Competitive Cyclist Reviews Shimano Dura Ace 7900

[wastegimp]

Have this on my bmc team machine and love it.:*)

[ghostzapper2006]

This stuff puts campy garbage to shame and ultegra Di2 makes campy look like a bad joke, the crankset makes campys look like an amateurish product

[vietpong]

it's as cold as ice, gimme campisconolo all night.

[vietpong]

cold cold cold, soulless cold; i'm so very glad i'm running 11 Chorus, never namore shimano, except spd pedals.

[fitzgod]

Shimano Dura-Ace FC-7900 Crankset 53/39, indifference to the date in which this was uploaded and today 6/26/11. This crankset listed is 625g. FYI - Shimano Ultegra FC-6700 Crankset 53/39, is 785g. When I can afford a bike for ONLY racing I will strive for Dura-Ace, until then I will live with the Ultegra. In my recently starting study Dura-Ace is not long-lasting if in everyday use. Research shall continue!

[philglassfan]

Most god-awfully ugly crank ever! CAMPY RULES

[snipesnrifles]

@philglassfan Hmm, I Like the crank

[flampalite]

Shimano never reverse-engineered?!?!?!

[gen1f69]

I upgraded to this on my Bigwheel and beat all my friends around the block handily!! Even the flat spot on my front wheel feels like it's smoothed out!!

[egopower]

I've been riding this group since May 2010. It's awesome. Every bike I've owned (except one which was Record equipped) for the last dozen years has been Dura Ace equipped and this is by far the best shifting, stiffest, sexiest DA group yet. I love it.

[mdoub]

super nice, but it's not going to make you any faster..

[protopaintball16]

can you believe the crank set weighs more then a frame set of the cervelo RA

[976doddy]

i road a Trek madone 2010 with full dura ace components and wasn't that impressed! Yes it was very snappy and responsive, And felt ok but riding for local races, Recreational and audax rides not worth it! I test rode a nice specialized road bike too with ultegra and dura ace, unless you are competing for the tour de france or just want to be a snobby roadie, stay away from higher end components! It's all a gimmick! Use sora or better yet even i find tiagra to be just as responsive as dura ace!

[NoodleStroodel]

@976doddy Well that's because Shimano Dura-ace is tuned towards serious racers and riders, not recreational bikers. That's why most professional bikers have Dura-ace components. Sora and Tiagra seem similar in performance because they use Dura-ace technologies from previous years. For example, my bike has a 105 gruppo, which uses the same technologies as Dura-ace from a year ago. The main differences is basically quality, weight, performance, and build material.

[youknowwhatsupdudes]

@976doddy Nope! Sora? are you kidding me? yuk! Sora shifts like shit.

105 is bare min.

[EmptyTheRoom]

@youknowwhatsupdudes hey now, i have sora / tiagra on my winter training bike, and it shifts just fine. dont tell me that i dont know the difference because i have dura ace 7900 on my race bike.

tuned up properly sora shifts just fine

[zach00attack]

i hate how competitive cyclist never say anything bad about the products. its not really a review, its more of a presentation..

[chrisrnz]

@zach00attack Yeah I'm kinda with you on that. That dude is flat out drooling over 7900 but looks like he changes to SRAM RED later (see YouTube video Z1ApWTgrL9o).

[vadarfone]

This is just TOO Japanese for me.

So many features and so little soul.

Just look at that crankset. Looks like a mutation.

SRAM, Campag, Mavic stuff is massively more beautiful, and probably lighter.

I have lived in Japan for 6 years, and this shit is SOO Japanese. It works, but the man who made it had cold, dead eyes.

[chrisrnz]

@vadarfone lol

[koshua]

@vadarfone could you throw in a little more racial stereotyping? You still have a shred of credibility that needs buffing out.

[soobeng]

nice explaination.

[ghostzapper2006]

Shimano = better crank and smoother shifting than campy. Now Campy has the uglier levers. Shimano quicklink to change the chain, Campy = go buy a $299 tool and take multiple steps to change your chain. Shimano wins, Campy loses. Love the way Campy has also abandoned all their silver alloy hubs for only black Record hubs to encourage campy users to buy their prebuilt wheels. LOL Dumb

[teokiatuan2]

no more fine tuning/trimming of the lever?

then why the di2?

LIES

[sprintbass]

hey

im 36 years old and i started riding road in 85...shimano was first with SIS shifters which gave you a click on the down tube...and for 2 years the aero levers were hidden cable till 1991 STI arrived...

ppl including myself have always wanted the cable under...especially when ergo power came out in 1991, i thought the cable out was ugly and not neat...Ive used shimano for 20 years..i started when campy was on top suntour 2nd and shimano 3rd..im pro shimano because of 20 years of service

[zfreak33]

I work at REI and get every dura-ace component for 70% off. I'll be buying the grupo next week. The Di2 looks amazing though. Don;t know if I want to spend a few thousand just on components yet though.

[dahgutone]

2010. Shimano is going to release the new Ultegra which is VERY similar to the Dura-Ace.

Hidden shifter cables, similar crankset look like the Dura-Ace, and somewhat better looking brake calipers.

