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Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite

8
£3,099.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Perfect geometry and comfort for those far-flung adventures on the road or away from it
Comfortable, stiff frame
Fully equipped
Loads of mounting points
Front mudguard needs a mudflap
Weight: 
11,490g
road.cc Recommends

This product has been selected to feature in road.cc recommends. That means it's not just scored well, but we think it stands out as special. Go to road.cc recommends

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The Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite has a relaxed riding position and a plush carbon frame and fork that allow you to zing along on smooth tarmac in total comfort, as well as room for wide tyres, and a gravel groupset that'll happily tackle rougher terrain. Bergamont describes its Grandurance bikes as commuter, tourer and explorer, and this range-topping model is definitely equipped to tackle them all. It's a proper all-rounder.

> Buy now: Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite for £3,099 from Bergamont

Bergamont is a German company based in Pauli, Hamburg that has been producing bikes since 1993. Since 2015 it's been under the ownership of Scott Sports, and offers a range of bikes covering entry-level mountain bikes, all kinds of urban steeds, gravel and adventure bikes, and a large selection of e-bikes too.

Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite: Ride

I'll go straight in by saying that the Grandurance RD Elite is an absolute joy to ride. Everything seems to work – the geometry, the carbon layup and design of the frame all work together to make a bike that you can ride very comfortably for hours and hours on end.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - riding 4.jpg

First up, it's not light – and with a dynamo system, full aluminium guards and a rack, that's not unexpected – but it doesn't seem to have any negative effects on the ride as a whole.

When loaded up with a few bags and extras, whether on the road or off, the RD Elite never feels ponderous or a challenge to ride through slow corners or anything technical. I rode it both on gravel trails and through rush hour traffic and it's an easy bike to steer through any obstacles you find in your way.

I'll go into the full geometry details in a bit, but for now let's just say that things are very stable and predictable.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - riding 3.jpg

For a 57cm frame, the saddle to handlebar position is shorter than expected, and when paired to the tall fork and head tube you are left with a relaxed, upright riding position. That obviously gives you a good field of view when riding in traffic, plus it puts less stress on your back and wrists when out on an adventure or cruising along on the commute.

While I spent a lot of time riding the RD in normal clothes or baggy styled cycling kit, it's no slouch if you want to don your Lycra and put in a bit of effort. It's no racer, but with the amount of rain about during the test period it got a lot of use on wet roads for training rides, so I was tackling my usual technical descents and long straight roads at a decent lick.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - riding 2.jpg

Once rolling it feels efficient, helped by the lower ratios of the Shimano GRX groupset over a traditional road offering.

The neutral handling means you can take the corners positively, and with confidence. I had to back off a couple of times as I went into a tight bend, forgetting I wasn't on one of the race machines I was also reviewing at the time, but even a hard yank on the brakes doesn't unsettle it, and if you do get into a bit of trouble it'll get you out of it without too much hassle.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - riding 5.jpg

Stiffness throughout the frame and fork is great, so the bike always feels tight and responsive. I found the geometry worked very well for me when climbing too. I could hold a seated position for a long time where the steep seat angle puts you in the ideal position to really get the power down.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - rear.jpg

If used as a gravel adventure bike, all of the above transfers well from the road to the trails. It swallows up miles even on rough terrain while that neutral steering keeps the front end in check on loose surfaces.

Overall, from a ride point of view it hits the brief of what it is designed to do. It's a comfortable, easy-to-ride mile-muncher regardless of the surface or terrain.

Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite: Frame & Fork

Many touring/adventure bikes of this ilk tend to have metal frames. Steel tends to be the material of choice, but aluminium or titanium are popular too. The Bergamont has an 'ultra lite HSC' carbon fibre frame, though, with a full-carbon fork to match.

It looks smooth and sleek, especially at the front end where the top, head and down tubes blend seamlessly into each other. In contrast you can see where Bergamont's designers have factored in some robustness and strength for load carrying, with extra material around the top tube/seat tube junction, and beneath the seatstays as they join the seat tube.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - seat tube junction.jpg

Chunky chainstays and an oversized bottom bracket area mean a tight, stiff lower half of the frame which obviously helps power transfer when you pull away from a standing start or when climbing, but also helps to offset any sidewards load and sway when loaded up with kit.

Speaking of loads, Bergamont gives a maximum weight limit of 130kg, which includes the bike itself, all kit and the rider.

