n4zou

I've noticed lots of new in the box NOVATECH dynamo hubs listed on Ebay (yes I know, I hate them too but….) for cheap. There's one ending in about an hour for about $35 with no bids so it's going to show up again. I know it not as nice as the dynamo hubs available here but it wont make my wallet bleed red for a while and it's got to be better than the bottle dynamo I'm running now! I was just wondering if anyone has had problems purchasing bike parts from the UK and getting them here without import duty problems and that sort of thing. I'd hate to end up spending more on shipping/import duty charges and end up spending as much as a quality hub dynamo hub here in the USA. Please advice!

markf

Peter White Cycles still shows the cheap Shimano Nexus dynamo hub on their website, $45 for bolt-on hub and $55 for a quick-release hub. Harris Cyclery/Sheldon Brown and Peter White Cycles both list the higher quality Shimano 3N-71 dynamo hub for about $90. Compare shipping from the UK ($$$) and figure that you'll have to get a rim, spokes, etc., from somewhere, and get a wheel built from all those parts, and all of a sudden that cheap dynamo hub from the UK looks like less of a bargain, IMO.

If you want a cheap upgrade to your current system, consider a better quality bottle generator or a high quality battery/LED set-up like the Cateye EL530 ($60 at REI). Hub generators are great, but it strikes me as a little silly to buy a new rim, spokes, etc. and combine them with a cheap POS dynamo hub when you could pay a touch more and combine the new rim & spokes with a decent quality dynamo hub.

Allen

I bought my first Rohloff from a shop in Scotland. You will receive a duty charge after it reaches the US.
I don't know that you will be saving much in the long run. I think you may be better off buying a Shimano hub and having it laced up locally.