New for 2013, Luxos IQ2 Headlights

Plenty of Luxos B in stock!

Our next shipment of Luxos U headlights has not yet been scheduled by Busch & Müller. As of May 17, if you place an order now, my best guess is you'll get your Luxos U late in July. Just a guess. We have the Luxos B in stock.

New for 2013, the Luxos U and Luxos B headlights have a new optical system, IQ2, which provides an even wider beam than the IQ system, and it's brighter too, at 70 lux. Both Luxos headlights put more usable light on the road than any other dynamo powered headlight you can buy. The Luxos B is the "economy" version. The Luxos U has a handlebar mounted switch incorporating a USB outlet for charging USB devices. It also has a cache battery for those devices that might switch off if the dynamo's voltage drops, like when standing at a stop light And, the Luxos U's beam automatically changes with the rider's speed, always producing the optimal beam pattern for that speed. The Luxos U is far and away the most advanced bicycle headlight available.

To see the amazing Luxos beam, please see my headlights page where you can compare the Luxos beam with the beams of most other dynamo headlight beams on the market today.

The Luxos B just arrived Dec 21, 2012, and the initial Luxos U shipment arrived Dec 26, with more expected late winter. You can place an order now, if you like. Current prices are below, but are subject to change if the currency exchange rates change between now and when our next shipment arrives. I'm guessing that through the end of May 2013 you should expect to wait at least a month and perhaps two for your Luxus U, given our backlog of orders.

Handlebar mounted button for controling functions of the Luxos U. It's where you can plug in your USB powered device for charging. This photo is of a prototype. The production version has a plug to keep water out of the USB port when not in use.

Here the button has a USB cable plugged in.

Luxos U and Luxos B headlights also incorporate Busch & Müller's "Licht 24" daytime running lights, which help make daytime cycling in high traffic safer by helping oncoming drivers see you. The Luxos U includes a "Panorama" mode, in which power is shifted from the main LED to two side LEDs that illuminate the road close to the bike and to each side. The shift in power is done automatically below 15 kph, about 9 mph. The slower you go, the brighter the panorama LEDs glow.

I don't usually gush over the products I sell, but the Luxos U and Luxos B headlights have some characteristics that to me are truly extraordinary, but impossible to describe in a few simple marketing phrases. So, please bear with me while I gush.

First, the beam is extremely wide; wider than any other dynamo powered bicycle headlight you can buy. You'll always have a great view of the road ahead of you, and you'll be able to see what might be coming onto the road surface from the sides. The Luxos headlights could have been designed by Busch & Müller with a narrower beam, concentrating the light from the LED into a smaller area, and producing a headlight with an even higher LUX brightness rating. But then the Luxos beam wouldn't be as useful as it is.

Second, the vertical distribution of the available light, in other words, how the light is projected onto the road surface from close to the bike to out at a distance, is smoother than any other LED headlight I've seen. One issue with many other headlights is they can make the road surface close to the bike much brighter in comparison to the road at a distance. And that makes seeing the road at a distance more difficult, which is a serious problem when you're descending a hill at night. The further out you can see clearly, the more time you have to react to whatever you're approaching. I give a detailed explanation of this in this article. The only other dynamo headlight with similar near-to-far light distribution is the Schmidt E6, but it's a halogen headlight, has a very narrow and shorter beam, and isn't nearly as bright. In my opinion, both Luxos models produce a beam that will help you descend faster and more safely than with any other dynamo headlight. See the headlight beams page to see what I'm talking about.

Luxos B, 70 lux, IQ2 Optics, Standlight, Licht 24 (auto switching between daytime and nightime modes), pictured mount included. Weight: 3.8 ounces without the included B&M475DPB mount.

Part # B&M179B-04R: $ 160.00

Luxos U, 70 lux, IQ2 Optics, Licht 24, USB charging (onboard AC to DC converter) Cache battery for charging, as well as powering the light to 90 lux for short periods, handlebar switch, monitors status of rear light, pictured mount included. Weight: 4 ounces without the included B&M475DPB mount. The Luxos U weighs a bit more due to the cache battery and AC to DC converter.

Part # B&M179U-04LSR: $ 234.00

Both Luxos models ship with Busch & Müller's double strand wire to connect to the hub dynamo. They do not ship with a taillight wire. We sell Busch & Müller's double strand taillight wire, as well as a special heavy duty co-axial wire. The co-axial wire can be had with connectors only at the headlight end, or with connectors at both ends. Most Busch & Müller taillights can connect with either bare wire or 2.8mm connectors, and some connect only with the 2.8mm connctors.