There are certainly plenty of mounts for all that kit too. Not only do you get rear rack mounts and those for full guards, you also get three bottle cage mounts – two in the traditional positions (with three bolts so you can play with your bottle position)…

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - down tube bosses.jpg

…one underneath the down tube…

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - down tube underside bosses.jpg

…and a set on the top tube for a bento bag kind of thing.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - top tube bosses.jpg

You also get three bolts on each fork leg.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - fork.jpg

Internal dynamo light wiring is also included for both the frame and the fork, while both the gear cables and hydraulic brake hoses also pass neatly through the frameset. This is a clean-looking bike.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - bars 2.jpg
2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - downtube.jpg

Bergamont has kept the seatpost clamp external, though, with the Grandurance models using a 31.6mm diameter standard round seatpost. A nice touch as it means you can easily add an off-the-shelf suspension seatpost if you like, or even a dropper.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - seat stay.jpg

The Grandurance uses a press-fit bottom bracket, which might make a few people suck air in through their teeth, but from my experience of riding hundreds of bikes over the last few years I'd say we are over those early adoption days of poor tolerances between frame and bearing cups which were responsible for noisy running and premature wear after a few rides in the wet.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - bottom bracket.jpg

I haven't had a single issue with creaking press-fit bottom brackets even after a wet winter and spring, so its fitment here definitely wouldn't be a deal-breaker for me.

As for tyre clearance, the Elite RD comes with 40mm rubber fitted, which I'd say is about as large as you want to go with the included guards fitted. Take them off, though, and you've easily got mud clearance for 45mm deeply treaded gravel tyres.

Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite: Geometry

The Grandurance is available in four sizes ranging from 50cm to 61cm. I'm riding the 57cm here, which has a 570mm top tube length, if you measure it horizontally to a point at the same height as the top of the head tube.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite.jpg

It's a bit longer than I'd normally ride, but because of the height and relaxed angle of the head tube, things don't feel overly lengthy. I'd say it feels more like a 55cm frame; if you are unsure which size frame to buy you can put your dimensions into the fit guide on Bergamont's website. I did and it recommended the 57cm.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - head tube.jpg

Looking at other numbers, the head tube is 180mm long, sitting at a 70-degree angle, while the seat tube is a much more aggressive 75 degrees. The wheelbase is 1,081mm, with chainstays of 430mm, and you get a standover height of 837mm. The fork is 420mm in length, with 50mm of rake. Stack and reach figures are 616mm and 405mm respectively.

Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite: Groupset

The RD Elite is built around an 11-speed mechanical GRX 810 groupset, Shimano's gravel-specific line-up (which has recently been superseded by GRX 820, which is 12-speed).

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - drivetrain.jpg

It's a great groupset overall, with a similar performance to its road sibling Ultegra – at least when that was available as a mechanical offering.

The shifting is quick and precise, with a defined click as the chain moves from one sprocket to the next. That's something I like, especially off-road, where the chain could be dirty and noisy – the solid feel to the gear change lets you know you have changed ratio.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - rear mech.jpg

This build uses a 2x chainset with 48/31T chainrings paired up with an 11-34T cassette. These lower ratios compared with what you would find on a road bike help offset the overall weight of the bike and help on the climbs, and off-road when loaded too.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - crank.jpg

I have this groupset on my own bike and I can vouch for its long-term durability and reliability.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - cassette and rear drop out.jpg

One of the biggest plus points for me is the flat sections on the front of the levers which give you a bigger platform to rest your fingers on when braking compared with the curved units found on Shimano's road levers. The biggest benefits are found when braking on descents, especially rough ones, as you have more purchase on the lever without fear of being bounced off it.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - lever.jpg

Bergamont has specified 160mm rotors front and rear, which gives ample stopping power even when loaded up.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - rear disc brake.jpg

Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite: Wheels & tyres

Being a part of Scott Sports SA, the parent company of Scott bikes, it's no surprise to see its in-house brand Syncros make an appearance on the RD Elite, in the shape of the Capital 2.0 wheel rims which are aluminium and specced with 32 stainless spokes front and rear. The rear build gets a BGM Allroad disc hub and 12 x 142mm thru-axle while the front uses a Shimano DH-UR705 dynamo hub.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - dynamo hub.jpg

The wheels seem solid and durable, and I found them tight when accelerating out of the saddle or climbing, so no worries in terms of lateral flex.

Schwalbe's G-One Speeds are one of my favourite mixed surface tyres. Their tread is minimal, so they are only really any good for hard surfaces, but you've got enough bite for dry trails and byways.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - tyre.jpg

On the road they are supple and so give a smooth ride, along with good cornering grip and plenty of feedback. One trade-off of this is that they aren't the most robust when used off road for long periods of time.

