I've got lots of miles on a Shimano 3n72, limited experience with Kasai RB (150 miles?), and hands on but no riding experience with SON 28 (which is on my partner's bike). I've also used a Sturmey Archer drum brake/dynamo hub.
My hot take is that all of them do their job great: powering really nice lights and freeing me from thinking about charging lights or bringing batteries. The difference between dynamo hub and no dynamo hub is miles wider than the difference between the three dynos I've used. Some differences I've noticed include: My totally untested, purely self-validating impression is that the Kasai has less drag than the Shimano when the lights are off and on. But is that real? I don't honestly know. I couldn't say what the difference is with the SON, because I haven't ridden it. But people who test these things tell me the SON has measurably less drag. I believe them. I also don't believe my Shimano dynamo hub is the thing slowing me down! But I don't ride brevets. The SON costs twice as much as the Kasai, and the Kasai and Shimano were nearly equivalent in cost. I recently chose to save $150 and get a Kasai because I wanted to spend that money on lights and other parts. And making that decision helped me buy other budget parts for the wheel build (Sun CR18). I just wouldn't feel right lacing a SON to a CR18. Others have rightly pointed out that the Kasai/Shutter flange spacing seems needlessly narrow. I suppose only time will tell if that will be a problem. For my 170 pound self who tends to pack light-ish on camping trips and doesn't ride rough trails, I doubt it. If I was a heavier rider carrying lots of gear, I might spring for the SON. The SON is, to my eye, the prettiest one to look at. For me, riding in a big city, that seemed like a liability rather than an asset. But I'm running a Deore rear hub and Deore v brakes and used parts from other builds. If I was running a white industries rear hub and Paul V brakes and rarely locked up on the street, I might think differently. For the record: I think the Kasai if a very handsome hub. Just not as jewel-like as the SON. Really, I don't think you can go wrong with all the modern dyno hubs! If money's no object, it seems like you can't go wrong with the SON. The Kasai is really nice. The Shimano works great too. On Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 6:52:47 PM UTC-5 maxcr wrote: > Another shout out for the Shutter Precision which is what James at Analog > spec'd for my partner's Susie as a lower cost alternative to a SON28 - it's > been rock solid for her so far, but tbh it's seen light use. > Max > On Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 6:56:16 PM UTC-4 J J wrote: > >> This is an enlightening and timely discussion about dynamos, as I'm >> shopping for one myself. Thank you. >> >> Has anyone had experience with Velocity's dynamo hubs >> <https://www.velocityusa.com/product/hubs/dynamo-hubs>? I came across >> them haphazardly. I also wonder about Velocity's rear hubs >> <https://www.velocityusa.com/product/hubs/atb-rear-hub>. >> >> Best wishes. >> >> On Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 2:32:59 PM UTC-4 Wesley wrote: >> >>> On "enjoy wheel building": >>> One benefit of disc brakes is that I can easily build my own wheels and >>> have good braking performance. Rim brakes are a bit more particular about >>> the wheel being true and round. >>> -W >>> >>> On Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 10:57:42 AM UTC-7 Tom M wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> This may or may not influence your decision, but The Pro's Closet has >>>> several SP dynamo Exposure Lights combinations for sale: >>>> https://www.theproscloset.com/pages/search-results-page?q=exposure%20lights%20revo%20dynamo. >>>> >>>> I'm a fan of Exposure lights, so I went with this combination for several >>>> wheel sets I built up. I also have a SON wheel for my gravel bike. I felt >>>> some resistance with the SON initially, but it quickly went away. With the >>>> SP, I definitely feel drag or whatever through the handlebars, but can't >>>> say whether if affects my speed. I don't know if that's an anomaly with >>>> that particular dynamo because I don't have enough miles on the other SP >>>> wheels to say. As far as rims go, the gravel bike got Velocity Blunt SS in >>>> 650b; the road bike got a Pacenti Brevit, also in 650b. I use an exposure >>>> rear light, which plugs into the front light; it will stay lit for some >>>> time after a stop, which is a nice benefit. >>>> >>>> Enjoy wheel building. >>>> >>>> Take care, >>>> Tom Milani >>>> Alexandria, VA >>>> >>>> On Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 12:32:34 PM UTC-4 ttoshi wrote: >>>> >>>>> I agree with all that has been said so far. I have a Shimano dynohub, >>>>> an SP dyno and an SON. The Shimano is known to have slightly more drag >>>>> than the SON and the SP is pretty close to the SON. I have been commuting >>>>> on my Shimano for years (and previously on the SP for years on another >>>>> bike) with no problems, but it doesn't get cold in CA and it doesn't rain >>>>> that much. I would go with the SON for weather-related reasons (as >>>>> mentioned earlier) and style-related--it looks nicer, but I don't think >>>>> sturdiness of wheel or reliability is a major concern (unless you are >>>>> really hard on your wheels), as all of these hubs have been ridden for >>>>> thousands of miles and I have not heard of any spoke/hub breaks or other >>>>> issues from any of the brands. >>>>> >>>>> The only other reason for the SON that I can think of is if you are >>>>> riding at your limit or where a few extra minutes and slightly less >>>>> effort >>>>> means getting more rest on a long ride (e.g. a brevet), then that would >>>>> be >>>>> worth it for me (I have one on my rando bike--the extra bling doesn't >>>>> hurt >>>>> too :-). >>>>> >>>>> Toshi in Oakland, CA >>>>> >>>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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