Busch & Müller double strand wire, connectors only at the headlight end, part #B&M424DKS-4-185: $ 3.18

Schmidt Co-Axial 55cm wire to connect Luxos to SON dynamo hub, part # SCH55CM48-3: $ 10.00

Schmidt Co-Axial 190cm wire to connect Luxos to taillight, connectors at both ends, part # SCH72080: $ 12.00

Schmidt Co-Axial 190cm wire to connect Luxos to taillight, connectors at one end, part # SCH72081: $ 10.00

About the Luxos U

The Luxos U has some extraordinary features. You may use the handlebar button to switch between various modes of operation. For example, the Flood Light mode at night uses the cache battery charge to provide full output from all of the LEDS. In daytime, with the light switched "off", you can flash a motorist ahead with a quick press of the handlebar mounted button. (Note: This is not a continuous flashing mode, as I originally thought. Sorry for any confusion.) The handlebar button also provides the USB connection for your phone or GPS. The charge status of the cache battery is indicated by an LED on the button.

The Luxos headlights can be used mounted at the fork crown on forks with a low profile cantilever brakes using the CYO cantilever mount. However, the low position of the light relative to the tire and fender will result in a larger shadow cast in front of the bike. There is no ideal mount for this application, though most folks should be satisfied with the overall performance of the Luxos mounted this way.

The Luxos can be mounted using the Thorn cantilever mount if you have wide profile cantilevers and the yoke is above the hole in the fork crown. With the Thorn mount the Luxos will be higher, and the shadow from the tire will not be an issue. The included mount works on most bikes with caliper brakes, V brakes and disc brakes. The Luxos headlights can also be mounted on most handlebars. I stock handlebar mounts for standard and oversized handlebars.

See comparison photos of most dynamo headlights including the Luxos models on this page.

Download the English language instruction manual for the Luxos U and Luxos B headlights here. 300kb PDF

Wiring the Luxos

At the bottom rear of both Luxos headlights are four 2.8mm connectors. Two are labeled "in" and two are labeled "out". You must connect the wire from the hub dynamo to the two connectors labeled "in". If you connect the hub dynamo to the "out" conectors, the headlight will not function properly.

If you choose not to use a wired taillight, it's no problem. Just connect nothing to the "out" connectors.

And, since the little male connectors are emdedded in the rear of the Luxos housing, it can be a bit awkward to install the wires once the headlight is mounted on the fork. I recommend connecting the hub and taillight wires to the Luxos before mounting the Luxos on the fork crown.

What a Luxos U Doesn't Do

We get a lot of questions about the Luxos U. Some people want to charge their car battery. Perhaps they envision strapping the car's battery on a rear rack, pedal around the block a few times, and then they'll be able to start the car? As Mr. Spock might say, "Interesting."

The Luxos U won't charge a car battery, or an iPad, though it will charge an iPhone or a Garmin Edge 810. The larger battery in the iPad needs too much current; more than the Luxos U can provide. If you need to charge an iPad on the road, you'll need to find another solution. Hub dynamos just don't have enough power output.

If you need to charge your car's battery, get a suitable charger at your hardware store. And have your alternator checked out by a competent mechanic. ;-)

IQ Fly RT

New for 2011, the Lumotec IQ Fly RT with Licht 24 technology. (LED)

The Lumotec IQ Fly RT adds daytime running lights to the IQ Fly. Six LEDs are positioned below the main lens, integrated into the reflector. When in "Daytime mode" the daytime running lights are at full intensity and the driving or regular LED is at reduced intensity. 40 lux output. This light is bright enough for most any cyclist.

In my opinion, this is the best all around headlight for the daily commuter. I don't say this because the nighttime driving light is the best. It isn't. But it's almost as good as the best. However, the Daytime Runing Lights (Licht 24) in the IQ Fly RT are better than any other dynamo headlight, including the new Luxos U, shown above. it's better because the six daytime LEDs, being spread over a large area, make for a very noticeable light during the day, increasing your visibility to oncoming drivers. The IQ Fly RT's Licht 14 LEDs are spread over a larger area than the other Licht 24 headlights, and are therefore easier for oncoming drivers to see. And it doesn't hurt that the IQ Fly RT is significantly less expensive than the other Licht 14 headlights from Busch & Müller. We've all had the experience of an oncoming car driver turning left directly in front of us. Now, the driver won't be able to tell the judge he didn't see you. Of course, the whole system can be switched off if you like, but since the drag from the LEDs is so low, why would you?

The daytime running light LEDs are dimmed at night when the primary LED is lit up at full intensity, illuminating the road surface ahead of you. The beam shape of the primary LED is the same as the beam in the Lumotec IQ CYO R headlight, which is described below. The Lumotec IQ Fly RT is a bit less bright in use than the CYO because the LED in the IQ Fly isn't cooled as effectively as is the LED in the CYO. But the difference in brightness is very small, hardly even noticeable. The daytime LEDs remain lit at night just enough to help with reading roadside signs, and present a larger "footprint" of the headlight itself to oncoming drivers, but not bright enough to blind oncoming drivers. If the daytime running lights were as bright at night as they are in the daytime, they would tend to blind oncoming drivers.

