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Equipment/Product Review (1989) Shimano Dura-Ace 8s (7400) and Deore XT-II 7s (M730)

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Equipment/Product Review (1989) Shimano Dura-Ace 8s (7400) and Deore XT-II 7s (M730)

Old 06-10-21, 07:56 AM
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Equipment/Product Review (1989) Shimano Dura-Ace 8s (7400) and Deore XT-II 7s (M730)







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Old 06-10-21, 01:01 PM
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That first year XT Hyperglide group really set the standard for robust shifting.

I dare say it was a game-changer.
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Old 06-12-21, 01:40 AM
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Good to know that bike reviewers have been promoting the concern-trolling / fear-mongering "Boy, I don't know if the claimed new, superior braking ability will be easy to modulate like before!" line for decades, just like hackneyed auto journo reviewers. Dudes needed to get some new material ages ago...

7402 Dura-Ace =
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Old 06-12-21, 05:53 AM
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I'm a big fan of Shimano 7s both for old MTBs and for touring/long distance machines.
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Old 06-12-21, 06:25 AM
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Neat to see how nonchalant and "can-do" they are about spreading the MTB frame to 135. I guess rear spacings were evolving quickly in the MTB world at that time, so people were used to it. None of this "cold-set" terminology that makes people think it's an involved and hazardous operation only done only by framebuilders. "No problem spreading the rear triangle", dear readers!
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Old 06-12-21, 12:39 PM
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Cool, thanks, SpeedofLite , I've had some of that DA group sitting in a box since last year waiting to be built up on an early '90s Trek 5900.

I was surprised to see the article mention backward compatibility with 6 and 7 speed STI. I must have misread other specs that cast some doubt on backward compatibility. I've been using mostly 8-speed Ultegra front and rear derailleurs because I was under the impression they retained more backward compatibility.

Now I'm encouraged to finish cleaning those DA 7402 bits and put 'em on a bike.
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Old 06-12-21, 03:43 PM
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Originally Posted by canklecat
Cool, thanks, SpeedofLite , I've had some of that DA group sitting in a box since last year waiting to be built up on an early '90s Trek 5900.

I was surprised to see the article mention backward compatibility with 6 and 7 speed STI. I must have misread other specs that cast some doubt on backward compatibility. I've been using mostly 8-speed Ultegra front and rear derailleurs because I was under the impression they retained more backward compatibility.

Now I'm encouraged to finish cleaning those DA 7402 bits and put 'em on a bike.
I'm glad the article helped to encourage you. I went into the article believing the RD 7402 was backward compatible with 6/7 spd SIS Dura Ace components, but not with other Shimano or non-Shimano index systems.
At least that's what I think the Sheldon Brown article on DA compatibility showed. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/dura-ace.html
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Old 06-12-21, 07:56 PM
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"Five, six, seven, eight (speeds)...Where will it stop?" If they only knew then what we know now.

Then goes on to suggest the extra cog gear be used for a 26t "bailout" cog. Hard men back then.

Kind of a strange take on improved braking: makes sense for racers looking for an edge on a descent, "but do the rest of us need better braking?" Who doesn't want better braking?!
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Old 06-12-21, 09:12 PM
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Originally Posted by canklecat
Cool, thanks, SpeedofLite , I've had some of that DA group sitting in a box since last year waiting to be built up on an early '90s Trek 5900.

I was surprised to see the article mention backward compatibility with 6 and 7 speed STI. I must have misread other specs that cast some doubt on backward compatibility. I've been using mostly 8-speed Ultegra front and rear derailleurs because I was under the impression they retained more backward compatibility.

Now I'm encouraged to finish cleaning those DA 7402 bits and put 'em on a bike.
Originally Posted by SpeedofLite
I'm glad the article helped to encourage you. I went into the article believing the RD 7402 was backward compatible with 6/7 spd SIS Dura Ace components, but not with other Shimano or non-Shimano index systems.
At least that's what I think the Sheldon Brown article on DA compatibility showed. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/dura-ace.html
The article does not explain this point too clearly. The backwards compatibility is for 6/7 speed Dura Ace shifters only. The RD-7402 did not change the actuation ratio. The Sheldon Brown info for the 74xx series RD is accurate (and very informative).
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Old 06-12-21, 09:43 PM
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Originally Posted by scarlson
Neat to see how nonchalant and "can-do" they are about spreading the MTB frame to 135. I guess rear spacings were evolving quickly in the MTB world at that time, so people were used to it. None of this "cold-set" terminology that makes people think it's an involved and hazardous operation only done only by framebuilders. "No problem spreading the rear triangle", dear readers!
Yep. Actually, the Deore XT II and Deore II hubs were available in both 130mm and 135mm OLD. I remember stocking the shelves at Euro-Asia Imports years ago with all the variations: 130mm and 135mm, 32 and 36 hole, black and silver. Keeping all of that straight was... "fun".
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Old 06-13-21, 05:23 PM
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I am in the middle of a build with this group, have not even ridden it yet! Maybe next weekend. Looking forward to trying it and comparing it to Campy Ergo 8v.
Anyone running 28T cassette on RD-7402? Right now I have 13-26, which is OK, but there are some big hills I would rather have a 28T.
Or could I change the front to something smaller than 39?
Lastly, any source of brifter hoods for STI 7400?
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Old 06-13-21, 06:14 PM
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Originally Posted by KCT1986
The article does not explain this point too clearly. The backwards compatibility is for 6/7 speed Dura Ace shifters only. The RD-7402 did not change the actuation ratio. The Sheldon Brown info for the 74xx series RD is accurate (and very informative).
I think that they meant that the 8s rear derailer worked perfectly on earlier D-A 6 and 7-speed drivetrains.
This was important to know because production of the earlier ones had already ceased by the time that the newer 8s mech arrived.

Not that the earlier ones indexed quite right all the way through the wider 8s range (they wouldn't).
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Old 06-13-21, 06:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Steel1
I am in the middle of a build with this group, have not even ridden it yet! Maybe next weekend. Looking forward to trying it and comparing it to Campy Ergo 8v.
Anyone running 28T cassette on RD-7402? Right now I have 13-26, which is OK, but there are some big hills I would rather have a 28T.
Or could I change the front to something smaller than 39?
Lastly, any source of brifter hoods for STI 7400?
You could try it with the same length chain to gain a little bit of clearance, then adjust the axle in the dropouts.

Some folks use a longer b-tension screw, or better yet LocTite a M4 dome-head hex nut onto the tip of the B-screw to gain chain gap clearance.

You can't go too tight on chain tension or the chain will hesitate to shift off of the big cog when using the big ring. And it can do real damage if the chain goes tight while shifting (the chain needs some slack to accommodate riding over the tips of the teeth during shifts).
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Old 06-13-21, 06:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Steel1
I am in the middle of a build with this group, have not even ridden it yet! Maybe next weekend. Looking forward to trying it and comparing it to Campy Ergo 8v.
Anyone running 28T cassette on RD-7402? Right now I have 13-26, which is OK, but there are some big hills I would rather have a 28T.
Or could I change the front to something smaller than 39?
Lastly, any source of brifter hoods for STI 7400?
MY '85 Ironman has 8 speed Campy and my '88 Ironman has 8 speed Dura Ace. The campy is good but clunky compared to the Dura Ace.
Also my 7402 Dura Ace RD shifts the 28 just fine.
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