Busch & Mueller "Big Bang"---the ultimate bike light? - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

01-28-2007, 06:59 AM

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Wow. Looks very impressive. Ridiculously pricy, though. A grand for a bike
light? Still, impressive technology.

01-28-2007, 07:07 AM

On Jan 28, 10:59 am, "Gooserider" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> Wow. Looks very impressive. Ridiculously pricy, though. A grand for a bike
> light? Still, impressive technology.

It's good a "bright light" manufacturer has finally discovered
optics!

However, I don't think a bike headlight has any need to be as bright
as a car headlight. Unless, that its, you're descending mountain
roads at 55 mph at night.

- Frank Krygowski

01-28-2007, 08:28 AM

On 28 Jan 2007 08:07:44 -0800, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:
>
>However, I don't think a bike headlight has any need to be as bright
>as a car headlight. Unless, that its, you're descending mountain
>roads at 55 mph at night.

I expect those who ride 55 mph down fire roads and through swamps at
night will chip in shortly...

Pat

Email address works as is.

01-28-2007, 04:02 PM

Patrick Lamb wrote:
> On 28 Jan 2007 08:07:44 -0800, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:
>> However, I don't think a bike headlight has any need to be as bright
>> as a car headlight. Unless, that its, you're descending mountain
>> roads at 55 mph at night.
>
> I expect those who ride 55 mph down fire roads and through swamps at
> night will chip in shortly...
>
> Pat
>
> Email address works as is.

Chip.
The light looks impressive, almost too bright for a bicycle, and at a
kilobuck, way more than I would ever spend on a light. I ride at night
when it's decent outside and the meager light from my Cateye is enough
for any sane speed on a trail. About 15 MPH is my sanity limit at night
unless it is a full moon night where I don't really need the light at
all for off road.
OK, I'm nuts to ride by moonlight only, but it is nice to be able to
ride past the houses with dogs and not have the dogs even know I went by.
That light looks like it might ruin my night vision for looking to the
side for something out of the beam path.
A thousand bucks would sure allow me to trick out my ride, so compare
that to just a high rent headlight.
Anybody want to guess how much you could spend on the ultimate ride?
Start with a thousand dollar light and build a bike around it.
Not me.
Bill Baka

01-31-2007, 11:40 AM

On Sun, 28 Jan 2007 10:59:05 -0500, Gooserider wrote:

> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> Wow. Looks very impressive. Ridiculously pricy, though. A grand for a bike
> light? Still, impressive technology.

Thinking about this on the way home last night; OK, your normal HID light
seems to run around $500. Is the precision optics for this really worth
another $500?

Pat

01-31-2007, 04:50 PM

Pat Lamb wrote:
>
> Thinking about this on the way home last night; OK, your normal HID light
> seems to run around $500. Is the precision optics for this really worth
> another $500?

I think it's very hard to justify even the minimum price of an HID
light, considering the relatively short lifespan of HID bulbs and
their high replacement costs. High flux LEDs like the Luxeon K2 and
Cree Xlamp XR-E are beginning to offer HID-like intensity at equal or
better efficiencies-- along with outstanding robustness, unprecedented
longevity, and inexpensive driver electronics. I believe that these
LEDs combined with lithium batteries (like those in the latest
generation of DeWalt cordless power tools) and built-in smart battery
management systems will characterize the next generation of high
performance bike lights.

As the performance of LEDs rises to the point that 2-4 watts really
does produce enough light for a satisfactory headlamp, there may be a
resurgence in the use of sidewall generators and dynohubs. Active
power management and ultracapacitors for standlight capability would
make such generators more useful than ever before.

Chalo

02-01-2007, 08:19 AM

Chalo wrote:

> As the performance of LEDs rises to the point that 2-4 watts really
> does produce enough light for a satisfactory headlamp, there may be a
> resurgence in the use of sidewall generators and dynohubs. Active
> power management and ultracapacitors for standlight capability would
> make such generators more useful than ever before.

I'm currently using a B&M generator with a B&M 6V/3W
headlight and am very pleased with the lighting quality
on road or bike path. I've also run the light at 2.4W
with little difference in lighting capacity.

Since they have a model with a built in LED for standlight
purposes, it seems we're already where you think we might
go!

The only bad thing about the light is its bulb is hard
to find with only about a 100 hour lifespan. LEDs could
really help in that area.

SMH

02-01-2007, 03:05 PM

"Chalo" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:1170294630.152830.64860@v33g2000cwv.googlegro ups.com...
> Pat Lamb wrote:
>>
>> Thinking about this on the way home last night; OK, your normal HID light
>> seems to run around $500. Is the precision optics for this really worth
>> another $500?
>
> I think it's very hard to justify even the minimum price of an HID
> light, considering the relatively short lifespan of HID bulbs and
> their high replacement costs. High flux LEDs like the Luxeon K2 and
> Cree Xlamp XR-E are beginning to offer HID-like intensity at equal or
> better efficiencies-- along with outstanding robustness, unprecedented
> longevity, and inexpensive driver electronics. I believe that these
> LEDs combined with lithium batteries (like those in the latest
> generation of DeWalt cordless power tools) and built-in smart battery
> management systems will characterize the next generation of high
> performance bike lights.
>
> As the performance of LEDs rises to the point that 2-4 watts really
> does produce enough light for a satisfactory headlamp, there may be a
> resurgence in the use of sidewall generators and dynohubs. Active
> power management and ultracapacitors for standlight capability would
> make such generators more useful than ever before.
>
>

Funny you should mentioni that. DiNotte, makers of very nice 3W and 5W
Luxeon lights, have been looking at developing a model for use with a
dynohub. I emailed DiNotte about this and they said it was do-able, but that
the price for the light would be very high.

Mike

02-01-2007, 05:12 PM

In article <qipwh.20977$Mx4.6801@trndny07>,
Stephen Harding <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
> Chalo wrote:
>
>> As the performance of LEDs rises to the point that 2-4 watts really
>> does produce enough light for a satisfactory headlamp, there may be a
>> resurgence in the use of sidewall generators and dynohubs. Active
>> power management and ultracapacitors for standlight capability would
>> make such generators more useful than ever before.
>
> I'm currently using a B&M generator with a B&M 6V/3W
> headlight and am very pleased with the lighting quality
> on road or bike path. I've also run the light at 2.4W
> with little difference in lighting capacity.
>
> Since they have a model with a built in LED for standlight
> purposes, it seems we're already where you think we might
> go!

Nevertheless, I for one do like the active power management
idea.

I think I've posted this regulator idea here before, but
what the heck, I'll do it again:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

The generator charges a rechargable battery, which
powers the lights.

With such a setup, the regular lights /are/ the standlights,
with a much longer duration than the usual little LED
standlights that shine for a few tens of seconds.
This could be particularly appreciated in foggy conditions
where penlight-battery lights don't quite cut the mustard,
but generator lights are at least adequate.

Of course in really, ~Really~ thick fog, one would want
something brighter than 3 watts can illuminate. Or
just stay off the road altogether.

cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

02-02-2007, 05:57 AM

Tom Keats wrote:

> Of course in really, ~Really~ thick fog, one would want
> something brighter than 3 watts can illuminate. Or
> just stay off the road altogether.

You've got to figure out how to mount one of those tow
truck yellow flashing light bars on your bike!

SMH