smd4

I believe the Dura Ace 7700 series was the last-best looking Dura Ace group set ever made.

I loved the previous 7400 group. The metal was sensuously sculpted and the parts actually looked light. It was the group that enticed me to upgrade my lowly 600EX parts. The rear derailleur had beautiful dark and clear anodizing. The group got even better with the introduction of the gray aero brake levers and gray downtube shifters. But it never got beyond 8-speed.

The 7800 group crank is a blob of aluminum flowing into inelegant chainrings; the rear freehub features a bulbous protrusion on the drive-side, ostensibly to accommodate the freehub body; the brake calipers gained some unnecessary angularity, while the upper caliper arm seems modeled on the Statue of Liberty’s torch arm, holding the barrel adjuster up high, beseeching the poor, huddled masses to tighten the cable. The stubby and inelegant quick-release lever does not help.

The following Dura Ace component sets only go downhill from there in terms of aesthetics. Black parts have no place on bikes—even black plastic bikes. Sure—you can talk about increased numbers of gears or electronic shifting, but truly, the last-best looking Dura Ace group was the 7700.

The 7700 crankset is a tour-de-force of form following function, with elegant arms spreading out from a central self-extracting bolt, replacing the smooth dustcap of the previous iteration. The initial Hollowtech crank arm technology hides a weight-saving channel running down the crankarms’ center—and to my knowledge these cranks don’t fail, as later models have. The brakes are graceful and functional; the rear hub is bulb-free, sporting its nine cogs, some made out of titanium, on a titanium body. The rear derailleur is sublime in its lines and anodizing. While integrated shift/brake levers were available, Shimano also still offered downtube shifters. Coupled with the gray 7402 brake levers with return spring and the rare but striking Dura Ace quill stem, the cockpit was the quintessence of elegance.

Sure, the bottom bracket and the pedals leave something to be desired (an Ultegra Octalink cartridge bottom bracket is certainly an acceptable and functional substitute, as are PD-7400 pedals; arguably the nicest platform pedals ever made), but beyond those quibbles, I believe the 7700 group represents the ultimate high water mark for Dura Ace components. If I could only afford the 25th Anniversary version, whose fit and finish is beyond luxurious.

tendency

I pretty much agree - it's a toss up for me between the 7400 and 7700. Love the 7400 series; everything about it has a timeless classic design.

I find much of the 9000 series DA stuff to be hideously designed.

shoota 

DA9000 is the best looking ever made, followed by 7400 and 7700.

smd4

I LOVE the 7400 stuff. Everything about it was beautifully designed. I remember when I got my first 7400 rear derailleur in 1987. Before I put it on the bike I spent hours studying it in my hands.. It was truly like a piece of jewelry.

smd4

"X" shaped cranks lose all kinds of style points.

nlerner

I thought this was the C&V forum? 7700 is far too current. I'm going with first gen Dura Ace in black:


(photo from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/295759900499645374/)

Mr. 66

I have the black hubs that go with your group. They are waiting time, and spokes, to be built up on some black Ukai rims.

nlerner

Oh, man. That will be very awesome!

kermie

I too have to go with the DA 7400 for it's jewel like appearance. I studied the one I got for my Allez Pro for days before installing it.

shoota 

7700 had downtube shifters. That's pretty C&V.

prj71

I'm trying to decide if you are making love to your groupset or what is going on here.

icemilkcoffee 

The 7700 maybe the best looking Dura Ace, but the 6500 is the best looking Shimano groupset.

DMC707

Im going against the grain here, but i really like 7800

smd4

The 6500 crankset was a work of art.

genejockey 

The 7410 crankset is the most beautiful crankset ever made. Period. The 7700 looks like it TRIED to be as pretty as the 7410 but failed.

The 7402 RD is the best looking derailleur Shimano ever made, but I think Campy made prettier ones.

The 7700 STIs are better looking than the 7401s, though. I'll give you that.

7400 hubs are way better looking than anything earlier, but the 7700s look the same.

I currently have a nearly complete 7410 groupset that I'm keeping, waiting for the right frame to come along. It could be a while....

genejockey 

No love for Sante?

Steel Charlie

Absolutely

bamboobike4

I tend to agree. The "flattening" did the trick on the 7410. I think they should have just kept the 7410 and called it 7710.

I like the 7700 GS, but I see your point. Elegant simplicity and it evokes rectangles.

I agree, and they shift as light as any STI ever made. Petite precision, unencumbered by cable routing.

The 7403 is the best all-around set I've ever used, but Those 8-speed Campy Records are so darn pretty.

Narrow BB spindle? I've only ever seen the crankset, and I think it used something like a 103-104mm....

I'm still a huge 7700 fan, but boy, the DA 9000 with the combo of the polished chrome and glossy black....those are beautiful calipers, RD, FD.

bamboobike4

Seems like each group had a plus and a minus.
The 7800 crankset just reminds me of the 1982 Firebird bowling ball hubcaps. I'm not sure why.

bamboobike4

Ellis Cycles showed a 16-lb lugged frame at NAHBS in 2010? with the 25th Anniversary group on it.
It almost hurt to see anyone touch it.

tcs

No love for 600 Arabesque when fitted to a bike with fancy lug work?

bamboobike4

9000 replaced 7700 on this. I needed the compact. 7700 shifters definitely looked better.

bamboobike4

Um....
OK. I get it.

genejockey 

Yeah, the 7410 takes the BB-7410, which I think is the first DA cartridge BB. 103mm. And I have one. Maybe not as glassy smooth as it was in the 1990s, but not bad. I had put the whole kit on a 1995 Litespeed Ultimate frame, making it the bike I LONGED FOR back in the 1990s, but in the end my legs are 25 years older and the local climbs didn't get any less steep, so I replaced the whole thing with R8000 Ultegra. I had thought about doing a mixed group, but in the end I decided against.

genejockey 

IMO, the most recent DA - and Ultegra and 105, for that matter, are purposeful in a way that makes them attractive, but the 7410 era is just better looking.