Hub dynamos

[Steam Pig]

After much deliberation I've decided to buy a Surly Disc Trucker, which as an upgrade I can have a hub dynamo fitted, I think for around £130. My question is, are hub dynamos noisey? My wife says she has seen clips on You Tube of people saying they are OK but the noise tends to annoy while cycling.
Any comments welcome

 

[ianrauk]

I used to run a Son Deluxe and although there is the tiniest amount fo noise, not enough to notice when riding.

 

[mcshroom]

I have a couple Shimano ones, Neither the cheap N20, nor the more expensive N72 make any noise that I can detect over the the normal road buzz and tyre sounds. Also the drag is barely detectable when actually riding.

 

[Steam Pig]

Is it a case of "you get what you pay for" the more expensive the quieter and more efficient it will be.
I don't do much night riding, when I do I have to plan ahead to make sure I have recharged the batteries.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Is it a case of "you get what you pay for" the more expensive the quieter and more efficient it will be.
I don't do much night riding, when I do I have to plan ahead to make sure I have recharged the batteries.

I spent hours deliberating over this one and in the end bought a SON simply for the bling to match my new wheelset.
My S/H Brompton came SON equiped too.
I'd never go back to battery lighting unless on a very lightweight build. Dynamo is fit-and-forget and the decent B+M lamps are amazing.
At a certain speed there is a very slight buzz, but as @ianrauk states it's insignificant. The drag factor is also tiny, less than a few psi tyre pressure difference. At very low speed you get some flicker too.

From what I read the top Shimano dynamo which can be had at a silly cheap price is very good, has Ultegra bearings and needs no attention. Shutter P:recision is also highly rated and SON is probably the best in terms of performance and longevity, but probably not enough to justify the price premium over the Shimano. You can buy nearly 3 Shimano for 1 SON.
http://road.cc/content/review/33808-shimano-dh-3n80-hub-dynamo
Dynohubs all the way for me.

 

[Dan B]

What they all said. I have the SP and no noise I can hear over the rattle of the chain. I sometimes get a slightly odd vibrating feel at about 22mph, but only noticed it only on one particuar stretch of road so I suspect it's surface-related as well.

For a daily commuting bike, it's just wonderful never having to worry about whether you remembered to charge the batteries

 

[Steam Pig]

Thanks for all the input guys, this is probably a stupid question but, is the hub still Q/R and what happens to the wire connection?

 

[Soltydog]

Thanks for all the input guys, this is probably a stupid question but, is the hub still Q/R and what happens to the wire connection?

Yes, still QR. There should be a plug that connects/disconnects to the hub

Edit - Check the actual one you are getting as some have a fixed axle, but they can be QR too

 

[Steam Pig]

This is looking more and more positive, I've found some info from the shops website,
SP PD8 dynamo hub
CYO IQ Senso front
and rack mount rear light

 

[shouldbeinbed]

I get more noise from the front mudguard than the dynamo.

Mine is push on QR connector for the wiring too, never had a moment problem with water, crud etc ingress in several winters and plenty of wet rides.

 

[Dan B]

This is looking more and more positive, I've found some info from the shops website,
SP PD8 dynamo hub
CYO IQ Senso front
and rack mount rear light

Sounds very similar to mine, though I have the PV8 not the PD8. There are a variety of lights called "IQ Senso", you may want to do a bit of googling aroun to find out which one exactly you're being offered

 

[palinurus]

I've got a cheapish Shimano one- a 3N72 (I think, it's in the shop having a new wheel built around it- now done several years of commuting and has outlasted the original rim). It doesn't make any noise you can hear above the noise of the tyres.

Once, just once, it started vibrating and making a humming noise. I tightened the QR up a touch and it stopped.

 

[Davidc]

I have a cheap Shimano (£20 about 10 years ago) on one bike and a more expensive 3N72 (bought for £40)on the other.

My cheap one has now done about 30,000 miles, is on its 3rd rim, and the only maintenance has been to slightly adjust the cones last time it had a rim transplant.

One is QR, t'other isn't (both available).
Connection is via a small connector which pulls off with no damage if forgotten when removing the wheel

No noise discernible from either.

The price you're being charged is silly - just get a Shimano one.

I totally agree with Fab Foodie, but I do often run battery lights in tandem with the dynamo ones when I know I'm going to be out in real darkness.

 

[andrew_s]

This is looking more and more positive, I've found some info from the shops website,
SP PD8 dynamo hub
CYO IQ Senso front
and rack mount rear light

That's fine,
There's a "Premium" IQ2 version of the Cyo that's usefully brighter, and more significantly, has a considerably wider beam. Worth getting if the option is available.

Note that dynamo hubs feel stiff and notchy if fiddled with off the bike. This is normal.

 

[MichaelW2]

hub dynamos are fab, just fit and forget lighting. My Ultegra-grade Shimano one is quiet, smooth and reliable.
The one and only downside of Shimano hub dynamos is the issue of bearing maintenance. There are no official instructions. The online version from a bike shop in Texas is now defunct. You can strip the cup and cone bearings but the electrical connector is a thin ribbon of copper which runs through a slot in the axle. It is really easy to rotate something at the wrong time and sever the ribbon, and it is very fiddly to bodge a repair.
Few bike shops will open them, even my high-end LBS, who tell me not to mess with it. 6 years later, it is still running.
SON are maintainable. Not sure about the others