The Lumotec IQ Fly RT, like all of the "Fly" style headlights from Busch & Müller, is the most adaptable to different bicycles. Unlike many other dynamo headlights which can't be mounted at the fork crown on bikes with traditional cantilever front brakes, Busch & Müller makes a very strong fork crown mount that loops under the brake cable yoke on cantilever brakes, even low profile cantilevers which have a low yoke position. So no matter what front brakes you have (other than 1970s style centerpulls such as Weinman and Dia Compe) you can mount the Lumotec IQ Fly RT at the fork crown, which is the ideal location for any bicycle headlight. The Fly Cantilever Mount is made of 4mm diameter stainless steel rod.

The Lumotec IQ Fly RT can also me mounted at the handlebar using a variety of mounts we stock.

The Lumotec IQ Fly RT comes with a mount suitable for caliper brakes, disc brakes and V brakes. Cantilever mount is optional at extra cost. See below.

Lumotec IQ Fly RT headlight, part number B&M174QRTSNDI-04: $ 89.50

Fly Cantilever Mount, part number B&M474DUPB: $ 5.50

For more info on Licht 24, see this press release from Busch & Müller.

Lumotec IQ Cyo

Busch & Müller has now entered the superbright headlight sweepstakes. The IQ Cyo is their answer to the Schmidt Edelux, Inoled Extreme and Supernova E3 headlights. This is a very bright light, and it is far less expensive than any of the other very bright dynamo headlights. So if you want to light up the night and still make the mortgage payment, look no further.

There are four new LED headlights for 6 volt hub dynamos. First I'll describe the really bright ones; the Lumotec IQ Cyo N Plus and Lumotec IQ Cyo Senso Plus. These new headlights have a beam much like the Lumotec IQ Fly, only brighter. It uses a different LED and has a heavier heat-sink to keep the LED running cooler, so the already brighter LED can run brighter still.

The Lumotec IQ Cyo R N Plus and Lumotec IQ Cyo R Senso Plus look similar, but focus the light differently. This new design has a focused beam that's about the same brightness as the Lumotec IQ Fly, but focuses some of the LED's light below the main beam, so that it illuminates the ground closer to the bike, eliminating the dark patch between about 1 meter and four meters ahead of the cyclist. The LED is the same newer type that's also used in the IQ Cyo Plus, and it also has the large heat sink, but since the light is vertically spread out more, with some of the light focused closer to the cyclist, the light at a distance isn't as bright as with the IQ Cyo Plus, but instead is the same as the Lumotec IQ Fly Plus, shown above. The CYO light beams can be seen on this page.

Stated another way, the total light output of these headlights is the same. But the "R" versions spread the light out over a taller area, so in that part of the beam that is common to both, the "R" version isn't as bright. That common area is the top part of the "R" version's beam. It coincides with the beam of the slightly older Lumotec IQ Fly. So the "R" version has a beam as bright as the IQ Fly, but taller to eliminate the dark area close to the bike. The non "R" version is like the IQ Fly, but brighter.

In this graphic, the lighter part of the beam shows the projected CYO beam. The light and dark areas together show the CYO R beam. Nahfeld is Deutsche for Nearfield. The CYO version leaves the Nearfield dark, but provides a very bright light from about 4 meters and beyond. The R version fills in the Nearfield.

The graphic on the left shows the projected beam from above with the CYO headlight. It is the same beam pattern as the Lumotec IQ. Of course it's brighter than the Lumotec IQ. On the right is the CYO R beam, which fills in the Nearfield, one to four meters in front of the bike.

So, why would you choose one type over the other?

If you ride on rough roads, with lots of potholes or glass, you'll benefit from the "R" version with the taller, more spread out beam. If you ride in hilly areas and like to ride fast down the hills, you'll benefit from the brighter light at a distance provided by the IQ Cyo Plus. Let's face it, at thirty MPH you won't be able to do anything about what's ten feet in front of you. But if you can see it more clearly when it's one hundred feet in front of you, that could be a big help.

Both versions have a Standlight, so they have the "Plus" designation in their names. The IQ Cyo R Plus versions have a reflector built into the front of the light. The brighter IQ Cyo Plus has no reflector, so for use in Germany you would need to add a separate reflector, lest the authorities haul you off to the slammer. ;-)

On the left is the CYO lens, which is optically the same as the Lumotec IQ Fly headlight. On the right is the CYO R with Nearfield illumination. The lights are shown here with the first version of their stainless steel mounts. Current production CYO lights have a revised mount with a shorter section that fits between a sidepull caliper and the fork crown. It still may interfere with the headset, depending on the dimensions of the headset and the distance between the hole in the crown and the headset. You may need some spacers.

