The newest addition to the SP family!
The Shutter Precision PD-8X
* Comes complete with adaptors for standard 9mm QRs.
* Adaptors for 135mm fat bikes are available from Chris Laundrie for USD 31.99. These adaptors are 6061 T6 aluminum and weight about 70g.
* For more information please write: sales(at)intelligentdesigncycles.
* Quick release not included.
The new SP PD-8X sets an entirely new standard for hub dynamos. It is more efficient, technologically advanced and simpler than competing hub dynamos while also being 40 grams lighter in weight than any QR15 hub dynamo available. Current tests show the PD-8X to have achieved a new record-breaking efficiency of 78 percent (i.e. watts of mechanical energy converted directly in watts of electrical energy - minus wasted muscular effort that would otherwise be propelling rider and bicycle forward), ranking it above the SP 8 series hub dynamos which previously ranked highest in the world at 72 percent.
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Specifications
Shutter Precision (SP) was founded in the classic spirit of a “garage based” Silicon Valley style start-up. Its founders are young engineers with substantial expertise designing and producing the sophisticated micro motors that articulate fragile shutters in high-end cameras. Their adventure into the bicycle field began in 2007 with a vision to bringing their expertise to crafting the most efficient and technologically advanced hub dynamos for powering lighting systems and electronic devices on bicycles. When they initially gathered their collective personal savings together with loans from family, friends and friends of friends, they had not anticipated that their journey of financial uncertainty, toil and sweat would also include (sporadic) ulcers.
By 2011, however, their painstaking efforts had culminated in a diverse line of state of the art hub dynamos incorporating the latest advances in the field of micro-motors - i.e. technologies resulting from large industrial scale R&D programmes that would have been cost prohibitive for the bicycle field.
It is the stuff of legend that when the design concept incorporated by SP engineers in their generator mechanism was originally reviewed by their world renowned German competitor in patent format – it was then considered (with a sigh of relief) technically infeasible for manufacture. Since then, SP hub dynamos have passed from CAD based “proof of concept” exercises through extensive lab testing of numerous prototypes and finally rigorous real world field-testing of final products. Testing is on-going even today via sponsorships of top endurance cyclists in Australia and the UK. This regimen has not only proven the feasibility of the SP hub dynamos for manufacture, but confirmed their superiority in efficiency and mechanical rock-solidness. At EuroBike 2011, even the previously incredulous greeted the founders of SP with (gregarious) approbation.
The axiom that “more complexity is not always better” is nowhere more true than in the case of the 8 series hub dynamos. In fact, the design of the generator in these hub dynamos incorporates fewer parts, is mechanically far simpler and is more easily manufactured than existing world-class hub dynamos. Excruciating efforts directed towards product and manufacturing process engineering has made 8 series hub dynamos cost viable for production entirely in Taiwan despite strong price competition vis-à-vis hub dynamos from large international brands produced in China.
The heart of the SP generator mechanism is a solid high-specification magnetic ring that rotates around copper coils as the wheel turns to produce electricity. This mechanical design is crucial as most modern hub dynamos rely on a number of magnets bonded onto the inside of the hub’s shell. When hub dynamos breakdown, it is often due to failure of the bonding adhesive holding the individual magnets in place - such breakdowns are more common in colder climates that accelerate deterioration of bonding adhesives. The design of SP hub dynamos makes this type of catastrophic failure virtually impossible.
Who says you can’t have it both ways.
Whether you pride yourself on having the best of everything, or on selecting purely based on value versus performance, SP hub dynamos “have your back”. This is true even if you are a crusty old curmudgeon wedded (if not welded) to the ideal that durability is the only factor worth considering.
The “less is more” philosophy held dear by the creators of SP hub dynamos is clear in their mechanical design, beautifully understated silhouette and undeniable proof that price is not always prerequisite to better performance … much less quality and durability.
To the best of our knowledge here at Intelligent Design Cycles, SP hub dynamos are today peerless in the world bar none.
Intelligent Design Cycles proud to be an agent for SP hub dynamos. With the exception of EU member countries, Intelligent Design Cycles is an authorised agent for SP products worldwide and is the exclusive distributor for SP products in Australia. In short, dealer inquiries are warmly invited.
Feb 17 2015
Hi - I'm trying to determine which dynamo hub to order. I have an 8 year old road bike (Time) with caliper brakes. This is for a new front wheel. Thanks
Apr 24 2015
At the moment, you have the option of the SV-8 or the PV-8. You will get more power out of the latter and less resistance out of the former (but you are unlikely to notice a difference in practice). In July, the SV-9s will become available. They will be lighter and smaller than the SV-8s, but will only come in 32h black and silver. Early next year they will be available in other drillings. You may safely mount the PD-8X to a caliper road bike, but the 6 hole disc brake fixture would seem out of place. In practice, the lesser resistance would not really be noticeable unless you are time trialing. IDC Staff
Dec 11 2015
Will this PDX8 work fine on my Surly LHT 700wheels rim brakes? What is the QR15 refer to? I like the idea of being able to use this later if I get a disc brake bike.
Feb 18 2016
Yes, the PD-8X will work fine with the standard 700c rim brakes. IDC Staff
Apr 05 2016
Do you have the left to flange, right to flange and center to right and center to left measurements?
Apr 14 2016
hi! i've got a trek 920, i think pd8x is ok for my bike, am I right? i have a Bontrager 15mm axle.
