Do Shimano N105 and N600 exist?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 446
Bikes: 1996 LeMond Yellow Jersey, 2013 Soma Saga, 1980 Zebrakenko Wind, 1980 Nishiki Ultimate
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Do Shimano N105 and N600 exist?
Finding Shimano N groups in 80s catalogs and thinking they meant New 105 and New 600 as a way to abbreviate within the limited space in printed spec sheets. Shimano N105 and Shimano N600 dont actually exist correct?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,223
Mentioned: 656 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4722 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,046 Times
in
1,882 Posts
Yes, that is correct. 105 became New 105 (1987-1989). 600EX become New 600EX (1984-1987) and Dura-Ace EX became New Dura-Ace (1985-1996). In the case of New 600EX and New Dura-Ace, Shimano quietly dropped the 'New' designation from their literature after 2-3 years, once the new group was established with the public.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Holland
Posts: 952
Bikes: 2007 Nagasawa with C-Record, 1992 Duell with Croce D'aune/Chorus, three Gazelles, M5 recumbent
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 47 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 25 Times
in
15 Posts
N105 did not exist. There was a 'New 600 EX' group in the 80s.
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 446
Bikes: 1996 LeMond Yellow Jersey, 2013 Soma Saga, 1980 Zebrakenko Wind, 1980 Nishiki Ultimate
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Sooo... no?
or alternatively it does not matter because if I tell Sprocket users its, for example, Dura-Ace + year they will know regardless of whether I put 'new' on the front.
Im just working to compress the amount of information shown so that text does not wrap to a second line on as many devices as possible.
or alternatively it does not matter because if I tell Sprocket users its, for example, Dura-Ace + year they will know regardless of whether I put 'new' on the front.
Im just working to compress the amount of information shown so that text does not wrap to a second line on as many devices as possible.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 376
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
105 was simply introduced as a new group (I think in 1987). It didn't have an "old 105" predecessor. I think Shimano Golden Arrow is supposed to have preceeded it.
#6
Senior Member
#8
Death fork? Naaaah!!
Please see above post.
Top
Top
__________________
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 376
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Are you referring to the advertisement? What is actually in the ad? Golden Arrow or 105 components? I know that bike catalogs in 1987 referred to the 105 group as the "new shimano group". Unless those are Golden Arrow (and not 105) components in the ad, I'm not conceding that because the ad has a Golden Arrow logo in the ad, that that means that Golden Arrow was known as 105, prior to "105" being introduced as a group.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,223
Mentioned: 656 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4722 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,046 Times
in
1,882 Posts
IMO, Golden Arrow is only a nickname used by cyclists to facilitate identification of the group. All the official documentation that I've seen refers to it as Shimano 105. The nickname is based the symbol embossed onto the components and the colour of fill. If you look closely you will see that the symbol is actually a bow and arrow and may be homage to Archery, an early Shimano derailleur. I can't ever recall seeing any Shimano documentation refering to it as Golden Arrow. In fact, a lot of period Shimano advertisements actually print the bow and arrow symbol in blue, which would be a major marketing faux-pas if the official name was Golden Arrow.
Last edited by T-Mar; 01-15-16 at 08:38 PM.
#11
Death fork? Naaaah!!
FWIW, I've had these in blue, red, and black as well as gold.
Top
Top
__________________
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
#12
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,840
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 154 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3616 Post(s)
Liked 3,446 Times
in
1,957 Posts
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,223
Mentioned: 656 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4722 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,046 Times
in
1,882 Posts
Good example. Another is "600 Tri-Colour". The official designation is "600 Ultegra" even though Ultegra doesn't appear on the components. However the "tri-colour" nickname stuck because of the small three coloured bar that appeared on the components.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,624
Bikes: iele Latina, Miele Suprema, Miele Uno LS, Miele Miele Beta, MMTB, Bianchi Model Unknown, Fiori Venezia, Fiori Napoli, VeloSport Adamas AX
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1324 Post(s)
Liked 927 Times
in
640 Posts
I was working at a very large bicycle shop in Toronto, Canada when N600 came out and also when the 105 groupset came out. The N in the 600 stood for New to differentiate it from the earlier 600 EX stuff. The 105 stuff was always referred to as Shimano 105 or simply 105.
