Shimano Dura-Ace

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Hills

Bike Setup:
2005 Orca
Sram Force Groupo
Rolf Wheels

Summary:
Shamano Durace is no comparison for SRAM Force or SRAM Red. I had a my second bike built up with SRAM force as I had several buddies telling me how wonderful force was and how they would never go back. Its not that I was disappointed with Durace. Its that it seems so clunky and out of date, as i could never get it dialed in without some chain rub. All I have to say is in comparison for a top of the line component they definately need to keep up with the Jones's. And now that they are completely loosing the component race with SRAM in the mix they need to come up with something quick.

Strengths:
Cheap

Weaknesses:
Everything compared to Campy and Sram.

Similar Products Used:
Campy and Sram

Price Paid:  $500.00 at Ebay

Bike Setup:
CAAD8 Full Dura Ace

Summary:
I bought the 7700, used it for a couple months then decided to get the 7800. I love them both. I was really upset when the 7800 arrived and I discovered that the marvel in engineering that Shimano claimed to have shaved almost a pound off the group was simply changing everything they could from nice aluminum to plastic. Total garbage. That said, they are both amazing Grouppos. As far as performance is concerned, the 10sp wins, just be sure you have a competent, experienced mechanic working on it. I like the 7700 style better because there are NO plastic parts. On the 7800, the downshift levers are completely plastic, and I promise to break them just before next year's first ironman, and because shimano is such a douchebag company, Ill probably have to buy totally new levers at full retail. I rant on...Really though they are great components. Both are nice on the eyes and work flawlessly right out of the box.

Strengths:
Everything

Weaknesses:
7700--NONE
7800--Too much plastic

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at PBK

Favorite Ride:
The Beach Road, Melbourne

Bike Setup:
Look 461HR frame
Deda DAVS fork
Deda logo stem and bars
Dura-Ace 10 speed
FSA SLK Crankset
Selle Italia Thoork
Look Keo Carbon pedals

Summary:
I have been very impressed, efficient, effective, economical.
I do not run the Cranks, and I now kind of regret selling them, but my FSA SLK's were near new and supposed to be lighter, and they were already fitted.
Brakes are powerful, shifters comfortable, and accurate, as are the rest of the gear system.
You do go through Chain's and Cassettes, and these bits are expensive as spare parts.
I would consider running Dura Ace for everything else and running Ultegra Chain and Cassette for a high mileage training bike. But I am a bit of a poseur so it is Dura Ace all the way for me!

Strengths:
Super Smooth, precise
Cheap compared to everything else at the same level.
Reasonable weight
Comfortable hoods

Weaknesses:
Chain's and Cassettes need replacing too soon

Similar Products Used:
105, (Old) Super Record

Price Paid:  $0.00 at bike shop

Favorite Ride:
Mountains

Bike Setup:
Trek Madone 5.9L use both Bontrager and Ksyrium wheels.

Summary:
The final word on bike component selection, find the Shimano group or part that fits your need and budget, buy it, ride the piss out of it and love life. The DA is so much more smooth and silent compared to Campy or Sram. I ride with guys that have both and their bikes are so much louder than mine. I know all shimano sti levers wear out in 10-15K but they are worth it. The hoods of the lever rock! Armchairs for your hands! Nice crank- using Shimano compact

Strengths:
Quiet, smooooth and fast shifting... just works...

Weaknesses:
levers will wear out...

Similar Products Used:
Record (hate the chain, hate the 150$$ tool for the chain, do not like hoods

Price Paid:  $300.00 at Craigs List and Frie

Favorite Ride:
anything without a head/cross wind

Bike Setup:
1997 Trek 2120- about 800 miles on it, all original 105 with a triple
1993 Trek 1200 with over 10,000, all 105 with a double, new(er chain, replaced at around 5k for safe measure)

Summary:
Love the components on both bikes, 1993 1200 has over 10k miles from me(not sure what it had before that i bought it in 2005 from someone) replaced the chain at 5k for good measure(and had some rust spots(sat in a garage for a while before i got it))
On the 2120 i got the bike with less than 100 miles on it but it sat in a garage for over 10 years, rode fine but adjusted it when i lubed and cleaned it all anyway, haven't had any problems with either bike. The brakes could be better but they're more than sufficient for rec riding.
Next time i replace the chain I'll go with ultegra or d/a cassette and probably derailleurs on the 2120, just the cassette on the 1200 just because I'm replacing them anyway. Unless you're racing often all the components in this grouppo are more than enough. Not a huge difference between ultegra/da in performance(excluding weight).

Strengths:
Durable, low maintanance, hassle free, great performance/price ratio, performance is on par with higher end(not as good but in the same league), lower cost of replacing parts, allows more room in your budget to get a better frame and still have good components

Weaknesses:
weight
not quite as quick or smooth as ultegra or d/a but also doesn't cost nearly as much.
Brake power could be better, it isn't bad but definitely not this grouppo's strong point

Similar Products Used:
Sram Force, Dura Ace, Ultegra, Record, Super Record, a lot more, and tiagra and sora(once each, that won't happen again, those grouppos horrible)