May 07 2016
Hi Thomas, yes, the PD-8X is compatible with any standard QR15 bike as well as standard 9mm QR bike as it comes standard with a 9mm QR adaptor.
May 07 2016
Hi Mat, you can download the PD-8X spec sheet at: http://www.sp-dynamo.com/8Xseriesdynamo%20hub.html.
Jun 25 2016
Hi, is there a max safe speed for the dynamo hub? thinking ebike with 45MPH potential top speed. Possible average speed of 25MPH. would that be a problem?
Jul 06 2016
Hi tom, based on our experience, there is no known max safe speed for dynamo hubs. Most dynamo hubs and dynamo lamps and USB devices are speed tested to at least 100 km/h (62 mph) for a sustained 5 min as part of stress testing. We have never known of a dynamo hub to fail due to speed.
Aug 29 2016
Hi, do you have information about availability of the apparently new members of the 8X series, the PD-8X-M and PL-8X-M, described at http://www.sp-dynamo.com/8Xseriesdynamo%20hub.html I am close to buying a bike with 12mm thru axle, so one of those solutions would be ideal for me. Or is there a 17-gram adapter sleeve with 15mm OD and 12mm ID that might let me use a PD-8X; any news of people who have made that work for them? Best regards, David
Oct 01 2016
Hi IDC, I've got 2 x PD-8X hubs and both have had bearing failures. One has developed significant lateral play at 4,100 miles in less than 10 months and the other at 4,000 miles in 18 months, both have been used on road bikes. Have I just been unlucky or is this a build issue?
Oct 12 2016
Hi Ian, a small number of the first generation PD-8X hubs (Version I) experienced premature bearing wear. This was due to the design challenge of fitting bearings constrained by the hollow 15mm hollow axle and the disc brake standard. The result was use of ball bearings in the sealed bearings that were smaller than the standard P-8 hub dynamos and consequently a comparative reduction in longevity. In light of reports of premature bearing wear in Version I P-8X hub dynamos, SP re-engineered Version II PD-8X with custom bearings to increase the size of the ball bearings and race wall thickness. They are by design more durable that the Version I P-8Xs. Bear in mind however that SP's official line is that the P-8 series hubs will be inherently more reliable than the P-8X series hubs including the Version II ones due to the constraints on bearing design resulting from the hollow axle and the disc brake architecture. P-8X hubs continue to have smaller ball bearings and thinner races. You might also note that Jeffe Branham and Lael Wilcox both won the Tour Divide on Version I PD-8Xs. They had not experienced problems with them during the events or since their respective wins.
Oct 12 2016
Hi David, we are aware of a number of products designed to adapt QR15 to the QR12 TA standard including: http://www.notubes.com/Stans-Hub-Conversions-C145.aspx, http://www.hopetech.com/product/axle-conversion-kit/ and http://www.wheelbuilder.com/dt-swiss-axle-conversion-kits.html. We have not tested any of them so cannot guarantee that they will work with the QR15 PD-8X. In terms of PD-8X-M, SP's current forecast for availability is 2017.
Nov 27 2016
I have a PD-8 and PD-8X and notice the PD-8X has more drag than the PD-8, free spins about half as long as the PD-8 on the rack. How can I confirm which version of the PD-8X I have?
Jan 16 2017
I'm having a hard time nailing down the actual left/right flange diameters, and center to flange. Also not sure what spoke PCD is?
Jan 27 2017
Hi, can you inform me of the dynamo SV-9 for 700 road wheel QUESTIONS: How many years guarantee How many kilometers can be made without changing bearings Comments on forums that are failing They will produce or make a new dynamo for 2018 Thank you
Feb 25 2017
I'm looking for a SP PL-8X-M .. 28 or 32 hole version. Do you have any in stock or can your order one? 12mm through axle and centerlock disc model. Thanks.
Mar 08 2017
Hi Andreas, the SV-9 is 700c compatible but will produce just a little less power than the P series hubs. All SP dynamos sold by IDC are covered under a full 2 year unlimited mileage/kms guarantee. We have had customers report getting over 20,000 kms out of SP dynamos without issue. There have admittedly been some issues with premature bearing wear affecting a limited number the QR15 8X series hubs. But it should be underscored that defects were rare and indeed, Tour Divide winners riding 8Xs did not encounter problems (knock on wood). Nevertheless, SP has been hard at work improving the 8X hubs and currently all 8X hubs sold by IDC are third generation of 8X hubs. Version III 8Xs are based on a mechanical design that CAD models suggest should be even stronger that the SP 8 series hubs which have been very reliable to date.
Mar 08 2017
Hi Craig, We are expecting to receive a range of 8X models including PL-8X 32h black at the end of April. Given your request, I’ll also make a request to for 28h.
Mar 08 2017
Hi Matt, You can download the spec sheets for the 8X series hubs here: http://www.sp-dynamo.com/8Xseriesdynamo%20hub.html.
Jul 27 2017
Is there any way to determine what version hub I have?
Jun 13 2018
I wrote SP about this and their response is "Please check serial No on the flange side. The latest version of PD-8X is from 2017."
Jun 13 2018
Hi Ed, Sorry for the delayed reply. I wrote SP about this and their response is "PD-8X has more drag than PD-8 because of the bearing. It is normal."
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