Modern lights on vintage bikes.....
#1
not revenge...punishment
Thread Starter
Modern lights on vintage bikes.....
Like the way vintage headlamps look on older bikes. Not that bright for night riding and I know that they come with led's.....but
newer lights are REALLY bright but I like the look of the older lights. Anyone have newer lights on their vintage bike?
I have a '70 Raleigh Sports and would like to know what you think or suggestions and some pics would be nice!
newer lights are REALLY bright but I like the look of the older lights. Anyone have newer lights on their vintage bike?
I have a '70 Raleigh Sports and would like to know what you think or suggestions and some pics would be nice!
#2
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For the rear, there's this:
https://www.renehersecycles.com/shop...retrofit-bulb/
However, if you're actually using your bike after dark, I'd just go with modern lighting, perhaps some thing easily removed for daytime. In the dark, no one can see what style the light is.
I like the Cygolite offerings:
https://cygolite.com/product/dice-hl-150-usb/
https://cygolite.com/product/dart-210-usb/
https://cygolite.com/product/hotrod-combo/
https://www.renehersecycles.com/shop...retrofit-bulb/
However, if you're actually using your bike after dark, I'd just go with modern lighting, perhaps some thing easily removed for daytime. In the dark, no one can see what style the light is.
I like the Cygolite offerings:
https://cygolite.com/product/dice-hl-150-usb/
https://cygolite.com/product/dart-210-usb/
https://cygolite.com/product/hotrod-combo/
Last edited by John Nolan; 02-09-20 at 09:44 AM.
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#3
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I just use some Light and Motion rechargeable lights with Planet Bike rear lights.
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#4
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I used a CygoLite Rover II but the high beam function has died and the light is long out of production. I liked the CygoLite Cross-fire beams as they lit up the entire two lane road which made it easy to see critters, like skunks, on the side of the road. Now I use a Magic Shine knockoff (external battery pack) and it had great range but the beam is a bit too narrow for my needs/wants. I'm thinking about getting an identical light and mounting both on the bike.
Sorry but I don't have an image of it.
Oops! I just found this image I took earlier today of my dropbar MIELE MTB with a ten 80 liter totes I bought this morning. The MagicShine knockoff light can be seen on the right of the image.
Cheers
Sorry but I don't have an image of it.
Oops! I just found this image I took earlier today of my dropbar MIELE MTB with a ten 80 liter totes I bought this morning. The MagicShine knockoff light can be seen on the right of the image.
Cheers
Last edited by Miele Man; 02-09-20 at 10:53 AM. Reason: found an image of the light
#5
Senior Member
I’m a fan of modern lights on my vintage bikes. The Gemini Duo is a very bright LED headlight with three brightness settings and an external 2-cell battery pack in the front bag.
Eventually, I’d like to replace this with a SON Edelux II headlight powered by a SONDelux Wide Body generator hub.
The Cygolite Hotshot is an affordable rechargeable taillight that makes you visible to motorists. The Spanninga Pixeo is just plain cool and adds to my visibility on the road. It comes down to safety first over authenticity for me.
Gemini Duo front headlight, Cygolite Hotshot taillight mounted to seatpost and Spanninga Pixeo fender mounted taillight
Gemini Duo mounted to front fender
Gemini Duo headlight
Spanninga Pixeo and Cygolite Hotshot taillights
Eventually, I’d like to replace this with a SON Edelux II headlight powered by a SONDelux Wide Body generator hub.
The Cygolite Hotshot is an affordable rechargeable taillight that makes you visible to motorists. The Spanninga Pixeo is just plain cool and adds to my visibility on the road. It comes down to safety first over authenticity for me.
Gemini Duo front headlight, Cygolite Hotshot taillight mounted to seatpost and Spanninga Pixeo fender mounted taillight
Gemini Duo mounted to front fender
Gemini Duo headlight
Spanninga Pixeo and Cygolite Hotshot taillights
Last edited by Saguaro; 02-09-20 at 11:49 AM.
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#6
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#7
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southpawboston, who runs Velo Lumino does exactly what you describe - vintage housings for modern lights, among other things.
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#8
blahblahblah chrome moly
Don't forget you can power good modern LED lights from a "bottle" generator that rubs on the tire, so you don't have to build a new front wheel. I just put one on my '50s Follis, with an IQ-X headlight, awesome lighting. I found one of those rubber caps that go over the drive wheel on the generator, which makes them a good bit quieter, and also makes the generator spin slower due to the cap being a larger diameter. The slower spin means less drag, and the IQ-X doesn't need all the output the generator is capable of, so it is fully bright even at slow riding speed. I think an even larger rubber cap might be worth trying -- maybe I'll try making one.
On another bike, I have a '50s Sturmey DynoHub (the only true Dynohub, since it is a trademark), powering an IQ Cyo. Plenty of light! The old DynoHubs are famous for putting out a pathetic amount of light, with the original incandescent bulbs, but the new LEDs are just that much better. New life for old Dynohubs. (They still weigh a ton though!)
