sloar 

A bike I just picked up came with a spare front wheel. It’s a Shimano Alfine hub, I’m not familiar with these. What’s a good light, and who sells them with the wire kit?

Rob_E

https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/

Tourist in MSN

In addition to the light and wire, you likely need one of these too.
https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-3C41-.../dp/B001EIAZVQ

Peter White likely sells those too. Peter White website has a huge amount of information on how to wire them, etc. Expect to spend some quality time on his website.

hilltowner

I like the Busch & Müller Lumotec IQ Premium Cyo T Senso Plus that Peter White sells. The photo he shows of the illumination pattern is accurate as far as my experience.The "T" includes a feature whereby during daylight a double LED is kept lit (if you select the T setting) making you more visible from the front. I think it's particularly useful on bike paths which in our area are often shady and makes my approach visible from quite a distance. The "Senso" feature means that in the "T" setting the full beam will come on when it gets dark enough. If you go through a tunnel for instance, the full night time beam illuminates automatically. It comes with full wiring for itself and a tail light if you want one.

3speed

I've gotten great use out of my Busch and Muller(B&M). It's a fantastic light. I went through xxcycle. Even with shipping to the US, it was significantly cheaper than buying in the US(as with lots of euro bike parts). We have such a markup here... If you want to spend the money, they have at least one model that will charge your phone, etc.
https://www.xxcycle.com/dynamo-front-light,en.php

Wiring is so simple you'd hardly have to look anything up. Maybe just watch a quick youtube video on how to do it? Basically you just attach the connector onto the end of the light wire and plug it in. It's simple. I'd go with 50lux or more. Please be responsible and stand in front of your bike with the light on full to make sure it isn't pointed into the eyes of oncoming traffic, cyclists, pedestrians, etc. This is such a huge problem where I currently live. Blinding people doesn't keep you safe. If you go with a quality light like a B&M, it won't be a problem anyway. The light is directed down to light the road in front of you, not blasting out everywhere in front of you. You're gonna enjoy dynamo life! It's great!

Tourist in MSN

On some lights the standlight uses different LEDs than the main beam. On those lights, if you are not moving the main beam would not be lit when you "stand in front of the bike with the light on full" because you need to be rolling for the dynohub to power the light.

Instead I always try to set my beam so that it just barely is high enough to show in the taillight reflectors on the parked cars in front of me as I ride.

seedsbelize 

I have this one too, for several years now. I love it.

JaccoW

As other have mentioned, try some of the German retailers.

The B+M Cyo T Premium is a very good one for the price, so is the B+M IQ-X.

• Bike24.com
• Bike-components.de
• Rosebikes.com

robert schlatte

Check out www.bicyclehero.com. They have an extensive listing of B&M and Axa dynamo lights, front and rear. I recently purchased a Blueline 30 switched headlight for around $18 and a blueline tail light for around $10. The headlight is small but amazingly bright. The tail light is comparable in quality to the B&M Toplight line for significantly less money.

Rob_E

I will say that I have bought some items, including dynamo-related products, from Europe and saved money, however, I bought my B&M light from Peter White because for the money I was spending, I didn't want the additional hassle of overseas shipping if I needed to deal with a warrantee issue. And I was glad I did. I will still buy from overseas especially because Europe has many more options for dynamo solutions than the US, but if Peter carries it, and it costs a significant amount of money, I'll buy from there to simplify a return. On the other hand, some of the lower-priced items can be so much cheaper that it's worth the risk. My dynamo tail light cost nearly half what I would have paid domestically, so even if I have to replace it once, I still haven't lost out.

noglider 

I've had a few B&M headlights. They are all outstanding.

Rob_E

I've had one, or two, depending on how you want to count. My Luxos U failed while under warrantee and was replaced. The replacement broke, but did not entirely fail, shortly after going out of warrantee. The handlebar switch used to toggle light options and charge via the USB port ceased working and eventually fell off. The headlight still works, but no more USB charging, no "high beams," and no simple toggling between settings. When I toggle settings at the light, it can take some trial and error to get the light back on. If I leave it on full time, it's great and puts out an impressive amount of light. I would buy another B&M light, but not combo light+charger like the Luxos U.

noglider 

My experience with dynamo lights is similar to the experiences of others. Once I installed them, I wondered why I had waited so long. It's so nice to have lighting just from rolling. And modern lights have standlight circuits, so the lights stay lit for a few minutes after stopping. The hub weighs a bit more than a regular hub, and it presents a small amount of drag, but I don't notice these things when I ride. It takes some time to install things, but it's an investment that pays off. And some are nervous about getting the lights stolen while the bike is left unattended, but this turns out not to be a problem, even in high-bike-crime New York City. I'm not sure why. As far as I can tell, bike thieves carry cable cutters but not wrenches. They just don't bother stealing bolted-on lights. They do take lights that can be removed by hand.

veganbikes

My chosen light combo would be the Busch and Müller IQ-X front light and Toplight Line Brake Plus Light and Peter White is a perfect place to get them if not from your local shop. I also have used the Supernova E3 Pro 2 and tailight (which does not have a stand light so you need to use the Supernova front light) which are great lights as well but I think the beam is a bit better on the B&M stuff. If charging is your thing The Plug V would be what I would choose. I think it looks the cleanest and is most practical for charging and kind of wish it was out when I bought my Sinewave version (nothing against Sinewave but the integrated bank and the sleeker look is nicer)

Peter can also help with wiring and has a lot of useful info. Also Shimano Di2 wire covers work really well to cover and protect dynamo wires as well if you don't have internal routing and don't want to drill a steel frame.