They are set up here with Kenda tubes but are tubeless ready if you want to go down the sealant route.

Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite: Finishing kit

The aluminium Satori X-Race handlebar is a very pleasant shape with a gentle sweep back towards your wrists, and a 16-degree flare at the drops. I found it a relaxing shape for long rides on the hoods or tops, while the flare gives a wider, more secure stance in the drops as well as providing clearance for your wrists.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - bars 1.jpg

The BGM Race Grip tape also deserves a mention too, as it feels plush considering it's not the thickest tape on offer, and it's very grippy and squidgy too. The fact that it isn't too thick also helped me feel connected to what the front tyre was up to.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - drop bar.jpg

The stem is also branded Satori and is designed to divert the cables and hoses into the frame via the top of the head tube.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - stem.jpg

It's Syncros again for the aluminium seatpost and Tofino 2.5 saddle, both of which are decent components without exactly filling you with excitement.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - saddle and post.jpg

Up front, the dynamo hub powers an 80-lux B&M IQ-XS T Senso Plus LED headlight mounted on the fork crown and a Herrmans H-Trace Mini rear light, both of which have standlights for a bit of added safety (they'll stay on after you've stopped pedalling).

The front light is bright enough to see by up to around 25mph on dark country lanes, and it was only on faster road rides that I would add my Exposure Strada to the handlebar for a bit of extra clout on descents.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - front light.jpg

The rear is bright too, enough to be seen by even in daylight, although I would often run a flashing light on the seatpost as the mudguard-mounted Herrmans is solid state only.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - rear light.jpg

Finishing things off are the rear rack and mudguards.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - rear rack.jpg

The former is made by Racktime and has a payload of 20kg. It's completely aluminium and impressively stiff with no movement whatsoever.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - rear rack 2.jpg

The mudguards are also full aluminium and some of the rear's mounting points are to the rack. I was expecting a bit of rattle but had no such issues. My only real criticism is that the front is a little short. If you are riding a lot in the wet you could do with some more length, or at least a mudflap, to divert spray away from your shoes. Drilling it to accept a homemade flap wouldn't be too arduous a task, and is definitely something I would do if the RD Elite was mine.

2024 Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite - front mudguard detail.jpg

Their width does a good job of stopping spray from exiting around the sides, though, which kept the bottom bracket area and groupset impressively clean even after riding in some very wet conditions.

Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite: Value

In total there are 11 Grandurance models on offer, starting with the £1,099 Grandurance 4 which has an aluminium frame, a Shimano Sora grouspet and cable-operated disc brakes.

Our RD Elite model is the range topper and costs £3,099, but if you don't want the rack, mudguards and dynamo you can buy the standard Elite for £2,999.

Looking at a few of the models in between, the Grandurance 8 sits at £1,699 with an aluminium frame, 1x GRX groupset and the same wheels you see on our model (but without the dynamo). The Grandurance Expert gets the carbon frame and a GRX 400/600 2x 10-speed groupset for £2,399. It also has the same wheels, saddle and cockpit as ours.

There are women-specific models in a couple of different build levels, too.

> Buyer’s Guide: Best gravel bikes

> Buyer’s Guide: Best touring bikes

In terms of competition there aren't many carbon-framed bikes on the market with the same spec as the Grandurance, as in mudguard/rack mounts and full internal dynamo routing.

Cube's Nuroad FE range is fully equipped with such parts, but the top model, the Race FE, has an aluminium frame and carbon fork. It's £1,999 and comes with a range of Shimano GRX components spread across the RX400/600/810 levels. For a side-by-side comparison it's closer in spec to the Grandurance RD 5, and the RD 5 is £1,699. Mat reviewed a Nuroad EX back in 2022.

Dolan's GXC Carbon gravel bike in a similar build to the Grandurance Elite (non-RD) is £2,599.96 when upgraded to the adventure fork with mounting points and a 2x GRX 820 groupset. It has similar tyre clearance and will take mudguards and racks too, although there is no option for internal dynamo routing.

When John reviewed the aluminium GXA version he found the Dolan's geometry very road biased, so not as relaxing to ride as the Grandurance on trails or for long distances on the road.

Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite: Conclusion

In my opinion the Grandurance has all of the design elements that a bike of this ilk needs. The geometry is spot on, as is the comfort and riding position. You have all of the mounting points you could possibly need, and on top of that, the ride quality is perfect for long distance adventures.

