Tigra BikeCharge Dynamo & Bicycle USB Charger

The good news is that you don't need a bell or horn with this thing installed, as it intermittently produces such an incredible racket that folks will definitely hear you coming. The bad news is that it worked for a few weeks then abruptly stopped. The internal charge would quickly run down after the ride was over and the USB output stopped producing any charge whatsoever. Unfortunately, I did not discover this until my phone died in the middle of a ride. Maybe I just received a defective one but, of course, now the return window has expired. Total waste of money.

Bike2 Power was an excellent seller to deal with trying to resolve problems with this product with the manufacture. This Product either did not work at all or cause so much noise at higher riding speeds that it's just not worth it. It was replaced multiple times. Get a Dyno Hub.

Amazing

Works as advertised. A little loud between 13 and 17. The display on the handlebar mount could be btighter. Customer service didnt return my call.

Makes loud ratlling noise when riding 16-22km/h..... no answer from customer service. Cannot recommend...

Received this unit as a holiday gift and finally found the time to install it and try it out. I tested its functions over a 4- and 7-hours rides. Here is my feedback.The installation for this product is a little "tinkery", but it is definitely at DIY level. My challenge was that I could not locate some vital instructions in the user manual. Also, some directions were given in the way I could not fully understand. I would have figured it out eventually, but the good folks at Bike2Power, the seller, contacted the person who gave me this gift and provided the missing installation data. Apparently, it is the manufacturer's issue, and the manual will be updated shortly.The installation itself was manageable, and took around 20 minutes. My greatest challenge was selecting the correct flange size. The "flange" is the part that goes over your hub and underneath your fork. One of the "flanges" comes pre-installed to the unit. The other 2 sizes are provided as a "flange kit". The difference between them is their depth. When I first installed the Dynamo, it seems too firmly pressed against the spokes, and when I began riding with it, the dynamo began rotating with the wheel instead of staying put. I took the dynamo off and replaced the flange with the deeper one. It solved the problem right away. As I mentioned, I tested riding with it for 4 hours and 7 hours so far, without any issues.For the functionality, the Dynamo has several modes, that are again not very well explained in the manual. First, the lights. There are front and rear LEDs that I was able to set to flashing mode, and then to a steady mode. Apparently, there are lo-beam and hi-beam options for steady. Lo-beam was too low for my preference, so I set it to hi-beam. There are two ways to control the lights. One is by the button right on the Dynamo. The other, and my preferred method, is from the remote button set to your handlebar. It is tiny and takes very little space. The attachment is secure. The button also flashes in the dark. The lights are controlled by pushing the button in succession. There is absolutely no information in the manual that I could find what each color means for the button, but the folks at Bike2Power solved that mystery as well.However, I was not going to use this unit for its lights functionality. I already have a pretty good lighting set up on my bike. The reason it caught my eye initially is the ability to charge my phone and GPS unit as I ride, plus recharge my camera and lights. It succeeds at both. First, it has an USB port which plugs into the unit, and can be used to charge any USB devices using the same charging cable that your device came with. It worked with my iPhone cable, and other USB cables as well. The instructions state that the built-in battery should be fully charged or lights turned off in order to charge other devices. I would highly recommend following these suggestions. Apparently, the product circuitry is designed as "intelligent" circuitry that will route all available power to the lights for safety. So if you turn the lights off, or ride for a couple hours to fully charge the internal battery storage, it will help you charge your devices in a more efficient way.Once thing I noticed, and that's in no way unique to this Dynamo, is when your speed alternates, you make get "error" charging messages to your iPhone. I have learned that this is typical for the most dynamos because their power supply to your device fluctuates with your speed. iPhones and some other devices are more sensitive to this kind of uneven current, and will produce error message. They will keep charging though, and if your speed is more or less steady, you should not see any errors. Just know it's normal if you do, it will not harm your device. Also, when the Dynamo's internal battery is fully charged, I did not experience these messages.Overall, the Dynamo was worth the effort. It is a rather unique device on the market. It provides a reliable power source on the road without having to retrofit your bike like I would have to do for a hub dynamo. It is relatively easily installed, and very easily removed. Also, the resistance is maybe 1 miles per hour, not much more than that, and the weight is not that bad, about 3/4 of a pound. It can be easily disengaged as well without you uninstalling the dynamo that removes the resistance. In weight and resistance, it is comparable to the hub dynamos. I also like that it can be attached to both the front and rear wheels. That was a major plus compare to other power options. Additionally, it will not damage your tire as many other more basic devices would.Overall, I found it a well-engineered, solidly constructed, and functional device. I would definitely recommend it for extended rides, especially if you use power-hungry apps on your mobile phone. That's what I mainly use it for. Also, it's a great and very reliable source of power for bike lights, and for emergency recharging. As long as you ride you will have the charging power. I would also say that this is the most advanced device on the market which is reasonably priced, and which does not require such degree of commitment as the hub dynamo.

First, full discloser, I was sent one of these units at no charge to use and review by the distributor. I have used it for several long distance rides including one across a state over multiple days. The charger does do what it is supposed to do, provide a backup charge for a portable technology device such as a cell phone. The unit does take about 1.5 hours of riding to get to a full charge, then it can be used while riding, an really does keep the phone charged to 100%. Assembly is easy and takes only a few minutes, though attaching the wiring can take a little more time, and requires additional zip ties to fix the wires since they cannot be otherwise shortened. But, that is done only one time. There are several light functions for the front and rear lights that have then flashing or steady. The unit did not have an impact on steering.Here are the pros and cons:Pros –It does charge a phone and keeps it charged as advertised.Cons –It does put a drag on pedaling the bicycle. This probably does not matter for riders who are really in top shape, on level roads for the rest of us, or even short grades since it is only the effort of about 1-2 mph. But when on long climbs and on steep hills I really wished I did not have that extra drag, especially after three or four hours of pedaling. It would be a great modification if there was a way to turn the charging function off and on remotely instead of having to turn the engagement tab around with the wheel stopped.There is a button to remotely turn the lights on and off, but the attachment system depends upon the use of o-rings that I have had to replace with each ride because the button assembly cuts through the neoprene. I finally resorted to fixing several small zip-ties to hold the button in place.When riding on bumpy roads, the unit tended to slip down until the light is pointing toward the ground. Maybe if I was not concerned about over-tensioning and stretching the skewer. This may not happen if the wheels are held on by lug nuts on a traditional axle.The first unit I was sent had a bad bearing that resulted in a terrible vibration at about 12-14 mph, the exact range for minimum charging to take place.Overall, this is solid unit that works well. For someone who does daily commuting or goes on long distance rides, and does not mind the extra weight and drag, this something I would recommend.