And they look GREAT.

[fuzzywzhe]

9:33 "Shimano has finally cast aside it's design ethic of giving the pro's what they want and has started listening to the people who actually pay their bills"

Let me translate that for everybody.

Shimano has abandoned the philosophy that form follows function and has apparently moved to function follows fashion.

Why would you be buying a Dura Ace groupo if you didn't intend to race, and what kind of racer is more worried about looks than speed? A loser, that's who.

[jmoleary]

Why would you be buying it? Did you even watch the video? Better cable routing, better shifter ergonomics, shorter throw needed no feathering needed, chain that offers less resistance, is lighter and now needs no tool for installation, more gear ratios, , compact crank option, and overall significantly lighter weight.

If you prefer other gruppos, good for you. But the reasons why someone might want this should be obvious to anyone.

[fuzzywzhe]

> Why would you be buying it? Did you even watch the video? Better

> cable routing, better shifter ergonomics, shorter throw needed no

> feathering needed, chain that offers less resistance, is lighter and

> now needs no tool for installation, more gear ratios, , compact crank

> option, and overall significantly lighter weight.

Dura Ace is for RACERS, or was. In competition, form isn't even part of the equation. Ergonomics don't matter, winning matters.

[jmoleary]

You're kidding, right? You think ergonomics don't matter to racers? You need to go look up the word then. Ergonomics is not just how something looks, it refers to how it WORKS

[fuzzywzhe]

> You're kidding, right? You think ergonomics don't matter to racers?

I think winning matters.

Ever ride a real racing bike? They aren't comfortable, but they sure are freaking light. Is that ergonomic?

Winning is the only thing that matters to a racer. Nothing else. Not putting cabled under the fucking handlebars because asswipe yuppies demand it.

[jmoleary]

I have ridden a real racing bike. There is a reason that pros who ride Shimano do not ride 105. They ride Dura Ace because everything works better. They will ride the new Dura Ace because everything works better than the old Dura Ace. Shifting is smoother, the throws are shorter, the bikes are more aero due to the better cable routing, the bikes are lighter due to the 100+ grams lost, the chain rides smoother with less resistance. THAT is what matters to a pro. WInning is the result.

[jmoleary]

I also know you have not ridden a real racing bike. They are among the most comfortable bikes out there.

[fuzzywzhe]

> I also know you have not ridden a real racing bike. They are among the

> most comfortable bikes out there.

Oh bullshit.

A carbon fiber seat is not anywhere near as comfortable as a padded one. They're stiff, and they sacrifice noise absorption for performance. Their wheelbase is very short, and therefore they are unstable however - very responsive.

MY guess is that you've never ridden on a "normal" bike, because you think buying out of your league puts you in the league.

[jmoleary]

I use a Specialized Toupe, one of the lightest saddles out there. It's more comfortable than most road seats. But why are you babbling about Saddles. You realize that pro bikes are pretty much ALL carbon fiber, right? Look I'm sorry if you are too dense to understand the obvious technical advantages of the new gruppo when they are spelled out for you. Tell you what: Go find me a team in this year's tour that is using Shimano 105 components. Get back to us when you do, ok sparky?

[fuzzywzhe]

> I use a Specialized Toupe, one of the lightest saddles out there. It's

> more comfortable than most road seats. But why are you babbling about

> Saddles. You realize that pro bikes are pretty much ALL carbon fiber,

> right?

I'm saying you're a yuppie asswipe that couldn't break down a bike and put it back together to save his life. That's what I'm saying. You drop names of groupsets like a social climber drops names.

You buy these components, but they are totally unsuited for you.

[fuzzywzhe]

> Look I'm sorry if you are too dense to understand the obvious technical

> advantages of the new gruppo

BWAHAHA.

Ok, besides being lighter, tell me what they are oh bullshitting motherfucker of biking? I would like to hear you spread your so called knowledge.

[jmoleary]

Besides being lighter? So that doesn't count ?

I've listed them TWICE for you. Do you read these things before you reply?

1. Shift cables routed along handlebars for better aerodynamics

2. Chain rub eliminated even in most extreme gears - no feathering needed

3. Chain design has less drag

4. Chain now removable without tools

5. Levers need shorter throws, more easily positioned fit more hands

6. More cassette options

7. More braking power

Please pay attention.

[fuzzywzhe]

> Besides being lighter? So that doesn't count ? For a few seconds over a century - perhaps. > 1. Shift cables routed along handlebars for better aerodynamics No, not for aerodynamics. For fashion. > 2. Chain rub eliminated even in most extreme gears - no > feathering needed Then why the electtronic dura ace to track the chain? > 3. Chain design has less drag BWAHAHA! No it doesn't. > 4. Chain now removable without tools Wow! They eliminated a $5 tool !!

[jmoleary]

> For a few seconds over a century - perhaps.

And yet pros obsess over grams. If only they had you to advise them

> why the electtronic dura ace to track the chain?

So you don't need cables of course. And you get the benefits even WITHOUT the electronics

> BWAHAHA! No it doesn't.

