Ixon IQ review
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Peter Noris
Mar 9, 2009, 1:33:42 PM3/9/09
to randon
I rode a 400 over the weekend, using this B&M light, and was impressed enough to write about it.
I generally do not like battery lights (well, actually, don't trust batteries), and bought this only because there was no hub generator for my trike. I tried a bottle generator with an Edelux, but it mounted right next to my ear, and the noise was very irritating.
The Ixon IQ uses an LED, and a reflector design similar to, if not the same as the Edelux. When it turns on, it defaults to it's lower power setting (20 hours on the supplied 2100 MaHr batteries at 10 lux, 5 hours on the high setting at 40 lux). Some one at there may correct me if I'm mistaken, but I think that like audio, lighting is a log function; a doubling of power is a just noticeable difference (JND), and 10 times as much power is twice as loud (or bright). In other words, between high and low power is 2 JND in brightness; an Edelux is one JND over the high setting. Or, another way to look at it, an Edelux would have to develop 100 lux to be twice as bright as the low power setting of the IQ, and 400 lux to be twice as bright as the high setting.
The person I was riding with suggested trying the low power setting; with a full moon, out of the city it was more than bright enough to ride 18 mph with. After moon set, there was no appreciable difference. On the few dowhhills, we were going 30 - 35 mph, in a straight line - this is Florida, after all. He was using an Edelux with a SON; no question his light was brighter, but unless you were going downhill very fast, I'm not sure the difference is that great - and I'm not confident that the extra brightness would allow you to judge road conditions on high speed turns well enough to be safe.
Bottom line? After 8 hours of use, there was plenty of battery life left. I carried a spare set of batteries - I just have developed scepticism about them over the years. In addition, any AAs from a convenience store could be used in a pinch.
Price? $141 with a set of rechargeables and a charger; the SON hub is $382 with a Velocity Aerohead; an Edelux is, I believe, $185 at last quote - a $567 system. Better? No doubt - but look at the beam pattern photos on Peter White's page before you decide which way to go.
Have a great season, everyone...
--
Peter
"Seeing the U.S.A. one brevet at a time"
13 regions and Canada - more to come!
Burning Man 2009 - longer than a 1200, less training required.
Sent from my mobile device - my Airstream
I generally do not like battery lights (well, actually, don't trust batteries), and bought this only because there was no hub generator for my trike. I tried a bottle generator with an Edelux, but it mounted right next to my ear, and the noise was very irritating.
The Ixon IQ uses an LED, and a reflector design similar to, if not the same as the Edelux. When it turns on, it defaults to it's lower power setting (20 hours on the supplied 2100 MaHr batteries at 10 lux, 5 hours on the high setting at 40 lux). Some one at there may correct me if I'm mistaken, but I think that like audio, lighting is a log function; a doubling of power is a just noticeable difference (JND), and 10 times as much power is twice as loud (or bright). In other words, between high and low power is 2 JND in brightness; an Edelux is one JND over the high setting. Or, another way to look at it, an Edelux would have to develop 100 lux to be twice as bright as the low power setting of the IQ, and 400 lux to be twice as bright as the high setting.
The person I was riding with suggested trying the low power setting; with a full moon, out of the city it was more than bright enough to ride 18 mph with. After moon set, there was no appreciable difference. On the few dowhhills, we were going 30 - 35 mph, in a straight line - this is Florida, after all. He was using an Edelux with a SON; no question his light was brighter, but unless you were going downhill very fast, I'm not sure the difference is that great - and I'm not confident that the extra brightness would allow you to judge road conditions on high speed turns well enough to be safe.
Bottom line? After 8 hours of use, there was plenty of battery life left. I carried a spare set of batteries - I just have developed scepticism about them over the years. In addition, any AAs from a convenience store could be used in a pinch.
Price? $141 with a set of rechargeables and a charger; the SON hub is $382 with a Velocity Aerohead; an Edelux is, I believe, $185 at last quote - a $567 system. Better? No doubt - but look at the beam pattern photos on Peter White's page before you decide which way to go.
Have a great season, everyone...
--
Peter
"Seeing the U.S.A. one brevet at a time"
13 regions and Canada - more to come!
Burning Man 2009 - longer than a 1200, less training required.
Sent from my mobile device - my Airstream
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