Front hub dynamo for less than £100 - ideas?

rodgers73
rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
edited October 2013 in Road buying advice
I'm thinking of getting a front wheel with a dynamo hub built up by a local wheelbuilder. So, my starting point is the hub itself. I'm not looking to spend loads on my first one so less than £100 would be fine.

I want it to be able to power a good strength light for overnight rides and maybe using it for recharging phones etc when touring. The former use is the most important though.

Comments

  • rubertoe
    rubertoe Posts: 3,994
    I suppose Rose is a good a place as any to start looking.

    http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/search/find/ ... ub+dynamos
    "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."

    PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
    B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills
  • marcusjb
    marcusjb Posts: 2,412
    A year or so ago, there was a big test in the CTC mag.

    The higher end Shimano units like the 3N80 were not a million miles off the efficiency and drag of the Schmidts at twice the price.

    The shimano units are not as serviceable (either by user or dealer) as the Schmidts (which are not user serviceable, but need to go back to Schmidt every 50000km).

    The new kid on the block is the SP - getting favourable reviews and performed well in the tests (though not as good as a Schmidt or shimano). I have heard of some issues with water ingress, but those may have been solved by now. They haven't been around long enough to know how good lifespan is.

    My take on it is, Schmidt if you can afford it, but the Shimanos are only slightly less efficient and are considerably cheaper. Certainly in Audax world, Schmidt are dominant due to the huge service intervals.
  • rodgers73
    rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
    Thanks for that. I think my budget means Shimano will have to be my choice here. The 3N80 is on sale at Evans for £88 at the minute.

    Any thoughts on what sort of light to pair with it? Busch and Muller seem to be the make that's most prevalent but as I'm used to battery powered lights that and most of the other names mean little to me.
  • jibberjim
    jibberjim Posts: 2,810
    rodgers73 wrote:
    Thanks for that. I think my budget means Shimano will have to be my choice here. The 3N80 is on sale at Evans for £88 at the minute.

    you can get it for 55 quid
    http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k622/a ... ilver.html

    For me the difference between 55 and ~160 is the 3N80 is more than worth it, neither are effectively serviceable, and I won't ever want to leave a 250 quid wheelset locked up at night, which would rule out using the SON for actual useful night rides to the pub etc.

    I like the
    http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k1004/ ... light.html
    (or the plus model as it'll give you a USB charger if that would be useful to you)
    and
    http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k1005/ ... light.html
    Jibbering Sports Stuff: http://jibbering.com/sports/
  • rodgers73
    rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
    Good info. That's an odd looking light!

    My light rating skills are a bit weak - would 40 lux light up an unlit road in the middle of nowhere effectively? Or is that more of an urban commuter's "don't run me over please" light??
  • MichaelW
    MichaelW Posts: 2,164
    [*]All bicycle dynamos output 3 watts at 6 volts.
    I have used the B&M IQ fly and 40lux from the bicycle-specific reflector is more than enough for any dark country lane.
    Many more powerful battery-powered headlamps use generic reflectors that spread light to the sides or up where it does little good.

    Maintenance of Shimano dynohubs is an issue. I don't know of any shop that will attempt the procedure. They are basic cup and cone like any other Shimano hub but there is a risk that you can break the aluminium ribbon connector that sits in a slot in the axle. The procedure is not documented by Shimano tech docs and there is no illustrated online guide.
    It is just about possible to solder the ribbon once.
    My hub is about 4 years old and never opened.

    Has anyone in Bikeradarland ever cracked open a Shimano dynohub?
  • marcusjb
    marcusjb Posts: 2,412
    Big B&M fan here (again probably the most common light in Audax due to exceptional reliability).

    The Cyo is the standard - caution, this has just been updated with more Lux - so make sure you look for the newest models. Lots of people will say 'well light XYZ is better because it is more powerful' - but the real beauty of B&M is that their reflector designs put the light where it's useful - on the road! Very good beam shapes.

    The new Luxos is something else - I have run a Luxos this season and it's exceptional.

    There is also a smaller version of the Luxos - the IQ Eyc - I haven't seen this yet - it is very new. But looks like it should outperform a Cyo.

    Lots of beam pattern photos here:

    http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/headlights.asp
  • marcusjb
    marcusjb Posts: 2,412
    On the subject of the hubs and budget - I would have no problem at all riding a Shimano 3N80, I know plenty of people who do without issues. Mere mortals wouldn't notice the tiny extra drag (the CTC mag made it equivalent to something like climbing less than an extra few feet every mile, so really nothing at all(I really can't remember the number - but it was tiny in reality)).

    At the price you can get them for, they are a real bargain.

    I may be about to build one up for the commuting fixed, because as jibberjim said, I wouldn't like to leave a £250 wheel with a SON on the commuter.

    I have 2 SON hubs and they have never ever given me a moments worry. Even for an Audaxer, 50000km is a long time between servicing! But they are very £££
  • DrLex
    DrLex Posts: 2,142
    rodgers73 wrote:
    Good info. That's an odd looking light!

    My light rating skills are a bit weak - would 40 lux light up an unlit road in the middle of nowhere effectively? Or is that more of an urban commuter's "don't run me over please" light??

    I have the Philip SafeRide dynamo light,which is conservatively rated at 60 lux and it is just the right side of acceptable for unlit country commuting for my old-ish eyes (fifth decade of use). I'd recommend at least 60 - I run the 80 lux, battery-powered version on my other bikes, along with a flasher.

    Rosebikes also have the Shimano DH3N80 built to a Mavic hub for 75E - even with 9E postage to make around £71, that's got to be tempting! Order the lights as well, and compare the total to that you'd be charged from U.K. suppliers.
    Location: ciderspace
  • rodgers73
    rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
    Well, looks like my budget suits the Shimano dynamo and the B&M Cyo - seems to tick all the boxes of effectiveness and low cost. Just need to see how much the wheel builder wants for making it up for me. The website haven't got any in stock of the made up version.
  • rodgers73
    rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
    Hmm, probably last question - 32 or 36 hole hub?
  • jibberjim
    jibberjim Posts: 2,810
    rodgers73 wrote:
    Well, looks like my budget suits the Shimano dynamo and the B&M Cyo - seems to tick all the boxes of effectiveness and low cost. Just need to see how much the wheel builder wants for making it up for me. The website haven't got any in stock of the made up version.

    Rose build to order, they we're pretty quick when I got wheels from them.
    Jibbering Sports Stuff: http://jibbering.com/sports/
  • marcusjb
    marcusjb Posts: 2,412
    What weight are you, and is the intended purpose to go on a bike with no load or a fully loaded tourer?

    I've always gone with more is better for distance cycling as breaking a spoke on a 36 hole is less likely and causes less issues than a wheel with less spokes. But I have recently been re-evaluating that and have ridden this season on a 28 hole Schmidt. I have broken 1 spoke in my life (on a highly unsuitable wheel for camping touring......). I weigh less than 60Kg though.
  • rodgers73
    rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
    76kg/12st so not exactly huge. I've been riding 3 years and have never had one break. Reading forums though it seems like knowing how to fix one is an essential skill!

    I'm planning a night ride in November so my immediate usage will be for that. Longer term I guess more of that sort of ride plus some fairly light touring (in terms of weight carried).