Dynamo Rear light

If you want to have a reliable rear light on your bike that is always ready for use, then the best choice is a dynamo rear light. You will always have light as long as you are pedalling. No battery runtime, no recharging, no searching for the nearest power socket. A dynamo-powered rear light will never let you down. The rear lights from busch+müller in particular are known for their reliability. With over 100 years of experience in the manufacture of bicycle lighting, we know what is important.

Dynamos have been around for a very long time. However, whereas in the past you had to pedal hard, modern dynamos are now much more efficient. They are usually installed in the wheel hub and generate a lot of power with little force. This is why many bicycle rear lights with dynamos can do much more than just light up.

At busch+müller, for example, you will find models such as the Line, Dart or 2C Toplight models, which are equipped with practical additional functions such as

• Parking light
• brake light
• Emergency brake light function

But what types of dynamos are there and which one is right for you? And what are the legal regulations for the use of dynamo lighting in road traffic? As a long-standing expert in bicycle lighting, we provide you with all the information you need to choose the perfect dynamo rear light for your bike below.

Find out here:

• What types of dynamos there are, how they work and what their advantages and disadvantages are
• What the legal framework for use in road traffic looks like
• What you should look out for when buying your dynamo rear light

There are different types of dynamo, but they all follow the basic principle of "movement to energy" and differ only minimally in the way they work. We will therefore limit ourselves here to the two most common variants: The side-wheel dynamo and the hub dynamo.

The side-wheel dynamo

The classic and probably best-known variant: attached to the side of the bike, the side-rotor dynamo picks up the rotational movement of the tyre with the friction roller and generates electricity through induction.

Advantages:
Sidewheel dynamos are inexpensive to purchase, are easy to retrofit and are lightweight.

Disadvantages:
During operation, the side rotor dynamo is quite loud and has a rather low efficiency - so you have to pedal a little harder. Due to its position on the outside of the bike, the side-running dynamo is also susceptible to the weather.

The hub dynamo

This modern dynamo variant sits where the wheel hub is normally located in the front wheel. The hub dynamo also uses the rotational movement of the tyre to generate electricity with an electric magnetic field inside.

Advantages:
The hub dynamo is virtually silent during operation and is highly energy efficient. You will hardly notice the resistance when pedalling. Due to its protected position, the hub dynamo also rarely requires maintenance.

Disadvantages:
The hub dynamo is technically more demanding and is therefore not as easy to retrofit. It is somewhat heavier than other dynamo variants and also more expensive to purchase or repair.

In heavy traffic, the right lighting on a bicycle can be the difference between life and death. The Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO) therefore stipulate this:

• Rear lights must not flash.
• They must emit red light.
• The mounting height must be at least 250 mm.

Important: Only officially approved lighting may be used in road traffic. It's a good thing that all busch+müller rear lights are fully StVZO-compliant and bear the official K approval mark.

You can read all the other regulations for lights on bikes here.

A good rear light must not only be able to shine: It should fit you as well as the helmet on your head. That's why busch+müller offers a wide selection of rear lights with different functions, mounting types and designs. Here you are guaranteed to find your ideal rear light - and a few tips to make your choice even easier:

Mounting

There are three places where you can mount your dynamo rear light on your bike:

• Pannier rack
  This type of mounting scores points for increased stability and visibility, but requires a suitable pannier rack. (suitable e.g. our Toplight View).
• Seat or mudguard strut
  Provides good stability, but the visibility of the rear light is reduced due to the low position (suitable e.g. the [my:]) Two rear lights are required for strut mounting, one rear light on each strut.
• Mudguard
  Convinces with good stability and a central position. However, mounting on the mudguard is comparatively complex (e.g. the SECUZED is suitable).

Visibility and light distribution

For even more safety through visibility, it is worth taking a look at our models with LineTec, brake light or parking light function.

• LineTec
  Our patented light system with a special lens effect: instead of the conventional red light spot, rear lights with LineTec emit a wide, spatial band of light that makes it easier for others to judge the distance to you. This technology is installed in many models of the busch+müller Toplight series.
• BrakeTec
  Our models with BrakeTec function automatically light up brighter as soon as you brake - e.g. the Toplight Line Brake plus.
• Parking light
  Rear lights with parking light function continue to shine even after stopping. With models such as the Toplight Dart plus or the Toplight Secula plus, you are still clearly visible when you stop at traffic lights or park your bike.

Waterproofness

You never know when it will suddenly start raining. So unless you live in a desert, you should make sure that your dynamo rear light is waterproof. Fortunately, all our models are robust and can easily withstand everyday downpours.