IQ XS but I like my X having said that my Edelux 2 has better side light.
I wouldn’t say the edelux is good enough for off-road (I have one on my Ti 29r, powered by a son hub)
I’m not entirely sure there’s enough power available for off-road from a dynamo, although I’d give the exposure light a chance, as their battery lights are intense AF.
That said, buy an edelux, they’re the no-brainer choice of light, not overly expensive, and very well built. FYI – I turn mine on and then remove the magnetic switch, one fewer things to go wrong
I have several B&M lights, I would recommend it.
SON also comes with a light charger system, i saw some stuff on eurobike, not sure the lead time on stock. There’s also a french company that makes lights with charger port like SineWave
I have the supernova E3 trail and it has been amazing – but that bike was built in 2015 so lots has changed and I don’t think I would get it again.
The Kasai is hard to beat on price and having a USB out built in.
My iq-x standlight function stopped working and i have no recourse
I’ve been running the Kasai Trail beam for the last few months on one of my bikes. Super bright and has been working well. Less mounting options than most of the other lights though, which is a downside. I run a Son light on one of my other bikes because I wanted to mount it upside down on a front rack.
I vote for the SON Edelux, but for on road trips. The STvZO compliant cutout is a godsend for road cycling and commuting, but it means you see nothing on the upper half of the trail… which means I also use a headlamp when I want to go off-road or the roads are totally dark (which seems to be the standard practice for endurance rides or anyone going off road)
Can’t recommend Outbound Lighting highly enough. Made in the USA. Excellent customer service. Awesome light.
I think SON is the king for a reason. I also have a Herrmans H-Black on one of my rando bikes and it’s great but does not see much beyond smooth gravel.
My Kasai Trail light was a waste of money. It only gives good light starting at 14 mph. It is useless at 10-12 mph and below where I am usually cruising at for double track roads on the flats, making it terrible for loaded bikepacking on anything but the descents. The best it can do is augment a battery powered light set to medium low, as it will kick in for the descents to keep you from burning extra battery power, but that’s it. A lot of folks have also reported them dying due to vibration, though mine hasn’t yet.
What is your use case and where do you want to use it?
For commuting the IQ-XS is great because of its wide beam, cutoff and excellent side visibility. But for off-roading it’s probably too dim.
The IQ-X is quite a bit brighter but with a narrower beam. Great for road use but for bikepacking in the forest you will hate the cutoff of the beam.
For pure bikepacking a non-StVZO light will be better as they cast a wider beam. But these are terrible for commuting because they blind oncoming drivers and other road users.
I have the B+M IQ-XS, Cyo Premium and IQ-X on several bikes of mine. The IQ-XL Highbeam dynamo is a 2024 model that might be interesting but it has been perpetually “*available in 3 weeks*” ever since May. So I don’t think it is out yet.