Cycling UK Forum

Hi all,

I'm looking for some advice on a dynamo hub and light set budget around 200 pounds total. I have no clue to start does anyone have any recommendations? I know about SON dynamos but they are too expensive. I have heard SP make decent ones?

I have this bike -
https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/bike ... 0/p/24000/

It has 6 hole disc and 36 spoke wheels. Ideally I'd like lights that attach at front of front rack and rear of rear so they won't be blocked by any luggage on top of the racks if that make sense! If such lights exist.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Front lights - I have two Edulux (versions 1 & 2) a B&M IQ-X and until recently a Supernova E3, the build quality of the Edulux and Supernova is superior but you might not have much left over for the hub, the light output of the IQ-X is at least a match for the better Edulux and considerably better than the other two. It would be my choice for your budget. The middle section of the bracket can be removed which can make fitting in awkward places easier.
https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/b-m-iq-x-le ... ght-837399
I only have one bike with a dynamo rear, it's an impressive Phillips Saferide, no longer made by Phillips, I think another firm took over the design but I've forgotten who.

I have dynamos from SON, SP and Shimano. Again the quality of the SON shows, but would blow the budget. The SP and Shimano work fine, but I've read several reports of SP failures. I have a mid range Shimano LX hub, but can only see it in centrelock, which is what I wanted. I think there's other Shimano models around the same price and quality, I paid £110 including the wheel from Rose. Just be aware that some Shimano hubs are 1.5w though the norm is 3w. I understand this doesn't make much difference if you only use lights and don't travel much at low speed, so not good for off road or charging.
With occasional exceptions, buying from Germany usually gets the best price and the usual suspects, Rose, Bike24, Bike-Discount... are used to UK orders.

Nice looking bike BTW

If you can find the shimano hub dyno already build into a wheel that’s your best bet. (SON is nicer and more expensive)

Mine is similar to this and I have these lights for the last 2 years. No issues plug and play. For your front rack you might prefer a different front light mount. SJS cycles has a great range of those on the shelf.

https://www.rosebikes.com/rose-hybrid-f ... mo-2681578

Front:
https://www.bike24.com/p267804.html

Rear:
https://www.bike24.com/p225270.html

Edit: nice bike!
Edit again: 36spoke rim

I'd ask if you want enough light to see where you're going or just to be noticed first. The 'be seen' lights tend to be fairly cheap but if you need a light with some muscle to see where you're going, then the IQ-X PH mentioned above would be my choice. I run an older Premium Plus something or other from B&M which puts out 80lux which is just about good enough for pitch black riding. Other cyclists tell me its really bright.
I run a B&M Topline on the rear which my fiancee tells me is the brightest rear light she's ever seen on a bike.
As for hubs...
PH again is right. The SP's have had quite a few reports of premature bearing failure and apparently aren't user serviceable. However, I have actually seen a YouTube video where some chap did actually replace his bearings. I'm running an SP PD-8 or PV-8 (can't remember) myself atm but it's only a month old so the jury is still out on that. It is very light and smooth though. It runs on cartridge bearings.
I've previously had a Shimano DH-3N72 (discontinued and non disc) that ran for over a year through all sorts of abuse and had no issues. I then ran an XT 1.5w dynohub under the same conditions and the bearings worked loose. Easily tightened again. I understand that general servicing (regreasing and adjusting bearings) is possible on Shimano hubs but that actually replacing them is particularly difficult and likely royally screws them up.
I never noticed the lights being any less powerful under the 1.5w hub even at 5mph but charging things was a no go at any speed.
I can't think of any logical reason as to why any sane person would deliberately go for a 1.5w hub over a 3w. Some say they're smoother and I did notice it myself but it was marginal at best. Definitely not worth the loss in power available.

I have an SP been running it for 3 years no problems 16k miles
And a shimno which is 9 years and 50k again no problem
Lights B&M IQ-X and Cyo 60 both great lights give grat coverage.
If your buying on the internet then buy from Germany Dynohubs and lights are considered the norm so are much cheaper than here Rose bikes has an English website
https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/search?q=Dynamo
they do build wheels on request wuth your own choice of Hub etc

Have you rejected battery lights? and why? A much cheaper and easier option since you have disc brakes?

Do you intend to do a lot of riding in the dark? touring? Even if you go for a dyno you have to ask your self do you want to have the dyno run front and rear? or just the front ( the easiest option). If both you will then have to run power cables the length of the frame which can be messy. if just the front then you need a battery lamp for the rear?

It might be worth looking at the various offerings from Taylor Wheels in addition to the other German webshops.

mynameisgold wrote:Ideally I'd like lights that attach at front of front rack and rear of rear so they won't be blocked by any luggage on top of the racks

For the rear measure the bolt spacing on your rear rack. There are two standard spacings: 50mm and 80mm, of which 50mm is probably more common. Buy a Busch and Mueller rear light with the appropriate spacing - I would get the Toplight Line Plus. It's likely that you would get it more cheaply from a German webshop providing you are buying other items, e.g. a Busch and Mueller front light and/or wheels, to defray the higher postage cost.

For the front SJS probably have the biggest choice of brackets.

PH wrote:I only have one bike with a dynamo rear, it's an impressive Phillips Saferide, no longer made by Phillips, I think another firm took over the design but I've forgotten who.

The answer was Spanninga - I've just ordered one for another bike.
https://www.velovitality.co.uk/products ... namo-light

The point of dynamo rather than battery is...
No charging
No having to take the light off when you park the bike
No having to decide in the morning whether a light will be needed later.
No runtime anxiety.
More light, unless you run the battery light on full all the time (see runtime)
More reliability.

I have been using SON hubs since they first came out, with Edelux lights since they came out (1998 and 2008, by memory).
The only problems I've had were a couple of rear light failures, neither of which extended as far as not giving adequate light. That's despite provocation to the tune of 100m running submerged in a flood.

On a £200 budget, I'd go for one of the better Shimano hubs (T785?), a B+M IQ-X, and either a Secula or Toplight Line according to rack or mudguard fitting
(I build my own wheels, so that may bring it over budget for the OP)

We have a mix of SONs and Shimanos ion various bikes. All are good.

Just a point to remember the cost of the wheel build unless you're fully set up to DIY

My dynamo system hasn't done the miles or the years that other contributors' systems have, but I'm extremely happy with it so far. I bought a front wheel from Taylor Wheels (via ebay) with a Shimano DH-3N72 hub and I bought a B+M Toplight View Brake Plus dynamo back light and B+M Lumotec IQ Cyo Premium T senso plus front headlamp both from Rose bikes back in 2015. The wheel cost me £68 and the lights cost me £64 both including shipping.

Thanks all.

Extremely helpful and informative. I'll get to looking into all these options.

Thanks again.