On the top of the CYO and CYO R headlights is a metal "cap". This serves two purposes. It blocks light that might interfere with the cyclists vision at night while standing during a climb, when your head is out over the handlebars. And, perhaps more importantly, it is directly attached to the LED and acts as a heat sink, drawing heat from the LED and keeping it cool. The cooler an LED runs, the brighter it glows.

N or Senso?

The "N" versions have a two position On/Off switch. The "Senso" versions have a three position switch; On, Off, and Senso. "On" and "Off" do what you'd expect. "Senso" switches the light on or off depending on the ambient light conditions. When it's getting dark, or you ride through a tunnel, the light switches on automatically.

The chrome plated bracket that ships with the Cyo lights is suitable for most forks using V brakes or disc brakes. But the vertical section at the bottom of the bracket is too long to work with most forks on racing bikes. So another mount will certainly be needed if you will be using this on a racing style bike. The R&M handlebar mount will probably be best for most riders.

Lumotec IQ Cyo N Plus Black (brighter 60 lux, with smaller beam): $ 100.00

Lumotec IQ Cyo Senso Plus Black (brighter 60 lux, with smaller beam): $ 107.00

Lumotec IQ Cyo Senso Plus Chrome Plated (brighter 60 lux, with smaller beam): $ 116.00

Lumotec IQ Cyo R N Plus Black (less bright 40 lux, taller beam): $ 100.00

Lumotec IQ Cyo R Senso Plus Black (less bright 40 lux, taller beam): $ 107.00

Lumotec IQ Cyo R Senso Plus Chrome Plated (less bright 40 lux, taller beam): $ 116.00

Compatible with all 6 volt dynamos. Use with or without a wired taillight. All CYO headlights have integrated connectors for a taillight wire.

The CYO and CYO R headlights ship with a new and extremely rugged mount for the fork crown. The mount is compatible with V brakes, disc brakes, and with some sidepull caliper brakes. And it will work on most racing bikes with short reach caliper brakes. Given the very tight clearance at the crown of some racing forks, the mount might interfere with the headset. The mount was not designed with sidepull caliper brakes in mind. But we do have a mount that will work with the CYO lights on bikes with sidepull brakes. It's part number B&M470H1

Busch&Muller mount universal HD caliper & v-brake: $ 3.50

If you have a sidewall dynamo, see this page for all the Lumotec IQ Cyo lights without switches.

Lumotec IQ CYO T Licht 24

Daytime Running Lights (LED)

Lumotec IQ CYO T (60 lux)

Lumotec IQ CYO RT (40 lux, taller beam)

New for 2011, Busch & Müller introduces "Licht 24"; useful light, 24 hours a day. This new feature addresses the issue of daytime visibility for cyclists. The best cycling headlights focus the light onto the road surface. So if you want to use your headlight for increased visibility by approaching drivers during the daytime, you need to adjust the beam upwards. These new Busch & Müller headlights have additional LEDs for daytime riding. They look the same as the other CYO headlights, but with the addition of a row of four LEDs just below the lens. In daytime mode, the "T" setting on the switch, the daytime LEDs are switched on at full intensity to make the cyclist more visible to others. At the same time, the main LED or "driving light" as B&M calls it, is set to a reduced intensity. Senso mode "S" on the switch has the daytime LEDs at full intensity during daytime, and when the sensor determines the ambient light level is low, switches to nighttime mode. The daytime LEDs are dimmed somewhat, and the driving LED is at full intensity. The "driving LED" is the same as in the regular CYO headlights.

The CYO T and CYO RT are in stock. The housing is black plastic. There are no chrome versions. Although "Senso" isn't in the name, these are full "Senso" headlights, T (daytime) - Senso (day and night) - Off. And of course, there's a standlight.

Also, CYO T and CYO RT headlights ship with a fork crown mount suitable for caliper brakes, V brakes, and of course disc brakes. They provide a new bolt using a "Torx" wrench for added security. And the "Torx" wrench is included. You can change it to a more common allen bolt or hex head bolt if you prefer. Also included is a black plastic shroud for the mount. the wires are run through the shroud, making for a much cleaner appearance.

Which CYO (T or RT) to choose?

Both versions use the same LEDs. The difference is in the reflector. The RT spreads out the light more, top to bottom, providing light on the road surface closer to the bike. This is helpful when riding slowly. However, it does put a bit more light close to the bike than is necessary when riding at high speeds, and this extra road illumination could be distracting when you're trying to see what you are approaching at 35mph or 40mph. Frankly, I'd suggest you're better off not riding down hills at 40mph at night, but I'm now an old fart who would rather not take such risks any more. So, if you ride in hilly terrain at night and you're not worried about running into a moose, but would like to see an obstruction in the road surface 250 feet away at 40mph, you should get the CYO T, not the CYO RT. If you're commuting in an urban area, ride bike paths, have broken glass on the road, potholes and ice in winter, get the CYO RT.

