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It's a couple of years now since the IQ-X came out and I still struggle to find decent reviews online…
The ones I can find are pretty mixed, eg:
1. https://swhs.home.xs4all.nl/fiets/tests/verlichting/koplampen/BM_iqx/index_en.html
2. https://www.darkerside.org/2017/02/bm-iq-x-dynamo-headlight-review/
One complains that the beam is too wide, the other that it's too narrow. (Though the former rarely has a good word to say about B&M lights.)
Anyone have anything to add? I was about to get an Eyc for my mixed-terrain bike but then pondered getting the IQ-X (which is now 80 Euros online) and handing down the Cyo Premium from my road bike. But if the IQ-X isn't a worthwhile step up from either the Cyo Premium or the Luxos U then I won't bother.
I assume nothing comparable has appeared from other manufacturers in the meantime…?
I got one as soon as I could when they came out, so it's around 2 years old so far.
a) Perfectly reliable
b) The plastic bracket it comes with is too wobbly. I bought a stainless steel B&M one which is lots better
c)
One complains that the beam is too wide,
It's not. It's narrower than my Luxos U
d)
the other that it's too narrow.
Depends what you like. I reckon for a faster bike it's perfect, but a slower tourer/commuter might find it too narrow. I don't think it's too narrow, I think it's fine.
e) it's a very bright, evenly lit beam and the beam is as long as you need it to be (Obviously adjustable) at any speed I can get to! It's a lot more even and noticeably brighter than my Luxos U
f) Negatives - that bracket. It needs a bit more speed before the whole beam chimes in, but nothing massive. No cache battery means it dims right down when you stop. I often wonder if it's still on, but it is. Side visibility isn't brilliant. The beam, although looooong and bright, cuts off very abruptly, so as you enter a rise in the road, if it's pitch black, visibility is reduced. But all decent road specific dynamo lights are like that. They have a proper dipped beam like a car, so none of the light is wasted up in the air and you're not blinding everyone coming the other way.
Also, IMO, I reckon the big pool of light they give off on the floor gives you a better presence on the road. You look bigger and widerr, but not annoying bright so easier to judge speed and distance. Just IMHO! 🙂
To conclude, if you need a touring/commuting light I reckon the Luxos U fits the bill better. The beam is perfectly adequate round town and in pitch black. As it's it's wider, it has better side visibility too. Also USB charging is very handy when touring. But it's an ugly lump of a thing and there's the extra wires to the handlebar too.
The IQX is a lot smaller, neater and noticeably brighter. To me it seems to be designed for a faster, lighter bike, like a CX/Adventure bike used for commuting and road duties.
Both will do both jobs, but I reckon that's what they're aimed at.
Was that what you were after? 🙂
Yup. Thanks. I already have the Luxos U, Cyo Premium, Cyo and Lyt so I have those reference points for comparison. (And I have a couple of spare steel brackets to use.)
To be honest I find the Cyo Premium and Luxos pretty good; but more light is always welcome, mainly when the roads are wet.
I've found I don't use the Luxos's USB charging much at all (it lives on my tourer and I've put the tidier Cyo Premium on my road bike) so I'm essentially after something which offers brighter coverage towards the horizon at speed and in the wet, but without casting too much light in the nearfield to dilute that far visibility. I guess that's the essence of the question: is it a noticeable step up in tricky conditions?
It's a lot brighter yes. You don't need any more light on the road.
That smacks of IBM's legendary "we see a market for maybe five computers" comment 😉