Dynamo hubs

That's worth knowing, and very very reasonable.

I was starting to lean towards the shimano XT hub as it's user serviceable. I fired an email over to SPA cycles about it (they list the 1.5w version on the website and I'm after the 3) and got this response, which has some useful info:

(In answer to my question 'do you stock the 3w XT hub')

"No we don't, but should be able to get one in to order. It's charging devices that must have 3w, modern LED lights only need 1.5w, which lets the hub run much freer.

Shimano dynohubs were proven to be good in the past, with few failures. What failures we had were due to the cones wearing out. Only one side was replaceable, despite the hubs being serviceable which SON and SP are not. Can't comment on the durability of current Shimano dynohubs since we've only sold a small anount in comparason to SP and SON. I would say we've had a 1% failure rate with SP, but some of these have been after the 2 year warranty, but we have nevertheless underwrote the warranty.

SP hubs should last for 20,000km+ and guaranteed for 2 years. SON for 50.000km plus and guaranteed 5yrs.

For what it's worth, I've got a Kinlin XR26T built into a XT 785 (1.5w) centrelock on my bike, because I think it rolls much easier than any other dynohub I noticed and commented on by the wheelbuilders), except possibly the SON Deluxe. I could've had either, but like the idea that the XT is servicable and I only use headlights.

We can bulid one up on the Kinlin and the cost would be £155 with XT or PD hubs.

Let me know what you think?

Kind regards,

John."