Lumotec IQ Cyo T Black (brighter 60 lux, with smaller beam): $ 114.00

Lumotec IQ Cyo RT Black (less bright 40 lux, taller beam): $ 114.00

For more info on Licht 24, see this press release from Busch & Müller.

Lumotec IQ Fly (LED)

The Lumotec IQ Fly, new for 2008, has a new optical system with a more efficient and brighter LED. All of the light from the LED is aimed backwards at the reflector, and then forwards to the road surface. This provides complete control over the focusing of all the light coming from the LED. The beam is sharply focused, with a sharp horizontal top edge, sides and bottom to the beam, brightest at the top, getting progressively dimmer towards the bottom, like the finest European automotive headlights. With all of the light being focused, there is less spill light outside of the focused patch than with most other headlights. So most of the energy produced by the dynamo, and by your pedaling, goes into making light that illuminates the road.

The result is an extraordinarily bright and wide patch of light ahead of you on the road. While many other dynamo headlights concentrate the beam into a narrow patch, so as to give you the brightest possible patch of light, the new IQ system uses such a bright LED that the light can be spread over a large surface area, and remain very bright. It also means that outside of that bright focused patch, there's less light than with the typical headlight.

You might wonder if that means other users of the road might not see you coming, if they happen to be outside of your focused beam. Not to worry. There is spill light. It's a rather small percentage of the total light output. But since the total light output is so high, other road users, whether in cars, on foot, or on bicycles will definitely be able to see you coming. There's plenty of spill light for others to see you by. That's not an issue at all.

Do not combine the IQ Fly with a secondary headlight. The IQ Fly is not compatible with my Secondary headlights.

The IQ Fly is the ideal headlight for use when mounting the headlight at the fork crown with bikes having "low profile" cantilever brakes. Busch & Müller has a new heavy duty mount for all of the Fly series headlights. With low profile cantilevers, the mount must extend under the yoke, and then place the headlight's lens high enough above the front tire and fender that the beam isn't blocked. There is no metal mount strong enough to hold many of the headlights available. But the Fly headlight is itself rather tall, and it works with a short, and rather strong mount.

Fly Cantilever Mount: $ 5.50

Lumotec IQ Fly N, part # B&M174QN-04 (On-Off switch, no standlight): $ 71.00

Lumotec IQ Fly N Plus, part # B&M174QNDi-04 (On-Off switch, with standlight): $ 78.00

Lumotec IQ Fly Senso, part # B&M174QSN-04 (On-Off-Auto switch, no standlight): $ 78.00

Lumotec IQ Fly Senso Plus, part # B&M174QSNDi-04 (On-Off-Auto switch, with standlight): $ 85.00

Lumotec Lyt (LED)

New for 2010, the Lumotec Lyt is a low cost LED headlight but is significantly brighter (25 Lux) than similarly priced dynamo headlights.

These are now in stock. I'll have a photo of the projected beam up shortly. The light has a nice sharp horizontal top edge, so you get very good illumination at a distance without blinding oncoming drivers and cyclists. The included mount works with most bikes having V brakes, disc brakes and even many caliper brakes.

The included fork crown mounting bracket works with most caliper brakes, and most V brakes. The headlight includes a front reflector, and provides excellent illumination to the sides to help others see that you're there.

This headlight follows Busch & Müller's normal naming conventions. The letter "N" in the name indicates that the light has a two position "On - Off" switch. "Senso" means the light has a three position "On - Off - Senso" switch. In the Senso position, the headlight will switch on and off automatically via a light sensor. When it's dark, the light switches on. "Plus" in the name indicated that the headlight includes a standlight. The standlight function keeps the headlight on for several minutes, providing light if you're stopped at a traffic light.

Unlike other Busch & Müller headlights made for use with hub dynamos, there are no wires permanently attached to the Lyt. On the underside of the headlight, you'll see two sets of connectors. One is for the wire to the hub dynamo, and the other set is for the wires to the taillight. A double strand wire comes with the headlight to attach it to the hub dynamo. Taillight wire is sold separately.

Lumotec Lyt N Plus: $ 50.00 (2 position On - Off switch & Standlight)

Lumotec Lyt Senso: $ 50.00 (3 position On - Off - Senso switch, no Standlight)

Lumotec Lyt Senso Plus: $ 58.00 (3 position On - Off - Senso switch & Standlight)

New for 2012, Lumotec Lyt T Senso Plus (LED)

The Lyt T Senso Plus adds Daytime Running Lights to the economical Lyt series headlights. And, it's a bit brighter at 30 Lux.

Busch & Müller Lumotec Lyt T Senso Plus: $ 60.00

Lumotec Lyt Basic N Plus & Senso Plus

At 15 Lux, the two Lyt Basics are Busch & Müller's least expensive LED headlights. Same optics as the other Lyt headlights, just not quite as bright. But for the urban cyclist who stays off the busy roads with higher speed traffic, it's usually all you need. I say usually because on a rainy night, you would probably want a brighter headlight. But if you live in Tucson AZ and never ride in the rain...