There are so many variants of 105 now since it was first introduced that it gets confusing when someone says they have 105 parts.
Cheers
There are so many variants of 105 now since it was first introduced that it gets confusing when someone says they have 105 parts.
Cheers
#16
Bench vise user
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 531
Bikes: 2004 Orbea Marmaloda, 1982 S12-S LTD, 1956? Maino, 1985 Sagres
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 79 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Slightly OT: did the number 105 come from something, or did they just like how it sounds?
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 446
Bikes: 1996 LeMond Yellow Jersey, 2013 Soma Saga, 1980 Zebrakenko Wind, 1980 Nishiki Ultimate
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
600 is Ultegra
Ultegra was 600
Whats the more correct way to refer to Shimano 600 Ultegra parts to compress down the number of letters?
A: 600
B: Ultegra
C: (must be described as 600 Ultegra)
Last edited by NukeouT; 01-16-16 at 10:48 PM.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,223
Mentioned: 656 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4722 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,046 Times
in
1,882 Posts
#20
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,464
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3133 Post(s)
Liked 2,115 Times
in
1,378 Posts
I love how Shimano technical documentation has used the same font and numbering format for more than thirty years. Standards are helpful!
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,223
Mentioned: 656 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4722 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,046 Times
in
1,882 Posts
There is no proper way to compress 600 Ultegra, which is why it is often referred to by the nickname of "tri-colour". The only other method to identify it is by the series number which is 6400. So, sometimes you'll see Ultegra 6400 or Shimano 6400.
#22
Extraordinary Magnitude
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,653
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
Mentioned: 85 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2609 Post(s)
Liked 1,709 Times
in
939 Posts
Was there an SIS version of 105 after the golden arrow stuff but before the 1987 105? Or was "new" 105 that @armstrong101 has in the Bianchi catalog actually from 85/86?
I know "Light Action" was 6 speed SIS in 1986- I would think those components sit lower than 105.
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#23
Extraordinary Magnitude
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,653
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
Mentioned: 85 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2609 Post(s)
Liked 1,709 Times
in
939 Posts
Think of Dura-Ace, 600 and 105 as family names, equivalent to Smith, Jones and Brown. EX, AX, New EX and Ultegra become the equivalent of forenames such as Bob, Jim and Tom. If I just said Smith you wouldn't know if I was referring to Bob Smith or Jim Smith. If I just said Bob, you wouldn't know if I was referring to Bob Smith, Bob Jones or Bob Brown. But if I said Bob Smith you would know exactly whom I'm referring to. The slight difference is that in Shimano's world, the patriarch of the family is only referred to by surname. Also, in the late 1990s one of the families changed their surname (600 became Ultegra). At about the same time big brother took over and did away with forenames, so that we had to start referring to series numbers to distinguish members of a family.
There is no proper way to compress 600 Ultegra, which is why it is often referred to by the nickname of "tri-colour". The only other method to identify it is by the series number which is 6400. So, sometimes you'll see Ultegra 6400 or Shimano 6400.
There is no proper way to compress 600 Ultegra, which is why it is often referred to by the nickname of "tri-colour". The only other method to identify it is by the series number which is 6400. So, sometimes you'll see Ultegra 6400 or Shimano 6400.
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#24
Senior Member
I've got this odd Shimano RX100 groupset on an 1988 Fuji Club. I can't tell the difference between it and 105.
~
~
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,223
Mentioned: 656 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4722 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,046 Times
in
1,882 Posts
It's an easy mistake to make. As an adjective, "new" could be used to describe a a group which never existed before or the replacement for an existing group. However, if you look at the Shimano literature and advertisements, it always appears as "New" or "NEW", with the capitalization signifying it is part of the proper group name and not a simple adjective.