No talk of high-end bike lights would be complete without mentioning Germany’s Supernova and Lupine, and these two high-flyers were once again on full beam at EUROBIKE 2016: Beacons of connectivity, consumer transparency and clever integration, we’ve compiled a list of all you need to know for their range of e-bike illumination in 2017.
Supernova M99 Pro
The M99 light isn’t making its first entrance onto the scene, but it was formerly only available in its most basic forms for end consumers as the Pure and Pure+, with the top-of-the-range Pro exclusively reserved for complete bikes from leading brands. This exclusivity is now over though, and everyone can revel in the 1,600 lumens of the Pro’s strong high beam. The Pro shares a number of features with the Pure+, such as the same low, dipped beam with 1,100 lumens and the powerful daylight-riding beam. However, the main attribute with regards to distinguishing the Pro is its series of communication interfaces: it automatically recognizes the motor; can work with all the current systems; and be linked to certain brake levers to provide a rear braking light. Naturally, the M99 Pro adheres to road traffic standards. There are a range of mounts and adaptors available, including a direct mount on the Bosch display.
The most engaging piece of newness from Supernova has to be its high beam sensory button that now partners with the M99 Pro. A tiny button that lets you switch between the low and high beam, it has been cleverly designed with great compatibility for various bar set-ups: for MAGURA MT brake users, you just switch the brake lever bracket with the Supernova MT button and you’ll barely notice its presence. If you use other brakes, you’ll get a bracket included with delivery of the M99 that’ll fit nicely on your bars.
Lupine SL
Striving in a similar fashion for bright lights, Lupine have launched the e-bike-specific SL for the 2017 season that is directly linked to the motor. Size was a key consideration during development, aiming to keep the headlight as compact as possible so that it doesn’t look out of place with the display or attract too much attention – naturally, Lupine were adamant that these design constraints could come at no cost to performance. The resulting product is the meticulously designed SL boasting an ultra complex interior based on two layered aspherical lenses.
There’s a sensor that automatically switches between day and nighttime riding (900 lumens), plus a button on the underside that lets the rider do the same job. Coming in two versions, there’s the SL B for direct mount on Bosch displays and the SL S for Shimano displays. The Lupine SL is also certified as road-worthy.
For more information head to lupine.lighting and supernova-lights.com
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Words: Photos: Noah Haxel, Moritz Dittmar