What's rain, Mommy?

If you ride in hill country, you'll want a brighter headlight for descending the hills. But if it's flat and you're riding at 12 to 15 mph, you should have plenty of light to see the road ahead. Combined with a B&M dynamo taillight and a Sanyo hub dynamo, you can have an inexpensive dynamo system for commuting with most bicycles.

No need for another photo, since they look the same as the Lumotec Lyt pictured above.

The Basic N Plus has the usual 2 position On/Off switch. The Senso Plus has a three position switch; On/Off/Senso. If you just leave it in the Senso position, the light will automatically switch on at dusk, and off in the morning. Both versions have a Standlight.

Lumotec Lyt Basic N Plus, Part Number BYM1781NDi: $ 34.50

Lumotec Lyt Basic Senso Plus, Part Number BYM1781SNDi: $ 40.00

Lumotec Classic

New for 2012, the Lumotec Classic is styled much like the dynamo headlights of the 1950s. But the internals are all modern, using the LED, optical system and electronics of the Lumotec Lyt headlights. As with the other B&M headlights, it's available in several versions. I stock the versions with Standlight technology. The LED remains lit, at a lower intensity for several minutes after you stop, say at a traffic light. I also stock a version with "Licht 24", Daytime Running Lights.

Here you see the top mounted switch. This is the switch label used on the daytime running light version. Other versions have different labeling, but the same switch. All versions ship with a fork crown mount that's suitable for caliper brakes, disc brakes or V brakes. If you have cantilever brakes, you can use the same cantilever mount as the Lumotec Fly and Lumotec IQ Fly.

The Lumotec Classic headlights can be used with or without a 6 volt wired taillight.

25 LUX

B&M Lumotec Classic N Plus has a 2 position On/Off switch, and of course, a standlight.
Lumotec Classic N Plus, part # B&M1786CNDi: $ 60.00

B&M Lumotec Classic Senso Plus has a 3 position switch, On/Off/Senso and a standlight.
Lumotec Classic Senso Plus, part # B&M1786CSNDi: $ 67.50

B&M Lumotec Classic T Senso Plus has a 3 position switch, "Licht 24" Daytime Running Lights, On/Off/Senso and a standlight.
Lumotec Classic T Senso Plus, part # B&M1786CTSNDi: $ 75.00

B&M Fly Cantilever Mount, part # B&M474DUPB: $ 5.50

Halogen Headlights

Busch & Müller ships all of their halogen headlights with 2.4 watt bulbs, since they are intended for use with a .6 watt taillight. If you won't be using a dynamo powered taillight, be sure to ask us to swap the bulb to a 3 watt version, otherwise the overvoltage protection in the headlight will fail at high speeds. The charge for changing the bulb to 3 watt is $ 2.00

If the model has the word "Plus" in the name, it also has an LED which provides a Standlight, 4 - 5 minutes of lower intensity light while you're stopped at an intersection or stop sign. The low power LED is powered by a capacitor which is charged while the light receives power from the dynamo.

Busch & Müller Lumotec Oval Plus Senso

Lumotec Oval Plus Senso headlight (includes mounting hardware) looks identical to Lumotec Oval. The switch has three positions. On, Off, and Auto Sensing. The Auto Sensing position turns the light on when it gets dark: This headlight is compatible with all of the dynohubs I sell. $ 52.00

If you want the Oval Plus headlight for use with any hub dynamo other than the Schmidt SON you'll need to use this "Senso" version. The Oval Plus (several paragraphs above) with the stainless steel toggle switch will not work with the Sanyo / Shimano / SRAM / Suntour / Joytech dynohubs because they ground to the frame via the hub axle.

Compatible with all hub dynamos. Ships with 2.4 watt bulb for use with a wired taillight. Bulb can be changed to 3 watt for use without a wired taillight. Cost for changing to 3 watt is $ 2.00

Busch & Müller Lumotec N
(switched)

Lumotec N switched headlight. Built in slider switch. Otherwise the same as the regular Lumotec. Compatible with all hubs. $ 26.00

Compatible with all hub dynamos. Ships with 2.4 watt bulb for use with a wired taillight. Bulb can be changed to 3 watt for use without a wired taillight. Cost for changing to 3 watt is $ 2.00

Busch & Müller Lumotec N2 Plus & Lumotec Senso 2 Plus
(switched)

Lumotec N2 Plus switched headlight. Built in two position Om/Off slider switch. Otherwise the same as the Lumotec Plus which has the LED standlight, powered by a capacitor. Compatible with all hubs. $ 32.50

New for 2009, the Lumotec is available in a Senso version with a Standlight. The Senso version has a three position On/Off/Senso switch. On and Off work normally. Senso gives you automatic switching on or off as needed.