> Buy now: Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite for £3,099 from Bergamont

Verdict

Perfect geometry and comfort for those far-flung adventures on the road or away from it

road.cc test report

Make and model: Bergamont Grandurance RD Elite

Size tested: 57cm

About the bike

List the components used to build up the bike.

REAR DERAILLEUR: Shimano GRX, RD-R810, Shadow Plus

FRONT DERAILLEUR: Shimano GRX, FD-R810

SHIFTERS: Shimano GRX, ST-RX810, 2x11-speed, road STI-shifter

CRANKSET: Shimano GRX, FC-R810, 48/31t

BB-SET: Shimano BB-RS500, Press-Fit

CHAIN: KMC X11

CASSETTE: Shimano CS-HG700, 11-34t

BRAKE LEVERS: Shimano GRX, ST-RX810

BRAKES: Shimano GRX, BR-RX810, hydraulic disc brake

ROTOR: Shimano RT-MT800, 160 mm

HANDLEBAR: Satori X-Race Aero, flare: 16°

STEM: Satori Viper, - 7°

SEATPOST: Syncros

SEAT: Syncros Tofino 2.5

HEADSET: Acros ZS56, A-Headset, semi-integrated, tapered

HUB (FRONT): Shimano dynamo hub, DH-UR705, centerlock, disc, 12x100 mm axle

HUB (REAR): BGM Allroad, centerlock, disc, 12x142 mm axle

SPOKES: stainless, black

RIMS: Syncros Capital 2.0, disc

FRONT TYRE: Schwalbe G-One Speed, folding, Raceguard, 40-622

Tube: Kenda SV28

REAR TYRE: Schwalbe G-One Speed, folding, Raceguard, 40-622

Tube: Kenda SV28

LIGHTS Front: B&M IQ-XS T Senso Plus, 80 Lux, LED, standlight

Rear: Herrmans H-Trace Mini, LED, standlight

RACK: Racktime / BGM Allroad carrier, SnapIt 2.0 System

FENDER: BGM Allroad fender, 50 mm

Tell us what the bike is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?

Bergamont says, "Commuter, tourer and explorer: the Grandurance RD Elite is based on an ultra-light, High Strength Carbon fiber frame platform. Balanced all-road geometry, large tire clearance, countless mounting points for accessories, seminal design, and high-end components. Everything but ordinary."

It's a capable machine that is comfortable and fun to ride on multiple terrains.

Where does this model sit in the range? Tell us briefly about the cheaper options and the more expensive options

This is the range-topping model; various others are available with and without extra kit like the guards, dynamo and rack. Both carbon and aluminium frames are available.

Frame and fork

Overall rating for frame and fork
 
8/10

Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?

Good quality frame and fork finished to a high quality.

Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?

Bergamont describes the frame as being built from HSC – High Strength Carbon fibre – and the fork is full carbon.

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

The geometry is fairly typical of an adventure/touring machine with quite a relaxed front end, its short reach and tall fork/head tube giving a quite upright riding position.

How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?

For a 57cm frame it does feel small on the reach side of things, especially if you are comparing it to a 57cm road bike. I'd say it feels more like a 55cm, but in terms of the relationship between the stack and reach figures I'd say things are fairly typical for this kind of bike.

Riding the bike

Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.

The carbon frame and fork do a good job of removing harsh vibrations, and with the wide tyre clearance on offer you can make this a very comfortable bike to ride.

Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?

Stiffness is impressive, especially around the lower half of the frame which copes well with the power being put through the pedals, but it also means the bike feels tight when carrying heavy loads.

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?

Overall efficiency is good thanks to the lower gearing which helps offset the weight, and you get minimal drag from the front dynamo hub.

Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so was it a problem?

A small amount because of the large volume tyre and alloy mudguard. I didn't find it a problem as long as I remembered when negotiating tight turns at a slow speed.

How would you describe the steering? Was it lively neutral or unresponsive? Neutral.

Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?

This is a smooth-handling bike that's easy to ride.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? would you recommend any changes?

I like the feel of the bar tape, and Schwalbe's G-One tyres have a supple feel to them.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's stiffness? would you recommend any changes?

The wheels feel tight laterally and the handlebar is also able to resist hard pulls on either side when you're out of the saddle.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's efficiency? would you recommend any changes?

Speccing a gravel groupset with lower ratios than a road one helps.

Rate the bike for efficiency of power transfer:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for acceleration:
 
7/10
Rate the bike for sprinting:
 
6/10
Rate the bike for high speed stability:
 
7/10
Rate the bike for cruising speed stability:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for low speed stability:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for flat cornering:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for cornering on descents:
 
7/10
Rate the bike for climbing:
 
8/10

The drivetrain

Rate the drivetrain for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the drivetrain for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the drivetrain for weight:
 
8/10

Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn't like? Any components which didn't work well together?

