Summary: Good product with a GREAT installation kit. As noted by another reviewer, included the package is every crimp end, rubber anti-noise doughnut, and doo-dad you need to do a full installation.
I have three road bikes, all Dura-Ace. As an experiment I outfitted one with Nokon, one with Aztec Powerlines, and recently, one with Jagwires due to my disappointment with the first two. All 3 shifted much better than standard Shimano cables when new. The problem with Nokons and Powerlines is the liners chafe at all the contact points (such as under the BB). When the liners chafe through, the cables are shot. Takes about 8-12 months if you ride every day. The Jagwires don't look as sexy, they are more conventional but with nice improvements over stock. The ferrules, for example, have low-friction, lined, tapered ends. I don't know whether they will last any longer than the Nokons or Powerlines, but they feel just as good, are way less expensive, and way easier to install.
Strengths: Great installation kit. Excellent attention to detail (superior ferrules, for example). Terrific fit. Relatively inexpensive compared to other custom cable systems. Good selection of colors.
Weaknesses: Don't look as sexy or as exotic as the Nokons or the Aztec Powerlines.
Similar Products Used: Nokon, Aztec Powerlines
Would you like to Comment? Join RoadbikeReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Bike Setup: Pinarello F4:13. Mostly FSA parts. Rolf wheels. Tiso rear derailleur. Last but not least, I finally equipped it with that new vertebrae ceramic housing.
Summary: For the money these are okay. Not great. Just ok.
Why? Well I found that they're not significantly different to any other standard bowden housing (even despite a bit of kevlar). They still have the steel cables and nylon liner. Sure, it works better than standard shimano housing which I find is very mushy (at least with the brakes).
Campagnolo housing works better, but for me the best is by far vertebrae.
Strengths: They are relatively cheap.
Weaknesses: It's not true compressionless housing like nokon or vertebrae, so the reputed performance just isn't there. It doesn't last more than 1 or at most 2 years, so it ain't as cheap as you think.
Bike Setup: Gunnar steel frame, Mavic Open Pro on Ultegra hubs. Uletgra shifters,front derailleur and triple cranks and an XT rear derailleur (for long rides/touring)
Summary: I just built up my new Gunnar road bike with the Jagwire derailleur and brake cables. They provide a very complete kit-obviously high quality, good instructions, and all the little doodads you need for seating cables. The cables are all double ended - one side marked "C" for Campy and the other "S" for Shimano. I would highly recommend this over buying separate cables, housing, and doodads - here you know you have everything you need and it all matches beautifully.
Strengths: Complete and very high quality housing.
Weaknesses: Not real weaknesses but realize that 1. you need a very good cable cutter to do a good job and 2. the little protectors they give you to keep the shifter cables from rubbing on your head tube are red (unlike all the other black doodads) and no way they were going on my orange bike.
Would you like to Comment? Join RoadbikeReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Summary: I swapped all my Ultegra cables over to Jagwire and noticed immediate improvements: brakes feel smoother and stiffer, and shifts are more crisp. I got the in-line cable adjusters and put those in near the hoods and dialing in the shifting was a breeze. The brake cable housings have an extra flexible, thin section that fits under the brake hood and into the handlebar grooves better than regular housings - a nice touch. Great upgrade - I'd do it agian.
Strengths: Works better than manufacturer's housings. Makes other components work and feel better.
Weaknesses: No weaknesses - the best cable sets I've ever used.
Similar Products Used: Shimano, Dia-compe, no-names.
Would you like to Comment? Join RoadbikeReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
5 of 5
5 of 5
3 of 5
3 of 5
