Shimano has officially unveiled the latest 9000-series of its legendary Dura-Ace professional-quality groupset.
A closer look at the Team Sky-tested groupset
Shimano, the world's largest cycling component maker and the official supplier of groupsets to Team Sky has officially unveiled the latest 9000-series of its legendary Dura-Ace professional-quality groupset.
With work stretching back to last summer as test team, Team Sky has been the first WorldTour squad to use Dura-Ace 9000 in competitive action this season ahead of its public launch, prompting a frenzy of photographs featuring the mysterious new asymetric, four-arm crank. Riders have been using the electronic-shifting Di2 version designated 9070 on which there are several significant improvements in addition to the overall mechanical bonuses, not least a much smaller battery designed to hide away in the seattube.
Nevertheless, the headline feature that will grab the attention of cyclists, journalists, discussion forums and bike shops across the world today will be the 11 sprockets on the rear wheel, but according to Takao Harada, the Dura-Ace engineer that hosted a recent bumpy ride across the cobbles around Team Sky's Service Course in the Flandrian countryside, the objective was to achieve more than just an extra gear ratio to choose from.
He explained: “Every component is completely redesigned to achieve an overall lighter weight for the mechanical version under 2,000 grams, while improving the feel and shift precision of the gears; especially the front mechanism, improved modulation and mounting options for the brakes as well as maintaining the stylish, iconic design that Dura-Ace is known for.”
Thanks to a hands-on session with Team Sky mechanic Alan Williams and Shimano's Product Manager Tim Gerrits, we also found there are helpful improvements in the set-up plus we got to see the new Dura-Ace inner control cables that feature a ribbed polymer coating, all the better “to hold grease and ease the light shift feel we were looking for,” according to Gerrits.
Barry and Dowsett take us for a ride on new Dura-Ace
Most importantly, though, we got a chance to ride Team Sky’s Pinarello Dogma 2 bikes equipped with the new components led by Alex Dowsett and Michael Barry, just prior to the Canadian’s welcome return to racing at the Glava Tour of Norway where he helped Edvald Boasson Hagen to victory.
The guys are very happy with the new Dura-Ace. Barry, who professed to feeling equally at home with both mechanical and Di2 electronic versions of the previous 7900 groupset says he's happy that the new 9000 levers are smaller in diameter to grasp and set closer to the handlebars. “I've got small hands so I'm finding them noticeably more comfortable,” he explained.
Dowsett says he preferred the electronic version of the old group but that the new mechanical components are now just as good as Di2, particularly enjoying the lightness of the shift and the fact the levers are now an improved shape, agreeing with Barry: “It's nice to be able to jump off the Di2 onto the 11-speed and have it feel almost exactly the same. I slotted straight into it. With Shimano's you feel like you are in the levers, not on them - and in the bike, not on it.”
Impressive improvements
How was it for us? Yes, we don't have huge hands either and the levers with a new dual-density rubber compound do feel wieldier but the big change is that shift, especially at the front. The resistance is significantly lower – 47% less so – and the stroke between ratios is smaller. Dropping the chain from the big to the small ring and especially back up from small to big is as effortless as you can imagine, precipitating lots of gratuitous shifting – which is fun when you're on rolling roads and a whole lot of one-tooth-difference ratios to play with.
Shimano has been using the word 'vivid' to describe the shift quality they've been aiming for, which makes sense when you try it; there's still that distinctive and subtle Dura-Ace sensation of a 'click' to feed back that things are happening and furthermore, Shimano have revealed that 10 clicks top-to-bottom or back can be executed faster than rivals are claiming for their multi-shift operation.
A major plus point for Dowsett, the new Dura-Ace 9000 brakes offer a 10% improvement in stiffness despite the lower weight which translates into finer modulation, certainly borne out in use. What we're especially excited about is that the new symmetric dual-pivot design allows the abandoning of a conventional rear mount plate so that the callipers can be direct-mounted onto studs – the chainstays of a time-trial bike, for example.
Dura-Ace 9000 summary component-by-component
Take a look at our in-depth gallery here
FC 9000 chainset
New four-arm design is as stiff as the old one but lighter. The asymmetrically arranged arms are aligned for stiffness on the power strokes. 110mm bcd is good for both standard and compact chainrings with combinations available: 53/39, 50/34, 54/42, 55/42 and new 52/36 and 52/38.
BB 9000 bottom bracket
Same diameter axle but bearings are smaller and set wider apart and with better seals.
ST 9000 shift and brake levers
Dual compound hoods for increased grip and an overall smaller diameter with levers closer to the handlebars.
FD and RD 9000 front and rear gear mechanisms
Both actually lighter and feeling lighter to operate, with more consistent resistance across full range.
CS 9000 11-speed cassette
Durability just as good as 10-speed but better shifting due to reprofiled teeth but same overall size and HG spacing. Body is 1.85mm wider. Similar range options to now but obviously extra sprocket fills in a gap for better ration spacing.
CN 9000 chain
New PTFE coating means 20% better durability, according to Shimano. Slightly narrower than before and no longer asymmetric - it works either way. This and a new pin design mean easier, more reliable assembly.
BR 9000 brakes
New symmetric dual pivot design is both lighter, stiffer and allows direct frame mount on 'aero' frame designs. In this guise, an optional 9010 inline control cable module allows remote adjustment and quick-release.
WH 9000 wheels
New hubs with better seals will also accept 10-speed cassettes. Rim depths 24, 35, 50 and 75mm now feature 24mm rim width for improved aerodynamics.
PD 9000
New 9000 pedal is lighter and features a new front pivot floating cleat. There is an option with a 4mm longer axle.
