Originally Posted by
Chombi
The DA7400 group is "legendary" and I wouldn't kick it off my bike if one in good condition happens to come with it, but I do think that the desing on some of the items in the group is not as impressive as the group's reputation suggests. In particular, the crankset. Yes, a clean "modern" design that does not get old to most eyes, but maybe just too clean and too simple. I'd maybe look at a DA7400 crank for one minute to admire it, but in comparison, I'd look at other C&V fluted cranksets like a Campy SR, Stronglight 106, 105bis or 104bis easily three, four, maybe more times longer anytime to admire their beauty.
for this reason, I put Suntour's Superbe Pro group (earliest version) ahead of the DA7400 group in my list......any time....
Chombi
i agree that it comes down to the vintage fluted look versus the modern look. For me, the appeal of DA 7400, Sugino 75, and SunTour Superbe Pro 7 speed all stem from the fact that from a design perspective, they are a vision of the future as seen through the lens of the 1980's. As a child of the 80's, I have an enduring fascination with that aesthetic. That doesn't mean I dislike fluted cranks, not at all. It's more like my love of classic soul versus my love of old school electro. Completely different, but both are favorites.
I will say that if I'm going down the classic fluted crank route, I prefer French and Italian designs over Japanese. I feel like Shimano and SunTour didn't come into their own aesthetically until the early 1980's. They may have had better derailleurs but Campagnolo "owned" the look while the Japanese were just copying it.
in other news, here's the Cyclo group I was referring to in my original post:
