Thank you ! I really want the Beacon 2 to work for me but I think your assessment is right. This is my go everywhere bike but 75% of the time it will be on road.
On Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 8:29:34 PM UTC-5 Ben Miller wrote: > I have the Beacon 2 complete setup with the headlight and taillight. It's > really really nice. The taillight is the highest quality taillight I've > ever seen, super solid and well designed. As for the low setting on the > headlight, I think that's more for when you want the light *and* to > charge, or at least that is how I use it. I mostly just leave it in the > high setting otherwise. It's obviously designed more for multiday bike > packing trips, and the symmetrical beam is much better than a progressive > beam better when off road. But still works fine on-road. But really, I'd > only ever put it on a bike that sees a lot of off road use and especially > off-road biking packing use. For a dedicated road bike I'd go with a > progressive beam pattern like the IQ-X or Edelux and just use a battery > bank for charging (which is still the best way to use the Beacon -> Beacon > charges the battery and then use the battery to charge your devices). > > On Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 4:48:13 PM UTC-8 Kesler Roberts wrote: > >> Resurrecting this old thread - wondering about experiences with the >> Beacon 2. Is the low beam a reasonable compromise for not blinding >> oncoming traffic. I just tranferred my B&M light to my wife's bike and am >> shopping.... I really like the idea of getting the charging function >> without extra wiring >> >> >> On Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 9:12:58 PM UTC-4 Luke Hendrickson wrote: >> >>> That light is gorgeous however that was my concern, too: beam pattern. I >>> prefer the more European beam pattern of either the Son Edelux or the Busch >>> + Mueller IQ-X (B+M makes the mirror for the Edelux, too). More American >>> lights with their conical beams… not to my taste and seemingly very >>> inefficient. >>> >>> On Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 12:43:12 PM UTC-7 brizbarn wrote: >>> >>>> Thanks for the replies. I mainly am interested in the Beacon 2 light >>>> for the clean look in a good light with built-in USB charging. My setup >>>> with the Reactor charger worked pretty well though, unfortunately my light >>>> broke and I need a new one. I emailed Sinewave a while back and they said >>>> that the preorder is more like reserving your spot in line, they are >>>> currently producing Beacon 2's in small numbers and shipping them in order >>>> of purchase date. >>>> >>>> The beam pattern is interesting to think about. I imagine if you just >>>> point the light down a bit it would be fine for commuting (not blinding to >>>> oncoming riders/drivers), which is where I would use the light most often, >>>> but maybe I'm mistaken. >>>> >>>> It sounds like the charging issues would be worked out in the version >>>> 2. I actually use a small portable charger rather than charge straight to >>>> my iPhone from my Sinewave Reactor. It helps keep the iPhone screen from >>>> turning on (like what happens when you unplug your iPhone from a wall >>>> charger) every time I slow down too much to produce a charge. This setup >>>> works well enough for me, but I wish I could set my iPhone to not have the >>>> screen turn on when it stops charging, and avoid needing the battery >>>> charger. >>>> >>>> Maybe a light with a focused beam (one that lights up just the ground) >>>> and a UBS charger built in would be better for my use, but I don't know of >>>> any. Kinda surprised there isn't more options out there. >>>> >>>> Attached is a pic of how I had my Reactor set up with my now broken >>>> light. >>>> [image: IMG_9275.JPG][image: IMG_9274.JPG] >>>> >>>> On Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 6:42:15 PM UTC-7 [email protected] wrote: >>>> >>>>> My experience is only with the V.1 Beacon, and I must admit it has >>>>> been a bit disappointing to me, so I’m hoping some of the shortcomings >>>>> have >>>>> been improved in this new version. Like Jeff mentioned, it just kinda >>>>> blasts a lot of light out, unfocused, so it’s best for off-road