SON delux | 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 environmentally unfriendly.

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 rule is: the greater the strain on the materials, the higher the quality must be!

The Hub Dynamo: SONdelux

The SONdelux is the first hub dynamo whose generator is specifically designed for modern LED headlights. Since December 2009, the SONdelux—in combination with the Edelux—has been StVZO-approved for all wheel sizes (16"–28").

Unlike a halogen bulb, an LED remains highly efficient even under partial load—that is, when operated below its rated power. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to design the dynamo to reach its full power output at the lowest possible riding speed. As a result, the SONdelux is smaller and lighter than a hub dynamo designed for halogen lighting. Power consumption during idle operation is reduced by 30–35% compared to the SON 28. However, the SONdelux matches the SON 28 in terms of ruggedness and the high-quality version.

The Rim: Mavic A 319 (black)

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. UB Contro—The brake flanges are re-machined to increase braking power and eliminate braking judder.

Weight: 595 g

Spokes / 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 sturdier. 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.

Wheels with SON hub dynamos

All front wheels are hand-laced and carefully tensioned and trued. This, combined with high spoke tension, guarantees the wheel’s exceptional 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 uniformly thick 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 preventing it from being subjected to 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.