Mark B in Seattle
On another bike, I have a '50s Sturmey DynoHub (the only true Dynohub, since it is a trademark), powering an IQ Cyo. Plenty of light! The old DynoHubs are famous for putting out a pathetic amount of light, with the original incandescent bulbs, but the new LEDs are just that much better. New life for old Dynohubs. (They still weigh a ton though!)
Mark B in Seattle
#9
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#10
Senior Member
Linus makes some classic looking lights, I haven't tried any of them myself however. I assume that they're LED, so probably "bright enough" to be seen.
https://www.linusbike.com/collection...ssories-lights
https://www.linusbike.com/collection...ssories-lights
#11
The B&M CYO lights provide plenty of light with the Dynohubs, as mentioned above. I have two Raleigh Sports bikes with Dynohubs and CYO and a 1988 Myata 1000 with a Shimano generator hub and a B&M IQ XS. They aren't retro looking, but they're not very big and I'd rather have the light than the looks.
Here's a blurry picture of a CYO on a 54 Sports:
Here's a blurry picture of a CYO on a 54 Sports:
#13
aka Tom Reingold
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LED bulbs that screw into old lights don't work very well in my experience because the illumination pattern is different from filament bulbs. The reflector isn't designed for them. It would be nice to use vintage lights on vintage bikes, but the newer lights are so much practicaler that I can't resist them.
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New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
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#14
Senior Member
For the rear, there's this:
https://www.renehersecycles.com/shop...retrofit-bulb/
However, if you're actually using your bike after dark, I'd just go with modern lighting, perhaps some thing easily removed for daytime. In the dark, no one can see what style the light is.
I like the Cygolite offerings:
https://cygolite.com/product/dice-hl-150-usb/
https://cygolite.com/product/dart-210-usb/
https://cygolite.com/product/hotrod-combo/
https://www.renehersecycles.com/shop...retrofit-bulb/
However, if you're actually using your bike after dark, I'd just go with modern lighting, perhaps some thing easily removed for daytime. In the dark, no one can see what style the light is.
I like the Cygolite offerings:
https://cygolite.com/product/dice-hl-150-usb/
https://cygolite.com/product/dart-210-usb/
https://cygolite.com/product/hotrod-combo/
#15
Rolling Vintage Only
Vintage style lights
For a recent tour, I used a Miller front light and a Union tail light, both with LED bulb upgrades. They looked appropriate on the 1970 Mondia. I powered them with a Shimano dynohub. I built 650b wheels anyway, so installing the hub was no extra effort. Were I to do this again, I would install a capacitor circuit to smooth out the flashing at low speed caused by AC power going to diode bulbs. The Union tail light was not adequately secured, and the bracket fatigued and broke while banging along a gnarly singletrack in Idaho.
As to bottle generators, I had too many rattle loose BITD to ever trust them. While I never crashed from that, I saw some nasty wrecked bikes with collapsed forks or stays come into the shop I worked at.
As to bottle generators, I had too many rattle loose BITD to ever trust them. While I never crashed from that, I saw some nasty wrecked bikes with collapsed forks or stays come into the shop I worked at.
#16
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Velo Lumino - Bicycle Taillights, SP Dynamo Hubs, Integrated stem switches, Electronics
This is from a fellow BF member southpawboston
They look and work great.
This is from a fellow BF member southpawboston
They look and work great.
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#17
Senior Member
For a recent tour, I used a Miller front light and a Union tail light, both with LED bulb upgrades. They looked appropriate on the 1970 Mondia. I powered them with a Shimano dynohub. I built 650b wheels anyway, so installing the hub was no extra effort. Were I to do this again, I would install a capacitor circuit to smooth out the flashing at low speed caused by AC power going to diode bulbs. The Union tail light was not adequately secured, and the bracket fatigued and broke while banging along a gnarly singletrack in Idaho.
As to bottle generators, I had too many rattle loose BITD to ever trust them. While I never crashed from that, I saw some nasty wrecked bikes with collapsed forks or stays come into the shop I worked at.
As to bottle generators, I had too many rattle loose BITD to ever trust them. While I never crashed from that, I saw some nasty wrecked bikes with collapsed forks or stays come into the shop I worked at.
Are you satisfied with the light you are getting? It seems to me that how well an LED bulb works in a vintage housing would depend on the particular housing/reflector/lens and the bulb chosen. I suspect that any way you go is going to beat out a vintage light bulb pretty easily.
Vintage lights were mostly terrible. The point was primarily to be seen. The light was just enough to be able to avoid large potholes, black cats, or going over a cliff.
#18
Rolling Vintage Only
The lighting from a modern unit with a shaped beam and antiflicker circuit would certainly be better than my retro upgrade effort. But, mine looks retro-cool and the modern ones do not. And, isn't that way more important on a vintage bike? My LED upgrade does put out more light than an incandescent bulb.
