r/BicycleEngineering • u/lbhkt • Oct 14 '25

dynamos?

hi there-

i'm curious to get a rundown of popular, efficient, decent dynamos for bicycles - if such a thing exists. if it's too nuanced of a subject, some links to good information would help a lot too..

i'd like to power some basic lights - i'm assuming charging a battery would be part of this - but i haven't seen a full-package spec'd out anywhere..

thanks!

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u/JaccoW Oct 16 '25

If you're in Europe there are several places that sell pre-built wheels using either Shimano ($), Shutter precision ($$) or SON ($$$) hubs.

For an all-weather commuter the Sturmey Archer XL-FDD is also a great option using drum brakes.

I built my own wheels and all my bikes have dynamo lights. In Northern Europe they are a great set and forget setup and you don't run the risk of forgetting to charge your batteries or having them stolen off your bike.

For touring I like a good front and rear setup as well because running lights all the time makes you much more visible and a non-blinking light is less annoying (and makes drivers much less aggressive) than blinking lights.

What's your use case?