Lumotec Senso 2 Plus: $ 36.00

Compatible with all hub dynamos. Ships with 2.4 watt bulb for use with a wired taillight. Bulb can be changed to 3 watt for use without a wired taillight. Cost for changing to 3 watt is $ 2.00

Unswitched Headlights

The headlights for tire driven dynamos like the Busch & Müller Dymotec 6, Dymotec S12 and others do not require a switch since the system is turned on by moving the dynamo into contact with the tire. By the way, it's that movement that determines whether a sidewall dynamo is right sided or left sided. So the more expensive switched headlights that I sell for hub dynamos are not needed. I stock all of the 6 volt halogen and LED headlights that Busch & Müller makes for use with the Dymotec 6 and (discontinued S6) generators, or any 6 volt tire driven generator. I stock a 12 volt headlight and 2 12 volt taillights for use with the Dymotec S12.

All of the headlights I sell have circuitry to protect the bulb from burn-out at high speeds. All 6 volt halogen headlights ship to me with a 2.4 watt bulb installed, and are intended to be used with a .6 watt taillight. A 3 watt bulb is optional for the 6 volt headlights when used without a taillight. The 12 volt headlight ships with a 5 watt bulb. 5 watt bulbs cannot be used in a 6 volt headlight. 2.4 or 3 watt bulbs cannot be used in a 12 volt headlight. Unless otherwise stated, LED headlights can be used with or without a taillight attached.

Busch & Müller Lumotec & Lumotec Plus

Busch & Müller Lumotec (6 volt) headlight for use with Dymotec 6 and S6 generators (round). Comes with single strand 185cm wire and connectors. $ 16.00

Busch & Müller Lumotec Plus (6 volt) headlight for use with Dymotec 6 and S6 generators (round). Comes with single strand 185cm wire and connectors. $ 32.00

The Lumotec Plus adds a capacitor and an LED. The capacitor is charged while you ride. When you stop, the capacitor powers the LED for several minutes to help others see you while you're stopped at intersections. The LED is not nearly as bright as the halogen bulb. But it's plenty bright enough for drivers to see that you're there.

A reflector surrounds the lens for added safety. No brackets are provided with the round Lumotec and Lumotec Plus headlights, but are sold separately. Compatible with all 6 volt tire driven dynamos. Ships with 2.4 watt bulb for use with a wired taillight. Bulb can be changed to 3 watt for use without a wired taillight. Cost for changing to 3 watt is $ 2.00

Busch & Müller Lumotec Oval, Lumotec Oval Plus and Lumotec Oval Plus 12
(unswitched)

Busch & Müller Lumotec Oval (6 volt) headlight and brackets for use with Dymotec 6 and S6 generators. Comes with single strand 185cm wire and connectors. $ 25.00

Busch & Müller Lumotec Oval Plus (6 volt) headlight and brackets (looks the same as the Lumotec Oval) for use with Dymotec 6 and S6 generators. Comes with single strand 185cm wire and connectors. $ 39.92

The Oval Plus model adds a capacitor and an LED. The capacitor is charged while you ride. When you stop, the capacitor powers the LED for several minutes to help others see you while you're stopped at intersections. Compatible with all 6 volt tire driven dynamos. Ships with 2.4 watt bulb for use with a wired taillight. Bulb can be changed to 3 watt for use without a wired taillight. Cost for changing to 3 watt is $ 2.00

Busch & Müller Lumotec Oval Plus 12 (12 volt, 5 watt) headlight and brackets for use only with Dymotec S12 generators. Since it is part of a 12 volt system, this headlight is amazingly bright! It is without question my brightest headlight. Comes with single strand 185cm wire and connectors. Comes with a 5 watt bulb. Available now: $ 76.12

A reflector is above the lens for added safety.

The bracket shown will mount the light directly over the front tire using the hole in the center of the fork crown on bikes with cantilever brakes or v-brakes. Also included with the Oval headlight is a bracket for mounting on bikes with caliper brakes. These brackets are also sold separately.

Retro?

For that older bike you'd like to keep looking period correct, Busch & Müller have kindly produced several special versions of the Lumotec, using a chrome over plastic housing.

Available only without a standlight, and without switch for sidewall dynamos.

Lumotec Retro: $ 20.00

As this light is a bit heavier than the regular Lumotec, and as it is specifically designed for use with older bikes using low pressure tires, vibration is likely to cause the metal mount to fail if you use this on a bike with high pressure tires. I recommend 50 PSI maximum for the front tire with this headlight on a metal mount to reduce the likelihood that the mount might fail.