#19
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Most modern lights can be a pretty good fit, especially if they are silver:
B+M IQ-XS
B+M IQ-X
Modded into a vintage light:
B+M Cyo Premium
Or simply modified to look more retro. A simple polish usually does a pretty good trick:
B+M Eyc - by LoursBlanc
B+M IQ-XS
B+M IQ-X
Modded into a vintage light:
B+M Cyo Premium
Or simply modified to look more retro. A simple polish usually does a pretty good trick:
B+M Eyc - by LoursBlanc
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#20
Senior Member
I vote for new tech lights. After over 100 years, we finally have lights that are fully functional and yet light in weight and compact.
You cannot really see the lights I use (that's a good thing, they are so compact) but they are both installed on this bike.
The Cygolite front is bright enough to navigate by in total darkness.
The Dinotte rear is also bright enough there is no way to not be seen. It is bright enough to navigate with if were it to be brought up front.
If you really want a bright headlight, buy Dinotte rather than Cygolite. Cygolite is fantastically good but Dinotte is just that much better.
Be sure they are QD and take them with you or they will be stolen.
]
You cannot really see the lights I use (that's a good thing, they are so compact) but they are both installed on this bike.
The Cygolite front is bright enough to navigate by in total darkness.
The Dinotte rear is also bright enough there is no way to not be seen. It is bright enough to navigate with if were it to be brought up front.
If you really want a bright headlight, buy Dinotte rather than Cygolite. Cygolite is fantastically good but Dinotte is just that much better.
Be sure they are QD and take them with you or they will be stolen.
]
Last edited by Bad Lag; 02-12-20 at 10:28 AM.
#21
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Most modern lights can be a pretty good fit, especially if they are silver:
B+M IQ-XS
B+M IQ-X
Modded into a vintage light:
B+M Cyo Premium
Or simply modified to look more retro. A simple polish usually does a pretty good trick:
B+M Eyc - by LoursBlanc
B+M IQ-XS
B+M IQ-X
Modded into a vintage light:
B+M Cyo Premium
Or simply modified to look more retro. A simple polish usually does a pretty good trick:
B+M Eyc - by LoursBlanc
FYI, there is a dedicated sub-forum for lighting in general here: https://www.bikeforums.net/electroni...hting-gadgets/, though this thread is a nice look at the issue from a vintage perspective. I am in the market for a vintage-acceptable-looking dyno headlight. The B&M units are fab but pricey. What are some mid-priced options that are bright and focused enough for night riding?
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#22
aka Tom Reingold
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Those are some great examples! Thanks.
FYI, there is a dedicated sub-forum for lighting in general here: https://www.bikeforums.net/electroni...hting-gadgets/, though this thread is a nice look at the issue from a vintage perspective. I am in the market for a vintage-acceptable-looking dyno headlight. The B&M units are fab but pricey. What are some mid-priced options that are bright and focused enough for night riding?
FYI, there is a dedicated sub-forum for lighting in general here: https://www.bikeforums.net/electroni...hting-gadgets/, though this thread is a nice look at the issue from a vintage perspective. I am in the market for a vintage-acceptable-looking dyno headlight. The B&M units are fab but pricey. What are some mid-priced options that are bright and focused enough for night riding?
I put a B&M Eyc on my spouse's bike. It's tiny. Even this picture doesn't show how tiny it is.
I bought this light and a few other lights from xxcycle.com which is a French website. They seem to have every model and sub-model. I carefully choose the models that don't have a light sensor, because they reduce their outputs when there is daylight. I want full output.
Peter White warns us not to mount a bottle dynamo behind a stay or fork blade to prevent the worst kind of mishap. I suppose that's sensible, but I haven't always been able to do that. I check the installation frequently.
Here is the whole album on the dynamo and light I installed on my spouse's bike. I later installed a rear rack and a taillight.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
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#23
Overdoing projects
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Those are some great examples! Thanks.
FYI, there is a dedicated sub-forum for lighting in general here: https://www.bikeforums.net/electroni...hting-gadgets/, though this thread is a nice look at the issue from a vintage perspective. I am in the market for a vintage-acceptable-looking dyno headlight. The B&M units are fab but pricey. What are some mid-priced options that are bright and focused enough for night riding?
FYI, there is a dedicated sub-forum for lighting in general here: https://www.bikeforums.net/electroni...hting-gadgets/, though this thread is a nice look at the issue from a vintage perspective. I am in the market for a vintage-acceptable-looking dyno headlight. The B&M units are fab but pricey. What are some mid-priced options that are bright and focused enough for night riding?
As for B+M, they are pretty expensive in the US. PeterWhite sells the IQ-X for $163 (~€150) whereas many German retailers sell them for around €80 (~$85)like Bike24.com, Rosebikes.com or Bike-components.de.
Even with shipping that's still easily $30-60 cheaper. Sure, you might be spending more money if anything goes wrong with it but in general these are pretty durable lights.
Midrange options are the B+M Cyo T Premium at €50 or the B+M Eyc at €33.
#25
aka Tom Reingold
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Midrange options are the B+M Cyo T Premium at €50 or the B+M Eyc at €33.
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“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
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