SON 28 | Mavic A 319 - Front Wheel - Hub Dynamo - 28" | Clincher - QR

Hub dynamos have become so widespread that their advantages over other types of power generation on bikes no longer need to be explained. Even road bike and mountain bike riders are increasingly opting for these lighting systems—which are becoming lighter and brighter—and are setting aside battery-powered lights, which require a lot of maintenance and are harmful to the environment. But a low-quality hub dynamo serves no purpose: it adds extra weight and draws power even when the bike is at a standstill. And if it breaks, repairs can be costly. That’s why the higher the demands placed on the material due to wear and tear, the higher the quality must be!

The Hub Dynamo: SON 28

The SON 28 is a hub dynamo universally approved for all wheel sizes from 16" to 29". It reaches its rated output on a 28" wheel at approximately 16 km/h. This makes it ideal when extra light is needed during slow rides or when other devices need to be powered or their rechargeable batteries charged. The new SON 28 features optimized flange and bearing clearances in the standard version (non-disc). Disc versions are available with 6-bolt and Centerlock brake rotor mounts. Compared to the classic SON 28, no-load losses have been reduced by approximately 15% and the weight has been reduced to 440 g.

The Rim: Mavic A 319

A mid-range all-road rim. Thanks to high-quality 6106 aluminum and double spoke eyelets, this 25 mm-wide rim is perfectly designed for modern trekking and touring bikes. It is sturdy and durable—suitable for tires up to 50 mm wide. The brake flanges have been redesigned to increase braking power and eliminate brake judder.

Spoke nipples: Sapim Race / Polyax

The Sapim Race is a lightweight and sturdy butted spoke suitable for a wide range of applications. Butted spokes from Sapim offer two key advantages: they are lighter yet more rigid. A special cold-forging process preserves the material’s linear molecular structure and increases the strength of the thinner middle section by at least 48%. The Sapim Race has a diameter of 2 mm at each end and 1.8 mm in the middle section. Brass nipples are very robust and offer high stability. Standard brass nipples are universally compatible. Spoke thread Ø 2.0 mm. Nickel-plated, square type, suitable for both machine-based and manual wheel building. Weight per 12 mm nipple: 0.97 g.

Wheels with SON hub dynamos

All front wheels are laced by hand and carefully tensioned and trued. This, combined with high spoke tension, guarantees the wheel’s high stability and durability. For 26- and 28-inch wheels, SON always uses Sapim Race stainless steel spokes with brass nipples. The spokes, which are thinner in the middle, are more elastic, so the load is distributed across more adjacent spokes than with spokes that are smooth throughout. The spokes are triple-crossed, and the wheels are pressed down several times during tensioning. The hub flange is shaped so that the spoke curve fits perfectly, thus avoiding unnecessary additional stress. This eliminates the need to tap the spoke heads or insert brass washers. As a general rule, the heavier the rim, the more durable the wheel. A sturdy rim, high-quality spokes tensioned evenly and firmly, and an experienced hand during assembly are what make for a highly durable wheel—not necessarily a high number of spokes.