Shimano say their latest Dura-Ace 7900 group is the culmination of everything they've learned over the past 35 years, but is it really the best Dura-Ace yet? BikeRadar's technical editor James Huang spent five months on this new flagship and found it to be a definite improvement in some areas – but disappointing in others.
Shimano’s head-to-toe overhaul of its premier Dura-Ace road group has yielded a dramatically new appearance, some long awaited features, lighter weight and a far heftier price tag. We got an initial taste last summer at the official launch in Japan and now that we’ve managed some real time on it we’re ready to draw some conclusions.
Ergonomics – flatter and longer
Shimano have moved the shifter internals back into the base of the lever to allow for 7900’s concealed derailleur housing, and the new layout has dictated a different shape.
The new lever feels more substantial, with a significant increase in girth (roughly 165mm vs 140mm at the base), while the flatter and longer top distributes pressure more evenly for better long-term comfort. The slightly canted and broader carbon fibre lever blades are slightly easier to reach from the hoods, too, and a reach adjust mechanism is hidden within.
The concealed cables may yield a cleaner look but some riders will miss the extra hand position that 7800’s bulbous forward knob provided – left in its place is a smaller nub that just doesn’t leave as much to hold onto, and there are no cables on which to hook your thumbs. 7800 converts accustomed to resting the base of their palms where the hood surface sweeps up to that knob may also find a stem swap is in order – on 7900, that spot is moved further out by nearly 10mm.
The shape changes will undoubtedly polarise opinion but a few details simply left us scratching our heads. While derailleur housings can be routed to either the front or back of the bar, the former configuration leaves an annoyingly sharp bump right at the base of your palm and it didn’t take long before it started to wear into the hood. Moreover, the wider base (35mm vs 30mm for 7800) doesn’t taper much as it meets the bar and is noticeably harder to wrap well with bar tape.
The adjustable reach feature is nice to have but doing so leaves an uncharacteristically unsightly gap that smacks of afterthought. Moreover, the reach adjust screw – and the brake cable – are concealed by a small cover plate reminiscent of Dura-Ace 7700. At least in this second go-around one needn’t remove the tiny retaining screw to pull off the plate, though we doubt most people will pick up on that fact so they’ll lose the little guys anyway.
Shifting performance – good overall but could be better
We had grand expectations for 7900 after countless hours on Shimano’s latest XTR mountain bike triggers, what with their faster Instant Release cable spool and slick Multi-Release feature for multiple upshifts. Enter Dura-Ace 7900 and we got… none of the above.
Instead, 7900 can only downshift two gears per sweep instead of three and although Shimano claim a 20 percent reduction in shift lever throw, our tape measures and protractors suggested otherwise. Upshifts still require a lengthy 20-degree arc (or 40mm of linear throw, 30mm of which is nothing but slop) and single downshifts an even longer 27 degrees or so.
In contrast, Dura-Ace 7800 requires a 20-degree throw for both upshifts and single downshifts, so if anything, downshift throw on 7900 has gotten longer. Perhaps Shimano were measuring 7900’s throws from a vertical line? Either way, tsk, tsk.
Despite the concealed housing’s additional bend, cable friction is only slightly increased over 7800’s more direct route. Add in Shimano’s typical Light Action feel and you get a slightly more vague and disconnected feel than before but rear shift performance is still on par with 7800 overall if not quite as crisp. Chain movement across the cassette, though, is impeccably smooth – aided in part by the new asymmetrical chain – and full-power shifts are as reliable as ever in spite of the curiously flexy carbon rear derailleur cage.
However, front shifts are flat-out amazing and without doubt the best in the industry by a substantial margin. Revised cable pull ratios yield a lighter lever feel and the ultra-stiff hollow outer chainring and revised front derailleur yield shift performance as reliable and smooth under power as on the rear – it’s no wonder sponsored riders quickly embraced the new chainring even on older Dura-Ace or SRM cranksets.
Interestingly, Shimano have done the same thing that many riders criticised SRAM for including on their first-generation Force group – eliminated the trim position for the outer chainring. However, we think it unlikely anyone will complain this time around. Though we were always able to get first-gen Force to work as intended, front derailleur setup is more straightforward on 7900 and there is no cage rub with any rear cog when in the big ring. Bravo.
Cable friction remains more of an issue for rear shifting over the long haul than with Campagnolo or SRAM though and the shifter internals are worrisomely exposed. Cyclo-cross riders in particular will take issue with the big gaps in the bottom of the hood through which the ratchet teeth are clearly visible. Even on the road, spray from leading riders invariably ended up inside the shifter and tended to gum up the works.
