Why No Shimano 50th Anniversary Group?
02-20-24, 02:03 AM
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Why No Shimano 50th Anniversary Group?
Campagnolo did it and it was gorgeous with the little gold bits and all.
Shimano's 25th Anniversary 9-speed group was even prettier.
Anyone have any idea why Shimano quietly skipped their 50th anniversary? They're less sentimental? Perhaps because plastic-fantastic cannot be made jewel-like enough? Not enough of us bought the 25th Anniversary Group?
Anyone have any insights?
Shimano's 25th Anniversary 9-speed group was even prettier.
Anyone have any idea why Shimano quietly skipped their 50th anniversary? They're less sentimental? Perhaps because plastic-fantastic cannot be made jewel-like enough? Not enough of us bought the 25th Anniversary Group?
Anyone have any insights?
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02-20-24, 02:49 AM
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Because there isn't a complete group set anymore like they formerly made. No standalone hubs, you have buy a complete wheel now. That won't fit in a pretty little display box ! Neither does an integrated crank. No seatposts are made either.
So it they made a box presentable group they'd have to radically depart from their current offerings. Not likely !
So it they made a box presentable group they'd have to radically depart from their current offerings. Not likely !
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02-20-24, 04:43 AM
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Now that think further on it, it's probably because everything Shimano's done since 7800 has been a disgusting embarrassment.
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02-20-24, 04:51 AM
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You didn’t think about it before asking the question?
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02-20-24, 05:00 AM
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I really did. It took me about a day to realize: Shimano couldn't make a carbon-fibre, plastic-fantastic group look as pretty as the 25th Anniversary group. Is there any other possible explanation? I was and am genuinely curious. Now that things are made of lighter, asphalt-camouflaged plastic, where is the beauty? Where is the 50th Anniversary Group?
Last edited by calamarichris; 02-20-24 at 05:03 AM.
02-20-24, 05:55 AM
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Who's the target market for an anniversary groupset?
I can see the merit getting something like a Dura-Ace gold plated for display, but it'd cost a fortune and wouldn't appeal to many people.
I can see the merit getting something like a Dura-Ace gold plated for display, but it'd cost a fortune and wouldn't appeal to many people.
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02-20-24, 07:29 AM
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I got a 50th book, does that count ?
Likely not.
Likely not.
02-20-24, 07:35 AM
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02-20-24, 07:56 AM
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02-20-24, 08:02 AM
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I'm quick like that. At least that's what all the ladies tell me. 
Also I'm mostly bedridden. It sucks. I'm an angry old man with no other social interaction.
I'm still earnestly in wonderment why Shimano would let the big five-oh slip by.
Also I'm mostly bedridden. It sucks. I'm an angry old man with no other social interaction.
I'm still earnestly in wonderment why Shimano would let the big five-oh slip by.
Last edited by calamarichris; 02-20-24 at 08:10 AM.
02-20-24, 08:09 AM
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Just some thoughts:
60 is culturally a very significant birthday in Japan whereas 50 is not.
Crankset got recalled
60 is culturally a very significant birthday in Japan whereas 50 is not.
Crankset got recalled
02-20-24, 08:14 AM
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02-20-24, 08:14 AM
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02-20-24, 08:16 AM
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02-20-24, 08:19 AM
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02-20-24, 08:23 AM
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Concern about a anniversary set or lack thereof would probably only be a worry for the snobbish upper crust.
02-20-24, 08:26 AM
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02-20-24, 08:31 AM
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Maybe it’s because nobody these days wants to pay for a totally pointless anniversary display case?
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02-20-24, 11:10 AM
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Campagnolo did it and it was gorgeous with the little gold bits and all.
Shimano's 25th Anniversary 9-speed group was even prettier.
Anyone have any idea why Shimano quietly skipped their 50th anniversary? They're less sentimental? Perhaps because plastic-fantastic cannot be made jewel-like enough? Not enough of us bought the 25th Anniversary Group?
Anyone have any insights?
Shimano's 25th Anniversary 9-speed group was even prettier.
Anyone have any idea why Shimano quietly skipped their 50th anniversary? They're less sentimental? Perhaps because plastic-fantastic cannot be made jewel-like enough? Not enough of us bought the 25th Anniversary Group?
Anyone have any insights?
- anniversary groups simply arent cherished by DA users right now.
- things like hubs, headset, and seatpost arent even made now so the group would be smaller.
- Shimano is too busy trying to fix the crank disaster that they created and denied for years so a limited run 50th DA group was scrapped for actually important work.
- they decided that since there is no actual difference between their normal DA and some limited run of 50th Anniversary DA, they would just make the regular DA.
- they found a conscience and decided they couldnt justify charging people even more for DA than they already charge.
What I didnt list as a guess is that there is no 50th group due to Shimano being embarrassed of the aesthetics. I view that as a baseless claim made by people who only recently stopped throwing tantrums on the floor of department stores.
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02-20-24, 03:27 PM
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I've got some of the 25th Anniversary parts--brakes and RD. Simply stunning. Shimano would be hard-pressed to make anything nicer today.
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02-20-24, 03:38 PM
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The market is probably pretty small, but I'd bet a 50th anniversary 12-speed Dura Ace RIM BRAKE MECHNAICAL groupset would sell well enough.