Looking to change the wheels on my Kona rove for some sonder dynamo ones purely for the extra flexibility of being able to charge things on the go, just wondering if anyone has any feedback on these as they seem a very good price for 650 wheels im only running 8 speed claris groupset for now so would like scope to upgrade at a later date.

There's a recent thread—a 'postman's been' one perhaps?—with some recent poor experience of them, but I've a feeling that it's luck of the draw with many of these builds. Your components are gonna be largely the same at these lower price points and so it just depends on how well they've been laced together.

I received some of their Alpha 'UK built' wheels on a brand new bike, and I wouldn't have fit them to a wheelbarrow. Thankfully I got a refund

https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m20b0s133p0 ... ubs-Dynamo

Good deals on SP dynamo hubs. The Kasai ones work well as well, and are serviceable. Spa do a good wheel building service if you don't want to DIY. Probably end up being dearer than the Sonder ones but will be better...

Thanks for the feedback I also spoke to my LBS and he's pretty honest and open and advised it's pot luck with them no consistency and commonly in for bearing replacements like they wear excessively

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2025 2:08 pm https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m20b0s133p0 ... ubs-Dynamo

Good deals on SP dynamo hubs. The Kasai ones work well as well, and are serviceable. Spa do a good wheel building service if you don't want to DIY. Probably end up being dearer than the Sonder ones but will be better...

.Aren't SP.dynamos notoriously fragile?

BridlewayBimbler wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 7:35 pm

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2025 2:08 pm https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m20b0s133p0 ... ubs-Dynamo

Good deals on SP dynamo hubs. The Kasai ones work well as well, and are serviceable. Spa do a good wheel building service if you don't want to DIY. Probably end up being dearer than the Sonder ones but will be better...

.Aren't SP.dynamos notoriously fragile?

People have had a range of experiences with some duff bearings giving trouble, the problem being that taking them apart is a PIA as you have to strip the hub out the wheel to split the body to get at the bearings. They did seem to get better and mine has been fine, although I rebuilt it after a couple of years of use. For choice I'd get another Kasai one as you can get at the bearings without stripping the wheel.

I had Sonder wheels on a Santiago a few years ago, they were not good, most of the spoke both front and rear started to pull through the rims, I ended up getting some wheels built at SJS cycles

Adding to this..

After sending mine back, I used the refund to buy some Hunt Carbon Gravel 35s. First ride yesterday and the ratchet mechanism in the freehub kept sticking, completely losing engagement and thus, not being able to pedal.

I'm starting to think this bike is cursed

Johnallan wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 2:06 pm Adding to this..

After sending mine back, I used the refund to buy some Hunt Carbon Gravel 35s. First ride yesterday and the ratchet mechanism in the freehub kept sticking, completely losing engagement and thus, not being able to pedal.

I'm starting to think this bike is cursed

Oh I'm sure we could have found as many people to slag off Hunt wheels if only you'd asked first: My Trail Wides were awfully made, but in fairness have been good and solid post-tweaking.

I've experienced the spoke-hole cracks on the aluminium rims, but figured that shouldn't be an issue with carbon (?), but the 2 sets of Hunt hubs I've previously owned have been fine. However, the new ones are ratchet instead of pawls, and appear to not be fine. Should've known better to be honest.

My hunt all road wheels have been fine in 4 years of hard use

I’ve got a pair of the love mud branded wheels sonder used to sell (27.5 normal mtb width) which I think predate their uk made shenanigans in a sonder evol . They are cheap wheels and rebranded stans hubs in the ones I’ve had but to their credit they’ve been fine. Not had any of their newer ones.