riding. >>>>> Personally, I’d prefer a focused beam for both paved and off-road. I’ve >>>>> found the USB charging feature to be practically useless for my needs. I >>>>> could ride all day with a smartphone plugged in, and I’d be lucky if my >>>>> battery percentage went up more than 3-4%. When I tried to charge my >>>>> Garmin >>>>> Edge Explore, it made my device freak out so bad, I thought I’d damaged >>>>> it. >>>>> When I contacted the owner of Sinewave about this, he said he was aware >>>>> that certain Garmin devices didn’t work well with the Beacon’s charger. >>>>> So, >>>>> the two devices I bought the light to work with won’t work with it. I’ve >>>>> heard it’s best to use it to trickle charge a separate battery bank, but >>>>> those are so powerful these days, I can practically go 3-4 days on a bike >>>>> trip, charging my devices as needed on a full charged bank. So I >>>>> basically >>>>> have a really expensive, gorgeous, very well-constructed dyno light that >>>>> only really does one thing well, and that’s blast out a lot of light. I >>>>> really wanted to love it, but I’m way happier with my Edelux II on my >>>>> other >>>>> bike. >>>>> >>>>> I know it’s a popular light and works great for a lot of people in >>>>> certain situations. I’m curious to know if the V.2 Beacon is a >>>>> significant >>>>> improvement over the issues I had with it, but it would probably take a >>>>> lot >>>>> to convince me to try another one. >>>>> >>>>> -B >>>>> >>>>> On Apr 18, 2023, at 8:49 PM, Jeffrey Arita <[email protected]> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> We've got two (his/her) Beacon V.1's. Purchased 1st quarter 2017. >>>>> Both worked okay until one of them has issues with all of the LEDs firing >>>>> up upon faster speeds. Worked with the Owner and he stands behind his >>>>> products. Around that same time I asked him if he were going to consider >>>>> making a focused lens option (StVZO). At that time he (unfortunately) >>>>> said >>>>> 'no.' IMHO, if he were to do so, he could sell a lot of these units to >>>>> randonneurs and cyclotourists alike. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> The Version 1 works quite well. At low speeds only 1 or 2 of the LEDs >>>>> light up. As speed increases, the third LED lights up. The lens is >>>>> unfocused, so it is pretty decent if you are off-road on dirt roads. The >>>>> USB output is integrated into the chassis (obviously power limited via >>>>> the >>>>> dynamo). There is a second way to power up the light - you simply plug >>>>> in >>>>> a USB power source - excellent when you get to a campground after dark >>>>> and >>>>> you need to light up your camping spot (or if you want to power the light >>>>> without the dynamo). Well thought-out. If only there was a StVZO lens >>>>> *option*, I think it would be perfect. >>>>> >>>>> Note: the USB power output is power limited by the dynamo (not the >>>>> device itself). We have had trouble trying to charge late-model >>>>> smartphones since they are quite power-hungry. It is probably better to >>>>> try and charge a battery bank (pass-thru or not) vs. the smartphone >>>>> itself >>>>> (in our experience). The dynamo + Beacon *does *re-charge small-ish >>>>> GPS devices quite well such as Wahoo BOLTs and ROAMs. >>>>> >>>>> Best regards, >>>>> >>>>> Jeff >>>>> Claremont, CA >>>>> >>>>> On Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 3:41:05 PM UTC-7 brizbarn wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Anyone have a Sinewave Cycles Beacon 2 Dynamo Light they want to >>>>>> sell? Or has anyone used it, and care to share their thoughts? My >>>>>> dynamo >>>>>> light broke and can't be fixed, and I have a Sinewave Reactor dynamo >>>>>> charger that I use to charge my iPhone or other USB things. I figured >>>>>> I'd >>>>>> combine the two to declutter things a bit with the Beacon Light. >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/26e34dd1-ad97-4fe0-b152-3e90f5d0fc66n%40googlegroups.com >>>>> >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/26e34dd1-ad97-4fe0-b152-3e90f5d0fc66n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>> . >>>>> >>>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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