Shimano Dura-Ace RD7800

Price Paid:  $0.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere rideable without much traffic

Bike Setup:
Trek Madone SSL 5.9 Project One Lance 7 time paint scheme
Bontrager XXX Lite Stem
Bontrager XXX Lite Handlebars
Chris King Threadless Headset
Bontrager X Lite Pro Saddle Discovery Team colors
Bontrager XXX Lite Carbon Seatpost
Bontrager X Lite Limited Edition crank (172.5mm)
Shimano Dura Ace grouppo and brakes
Bontrager X Lite Carbon Aero Wheels
Bontrager XXX Lite carbon bottlcages
Cateye Double Wireless Computer

Summary:
I ordered a Trek Madone SSL 5.9 Project One with a Lance 7 time paint scheme and chose a Dura Ace 7800 set up except for the crank which is a Bontrager X Lite Limited Edition.

The Dura Ace group shifts as smooth as you can ask for, especially the rear shifting. The FD takes a little more effort (a tad more) just as other FD's would as well due to the jump in chain ring size.
RD is really durable and after I crashed my bike for the first time uphill in the heavy rain once I hit a darn twig or something like that (was at night with heavy heavy rain so can't really see), the RD and my right hood took the full impact and caused the RD to shift ut of alignment. However, shifting still wasn't a problem at all and it was working as good as before. Took the bike to my LBS for inspection and they readjusted the rear der. and apart from the scratches, all's fine once again.

Strengths:
Very crisp shifting, very durable and still worked wonderfully well despite taking the impact of a crash at say 18-20mph. No problems thus far after sending to LBS.

Weaknesses:
Erm, non scratch proof? Nothing really.

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $139.00 at Hendry Cycles.

Favorite Ride:
Port Melbourne to Portsea

Bike Setup:
2002 Giant TCR Carbon(M) with American Classic 16/24 wheels, 2003/2004 DuraAce mix, USE Carbon ALIEN seatpost, FSA CARBON Team Issue crank, FSA ISIS Ti BB, Selle Italia SLR, Wellgo MG8-Ti pedals, 15.22lbs.

Summary:
Replacement Ultegra rear mech felt unusually slow and sloppy compared to original 2003 DuraAce rear mech. Could get the new 2004 DuraAce rear mech for same price as 2003...so why not? Just upgraded for the fun of it. No regrets!

Strengths:
Beautiful finish, crisp and immediate shifting. Lighter than Ultegra by about 50gms.

Weaknesses:
Pricey, but performance wise, none that I know of.

Similar Products Used:
Just about every Shimano road mech produced since 1986!