Compatible with all 6 volt tire driven dynamos. Not suitable for hub dynamos because it has no switch. Ships with 2.4 watt bulb for use with a wired taillight. Bulb can be changed to 3 watt for use without a wired taillight. Cost for changing to 3 watt is $ 2.00

Busch & Müller LED unswitched headlights

DLumotec Topal

The DLumotec Topal uses an LED instead of a halogen bulb. The LED will last indefinitely (approximately 100,000 hours) so bulb replacement is no longer an issue. The beam from the LED is more diffused than with a halogen bulb. These are very nice for the commuter who needs to see the road and be seen by automobile drivers in urban environments. And you'll never be home late for dinner because you dropped a bulb while replacing it on the side of the road.

These LED headlights can be used with or without a wired taillight. They are compatible with any six volt dynamo. They are not compatible with the 12 volt Dymotec S12 dynamo. There is no 12 volt LED headlight available from Busch & Müller.

DLumotec Topal. includes mounts for fork crown mounting, with cantilever - v brakes, and a mount for the cross brace on most suspension forks. No Standlight.

This model has been discontinued. We have a few left and I've marked them down to clear inventory.

Regular Price: $78.00

Clearance Price: $ 25.00

DLumotec Topal Plus (with standlight): $40.00

Replacement Halogen Bulbs

All Busch & Müller halogen headlights use drop in style bulbs,

They don't screw in, they drop in. Notice the flange around the center of the bulb. See the notch in the flange? That notch fits around a ridge in the bulb mounting position of the headlight. The filament is positioned relative to the notch. So the notch is forcing the filament to be aligned very precisely and that is critical in focusing the beam correctly.

That's why Busch & Müller uses these bulbs rather than bulbs that screw in.

These bulbs are available in two versions; one version is for use when the headlight is being used along with a wired taillight. The taillight consumes .6 watts. The total draw on the dynamo needs to be 3 watts. So with a .6 watt taillight, you use a 2.4 watt bulb.

If you can't use a wired taillight for some reason, you would then use a 3 watt bulb in the headlight. If you use a 2.4 watt bulb in the headlight when you don't have a taillight connected, the bulb can burn out quickly.

6 volt, 2.4 watt halogen bulb: $ 4.00

6 volt, 3 watt halogen bulb: $ 5.00

These 6 volt bulbs work in all Busch & Müller 6 volt halogen headlights. They also work in the Schmidt E6 as well as the old BiSy headlight.

12 volt, 5 watt halogen bulb: $ 14.56 (The 5 watt bulb can only be used in the 12 volt Lumotec Oval Plus 12 headlight.)

I don't sell other types of bulbs for dynamo headlights. I only sell bulbs for the headlights I sell. If you have a dynamo headlight with a screw in bulb, my best advice is to replace it with a Busch & Müller headlight. The beam will be much better.

I do not sell bulbs for taillights. Since LEDs work so much better in a taillight than bulbs, I recommend that anyone with a bulb type taillight upgrade to an LED type. See here for dynamo powered taillights.

Mounting Headlights

All Busch & Müller dynamo powered headlights are designed to be used in all weather. Your bike can sit out all day in the rain, and it can be raining hard while you ride, but it won't effect the proper functioning of the headlight, provided that the headlight is not being sprayed with water. Huh? I'll explain.

For example, if you mount the headlight at the crown of the fork using a Busch & Müller mount, the light will be high enough above the front tire that water won't spray up from the tire and hit the light. And of course any suitable commuting or brevet bike will have fenders. But some bikes are now being made by custom frame builders with special front racks which have headlight mounts towards the front of the rack. In some cases, the headlight is right in the path of water being sprayed towards the front. Busch & Müller dynamo headlights all have openings at the bottom to allow any water that gets inside to drain out. But water spraying off a tire can enter via those openings. So you must position the light where it won't be subjected to this type of spray. If you must position the light well forward of the front tire you must also place a barrier of some sort to deflect water away from the headlight.

If you can't mount the headlight at the fork crown because you have a bag in the way, you can often mount the headlight at the side of the fork, just below the tire. Along the fork blade, the headlight will only get water from above, which won't cause any trouble. See my mounting page for more info.

Where to Buy?

See this page for a list of bicycle shops that generally stock our products, or can order them for you. If there's no shop in your area, you can of course order directly from us. See this page to order from us.

Dealer Inquiries Invited. Please call 603 478 0900

If you have a retail bicycle shop, or are a bicycle manufacturer, you can purchase Busch & Müller products, including dynamos, headlights, taillights, battery lights and mirrors at wholesale prices for resale. Any shop in the US or Canada can purchase Busch & Müller products for sale in your store. Please call me for pricing. Peter White Cycles is an official representative for Busch & Müller in the US and Canada, and we want all bicycle shops to be able to sell these products.

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This page updated: Friday, May 17, 2013

Peter White Cycles
24 Hall Rd.
Hillsborough, NH 03244
USA
603 478 0900 Phone
603 478 0902 Phax