Quality shifting and braking. Durability is good too, I've found from previous experience.

Wheels and tyres

Rate the wheels for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the wheels for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the wheels for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the wheels for comfort:
 
8/10

Tell us some more about the wheels.Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the wheels? If so what for?

Reliable and dependable wheels built for strength as opposed to speed, so they suit the bike perfectly. Plenty of stiffness on offer, and once rolling they don't take too much effort to keep spinning.

Rate the tyres for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the tyres for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the tyres for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the tyres for comfort:
 
8/10

Tell us some more about the tyres. Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the tyres? If so what for?

Supple tyres and quick rolling on the road or other hardpacked surfaces, though not the most robust gravel tyre.

Controls

Rate the controls for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the controls for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the controls for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the controls for comfort:
 
7/10

Tell us some more about the controls. Any particularly good or bad components? How would the controls work for larger or smaller riders?

Decent kit; I wouldn't say anything here would need upgrading straight away.

Your summary

Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes

Would you consider buying the bike? Yes

Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Yes

How does the price compare to that of similar bikes in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

On the whole I'd say the Grandurance is well specced for the quality; the closest competitor, the Cube Nuroad, is pricier than the similarly specced Grandurance model. Dolan's GXC Carbon gravel bike is cheaper than the closest equivalent Grandurance model, but doesn't have the option for internal dynamo routing, and the road-biased geometry on the aluminium version we reviewed a while back isn't as relaxing to ride.

Rate the bike overall for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the bike overall for value:
 
6/10

Use this box to explain your overall score

I'd say that the Grandurance hits its brief and is very good overall. Everything that Bergamont describes it as being capable of, it does very well. Good quality kit for the money and well-designed geometry for those long adventures.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 44  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.

With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.

He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.

Add new comment

5 comments

Avatar
Sriracha | 6 months ago
0 likes

I thought bottle dynamos were more efficient, added to which they can be disengaged when not needed. And they are independent of the wheel build, and probably lighter. What are the remaining advantages for hub dynamos?

Avatar
TheBillder replied to Sriracha | 6 months ago
3 likes

Bottle dynamos were utterly terrible back in the old days. Kit like the Sanyo Dynapower (tyre driven but on the tread rather than sidewall) was a huge step forward in efficiency (early 80s), and could still be disengaged.

But AFIAK a good hub dynamo isn't much to worry about when there's no electrical load - there's little need to disengage mechanically.

Avatar
Sriracha replied to TheBillder | 6 months ago
0 likes

Perhaps I should have made it clear that I wasn't referring to the bottle dynamos of the 1970's. More this kind of thing:
https://www.cyclingabout.com/rim-dynamos-can-now-generate-more-power-tha...

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to Sriracha | 6 months ago
0 likes

Really depends on your use-case and how much you're prepared to pay.  You may have particular requirements for efficiency / low drag / convenience / cost.  You can best research the details (or trade-offs) of these.

I've used a handful in my lifetime. Aside from distant memories of early bottle-dynamos (which are also affected by the feeble lights I had connected) they've all been relatively modern hub ones.

I'm a convert to the hub variety - as opposed to chargeable lights.  Just love the simplicity, don't notice they're there when not using.  Not particularly against bottle dynamos - the hub variety were just "there" when I was looking and have been completely "fit and forget" for me.  Bottle ones aren't so fiddly now I hear - but you still have to carry them with you!

Currently have 3 - couple of Shimano "cheapies" and an SP.  I may be an oddball as I enjoyed a Frankenbike build combining a light mountainbike frame with a cannonball of a Sturmey Archer hub dynamo and drum brake combo!

My use cases - mostly urban utility transport, with some recreational middle-distance riding.  Most of the latter around the central belt where even at night it's not totally dark.  Almost all on-road.

If you're fast, or going off-road through the woods you might want a non-dynamo light for extra reach or width.  If you're weighing your bike components or pondering efficiencies maybe any kind of dynamo is not for you - if only because you're likely to be thinking "is this slowing me down?"!  (There are also some very long-distance folks who would be counting the watts but also consider a dynamo of course).

Avatar
KDee | 7 months ago
0 likes

I've read this review 3 times now. If my partner puts her foot down about my n+1 bike problem, this could be a real contender as one bike to rule them all. Funnily enough, she's just bought herself a Bergamont. My son had a Bergamont MTB for a while too. Cracking bikes.

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