In praise of 9 speed Dura Ace
sinjun
Posts: 53
Over the past 9 months or so I have built two road bikes for my own use, both with similar frames, one equipped with 9 speed Dura Ace, including hubs (with Open Pro rims). The other was built with new 11 speed Campag Chorus (with Neutron wheels). This one also has mudguards and a compact chainset, being for rides which are hillier or longer or in wet weather.
To my surprise, of the two bikes I easily prefer the Dura ACe equipped one, despite it being effectively two models older. This is in part aesthetic - the lustrous aluminium, esp compared with the Campag's plasticky carbon fibre, is visually more appealing, this including the shift paddles, and the retro narrow hubs. But the main reason for liking it better is due to a better overall riding experience.
This difference in material seems to feed through to the feel of the bikes, the Campag's shifting having a plastic, clicking quality, which incidentally takes more effort, especially when shifting the front chainrings - however, the comparison may not be completely fair as the difference in size is greater on the compact set up.
The shifting on the Dura Ace is smooth, easy and precise front and rear, seemingly with less travel required when shifting at the front. In fact I initially found myself shifting between chainrings more often than I really needed to because it was such a joy to use. The Chorus on the other hand seems to be stiffer, with more travel required to move between chainrings, and because of the smaller overlap in ratios inherent in the compact setup, requires to be done more often. Also, because the front derailleur has more positions to click to (so it more trim-able) you are never exactly sure how much travel is going to be required to shift up.
I do like the Campag thumb levers for changing up on the cassette, though conversely find them a little more awkward than the shimano system when down in the drops. The one area in which the Chorus is the clear winner is in braking power, esp from the hoods, where it requires much less effort than the Dura Ace equipment, this despite having cheap (though good) Tektro longer each calipers to get the mudguard clearance. Also, the two extra gears at the back are of course an improvement over the Shimano, though my chosen setup effectively makes these two extra on the bottom of the Dura Ace range, which can encourage lazy riding.
Overall, the Dura Ace groupset oozes quality both in looks and performance, and, incidentally is amazingly quiet, with hardly any noise from the chainset - the main sources of noise when riding are the tyres on the road and the cables slapping against the handlebars. To be fair, the Chorus setup is also quiet (both seem a lot quieter than a dura Ace 10 speed setup I have had), and its braking really inspires confidence.
I know that whether you go for Campag or Shimano in large part depends on personal preference, and how well they seem to perform can be affected by how well they are set up..... but the big surprise for me was that the system based on old technology can perform so well - I had assumed that improvements in design and meterials would make it no contest.
To my surprise, of the two bikes I easily prefer the Dura ACe equipped one, despite it being effectively two models older. This is in part aesthetic - the lustrous aluminium, esp compared with the Campag's plasticky carbon fibre, is visually more appealing, this including the shift paddles, and the retro narrow hubs. But the main reason for liking it better is due to a better overall riding experience.
This difference in material seems to feed through to the feel of the bikes, the Campag's shifting having a plastic, clicking quality, which incidentally takes more effort, especially when shifting the front chainrings - however, the comparison may not be completely fair as the difference in size is greater on the compact set up.
The shifting on the Dura Ace is smooth, easy and precise front and rear, seemingly with less travel required when shifting at the front. In fact I initially found myself shifting between chainrings more often than I really needed to because it was such a joy to use. The Chorus on the other hand seems to be stiffer, with more travel required to move between chainrings, and because of the smaller overlap in ratios inherent in the compact setup, requires to be done more often. Also, because the front derailleur has more positions to click to (so it more trim-able) you are never exactly sure how much travel is going to be required to shift up.
I do like the Campag thumb levers for changing up on the cassette, though conversely find them a little more awkward than the shimano system when down in the drops. The one area in which the Chorus is the clear winner is in braking power, esp from the hoods, where it requires much less effort than the Dura Ace equipment, this despite having cheap (though good) Tektro longer each calipers to get the mudguard clearance. Also, the two extra gears at the back are of course an improvement over the Shimano, though my chosen setup effectively makes these two extra on the bottom of the Dura Ace range, which can encourage lazy riding.
Overall, the Dura Ace groupset oozes quality both in looks and performance, and, incidentally is amazingly quiet, with hardly any noise from the chainset - the main sources of noise when riding are the tyres on the road and the cables slapping against the handlebars. To be fair, the Chorus setup is also quiet (both seem a lot quieter than a dura Ace 10 speed setup I have had), and its braking really inspires confidence.
I know that whether you go for Campag or Shimano in large part depends on personal preference, and how well they seem to perform can be affected by how well they are set up..... but the big surprise for me was that the system based on old technology can perform so well - I had assumed that improvements in design and meterials would make it no contest.
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Comments
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A good summary of a legendary groupset that a certain Texan rode to 4 or 5 of his Tour wins, despite Campags extra gear.
I havent used it myself as I have been quite happy with 8 speed Dura Ace ( down tube levered) and nine speed Chorus set ups (with easy to service Record hubs) over the last few years. But it calls into question the trend for ever more cogs and the closer tolerances required, shorter chain life, etc.
I also share your dislike of the black plastic stuff - give me shiny alloy bits any day - preferrably attached to an Italian masterpiece of tactile bike art..!0 -
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I don't see how anyone can complain about any of the "big 3" shifter companies.
Ergonomics? Please spare me. You have to move your finger, maybe, a half inch.
How much difficulty can possibly be involved in this? With any of them? One person wrote in, some time back, talking about "tactile feel". What???? You push on a highly polished, very smooth lever with your fingertip(or thumb) "tactile feel" my *ss. People write in and talk like one or the other is just to much to tolerate and or deal with. IT'S
A SHIFTER. It's right there at the ends of you fingers. A simple push. Done. How can this even begin to approach difficult or unusable for anyone? IT'S A HALF INCH. LEARN TO DEAL WITH IT.
Sorry. Rant over. :twisted:0 -
Sinjun, please repeat 1000 times,
I am a Bike Radar posting sadist, I am a Bike Radar posting sadist,.........................
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