Brompton Dynamo Light

Seems not really used Blogger since 2008! Anyway thought it would be useful to record the fitting of a dynamo lighting system to my Brompton. Had a so far positive experience of dynamo lights on my tourer which has a Shimano XT dynamo hub plus a
B + M Lumotec IQ Cyo T senso plus 60 lux light (http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/product/detail/aid:457434)

Brompton do a range of dynamo lighting kits either based around a Shimano hub or a SON hub, the latter adding an extra £200 to the price tag. The kits come with wiring, lights and brackets. You get a better light with the more expensive dynamo hub. You can also just buy a complete wheel. I plumped for a complete front wheel based on the shimano hub for £83 from Simpson Cycles in Chalk Farm
(http://www.simpsoncycles.co.uk/product.php/2573/brompton-front-shimano-dynamo-hub-wheel). Simpson's is a really excellent shop fast mail order but they also run a proper shop with lots of stock that many other shops just don't carry. I ordered the light from Rose as the euro suppliers are far cheaper then the UK suppliers.. assume this is because dynamo's are more popular in the rest of euro land.

The standard position for a dynamo light on a Brompton is just above the front wheel. From observing Brompton's fitted with such lights seems a great place to illuminate the road from. For me though the low position seems to be less visible to other road users, especially if you also have a front bag mounted and you in an amongst traffic. So I decided to Mount on the handlebars.

Most handlebar mounts seem to put the light ahead of the bar, not an issue on a non-folder but on  Brompton can interfere with the fold. To solve this ordered a Supernova handlebar mount (http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/product/detail/aid:642327) as this would allow the B&M light to sit above the bar.

The Cyo T comes prewired for both connection to the dynamo and to a rear light. I disc connected the wires for the rear light (snipped plus heat shrink the ends nearby he light and tucked out of the way). However the wires to the dynamo are designed for a fork crown mount on a 700c / 26" wheel bike so were short for Brompton bars to hub. Used the redundant rear wire and connectors to to extend the wiring with the connector in line with the Brompton cable gatherer. Wires run up the fork leg, behind the front brake caliper the from there follows the front brake cable to the bars. This means the wiring folds with the existing cables.

If you buy the wheel and light separate, then you do not get the little Shimano plug, so remember to order one ( http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/product/detail/aid:117991).

So how does it perform? Fab! You really don't notice any drag from the hub and the amount of light is great, like a scooter/moped light. And unlike the torch type cycle lights it has a proper reflector like a car so it directs light correctly without dazzling other road users.

Only bad bits are it had increased the weight of the bike a little which I noticed when doing stairs at stations, and on the Shimano based wheel Brompton has used cheap fat unbutted spokes..

If I was buying a new Brompton now, getting a dymano from the start would be a no brainer and is the cheapest way to do it.