Longevity of Sidewall Generators?
06-21-07 | 12:34 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Dead Men Assume...
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 852
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From: Singapore
Bikes: Bike Friday NWT
Longevity of Sidewall Generators?
I'm really curious about the longevity of sidewall generators such as Dymotec's offerings. Can anyone provide insight on this? Thanks. 
06-23-07 | 09:45 PM
#2
~ Going the Distance ~
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,180
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From: Hermosa Beach, CA
Bikes: 2006 Bianchi Carbon 928, 2002 Gary Fisher Utopia
I used to own a few bikes with these sidewall generators. In fact back in Japan where I grew up almost all commuter/around town type bikes have em. I have never had any problems with them, very robust.
06-23-07 | 09:57 PM
#3
put our Heads Together
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,155
Likes: 1
From: southeast pennsylvania
Bikes: a mountain bike with a cargo box on the back and aero bars on the front. an old well-worn dahon folding bike
i'd recommend against the ones you can buy at canadian tire/kmart/similar stores. The one I got was usable, but not really worth the $10 USD i paid for it. It had an overheating problem. (would shut off until cooled off, if i rode faster than ~ 12mph for more than a couple minutes) The incandescent bulbs burned out fairly quickly too.
I switched to cateye LED lights that I use on blinking mode, and I rarely have to worry about batteries-- i recharge 'em every 4 months or so.
You may have already known this, but from what I hear any sidewall generator is a poor choice in the rain. The one I had was hopeless in the rain, in any case.
I switched to cateye LED lights that I use on blinking mode, and I rarely have to worry about batteries-- i recharge 'em every 4 months or so.
You may have already known this, but from what I hear any sidewall generator is a poor choice in the rain. The one I had was hopeless in the rain, in any case.
06-24-07 | 06:20 PM
#4
Chief Chef
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 225
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From: Montana
Bikes: 2005 Fuji Touring, 70s Motobecane Grand Record, Sekai 2500, crappy mountain bike from dumpster, cyclone cycles titanium road bike
Originally Posted by powerglide
I used to own a few bikes with these sidewall generators. In fact back in Japan where I grew up almost all commuter/around town type bikes have em. I have never had any problems with them, very robust.
There were plenty of bikes in Japan that looked like they'd had the snot beat out of them, but their generators still functioned. I think you'll be fine with one of these; it may outlast the bike!
