Shimano Dura-Ace RD-7700

Price Paid:  $65.00 at ebay new

Favorite Ride:
Alpine Loop

Bike Setup:
Leader bike 780r, Ultegra everything except DA rear Derailer and BB

Summary:
Worry free riding, the thing, once dialed-in, is crisp and fast.

Strengths:
Crisp, responsive

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
Ultegra (slower response and not quite as crisp)

Price Paid:  $0.00 at cycle surgery, spita

Favorite Ride:
home from work

Bike Setup:
look kg241, D-A ultegra, rolf wheels

Summary:
upgrading froma 105 rear mech is a big step, but I have been amazed how much difference. i've been able to drop two sprockets at the rear, going froma 13-23 to a 12-21 block. With a 9 sp ultegra block and chain the ride is absolutely silent, shicting light and accurate, witht the only proviso that tehre seems to be a slightly shorter shift between the 21 and 19, tending to slip over to the 18 tooth sprocket unless careful.

notably I've had this mech for about twice as long as any other. The tension adjust bolts and pulleys have gone out of shape or sheared insode half the time on otehr mechs, and I'm riding about 150 miles a week, so longevity is pretty impressive. Even at the price (in the Uk perhaps more competitive than campy, but still not a snip) it's well worth everyu penny.

Strengths:
smooth, fast, silent

Weaknesses:
light action can be tricky on friction setting (and who cares?)
hardly cheap

Similar Products Used:
105, athena

Price Paid:  $48.00 at eBay Used

Bike Setup:
Univega carbon frame, Performance carbon fork, Modolo ergo shifters, the rest 105 except rear der(Dura-Ace), Bontrager Race-Lite wheels, Cane Creek headset, Wellgo M3 pedals

Summary:
This is the best upgrade I've done. Find it on sale or used and BUY IT. THere's no comparison to 105. If you get a new bike w/105, immediately take the rear der off and sell it on eBay to help offset the cost. You should get about $20 for it, maybe more. Even if it's used, you can still get a minimum of $10. D/A rear der's can be found on sale for no more than $65.

Strengths:
Super smooth shifts

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
105

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Nice Traithlon

Bike Setup:
Kestrel KM40/Zipps/Dura Ace

Summary:
Never been convinced about the value of Dura Ace until I fitted the DA sti & rear mech to replace Ultegra. The internal cable routing of my KM40 can be 'demanding' on shifting but the DA copes fine and shifts are first rate.

Strengths:
Does the job. Pose value.

Weaknesses:
Price but worth it if you want the best

Similar Products Used:
105/Ultegra

Price Paid:  $69.00 at Supergo

Favorite Ride:
up any mountain in the Tour de France

Bike Setup:
Land Shark 853 frame with Reynolds Ouzo Pro fork, King Headset, Mavic wheels, Look 296 pedals, Ritch

Summary:
I'm an ex-racer who does fast 50-100 mile road rides. So I appreciate quick, easy shifting and low maintainance as well as an attractive finish. The Dura-Ace 9-speed derailleur provides all of these qualities.

Strengths:
Smooth shifting, durability (I have at least 25,000 miles on mine), good looks, light weight.

Weaknesses:
Well, I guess I could quibble about the price. But it's an excellent value compared to Campy, and if you look, you can find it for not (really) much more than Ultegra.

Similar Products Used:
Dura-Ace and Ultegra (600) 9-, 8, 7- 6 and 5-speeds. Campy Nuovo Record (from the old days.) Campy C-Record (They don't make 'em like that any more, thank God!)