Guide · Lights
Cutoff beams and StVZO: what an anti-glare bike light is
A cutoff light keeps its beam below a sharp top edge. StVZO is the German rule that requires that kind of headlight there, and it says nothing about US or Canadian rules.
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Picks that fit
- Magicshine EVO 1300 under-mount front light (cut-off low beam, USB-C)Check price on Amazon
- Ravemen PR1400 dual-beam front light (anti-glare road mode)Check price on Amazon
Short answer
A cutoff light puts its beam on the road below a sharp top edge, much like a car's low beam. StVZO is the German rule that requires that kind of headlight in Germany. It says nothing about what the US or Canada require, and a maker's "cut-off" wording is a description, not an approval.
Picks that fitAll picks and how to choose
- Magicshine EVO 1300 under-mount front light (cut-off low beam, USB-C)Check price on Amazon
- Ravemen PR1400 dual-beam front light (anti-glare road mode)Check price on Amazon
What a cutoff beam is
Most round-beam lights throw light in a cone. Part of that cone goes above the horizon, into the eyes of anyone coming the other way. A cutoff light shapes its beam pattern so that the top edge is flat and sharp, and the light goes onto the road ahead instead. That is a design idea, and makers and reviewers describe it in different ways, so it helps to keep three things apart:
- What the law in one country requires (StVZO, Germany only).
- What a maker says about its beam.
- What a named reviewer saw on the road.
StVZO section 67: the German rule
Germany's StVZO section 67 requires bicycles to have one or two forward-facing white low-beam headlights, aimed so they do not dazzle other road users.[1] The same section prohibits flashing bicycle headlights and flashing tail lights.[1]
Lights may be battery-powered or removable, but the lighting devices, apart from batteries and rechargeable energy stores, must meet the section 22a type-approval requirement.[1] In other words, the approval covers the light, not the battery.
An example of an approved light: Busch + Müller lists its IQ-X dynamo headlight at 100 lux low beam, StVZO approved, on a 6 V AC dynamo supply at 2.4 W.[2] That listing is for the dynamo IQ-X only. We could not read the manuals for the IQ-X E e-bike version or for the IQ-X's aiming and mounting instructions, so we state nothing about e-bike supply voltages or how to aim it.
What makers say about their beams
These are the makers' own descriptions:
- Magicshine describes the EVO 1700 as an underneath-mounted light with a cut-off low beam and rates it IPX6.[3] Its page does not claim StVZO approval.
- Ravemen describes the CR1000 as having a T-shaped beam and an anti-glare cutoff line.[4]
- Fenix rates the BC25R with a cut-off line at the top of the beam.[5] Fenix does not list StVZO approval.
A maker can call a beam "cut-off" or "anti-glare" without any approval behind it. Read those words as the maker's description.
What reviewers saw
Two reviewers reported a cutoff on the road:
- A road.cc reviewer described the EVO 1700's beam as bucket-shaped with a strongly defined cut-off line and narrow close to the bike.[6] The reviewer said the narrow near field made tight corners and junctions harder.
- A BikeRadar tester reported that the Ravemen CR1000's beam has a clearly defined cut-off at the top and sides, and noted the light is not StVZO compliant.[7]
The second point matters. A light can have a visible cutoff and still not be approved under StVZO.
| Light | Maker's description | Reviewer's observation | StVZO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Busch + Müller IQ-X | 100 lux low beam | None cited here | Approved, per the maker |
| Magicshine EVO 1700 | Cut-off low beam, under-mounted | Strongly defined cut-off, narrow near field (road.cc) | Not claimed by the maker |
| Ravemen CR1000 | T-shaped beam, anti-glare cutoff line | Clearly defined cut-off top and sides (BikeRadar) | Not compliant, per BikeRadar |
| Fenix BC25R | Cut-off line at the top | None cited here | Not listed by the maker |
How beams are compared
road.cc photographs each front light's beam on the same dark country lane with fixed camera settings (1 second at f/29, ISO 6400) so beam shape and spread can be compared.[8] road.cc says those photos are directly comparable only within the same year's test, because camera placement and road conditions change from year to year.[8]
So, is a cutoff light bright enough for an unlit road? We found no measurement that settles it in general. Look at one reviewer's beam photos from a single year, then check the light's output in the mode you plan to use.
Choosing a cutoff-style light
Both lights below are different models from the ones above, so none of the figures or observations on this page carry over to them. Read each maker's page for its beam and ratings. If you buy a Magicshine light on Amazon in the US, Magicshine's own distributors page links to its Amazon US storefront.[9]
Picks that fit2 products
Magicshine EVO 1300: the front light itself, an under-mounted design that hangs below an out-front mount; not the EVO 1700 discussed above.
More on choosing
Ravemen PR1400: the version with the wired remote and bar mount; not the CR1000. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or the brand.
Under-bar front light with runtime by beam mode
Magicshine EVO 1300 under-mount front light (cut-off low beam, USB-C)
Ravemen PR1400 dual-beam front light (anti-glare road mode)
Next
Questions
What is an StVZO bike light?
A light approved under Germany's road-vehicle rules. StVZO section 67 requires low-beam headlights aimed so they do not dazzle other road users, and the lighting devices must meet a type-approval requirement.[1]
Do I need an StVZO light in the US or Canada?
StVZO is a German rule and says nothing about US or Canadian requirements. State and provincial rules set what you need where you ride; see our guide to bike light and reflector rules.[1]
Is a cutoff light bright enough for unlit roads?
We found no measurement that settles it for every light. Compare beam photos taken on one reviewer's fixed setup in the same year, and check the light's output in the mode you will use.[8]
Can a flashing headlight be StVZO approved?
No. StVZO section 67 prohibits flashing bicycle headlights and flashing tail lights.[1]
If a maker says its light has a cutoff, is it StVZO approved?
Not necessarily. A BikeRadar tester saw a clearly defined cutoff on the Ravemen CR1000 and noted it is not StVZO compliant. Approval is a separate claim the maker has to state.[7]