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Tech feature: Dura-Ace 7900 first ride, July 17, 2008

Dura-Ace 7900 isn't quite here yet
Photo ©: James Huang
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With so much hype surrounding the launch,
Photo ©: James Huang
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The new lever shape is far more comfortable than before.
Photo ©: James Huang
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The slight outward cant
Photo ©: James Huang
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Derailleur cables are now concealed beneath the handlebar tape
Photo ©: James Huang
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The new FlightDeck will be far easier to install
Photo ©: James Huang
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Shimano still uses tiny little screws
Photo ©: James Huang
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You must first remove the front plate
Photo ©: James Huang
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The shifter guts are now surprisingly exposed
Photo ©: James Huang
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…and only the lever hood provides a modicum of coverage
Photo ©: James Huang
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The lever hood fit is also surprisingly sloppy.
Photo ©: James Huang
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One undeniable star of the group
Photo ©: James Huang
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Shimano says the new crank is both lighter and more rigid than before.
Photo ©: James Huang
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The spider is far deeper to accommodate
Photo ©: James Huang
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Even though it's deeper, the spider uses less material
Photo ©: James Huang
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The new hollow outer chainring
Photo ©: James Huang
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New tooth profiling results in noticeably better shifting up front.
Photo ©: James Huang
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The new chainring is actually made from two sheets
Photo ©: James Huang
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The aluminum chainring bolts
Photo ©: James Huang
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The non-driveside crankarm
Photo ©: James Huang
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Rear shifting feels virtually identical to that of 7800.
Photo ©: James Huang
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The carbon fiber pulley cage might be lighter
Photo ©: James Huang
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The new front derailleur
Photo ©: James Huang
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Shimano now uses different side plates for the outside…
Photo ©: James Huang
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…and inside of the chain for better shift performance.
Photo ©: James Huang
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New 7900 cassettes add a fourth titanium cog
Photo ©: James Huang
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More aggressive milling sheds weight as compared to 7800
Photo ©: James Huang
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Braking performance on Dura-Ace 7900 is stunning
Photo ©: James Huang
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Milled-out arms maintain overall stiffness
Photo ©: James Huang
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The lower brake barrel adjusters
Photo ©: James Huang
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The new hubs features aluminum axles
Photo ©: James Huang
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Simply use two 5mm hex wrenches
Photo ©: James Huang
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…remove the indexed locking ring and then adjust the cone by hand.
Photo ©: James Huang
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