Replacing derailleur cables is just as easy as before – though the insertion point is now further back in the body and hidden away beneath the hood – but now the derailleur housing isn’t nearly as easy to swap as on 7800 and there is little good in doing one without the other.
Braking performance – best yet from Shimano
7900’s braking performance is definitely superior to 7800 with a snappier and more fluid lever feel plus noticeable improvements in power and modulation. Many readers have lamented the revised cable pull ratio on 7900 – thus sullying the idea of mixing groups – but if that is what was required to get this level of performance, so be it.
The pad contact point is positive, the power comes on in a highly linear and predictable fashion, and the system is flex-free courtesy of the well-reinforced calipers. Adding to the firm feel are the relatively hard pads, which don’t seem to have quite as much initial bite as some others when you’re just ambling along but don’t squish much under compression, either.
These new stoppers perform at their best when run fast and hard. We quickly found ourselves braking later and harder in corners, yet exiting with more momentum. Pads have worn admirably well, even with lots of high-speed mountainous descents, too.
Also worth mentioning are the slick low-profile barrel adjusters. They’re bigger and easier to use while on the road and produce smoother housing runs, especially out back on compact frames or on any bike with less than ideal routing.
Drivetrain – whisper quiet, impeccably smooth
Though the crank arms are dramatically different from a finish standpoint from 7800, their overall construction and attachment method are similar so there is little difference in arm stiffness. That’s hardly a bad thing considering 7800’s benchmark status, and the fact that 7900 continues to be competitive weight-wise with carbon – and in some cases, even better – is testament to Shimano’s superior forging capabilities.
The cassette also hasn’t changed much, gaining an extra titanium cog in certain configurations and losing a few grams courtesy of some more aggressive machining and stamping.
The new asymmetric chain is superb, though, running whisper-quiet – highlighting the relative clamour of SRAM Red – and offering real-world improvements in shift smoothness both up and down and at either end over last year’s 10-speed chain. A convenient master link (not tested here, unfortunately) makes for easier removal for cleaning, too, eliminating the need for expensive single-use pins.
As promised, shift performance has degraded little over our six-month test period – at least due to the drivetrain wear, that is. Chain, cog and chainring wear have been admirably minimal, and chain movement from cog to cog is seemingly as crisp as on day one – a good thing considering the high replacement costs of the cassette (US$300), chainrings (US$80 and US$485) and chain (US$70). Yes, you read correctly – the outer ring by itself costs upwards of US$450. But while ungodly expensive, it’s also ungodly good.
Compatibility
Shimano say the revised cable pull ratios on 7900 essentially make backwards-compatibility with 7800 brake callipers and front derailleurs a no-no. Sadly, we’ll have to mostly agree.
Mixing brake components yields either a too-firm lever with reduced power (7900 levers with 7800 callipers) or a somewhat spongy lever with grabby response. In either case, the distinction is subtle but still noticeable and definitely doesn’t come close to matching the performance of a properly matched 7900 set.
The situation with the front derailleur is an entirely different beast, though. 7900’s increased cable pull is such that any combination of new and old simply doesn’t work at all.
Worthy of an upgrade?
Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 offers a variety of notable improvements over 7800 such as the absolutely fantastic front shifting and superb brakes. Weight weenies will also herald the 112g decrease for the complete group.
However, Dura-Ace 7900 also carries with it a hefty price hike (about US$450), a polarising two-tone finish, somewhat disappointing rear shift performance and some irritating quirks.
If you’re considering a new bike that comes equipped with Dura-Ace 7900, rest assured that you’d receive your ample share of performance and cachet in return. But if you’re currently 7800-equipped, the motivation for dropping the very substantial amount of cash on 7900 is less compelling.
Prices and weights:
Price
Weight
Change from Dura-Ace 7800
ST-7900 Dual Control levers
US$700
366g
-60g
FC-7900 crankset (172.5mm, 39/53T, w/BB)
$700
739g
-11g
RD-7900-SS rear derailleur
$300
164g
-18g
FD-7900-F front derailleur
$150
66g
-2g
BR-7900 brakes (w/o mounting hardware)
$440
285g
-15g
CS-7900 cassette (12-25T)
$300
185g
-7g
CN-7900 chain
$70
282g
1g
Total
$2,705
2,087g
-112g
Array