re: Shimano Product codes

[ChrisG]

I have recently purchased a bike with a mixture of parts from consisting of dura ace, 600 and 105. I'm looking to get one groupset on it.
The bike is a 1990 model, the question is if I went down the dura ace route what number am i looking for. I'm getting confused with the online database.

7400 and 7600 both seem to cover around 1990?
I also have seen that 7400 is for road and 7600 is for track?

http://www.fa-technik.adfc.de/Herstelle ... pen90.html

 

[one-eyed_jim]

7600 is the track group. Very nice parts, but not what you're looking for.

The 7400 series Dura Ace parts have a few compatibility quirks of their own. The rear derailleurs have a unique geometry, so If you want indexed shifting, you need to match Dura Ace 7400 series mechs and levers. 1990 was a transitional period between Uniglide and Hyperglide hubs, and also between seven and eight speed cassettes. Dura Ace Uniglide hubs only take Dura Ace Uniglide cassettes. Dura Ace Hyperglide hubs will accept any Hyperglide cassette, but the freehub body attachment is unique, and parts are hard to find.

To a certain extent it depends what you can get your hands on, but the 6400 series Ultegra/600 group is still good stuff, without the compatibility problems and premium prices of Dura Ace. Ultegra Hyperglide freehubs were made in both 7 and 8-speed variations, and the indexing was compatible with all the lesser groups.

This table, also on the adfc.de site, identifies all the parts by year, group, and part number. Scroll down a bit for the 1990 road groups:

http://www.fa-technik.adfc.de/Herstelle ... en.html#90

 

[ChrisG]

thanks, that's a great help.