Bwahaha yes it does

[jmoleary]

>> 1. Shift cables routed along handlebars for better aerodynamics

>No, not for aerodynamics. For fashion.

Wrong again. For aerodynamics.

> Wow! They eliminated a $5 tool !!

No, the added the ability to put on and take off the chain at will without weakening the links. You do actually clean your chain, right?

[fuzzywzhe]

> 5. Levers need shorter throws, more easily positioned fit more hands

There are already short levers you can buy.

> 6. More cassette options

You already have infinite cassette options.

> 7. More braking power

BWAHAHAHA. My biggest problem on my VELOCE set is that if I clamp the brake too hard, I skid, I bought that groupset in 1997.

[jmoleary]

> There are already short levers you can buy.

Not short levers, genius. Shorter THROWS. Less effort needed

> You already have infinite cassette options.

Wrong:  Not without going outside of the groupset and suffering with poorer shifting you dont. That might be acceptable for a dilletante such as yourself, but not for a pro

[hjb1000]

Don't get so worked up over this :)

It's a new gruppo- sure it's not the most amazing increase in features for Shimano, but it's still an incremental improvement- even when you manage to get through all the marketing BS ;)

Complaining that Shimano produces a new groupset is pointless- Shimano can do what the hell it likes. There may not be any obvious improvements, but that doesn't really matter. What matters is the fact it's new and exciting.

Get over it and ride your fucking bike!

[fuzzywzhe]

> Complaining that Shimano produces a new groupset is pointless

I'm not complaining that they made a new groupset.

I'm complaining that their TOP OF THE LINE racing products are now being designed as form being their top priority and not function. They aren't designed for racers, and if you're not a racer, there is no point in buying Dura Ace.

The same thing is true for Campagnolo Chorus up to Record.

If you're not racing PROFESSIONALLY, Ultegra and Centaur is what is appropriate for you.

[sillytron]

I would agree there is way to much emphasis on kit. i've lapped guys on carbon bikes before and i have a giant defy 3. The weight savings of dura ace are neglagable over the new ultegra, its never going to make a difference, most people are better losing a couple of pounds instead.

[pbpwn]

you obviously are a 5

fail fail fail

[fuzzywzhe]

> you obviously are a 5

>

> fail fail fail

You know, I don't even know what you're talking about, which is surprising, because you don't know what you're talking about.

9:33 "Shimano has finally cast aside it's design ethic of giving the pro's what they want and has started listening to the people who actually pay their bills"

I mean, come on. Shimano just shot themselves in the head. Campagnolo is going clean their clock. SRAM is even ahead of them now.

[pbpwn]

dude have you even rode 7900? i just got it a couple days with my new giant and it is sick. i have owned record and red, and dura ace 7900 is my favorite. you shouldnt even be talking you have no experience with this.

[fuzzywzhe]

> dude have you even rode 7900? i just got it a couple days with my

> new giant and it is sick. i have owned record and red, and dura ace

> 7900 is my favorite. you shouldnt even be talking you have no

> experience with this.

Haha, You're ONE OF *THEM*.

Just some blowhard that thinks throwing around a few names makes you knowledgeable. Giant? Try Serotta. If you want to blow money for sake of it, you don't buy an off the rack bike, you have one made. That's what honest to god poseurs do.

[pbpwn]

im sorry im on a team an we all race giant tcr advanced sl's with dura ace 7900. anyway serotta? who the fuck rides that metal shit. you probly have a triple you noob.

[fuzzywzhe]

> im sorry im on a team an we all race giant tcr advanced sl's with dura

> ace 7900. anyway serotta? who the fuck rides that metal shit.

Tell me, racer, you are allowed to upgrade one component on your bike. What do you upgrade?

> who the fuck rides that metal shit. you probly have a triple you noob.

Serotta does everything. From steel, to CF, to titanium. Whatever you want.

And I do have a tripple, and a double and a fixed gear. I also use eggbeaters, looks, and SPDs.

[pbpwn]

hahahahaha you have a triple and you use eggbeaters. my bike is perfect just the way it is so i wouldnt upgrade anything right now. this conversation ends here because you are a joke.

[Gromitdog1]

@pbpwn Triples ftw!

[CJ7with285andt18]

Red.

[cobraracer46]

I just rode a bike fitted with the new Shimano 7900 and then I rode a bike equipped Sram red and my impresion is that shimano dropped the ball. The Sram red groppo has instant shift response and double tap while the 7900 shifting had a very long travel between shifts. The Shifter guts on the 7900 are also exposed to the elements. Another black eye for the new 7900: the cervelo test team started off with 7800, switched to 7900 and then went back to 7800.

[ax524]

Interesting...

[jimbobeck323]

Excellent commentary Andy, very informative.

[mkemmer]

great review - thanks so much

and your bike rental program is great!

[wonderboysc1]

great review. Very informative, well narrated. professional production. thanks for posting. I cna't wait to get my hands on a grouppo.

[shiaoyeh]

always prefer SRAM...

[sunnysang]

just cruious, why? Friend of mine who raced both red and 7900 said he perfered the 7900.

[darrenpinarello]

The sexiest groupo of the year!