Classtime 

When my Richard Sachs was on its way to Joe Bell to get painted, complete 25th Anniversary sets were going for $1500. I got 7900 instead. I’m still kicking my self. The 7900 is long gone and my RS has had 7700 for most of its life (but with down tube or bar end shifters).

smd4

I did like the looks of the earlier Campagnolo Chorus and Croce D’Aune groups, but the fact that they weren’t top of the line was not lost on me. I’m now thinking the 7700 group, especially in its 25th Anniversary guise, may be the nicest looking gruppo from any manufacturer.

darkmoon

Dura Ace 7700 and 25th anniversary comparison 001

STI levers
7700



25th anniversary



Hmmm, I can hardly see the difference, but the logo "25".
i-phone camera is good, my technique isn't as good as i-phone camera.

smd4

I can see a slightly better polish on the lever. Standard 7700 already has a pretty nice polish, but the 25th Anniversary set took it up a notch. Best seen on large swaths of aluminum, like the cranks, and parts of the brakes which previously were anodized grey.

But for me, one of the distinguishing features of the 25th Anniversary group is the group’s name printed in white throughout. this was very rarely done in the past, on dark anodized brake and shift levers, but looks especially elegant on the mirror-polished 25th Anniversary parts.

embankmentlb

7700 is a beautiful group! Love the 25th! The finish is a bit soft and really shows it’s use over time. If I had the 25th it would stay in the suitcase or on a display bike.

smd4

I did debate a bit when I got my rear derailleur and brake calipers, but it seemed silly not to use them. Not sure what I’d do if I had the cased complete group.

embankmentlb

I would definitely use them if I was lucky enough to have them!

curbtender

Thankful they used steel face plates.

darkmoon

1999, Koga-Miyata celebrated 25th anniversary with a limited model.
FullPro Limited is it.
It had Dura Ace 25th anniversary set.

It's a gem!
cornflower blue sapphire!

I didn't know that model, and a friend/bike shop owner didn't neither.
Koga-Miyata bikes were available in Japan but this gem was for only Holland?, I don't know.


pic source below

https://bikerumor.com/eb14-koga-unve...-retro-builds/

Dutch mag?
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2...th720.jpg.html

darkmoon

Unfortunately, this forum isn't popular
I love early brifters, and Dura Ace 7410 and 7700 STI levers.
I'll stand much more posts!

STI lever hood
I didn't expect 25th hood is stamped "25".
25th replacement isn't available, of course.


7700




25th anniversary

smd4

I know. I originally posted this in C&V, but the mods moved it. I guess technically the DA 7700 stuff is "early brifter," But I think it's in how it's utilized: I use it with downtube shifters and DA 7402 brake levers. By all outward appearances my bike is clearly in the "C&V" camp.

EDIT: Just realized this thread has far more replies than any other thread on this Forum! Guess some folks enjoy 7700!

Didn't realize the "25" was also on the hoods! Talk about attention to detail.

BMC_Kid 

I am definitely an odd one it seems but I have use PPF or paint protection film on all my bike builds. Not just the frame but also on those components that get touched, rubbed, or banged into. There is a learning curve to get it to conform to complex shapes and curves but it’s not hard once you get the hang of it. I have even created patterns for my Athena 11-speed parts since I have three sets. I even use it on my carbon Campy components. Anyway, my 25th Dura Ace looks like new even though it was installed and used.

smd4

Great idea! I think I may have done something a little similar: I have standard 7700 cranks, but saw that you can get 25th Anniversary decals for the cranks--white lettering and the "25" logo on a vinyl decal. I took a chance on a set, and wouldn't you know it--the white lettering on the film is sized exactly the same as the existing dark lettering! So I used the wet method, and installed those decals. So now my original lettering is protected, and the white lettering matches some of my other parts!

darkmoon

with Star fork, ad23 Rabobank scheme
spinergy wheel set

hmmm, not bad
I want it

smd4

I wonder why they didn’t use a titanium axle in the rear hub? I swapped mine out for an XTR Ti version.

smd4

And while I value the lightness of the 7700 cranks, I think I prefer the shape of the 6500 Ultegra cranks. Those should have been the Dura Ace design.

georges1

I have had 7700 and 6500 equipment on my peugeot prestige race bike forover 15 years but will up grade to dura ace 7800 regarding brakes, cassette sprockets, front and rear derailleur . The dura ace and ultegra 7700 and 6500 were top notch performers back in the day and still perform flawlessly after many many years and are a better price quality ratio than campagnolo record or chorus groups. I have bought luckily some years ago 7800 sis downtube shifting levers. I have checked the11spd and 12spd ultegra and dura ace not as nice in terms of design as the previous 8spd, 9spd and10spd versions. The 12spd versions of dura ace and ultegra are disc brake only, a big negative for me.

smd4

I’ve heard the 7800 brakes are probably the best rim brakes ever. Sounds like a great upgrade. I was thinking about getting a set before I saw a pair of 25th Anniversary ones on eBay.

darkmoon

STI levers, left

7700




25th

darkmoon

Brakes, front

7700




25th

darkmoon

Brakes, rear

7700




25th

georges1

They are nicer aesthetically than the 7900, I will keep my dura ace 7700 crankset. For the rest, I am not a fan of the aesthetics of the 7900, 9000 and 9100 r(looks like a xtr shadow derailleur) rear derailleurs, brakes and brakes. An interesting link about the Dura Ace history Dura Ace history

BMC_Kid 

Cool. So do you plan on covering those decals with PPF? I would if it were me.

BMC_Kid 

I have bikes with both groups, 6500 and 7700. They are very similar and aesthetically, a case could be made for a preference of either over the other. They are both very nice looking. My favorite DA crankset is still the 7410, last of the solid arm cranks. To my eye, it has an old-school elegance that the thicker hollow crank arms lack. Having said that, I still liked the 6500 and 7700 enough to equip 4 bikes with it, and my preference, and if the labels were removed, would still be the 7700 as I prefer the juncture of the crank arms to the rings.

curbtender

Had a question on the 9speed triple version. Seems the DA is set to have a trim in the big ring where the Ultegra doesn't. Is that the case?